Mariah Stewart - On Sunset Beach

“I think they’ll need to give a great deal of consideration to this,” Grace said thoughtfully. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to put St. Dennis on the map as a cultural destination. It would bring a new dimension to our little bay town, and would attract a different demographic. Art patrons, collectors of American artists, collectors of women artists—I would expect many would want to come to see such an important collection.” She looked at Carly for confirmation.

“I think we could publicize this in a way that would make the movers and shakers in the art world sit up and take notice. I think they’ll flock to St. Dennis if for no other reason than to say that they were here.”

“And a good portion of them will want to stay for the weekend. Think of what that could mean for the restaurants and the B&Bs.”

“Not to mention your family’s inn,” Ed said pointedly.

“The inn is always booked to capacity the week of the holiday tour.” Grace ignored the implication. “But for others in town, this influx could make a real difference in their bottom line at the end of the year. Plus, I expect that Dallas’s studio will bring in some VIPs. A trendy art gallery will give them just one more reason to stay.”

“Dallas MacGregor has opened her own film studio in town. She’s already cast her first movie and will be starting to shoot by early fall,” Ellie explained to Carly. “As a huge movie star herself, Dallas has a lot of influence with a lot of people. I’ll bet she’d be happy to invite some of her Hollywood friends to the grand opening of the gallery.”

“I’m certain she would,” Grace agreed. “Dallas loves St. Dennis and is always looking for ways to promote the town. She’s been a steady patron of Sophie Enright’s new restaurant out on River Road. Sophie tells me that the orders she has every day from Dallas’s studio are keeping her in the black.”

“I’ll have to bring all of this up to the others on the council and see what they think.” Ed turned to Ellie. “Let me know as soon as you have some numbers to go over. If the costs are reasonable in proportion to the expense, I’ll back the project and see if I can bring the others in line.”

“We’ll do the best we can,” Ellie assured him.

“Hopefully,” Grace said, “it will be enough.”

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. I’ll be waiting to hear from you and Cam,” Ed said before turning to Carly. “I checked you out on the Internet and it looks to me like you know your stuff. This would be a big move for a small town like ours. I’m trusting that you’ll be able to pull this off.”

“Thank you. I’m confident that this could be a big moneymaker for St. Dennis, and as Grace pointed out, a windfall for the town’s merchants as well.”

“Let’s hope you’re right.” Ed turned to the others. “Grace, Ellie, thanks for your time.”

“We’ll chat after we see the numbers, Ed.” Grace gave a half wave as the man headed toward the end of the driveway and his car.

“That went well,” Ellie said when he was out of earshot. “All things considered.”

Grace nodded. “Better than I expected, particularly after you said the old house wouldn’t be suitable. Ed’s a tough nut to crack, so I was encouraged when he said he’d sign on if the numbers are good.” She tapped Ellie on the arm. “That’s your part in all this.”

“I can’t see the cost being prohibitive, which it certainly would be if we were to try to turn that old house into a proper art gallery.”

“Well, there may be some on the council who don’t think the town needs an art gallery.” Grace frowned.

“I can’t wait to hear what they decide,” Carly said as the three walked up the driveway.

“Grace, about that list of paintings that Carolina gave away …” Carly began.

“Yes, Ellie gave me a copy. I’m afraid I haven’t had much time to study it. My son just recently arrived home and I’m trying to get this week’s paper out.”

“I understand.” Carly forced a smile. “Whenever you get a minute, if you could go over it with me, I’d appreciate it.” She reached into her bag and pulled out one of her business cards. “Just give me a call when you can. If there are other paintings out there, we should track them down. Who knows, someone in town might have a small fortune stashed in their attic or hanging on their guest bedroom wall.”

“That’s certainly a possibility. I’ll bet a few folks will be in for the surprise of their lives.” Grace chuckled as she put the card in her wallet. “Now, are you here for the week, Carly, or did you drive down only for the day?”

“I’ll stay tonight and leave sometime tomorrow,” Carly replied. “I hate to be away from the paintings for too long.”

“Of course.” Grace paused when they reached her car, which was parked in front of Carly’s. “If you have no other plans, try to stop over at the inn tonight. We’re having a welcome-home party for my son Ford, and we’d love to have you both join us. Cam, too, of course.”

“Cam did mention that Lucy had called with an invitation, so I think he’s planning on it,” Ellie said.

“Good. I know Ford would want to see him again. They were friends once upon a time.” Grace turned to Carly. “And I hope you do come along.”

“I don’t know your son, so he might think it’s odd.” Carly made a face. Would it be awkward to attend the welcome-home party for someone you’d never met?

“I’m sure he’ll be delighted to meet you.” Grace patted Carly’s hands. “In the meantime, we’ll see if we can lobby more support for the gallery. I have the feeling that you’re going to do great things in St. Dennis.” Grace smiled. “Yes, I do believe there are great things waiting for you here …”

Carly and Ellie watched the older woman walk up the slight incline of the driveway to her car.

“Does she sometimes give you an odd feeling?” Carly asked under her breath.

Ellie shook her head. “Odd like how?”

“She just gave me this feeling that she …” Carly stopped. How to put into words, even to your best friend, that somehow something—something important—had just passed between her and Grace, and that she had no idea what it might have been.

“That she what?”

“I don’t know. Nothing, I guess. I probably imagined it.”

“The important thing is that Grace is behind us and will advocate for turning this building into the gallery that you want.”

“Does she have any influence with the council members?”

“I suspect she does,” Ellie said thoughtfully. “Remember she owns the only newspaper in town. She can use that as a platform to get people behind the project. Plus, she knows everyone and is pretty much universally liked. I think she could help make it happen.”

“Assuming your numbers are right,” Carly reminded her.

“They will be.”

“You sound so sure of yourself.”

“I am.” Ellie nodded. “I know this building. I don’t carry prices in my head the way Cam does, but I think the cost will surprise everyone, and I mean that in a good way.” She looped her arm through Carly’s as they headed toward the car. “I’ve been hoping there’d be some way to bring you to St. Dennis to stay for a while. If you think I’m going to let this opportunity pass me by—”

“Who said anything about staying here?”

“Do you think you can oversee this”—Ellie waved a hand in the direction of the carriage house—“from New York? Uh-uh. We get the green light, toots, and you’re looking at a couple of months between now and the time the exhibit would open.”

“So …?”

“So who do you think is going to be supervising the job, making sure everything is exactly the way you want it? Who’s going to set up the partitions and place the lighting and the air vents and the paintings? Or are you going to delegate all that to someone else?”

“Good point.” Carly opened the driver’s-side door and got in.

“Your galleries are covered, right? You have good people working for you?” Ellie slid into the passenger seat and fastened her seat belt.

“The best.”

“So you’re covered there. Besides, you’re less than a four-hour drive from New York. You can go back anytime you want.”

“True enough. Still, I hadn’t thought about staying here indefinitely.”

“Of course, the other option would be for you to go back to New York and do your thing, and we’ll find someone else to take care of the business here. We could probably find someone in Baltimore or DC who’d love to be involved with our little project.”

Carly shot Ellie a withering gaze.

“Thought so,” Ellie said smugly. “So I suggest you make a six-month plan for your directors and your managers, because I have the feeling you’re going to be spending a lot more time here than there.”

THE kayak glided across the water’s surface, following the gentle curve of the Chesapeake into Blue Heron Cove. Ford lifted the paddle and rested it across the hull, content to drift on the waves while they drew him closer to the pebbled beach. It had been years since he’d kayaked this far down the coast, but once upon a time, these waters had been as familiar to him as the paved roads of St. Dennis. Even as a young boy, he’d loved exploring the inlets and coves and rivers, loved the freedom, the solitude, the comfort of being alone on the water with nothing but his thoughts and the local wildlife for company. The stress and conflict he’d been feeling since he arrived at the inn were overbearing, and so he’d sought refuge in the only place where he knew for certain he’d find peace.