Read Online The Spyglass Portal: A Lighthouse Novel by Stacey Coverstone - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Stacey Coverstone
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yesterday? They must have, or he wouldn’t be standing there talking to her. Right? She had no idea.
A burning lump formed in the center of her chest. The only thing she was certain of was that the pills she’d been taking were going down the drain as soon as he left, and she’d face the consequences of that decision later.
She chuckled to sound as normal as possible. “Forgive me, Aidan. I remember now. I met someone else yesterday who had a German shepherd. Guess I got the two of you mixed up.”
“Oh.” He didn’t appear entirely convinced. It was a lame explanation, but it was all she had, and thankfully he asked no more.
She desperately wanted to switch the subject. “Why did you stop by?”
Her question roused him from deep thought. “Oh, right. I came by to thank you for turning on the light in the tower last night. Seeing it lit brought back good memories.”
“What kind of memories?”
“I used to live here when I was a boy. I remember the light from those days.”
“Really?” He hadn’t mentioned that yesterday. Then again, he apparently hadn’t owned a dog yesterday or asked her on a date either.
“Most days, I’d play on the beach with my friends all day and into the night,” he continued. “I loved seeing the lamp flash on at night. It made me happy to know the fishermen and sailors would find their way home from their adventures on the high seas.”
She smiled, picturing a group of kids playing together and telling stories about ships and captains and pirates. “Did you ever get a chance to come inside the lighthouse?”
“No, this is the first time.” He gazed around seeming pleased with the looks of the interior. “Back then my mother warned me to stay out because it was a dangerous place for children.”
Sam’s eyebrow arched. “And you always did as your mother said?”
“Not always,” he admitted with another devilish grin.
“When did you move away from the cove?”
“I was nine when we left.”
“That’s pretty young. You must not remember too much about living here.”
“You’d be surprised at the things I can recall.” His gaze looked beyond her into another time and place, most likely thinking back to those bygone days when children had no responsibilities or worries.
“I don’t recall anything before I was six years old,” she offered, also thinking back.
“My mom always claimed I had the memory of an elephant,” Aidan said, snapping back to reality. “I never understood that comment. I asked her once if she’d ever actually talked to an elephant and asked him what kind of memory he had.” When he laughed, Samantha’s spirit started to lift again. He had an easygoing way about him that was comforting, like potato soup on a cold winter’s day.
“What did she say?”
“She said, yes, as a matter of fact she conversed with elephants on a daily basis, as well as lions, tigers, and bears. My mom was a great storyteller and had a good sense of humor.” His smile was poignant. “Well, I’ve held you up long enough with my rambling. Besides, I need to get to work. Nice talking to you again.”
Work? She was afraid to ask him what kind of work he did for fear he would tell her it was something other than painting. She couldn’t take another blow right now.
“Thanks for stopping by,” she replied, seeing him out the door. Before he’d taken three steps, however, she stopped him. Too many unexplainable things were going on. All of a sudden, she couldn’t bear the thought of being alone that night. “Aidan, if you have no plans, would you care to join me for a walk later this evening? Or for coffee and dessert?”
His eyebrow arched. “What do you have in mind?”
“I haven’t had a chance to explore the village yet. Is there a place where we can get some ice cream?”
“There sure is. Gus’s General Store has an old-fashioned soda fountain with the original bar stools and marble-topped counter. The interior furnishings are all
A burning lump formed in the center of her chest. The only thing she was certain of was that the pills she’d been taking were going down the drain as soon as he left, and she’d face the consequences of that decision later.
She chuckled to sound as normal as possible. “Forgive me, Aidan. I remember now. I met someone else yesterday who had a German shepherd. Guess I got the two of you mixed up.”
“Oh.” He didn’t appear entirely convinced. It was a lame explanation, but it was all she had, and thankfully he asked no more.
She desperately wanted to switch the subject. “Why did you stop by?”
Her question roused him from deep thought. “Oh, right. I came by to thank you for turning on the light in the tower last night. Seeing it lit brought back good memories.”
“What kind of memories?”
“I used to live here when I was a boy. I remember the light from those days.”
“Really?” He hadn’t mentioned that yesterday. Then again, he apparently hadn’t owned a dog yesterday or asked her on a date either.
“Most days, I’d play on the beach with my friends all day and into the night,” he continued. “I loved seeing the lamp flash on at night. It made me happy to know the fishermen and sailors would find their way home from their adventures on the high seas.”
She smiled, picturing a group of kids playing together and telling stories about ships and captains and pirates. “Did you ever get a chance to come inside the lighthouse?”
“No, this is the first time.” He gazed around seeming pleased with the looks of the interior. “Back then my mother warned me to stay out because it was a dangerous place for children.”
Sam’s eyebrow arched. “And you always did as your mother said?”
“Not always,” he admitted with another devilish grin.
“When did you move away from the cove?”
“I was nine when we left.”
“That’s pretty young. You must not remember too much about living here.”
“You’d be surprised at the things I can recall.” His gaze looked beyond her into another time and place, most likely thinking back to those bygone days when children had no responsibilities or worries.
“I don’t recall anything before I was six years old,” she offered, also thinking back.
“My mom always claimed I had the memory of an elephant,” Aidan said, snapping back to reality. “I never understood that comment. I asked her once if she’d ever actually talked to an elephant and asked him what kind of memory he had.” When he laughed, Samantha’s spirit started to lift again. He had an easygoing way about him that was comforting, like potato soup on a cold winter’s day.
“What did she say?”
“She said, yes, as a matter of fact she conversed with elephants on a daily basis, as well as lions, tigers, and bears. My mom was a great storyteller and had a good sense of humor.” His smile was poignant. “Well, I’ve held you up long enough with my rambling. Besides, I need to get to work. Nice talking to you again.”
Work? She was afraid to ask him what kind of work he did for fear he would tell her it was something other than painting. She couldn’t take another blow right now.
“Thanks for stopping by,” she replied, seeing him out the door. Before he’d taken three steps, however, she stopped him. Too many unexplainable things were going on. All of a sudden, she couldn’t bear the thought of being alone that night. “Aidan, if you have no plans, would you care to join me for a walk later this evening? Or for coffee and dessert?”
His eyebrow arched. “What do you have in mind?”
“I haven’t had a chance to explore the village yet. Is there a place where we can get some ice cream?”
“There sure is. Gus’s General Store has an old-fashioned soda fountain with the original bar stools and marble-topped counter. The interior furnishings are all
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