Room for Murder - Tim Myers [14]
Sally Anne said, “Oh, he’s a pussycat, Alex. Besides, he really likes you.”
Alex said, “Let’s make sure we keep it that way. Thanks for helping, Sally Anne.”
“My pleasure.”
Elise came out of her room and said, “I thought I heard voices out here.”
Sally Anne said, “Hey, Elise. I was just leaving.”
“Not on my account, I hope,” Elise said.
“No, Dad’s waiting in the car.” She headed for the door and called out, “Bye now,” as she left.
Elise looked at the basket, then said, “I wasn’t eavesdropping, but did I hear you ask Sally Anne to help you with your snooping?”
“We’re going to have our hands full with our guests now that both buildings are at full capacity again, so I asked her to keep an eye on what’s going on around town.”
Elise said, “I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that. Are you sure our date Saturday night is such a good idea? Someone should be here for our guests all the time.”
A chill crept into Alex’s heart. “Elise, are you having second thoughts about going out with me?”
She said, “Of course not.” Then, after hesitating, she added, “Why, are you?”
Alex took her hands in his and said, “I know this is a big step for us, but don’t you think it’s time we found out exactly what this is between us?”
Elise pulled away. “Alex, I don’t want to lose your friendship. I’ve got plenty of ex-boyfriends, but you’re the only best friend I’ve got.”
Alex sighed. “Okay, so we’ll make a pact. If it doesn’t work out between us, we’ll stay friends, no matter what.” He added with a grin, “Besides, we’ll have to be, since we see each other every day.”
Elise said, “You say that now, but what happens if it ends badly?”
Alex thought about it a moment, then said, “Elise, I’d rather take that chance than miss out on something that could be the best thing that ever happened to me.”
Alex wasn’t sure what he expected her reaction to be to his statement, but seeing her bolt to her room was not one of the possibilities he would have considered. Shaking his head, Alex finished his nightly closing duties, made a quick tour through both buildings, then walked out onto the porch of the Main Keeper’s Quarters.
The lighthouse looked down at him, its lens darkened by the night. He was tempted to turn it on, despite what the Elkton Falls Town Council thought. It was a beacon that was made to be lit.
With a mischievous grin, Alex decided to do it anyway. After grabbing a flashlight, he headed up the tower’s steps. Just a few brief seconds of light surely couldn’t hurt anything.
As his hand reached for the plain button switch his grandfather had installed, Alex felt a flutter of anticipation in his stomach. He never got tired of lighting the beacon.
When he pushed the button though, nothing happened. The old switch had finally died. He’d have to call Mor in the morning and have him take a look at it. Though Alex had the nominal skills to fix lots of things around the inn in a pinch, he normally left the electrical work to Mor. Disappointed that the light wouldn’t shine that night, Alex walked out onto the observation platform, playing his flashlight over the railing as he walked.
Once he was securely in place, he turned off his light and looked out in the vast darkness around him. It took nearly fifteen minutes for his eyes to grow accustomed to the darkness. In the stillness of the night, the sounds around him were intensified and amplified. It was one of the many reasons he loved the lighthouse so much. The beacon had more shifting moods and facets than most folks ever suspected.
The next morning, Alex found Elise setting up their continental breakfast bar for their guests, with fresh coffee, orange juice, and the supplies Sally Anne had dropped off the night before. The bar added to their expenses, but with the accompanying room rate increase, they actually made more profit off each guest who came to Hatteras West. It was one of Elise’s touches Alex liked so much, providing a nice service while raising their revenues at the same time.
“That smells good,” he said.
“The coffee?’’ Elise asked. “I’d be glad