by Cindy Bell
Treasured History
A Dune House Cozy Mystery
Cindy Bell
Copyright © 2014 Cindy Bell
All rights reserved.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents and locations portrayed in this book and the names herein are fictitious. Any similarity to or identification with the locations, names, characters or history of any person, product or entity is entirely coincidental and unintentional.
All trademarks and brands referred to in this book are for illustrative purposes only, are the property of their respective owners and not affiliated with this publication in any way. Any trademarks are being used without permission, and the publication of the trademark is not authorized by, associated with or sponsored by the trademark owner.
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter One
The wooden slats on the wraparound porch creaked mournfully as Suzie walked across them. There were still some repairs that needed to be made to the old house which was affectionately known as Dune House. Suzie and her best friend, Mary, had recently renovated the house so it could be run as a bed and breakfast once again. For just a moment Suzie wondered how many people had walked across those same wooden slats. She knew that her aunt, uncle, and their son, Jason, had lived in this house.
Her uncle was almost a total recluse when he died leaving the house to her. His life was shrouded with mystery as she had not known him very well. She had enjoyed getting to know her cousin, Jason, who was much younger than she was and a police officer for the fine, tiny town of Garber. Now the grand old home, a mansion compared to the other houses in town, belonged to Suzie. But what about all of the other lives that had passed through it? Suzie's questions were forgotten when she reached the small table with two chairs. Mary was gazing out over the water, her expression filled with longing. Suzie was fairly certain that she hadn't noticed her approach.
“I made us coffee,” Suzie said softly as she sat down across from her friend. Mary's auburn hair was loose and flowing around her shoulders. When the wind teased it, the streaks of gray nestled in the thick strands glistened in the sunlight. She had such a loving spirit in Suzie's opinion that it seemed to be reflected in her soft, kind features and culminated in her warm, brown eyes. Mary rarely had a cross word to say about anyone but she was always willing to listen to Suzie's rants about everyone and everything. The pair seemed to balance each other out as friends.
They were both in their fifties, but couldn't be more different if they tried. Suzie's life had been filled with adventure and even a little danger. She dressed as fashionably as possible and did her best to keep up with technology and politics. Her hair was cut in a short and sassy style and was dyed a brassy gold that she felt took about ten years off her face. She was quick to judge and quicker to put someone in their place if she felt they were out of line. But Mary always had a way of calming her down.
Now that they were sharing their lives again on a daily basis there was a sense of completion within Suzie, as if she had been missing Mary all of these years. Meanwhile Mary had been raising her family, confiding her struggles with her husband only with Suzie, and playing the part of the happy wife and mother. Despite the fact that Suzie had been in harrowing situations with some dangerous people, she still believed that Mary was the stronger of the two for not planning her husband's demise long ago. That subtle strength rose to the surface the moment that Mary became aware of Suzie's presence.
“Oh Suzie, thank you,” Mary drew a smile to her lips. Suzie could tell that it took some effort to do so.
“Are you all right, hon?” Suzie asked as she set the coffee in front of Mary. Then she sat across from her. She was surprised to see Mary looking down-hearted considering that they had almost finished renovating the house and were ready for opening day tomorrow.
“I'm all right,” she replied with a wistful smile. “Just thinking about the past.”
“I know that you must be missing home,” Suzie offered gingerly. Suzie had never been terribly attached to any one place. She preferred to travel, and often did during her career as an investigative journalist. It wasn't until she had switched paths and become an interior decorator that she had settled in one place for any length of time. Mary on the other hand had married and stayed in the same home while she raised her children. She endured many years of neglect by her husband, and when her children went to college she had finally divorced. It had been a tumultuous time for her, and with Suzie inheriting Dune House the two friends had agreed to start a new life together. It hadn't been a huge change for Suzie, but for Mary it was a total change of pace.
“It's not home I'm missing,” Mary replied with a sigh. “I guess you can have empty nest syndrome wherever you are. I know the kids are fine, they are adults now with their own lives. But, I still miss them.”
Suzie had to bite her tongue. She had a secret that she was keeping from Mary, and she didn't want to ruin the surprise. She had never had children of her own, but she had kept in contact with Mary throughout her children's lives, and in many ways she felt a deep connection with them.
“I'm sorry, Mary, I know that must be hard,” she reached out and gave her friend's hand a gentle squeeze.
“I'm sorry, I don't want to dampen the excitement,” Mary said with a shake of her head and smiled brightly. “I'm looking forward to the opening. Is Paul going to be here for it?” she arched an eyebrow mischievously.
Suzie knew that Mary was changing the subject for her sake, and normally she would steer it right back and talk through her friend's feelings. But knowing what she did, she felt relief when the subject shifted.
“He said he will be, but with him going in and out on the boat, he can never be sure,” Suzie shrugged a little. She tried not to blush. Paul was a local fisherman who she had met and formed a quick bond with. He had made it clear to her when he tried to kiss her for the first time that he was interested in more than friendship, but Suzie wasn't sure if she was ready to take that next step.
“I'm sure he'll be here,” Mary said with confidence. “I wouldn't put it past him to swim if he needed to.”
“Ha!” Suzie laughed. “He probably would,” she smiled as she thought of Paul. He was a strong man with broad shoulders. His job was physically demanding at times, and it helped him stay fit well into his fifties. Suzie thought his gray eyes were a direct reflection of the open sea just before dawn, which was often when he would set out on his fishing trips. His face was weathered by the wind and the sun, which Suzie found incredibly attractive and interesting, as if it contained memories of his life that his mind might not even recall. She had an image of him swimming towards her across the roughest seas and smiled shyly. Suzie hadn't come to Dune House looking for romance. She thought that was in her past. But Paul seemed to be determined to make it part of her present.
“I can't believe we already have guests booked for the opening,” Mary said with pride in her voice, bringing Suzie's thoughts back to reality. “I have a feeling this place is going to be quite successful.”
“With this beauty surrounding it, how could it
not be?” Suzie tipped her head towards the water that stretched out endlessly before them. Suzie had a few memories of visiting Dune House when she was very young. It had always seemed like paradise to her. To end up being a part of it, was an amazing thing for her.
The two friends fell into a comfortable silence as the waves rolled in. Suzie sipped her coffee while Mary slowly stirred hers. They had always been close enough to sit together without saying a word. Just as Mary lifted her mug to take a sip of her coffee, Suzie heard a beeping horn from the front of the house. Her eyes widened. She glanced at her watch. She hadn't realized how late it was.
“Who could that be?” Mary asked as she put down her mug of coffee.
“It must be our first guest,” Suzie said mischievously as she stood up from the table.
“What?” Mary asked with surprise. “We didn't have any guests that were supposed to arrive yet! I haven't even checked the rooms to make sure they are ready!”
Suzie tried not to laugh at her friend's panic. She felt a little guilty for not revealing the truth. But she had made a promise that she wouldn't.
“The rooms are perfect, Mary,” she assured her. “Let's go greet our first guest!” she said happily.
“Oh, all right,” Mary frowned. She was clearly not happy about the surprise guest. Suzie knew that would change in an instant. They walked around the porch to the front of Dune House. There was a taxi in the long driveway. A man was standing beside the taxi.
“Oh my!” Mary gasped as she set eyes on the man. “Oh, is it really you, Ben?” she cried out as she ran down the steps towards him. She ignored the aching in her knees as she threw her arms around her son and hugged him tightly. Suzie stood at the top of the steps that led up to the porch, grinning from ear to ear. She and Ben had planned the little surprise, but it had been Ben's idea.
“Oh, I've missed you, Mom!” Ben said and held her close. Not all men in their early twenties would be so affectionate, but Mary had doted on both of her children with such love and affection as they grew up that they were very loving in return. It brought a hint of tears to Suzie's eyes to see her friend so blissfully happy as the two walked up the steps onto the porch.
“Catherine wanted to be here, too, but she had some classes she had to complete,” Ben paused and smiled at Suzie before looking back at his mother. “We just want you to know how proud we are that you and Suzie have done this. It's really great to see you so happy, Mom.”
“Happy?” she grinned. “I'm over the moon!” she hugged him again. “You have to tell me about everything. How is school going? Have you met any girls?”
Ben rolled his eyes and laughed. “Plenty of time for that, Mom. I'm going to stay for a couple of days after opening day. So, if you need any help with anything, I'm here to offer it!”
Suzie felt a sense of pride as she studied Ben. In many ways he was a reflection of his mother with auburn hair cut short and deep brown eyes, but he had the strong English features that belonged to his father of a slightly hooked nose and slender face. Ben had always been a good, young man, but he had some trouble during his teens. He was vying for his father's attention, which was not easily given. He had grown through that stage, and now he was a bright, young adult who she believed could accomplish anything.
“Suzie, you look fantastic,” Ben said as he opened his arms to her. Suzie hugged him warmly. “And so does this place,” he added as he ran his eyes over Dune House. The house rose majestically on the top of the sloping hill. Its turreted roof and dramatic windows made it look like something out of an old movie. The wraparound porch gave it a sense of being a home, but its sprawling size made it appear to be a mansion. With the sea as its backdrop there was no way to deny its beauty.
“Yes, we're pretty happy with it,” Suzie said with a modest smile. She couldn't imagine a more beautiful place to live. It had been a lot of work, but it was well worth the effort, and she had really enjoyed decorating each of the larger suites to reflect a different style or place.
“Mary, why don't you take him down to the beach?” Suzie suggested. She could tell her friend was still in shock from the surprise.
“Great idea,” she said. “Leave your shoes here, Benny, you won't need them,” she grinned.
Suzie watched the moment as the two walked out across the sand. They had such a similar gait, Mary's only weighted slightly by the trouble she had with her knees. She smiled fondly to herself as her mind flicked through memories of Ben growing up, then she turned back towards the house. As Suzie stepped back into the house, she heard her cell phone ringing. She hurried over to where she had it charging on the kitchen counter. She was hoping that it would be Paul. She smiled when she saw his name on the caller ID.
“Good morning,” she said as she answered the phone.
“Good morning,” he replied warmly. “I was wondering if the surprise went smoothly?”
“It did,” Suzie replied giddily. “Mary is very happy to see him.”
Suzie had shared her plans with Paul. In fact they had been talking every day and seeing each other several times during the week. He had helped with the final touches to Dune House, and put her in contact with local tradesmen when she needed them.
“Well, it might be nice if they have a night to catch up,” Paul said in a casual way.
“Yes, I'll probably just hole up in my room tonight and let them have some space,” Suzie agreed. She knew that Mary and Ben might want to have that time to talk about some private issues regarding the divorce and Ben's future plans.
“Or you could join me for dinner,” Paul suggested slyly.
Suzie's heart skipped. She had been avoiding being alone with Paul. When he was over Mary was always with them. Since he had tried to kiss her and she had turned away offering only her cheek, she had been anxious about what it would be like the next time she was alone with him. It wasn't that she didn't want to kiss him, in fact she had been spending quite an embarrassing amount of time imagining what it would be like. She just wanted to know that she would be ready. Going to dinner together would mean that they would be alone. Could she handle it?
“That would be lovely,” Suzie began. “But…”
“Oh boy,” Paul sighed with a subtle laugh. “I understand,” he said before she could even give him an excuse. Suzie wondered how long he would tolerate her pushing him away. She didn't want to give him the impression that she didn't want to be with him.
“I was going to say, but I want to go to Cheney's,” she said swiftly. “I'm dying for some pasta.”
“Cheney's it is,” Paul said sounding pleased. “Around six?”
“I'll be ready,” Suzie promised. When she hung up the phone her mind was buzzing with excitement and uncertainty.
“That sounded promising,” Mary said as she walked into the kitchen.
“You heard me?” Suzie smiled shyly.
“I heard you trying to blow him off, again,” Mary pointed out with a grim smile. “But that last part, I liked.”
“I know, I know, I just feel so torn,” Suzie sighed.
“Trust me, Suzie,” Mary said with a distant look in her eyes. “The love of a man who truly cares for you is worth the risk.”
Suzie was surprised that Mary would say that after all she had been through. Her friend was always very wise, and knew just what to say in any given situation.
“We're going to dinner, I thought that would give you and Ben some time to catch up,” Suzie explained.
“It will be perfect,” Mary nodded. “We'll order in and I'll find out the truth about these girls I've been hearing about.”
“Girls?” Suzie laughed.
“Uh huh, seems to be more than one,” Mary grimaced.
“He's young, Mary, remember that,” Suzie chuckled.
“I know, he's getting settled in his room right now. I can't believe you two kept this from me!” Mary said with playful anger.
“I'm sorry. It really was his idea. He wanted to show you his support,” Suzie sm
iled. “You've raised a really amazing young man, Mary.”
“How did that happen?” Mary laughed and shook her head.
“I know just how it happened,” Suzie smiled proudly. “Now, help me figure out what to wear, hmm?”
“Sure,” Mary agreed. As they went through Suzie's closet it felt as if they were right back in high school. It didn't matter how many years had passed, in Suzie's mind she was as young and free as she was the day she had graduated. Giggling over outfits with Mary brought back all of the wonderful times she had spent with her friend. She felt very lucky to be sharing Dune House with her.
“All right, you have three to choose from,” Mary said with a final laugh. “I'm going to check over the rooms one last time to make sure everything is in place.”
“You've already checked three times,” Suzie laughed.
“I know, I know, but one last look won't hurt,” Mary grinned as she walked out of the room.
Suzie stood in front of a full length mirror. She looked at the rose-shaded dress that was her first choice for the evening. It was a dusty shade that didn't come close to looking like a little red dress. But she still wondered if she was overdressed. She turned to see the slope of the back, and then sighed. She had already tried on several dresses and this was the one she liked best. With the decision made she changed back into work clothes and went back to work tidying and preparing for the opening.
Chapter Two
By the time Suzie looked up from the work she was doing later that day, it was nearly time to go to dinner. She tossed the dust rags she had been doing a final polish of the railings and fixtures with into a bucket, and walked towards her room. She noticed Ben standing beside one of the tall windows that overlooked the water.
“What are you up to, Ben?” Suzie asked as she paused in the hallway.
