Mist Across The Sand: A Beach House Mystery, #4

Chapter 1

MORGAN SEAVER TUGGED on the hem of her sweater as she shivered, not sure if it was the cold air coming off the ocean or the excitement of the approaching holidays that caused her reaction. Leaning back from her perch on the ladder and studying the wreath she had just hung, she frowned. Something was missing.

Easy there, Morgan. The last thing you need to do is fall off a ladder.

Warm hands gripped her waist to steady her, and she looked down with a smile at Gabe Holleran, who was helping her decorate the beach house.

No kidding. This is my first Christmas on Pearl Island that I can remember. I certainly don't want to spend it hobbling around on crutches. Holding her hand out to Gabe, she pointed to the box by the ladder. Would you hand me that red ribbon? I want to make a bow for the wreath, and then this window is done.

A few moments later the bow was in place and Morgan was climbing down the ladder to stand next to Gabe. He put his arm around her shoulder as they stood and looked at the handiwork they had been working on all morning. While they were admiring their work, a long-haired, tawny-colored cat was busy digging in the box of decorations. The sound of jingle bells coming from the box made Morgan look down, knowing full well what the cat was up to.

Again, Misty? These aren't toys. Get out of that box before you get in trouble, she scolded with a chuckle.

But Misty was too fast, and before Morgan could scoop her up, the cat jumped out of the box, one of the jingle bells hanging from a ribbon in her mouth. Morgan swore the cat grinned at her as she ran off, the bell jingling with her movements.

Your sneaky thief has struck again. Gabe laughed as they watched the cat disappear through the cat door and into the house.

Lately, she's not so much of a sneak. She's gotten pretty brazen with her thefts. And she has a new hiding spot that I haven't discovered yet, so who knows what I will find?

She has a track record of hiding and discovering things that are important, Gabe said. I say let her have some fun for now. What do we need to tackle next on that decorating list of yours?

Morgan pulled a sheet of paper from her back pocket containing her Christmas to-do list and grabbed a pen out of the box to check off a few items. She was pleased to see they had completed more than half of the tasks. Tapping on the paper with her pen, she showed Gabe the next item on the list.

Putting up the lights in the palms will have to wait until Ben checks to make sure I have the proper electrical outlets. We can do the roof line at the same time. Then the outside will be done. Except the widow's walk. I'm not sure what I want to do up there, but it has to be special.

Then we're done for the day? Gabe asked.

Not even close. I said that was it for the outside. We still have the whole inside of the house to do. She grabbed Gabe's arm with one hand when he pretended to back away, wagging her finger in warning with the other hand as she gave him a stern look. You don't get off that easily, mister. Besides, Ben will be here in a couple hours with the Christmas tree and fresh strings of lights. If you don't want to help me in the house, you can help Ben.

You know, Morgan, I would swear you've never celebrated Christmas before, Gabe teased, but stopped at the look of sadness that Morgan tried to hide.

Actually, this is my first big celebration. I never returned to the island for Christmas. My aunt would always pick me up from boarding school, and we would go somewhere wonderful to enjoy the holidays. But I never had a home to come to for all the excitement of the holidays. Morgan shook her head, as if to rid herself of the sad thoughts, and looked up at Gabe, knowing he understood.

But before he could answer, a voice spoke from behind them.

I always regretted not having you home for Christmas, but I made a promise to your mother. I hope our holidays together weren't too lonesome for you, Morgan.

The two turned together and faced the shimmering form of Meredith Seaver, Morgan's aunt. Morgan's dead aunt.

I loved our time together, Aunt Meredith. You made sure my Christmases were always wonderful. I wasn't complaining, honest.

Meredith shimmered a bit brighter, her form becoming more visible. She nodded in understanding and gave Gabe a soft smile at the same time. It had been almost six months since her murder, a murder they had blamed Morgan for, and she was becoming used to her aunt’s ghostly form. Only lately, Meredith had showed up on Pearl Island visible to others other than Morgan. Meredith was careful not to be seen by many, but she considered Gabe family and didn't shy away from seeking out her niece if he was around. Morgan knew that her aunt had visited a few places away from the beach house, such as the lighthouse, and had made herself known to her best friend, Winnie Colbright, who ran the Maritime Museum.

When I summoned you home, I had looked forward to our celebrating the holidays for the first time on the island. I used to love decorating the beach house with your mother and grandparents when I was a child. I had hoped we would decorate together this year. If the ghost could have cried, Morgan was sure her eyes would have been full of tears.

And we will. It will just have to been done differently than you planned. Morgan smiled at her aunt, willing her to cheer up. You will have the role of supervisor. And you can tell me the history behind all of those lovely ornaments I found inside the house.

Meredith shared a smile with her niece. It might not be how they wanted to share their first Christmas on Pearl Island, but they would make do. Then she gave a laugh that held a touch of mischief in it.

Do you mean the ornaments on the tables inside? The same ornaments in easy reach of that cat of yours?

Instantly, Morgan knew what her aunt meant, and with a yell for the cat, ran for the front door, not waiting to see if the others would follow. There was too much temptation for Misty lying around within easy reach, and Morgan hoped the kitten had been content with the jingle bell she had run off with. Not that she believed the cat would ignore the glittery ornaments laying in their boxes, but she could hope.

Chapter 2

MORGAN LED THE WAY into the living room where she had the Christmas decorations laid out for inspection, Gabe close behind her. He was so close that when Morgan came to a dead stop at the sight in front of her, Gabe plowed into her, grabbing her shoulders to keep her from losing her balance. Together, the two of them looked at the sight in front of them and burst out laughing.

How could she possibly create this much disarray in such a short time? Gabe asked with a shake of his head.

Because she's a master. Look, not one ornament is broken, Morgan answered, stepping to the table to inspect the mess.

True, but I don't think there is any ribbon left on the bolts, either.

Morgan was having a hard time keeping a straight face. Picking up an end of 1/4-inch plaid ribbon, she rolled it back up on the empty plastic cylinder.

I'd better help, or you'll be at this all day, Gabe said as he grabbed an end of red velvet. Before he wound the ribbon, he pointed toward the staircase. At least we know what direction she went -She must have had a couple of ribbons in her mouth as she ran.

Morgan looked to where he was pointing and saw ribbon draped along the stairs. Glancing behind her to say something to Meredith, she discovered her aunt had disappeared as silently as she had arrived. Morgan had gotten used to Meredith's comings and goings. She never asked where her aunt's spirit wandered off to, but she knew Meredith would reappear in her own good time. Turning her attention back to the task at hand, she wound the assorted ribbons back on their bolts, calling out warnings to the cat as she did so. It didn't take long to finish, and Misty had wisely stayed hidden. Gabe noticed Meredith's absence and looked around for his old friend.

She's gone again. I don't think she even followed us into the house. Probably knew what kind of trouble Misty had created, Morgan said when she noticed him looking for her aunt.

She'll be back. I know how much she was looking forward to your first Christmas together on the island. She'll still want to be part of it. In the meantime, all this decorating has given me an appetite. How about I treat for coffee and donuts at the pastry shop? We have time before Ben shows up. What do you say?

Have I ever said no? Let me grab the key to the golf cart and then we can go.

Morgan didn't wait for his answer. She raced to the kitchen where the key hung on a cup hook by the back door. Her car keys were there too, but they rarely got used. Golf carts and bicycles were the primary modes of transportation on Pearl Island, and she had adjusted to the slower pace of island life when she returned. And except for the murders and crime she had found herself involved in, life was peaceful. Unless a certain sea witch made her presence known.

THEIR ARRIVAL AT THE island pastry shop was perfectly timed. They had missed the early morning crowd who always grabbed a cup of coffee before heading to the ferry to go to the mainland.  Gabe held the door open for Morgan and following behind, he repeated the good morning greeting from the owner of the shop.

Good morning. How about two cups of coffee and a breakfast sandwich for each of us? Gabe added to his greeting as the smell of fresh-baked bread and bacon reached his nose.

Sure thing, just grab any table. The short-haired woman waved toward the empty tables and then added, Hey, Morgan, I've got a new blend of coffee. You want to try it?

Morgan answered with an eager nod. She loved the blends the owner came up with and knew she had been experimenting with some holiday coffee. The anticipating taste of cinnamon was already making her mouth water. The other patrons of the shop greeted the two as they made their way to a table by the window looking out on to the main street. Their waitress wasn't too far behind them with a cup of coffee for each, promising their sandwiches wouldn't be too long.

Morgan took her first swallow of coffee, almost scalding her mouth. There was the taste of cinnamon and something else she couldn't identify. She knew better than to ask Kayle what the ingredient might be because the woman rarely revealed the ingredients in her special blends. With a sigh of contentment, Morgan leaned back in her chair, the cup of coffee warming her hands. The winter wind had a bite to it, and Morgan, having gotten used to the heat of the summer, had been unprepared for the jarring drop in temperatures. This was the first cold spell of the season. It was a welcome change to most, because it was sure to put shoppers and residents in the holiday mood.

Gabe was silent, enjoying his coffee as he waited for their food. It was a comfortable silence, the type shared between good friends. There was no reason for idle chatter; the two were so close, they were often thinking the same thing, and sometimes finished each other’s sentences.  Their friendship was based on more than two people who got along well. They based it on legends and decrees that had bound their families together for generations.

Here you go, Kayla called out as she placed the hot plates in front of them. She didn't stop to talk. Another customer was calling for a coffee refill.

Mm-mm, this smells delicious. Morgan breathed in deeply. 

Gabe didn't answer, handing her the pepper shaker without being asked. In return, she passed him the ketchup she knew he would dose his home fries with. After doctoring the food to their preference, they grinned at each other and took their first bites.

There was silence at the table for the next few minutes while they enjoyed their breakfast. Once their initial hunger was satisfied, they relaxed and continued their conversation from earlier.

Are you ready for the Christmas Eve concert?

Yes, I have four of my most promising students accompanying me this year. It's nice to share the limelight with such raw talent. I'm hoping the experience will encourage them, Gabe answered before taking another bite.

I'm sure it will go well; I've heard them practice with you. But I have to be honest, I'm looking forward to hearing your violin. I don't know if you realize it, but you play differently when you're in front of an audience then when you're just playing for fun with the rest of us, Morgan said, referring to Gabe's position as a concert violinist. He had done tours all over the world but loved being on the island most. Often, he and Morgan would sit on their favorite rock down on the beach, creating music. She would play her small recorder while he played his violin. Some songs were easily recognized, while others were songs that spoke to Morgan's soul. Songs from her childhood, or songs that told of her heritage.

Yeah, whether I play differently, this is my favorite type of concert. Small town, friendly, and with the promise of talent coming for others to find. Gabe paused until Morgan had swallowed her coffee before he turned the conversation toward her work. Did you get that large order of Christmas books done for your client?

Yes, and I think she will be pleased with them. They turned out better than I had hoped. When the shipment arrived, they were so damaged I wasn't sure I could repair the covers back to their original state. But thankfully I was able to find the right materials, and they turned out fantastic.

Morgan restored antique books for both private collectors and museums. Over her lifetime, she had built up a reputation for excellent work. But it never felt like work to Morgan; it was more a labor of love. She was of the firm belief that books were meant to be shared and enjoyed, and if she could restore an old book to its former glory, then she felt she had accomplished something wonderful. Like the books she was just finishing. They were a collection of Christmas stories that had been in a family's library for years. It was only recently that they had discovered them, and the grandchildren had gathered them all and sent them to Morgan to be restored in time for Christmas, when they could present them to their grandmother. Morgan could think of no finer Christmas present, and she took pride in being able to accomplish the task.

How does it feel to be doing all your work from the beach house rather than traveling to the customers?

It feels right, Morgan said. I don't know how else to explain it. All those years I was traveling, it seemed like I was always moving toward one destination: Pearl Island. And now that I'm here, I feel a sense of contentment and homecoming. With today's technology, it’s easy to work from home; there's no reason I need to travel. Oh, I'm sure I will for those special assignments, but it's working out pretty well. If I could keep Misty from stealing my tools, it would be a little easier.

They shared a laugh as each remembered some of the antics the kitten had gotten into since she had come into Morgan's life, appearing out of the mist on her first night on Pearl Island. The kitten always seemed to be by Morgan in times of trouble, and more than once had warned Morgan of danger approaching.

Their conversation was interrupted as the pastry shop door opened and a lively group entered, calling out greetings to everyone. An older couple were in the company of three rambunctious children who were talking a mile a minute. Gabe and Morgan raised their hand in greeting, but the children were too busy racing to the display window of pastries to pay any attention. Dr. Wright and his wife returned their wave, but they focused their attention on the children, making sure they didn't get carried away with their order.

The couple was as different as night and day, but they were also a completion of each other. Dr. Wright was tall and skinny, quiet, and reserved. His wife was short and stout, with a love of gossip, and a heart