Read Online A Secret in Salem by Sheri Anderson - Free Book Online

on the town, so it was quiet enough to talk.
    They took a seat and ordered drinks. Chelsea asked for a lemon drop, and Shawn an Amstel.
    “Abby at the party?” he asked as the waiter served them.
    “Yes. Well, not sure, but knowing her, she definitely will be.”
    “You’re looking good.”
    “You too,” Chelsea stated. Then she wondered aloud, “Have you talked to Dad lately?”
    “Texted a few times,” Shawn said. “But you know him. Not that great a communicator.”
    Chelsea envied that Shawn knew Bo that well. She was a daughter Bo hadn’t even known he had until she was well into her teens, and she had caused plenty of grief for him and Shawn’s mom, Hope, when she landed in Salem.
    “I heard he and Hope have had problems lately,” she said carefully. “Not that it’s any of my business.”
    “You love him and want him to be happy. That makes it your business.”
    She clinked her glass to his. “Thanks.”
    He took a swig from his beer.
    “You know, I bet he’d love a picture of us together. What do you say?”
    Chelsea smiled at the idea. She liked being a part of Shawn’s family.
    Shawn flagged down the waiter. “Could you take our picture?” The waiter feigned being busy and dismissed the request from the American tourists.
    There was a young, honeymooning couple at the next table. They looked American.
    “Think you could give us a hand?” Shawn asked. “You take our picture, we’ll take one of you.”
    The handsome young groom took Shawn up on the offer.
    Chelsea and Shawn glanced around for the most appealing backdrop. After several tries, they realized shooting with the harbor as a backdrop just didn’t work. The lights were indistinguishable.
    “How about there?” Chelsea suggested. The jagged hills behind the hotel were lush and beautiful.
    Shawn and Chelsea took their positions, and after several tries, he linked his arm around her waist.
    They heard the hum of the camera’s motor and then— click!
    “One more for safety,” their amateur photographer suggested. “Hold that!” he added.
    All of a sudden, they heard screaming and a deafening crash high above them. Trees were being sawed in half as a car careened down the steep hillside.
    “Oh my God!” the young bride wailed.
    Click.
    Click.
    Click.
    Now it was the silence that was deafening.

    The bright yellow of the DBS complemented what Olivia and Charley were both wearing for the gala. Olivia had a way of orchestrating every appearance she made as though it was part of OMGs marketing campaign.
    As Olivia slid behind the wheel and onto the soft leather seats,she was exhilarated.
    “If Gemma sees the two of us arriving, she’ll be green with envy. And green’s definitely not her color.”
    “We’ll make a statement, that’s for sure,” Charley said in agreement.
    Charley snapped her seat belt and urged Olivia to do the same.
    Kelsey watched from the front door as Olivia wrapped her head with a pale gold scarf that matched the highlights Joy had given her, and then started the engine of the immaculate yellow Aston Martin.
    The scrolled gates opened on cue, and the women drove out onto the spectacular drive that would take them to the beach several miles below.
    The night was indeed gorgeous, and there were very few cars on the road. Stars illuminated the sky, and it was a full moon to boot.
    Cool jazz filled the air as they listened to Thelonious Monk on their drive. Jazz always put Olivia in a sexy, cheeky, and, sometimes, raunchy mood.
    After she navigated about half a mile, Olivia started trying to gulp in air.
    “I’m more excited about this than I thought,” Olivia said, gasping for air. “Do not tell Gemma. You promise me?”
    Charley nodded, then noticed her mother’s hand go to her tiny waist as she grimaced.
    “You okay?” Charley asked.
    Olivia nodded, but weakly.
    “Mum?”
    “The caviar,” she said over the jazz and wind. “Probably American sturgeon. Ugh.”
    Olivia tried to keep steady on the