Tidewater Inn

by Colleen Coble

  ACCLAIM FOR COLLEEN COBLE

  “Colleen is a master storyteller.”

  —KAREN KINGSBURY, BEST-SELLING AUTHOR OF UNLOCKED AND LEARNING

  “Suspense, action, mystery, spiritual victory—Colleen Coble has woven them all into a compelling novel that will keep you flipping pages until the very end. I highly recommend Without a Trace.”

  —JAMES SCOTT BELL, AUTHOR OF DEADLOCK AND A HIGHER JUSTICE

  “Coble’s books have it all, romance, sass, suspense, action. I’m content to read a book that has any one of those but to find an author like Coble who does all four so well is my definition of bliss.”

  —MARY CONNEALY, AUTHOR OF DOCTOR IN PETTICOATS

  “Coble captivates readers with her compelling characters. Action-packed . . . highly recommended!”

  —DIANNE BURNETT, CHRISTIANBOOK.COM

  “[The Lightkeeper’s Ball] has romance, mystery, secrets and a bad guy. Coble wows the reader with a fresh storyline. Readers will enjoy peeling back the layers and discovering this is more than your average romance book. The characters are strong not only in themselves but also in their faith.”

  —ROMANTIC TIMES, 4 STARS

  “Coble’s historical series (The Lightkeeper’s Daughter; The Lightkeeper’s Bride) just keeps getting better with each entry. Coble has a strong feel for the time period (in this case, 1910) and has scripted believable characters in suspenseful situations.”

  —LIBRARY JOURNAL, STARRED REVIEW

  WHAT READERS ARE SAYING

  “I have always been a hopeless romantic . . . When I began reading your books I couldn’t put them down. I love not just the romance but the connection I feel with God when I read your books. It really is incredible!”

  —JENNIFER

  “I just finished Blue Moon Promise and it was outstanding! I am so looking forward to Safe in His Arms! Thank you for sharing your God-given talent with us.”

  —NANCY

  “I love your books! I am a big fan :) You are by far my favorite author.”

  —KATELYN

  “I wanted to let you know that I am reading Blue Moon Promise and I can’t put it down. I love the way you write! I’ve read your Lonestar series and I can’t wait to read Tidewater Inn.”

  —JEAN

  “You are such an amazing writer and person. I’ve been dealing with lots of health issues, and on my ‘bad days’ I turn to your books to keep me inspired, to keep me thinking positive thoughts, and to help get me through the tough times. Thanks for being an inspiration and for all that you do to include your reader friends in your life.”

  —BECKY

  “I just read The Lightkeeper’s Daughter, The Lightkeeper’s Bride and The Lightkeeper’s Ball. I could not put them down. I also read the first two books of the Lonestar series and I can’t wait to get my hands on the next two. I loved them all!!”

  —ADELE

  “I finished Lonestar Angel and just loved it!! Sure would love for that series to go on and on, keeps getting better and better.”

  —TERESA

  “I just finished the Rock Harbor Series . . . I loved it. You should see my house, laundry, dishes, etc. I haven’t done a thing in days. I literally couldn’t put the books down. I am off to find Alaska Twilight. You are by far my new favorite author. I am from Indiana too, and have visited the UP before. I could almost smell the woods, feel the wind and hear the waves. Thanks for a truly amazing series.”

  —TANYA

  “I just wanted to say thank you for writing the Rock Harbor series. I lost my son in a car accident 12 years ago this month. They waited to bury him when I woke from a coma. I don’t remember the accident or barely the funeral. It felt like a nightmare, very unreal and out of body. In your book, she got her little boy back, but she also learned to not be so angry with God. That is something I will always have to work on. I feel very guilty for that, but I am angry. Your book has helped me with that some. I look forward to more in the series, strangely it gave me a peace.”

  —TIFFANY

  “I am so very excited about your new books coming out! I have read almost everything you have put out in the last five years! I am counting down the days till the next Harbor Rock book comes out, and I am pre-ordering Cry In The Night this weekend! Thank you so much for all you do! Not only have I enjoyed the story lines, I feel like it’s a daily devotional as well!”

  —BESS

  “I just finished your Lonestar Sanctuary novel & LOVED IT! I am a HUGE cowgirl/rodeo fan at heart and worked with troubled children so it really spoke to my heart. I am so glad I have discovered such a wonderful author and will highly recommend your books to my friends and book club!”

  —KIM

  “The number one gift on my wish list was The Lightkeeper’s Ball. I read the first two of the Mercy Falls Novels and I LOVED THEM! I’m a huge history nut and I thought that these books were FANTASTIC!!”

  —EM

  “I just love your books! Rock Harbor is my favorite series. That series has rich plot, deep characterization, gorgeous backdrop, engaging dialogue. And I can’t help hoping Bree keeps whispering secrets and suggestions to you about keeping the series going. There’s still more to be told!”

  —MARY

  TIDEWATER INN

  TIDEWATER INN

  A HOPE BEACH NOVEL

  By Colleen Coble

  © 2012 by Colleen Coble

  All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or other—except for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

  Published in Nashville, Tennessee, by Thomas Nelson. Thomas Nelson is a registered trademark of Thomas Nelson, Inc.

  Thomas Nelson, Inc., titles may be purchased in bulk for educational, business, fund-raising, or sales promotional use. For information, please e-mail SpecialMarkets@ThomasNelson.com.

  Scripture quotations are taken from THE NEW KING JAMES VERSION. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

  Publisher’s Note: This novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. All characters are fictional, and any similarity to people living or dead is purely coincidental.

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Coble, Colleen.

  Tidewater Inn / by Colleen Coble.

  p. cm. -- (A Hope Beach novel ; 1)

  ISBN 978-1-59554-781-1 (trade paper)

  1. Hotels--Conservation and restoration--Fiction. 2. Kidnapping--Fiction. I. Title.

  PS3553.O2285T53 2012

  813'.54--dc23

  2012012625

  Printed in the United States of America

  12 13 14 15 16 17 QG 6 5 4 3 2 1

  For Erin Healy

  Editor extraordinaire and friend

  CONTENTS

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  ONE

  TWO

  THREE

  FOUR

  FIVE

  SIX

  SEVEN

  EIGHT

  NINE

  TEN

  ELEVEN

  TWELVE

  THIRTEEN

  FOURTEEN

  FIFTEEN

  SIXTEEN

  SEVENTEEN

  EIGHTEEN

  NINETEEN

  TWENTY

  TWENTY-ONE

  TWENTY-TWO

  TWENTY-THREE

  TWENTY-FOUR

  TWENTY-FIVE

  TWENTY-SIX

  TWENTY-SEVEN

  TWENTY-EIGHT

  TWENTY-NINE

  THIR
TY

  THIRTY-ONE

  THIRTY-TWO

  THIRTY-THREE

  THIRTY-FOUR

  THIRTY-FIVE

  THIRTY-SIX

  THIRTY-SEVEN

  THIRTY-EIGHT

  THIRTY-NINE

  FORTY

  FORTY-ONE

  FORTY-TWO

  DEAR READER

  READING GROUP GUIDE

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  This book is a little bittersweet for me. It’s my twenty-first project with Thomas Nelson, and Erin Healy has edited all but three of those stories. She’s a fabulous writer in her own right, and Tidewater Inn is her last book to edit before plunging full time into her own wonderful novels. Thank you, Erin, for all the things you’ve taught me in the nine years we’ve worked together. We have been partners from that first Rock Harbor novel, Without a Trace. I treasure your friendship and your wisdom, and I’m so grateful for all the time you’ve spent on my novels. Love you, girl! I will be screaming from the sidelines for you louder than anyone else as you soar to the heights!

  My Thomas Nelson team is my family and I love them and thank God for them every day. They helped me brainstorm this particular book too, and it was so fun to write because of that! Publisher Allen Arnold is loved by everyone in the industry—including me! He’s a rock star! Senior Acquisitions Editor Ami McConnell (my dear friend and cheerleader) has an eye for character and theme like no one I know. I crave her analytical eye and love her heart. She’s truly like a daughter to me. Marketing Manager Eric Mullett brings fabulous ideas to the table. Publicist Katie Bond is always willing to listen to my harebrained ideas. Extraordinary cover guru Kristen Vasgaard (you so rock!) works hard to create the perfect cover—and does it. And, of course, I can’t forget my other friends who are all part of my amazing fiction family: Natalie Hanemann, Amanda Bostic, Becky Monds, Ashley Schneider, Ruthie Dean, Jodi Hughes, Heather McCulloch, Dean Arvidson, and Megan Leedle. I wish I could name all the great folks who work on selling my books through different venues at Thomas Nelson. Hearing “well done” from you all is my motivation every day.

  My agent, Karen Solem, has helped shape my career in many ways, and that includes kicking an idea to the curb when necessary. Thanks, Karen, you’re the best!

  Writing can be a lonely business, but God has blessed me with great writing friends and critique partners. Hannah Alexander (Cheryl Hodde), Kristin Billerbeck, Diann Hunt, and Denise Hunter make up the Girls Write Out squad (www.GirlsWriteOut.blogspot.com). I couldn’t make it through a day without my peeps! Thanks to all of you for the work you do on my behalf, and for your friendship. I had great brainstorming help for this book from Robin Caroll. Thank you, friends!

  I’m so grateful for my husband, Dave, who carts me around from city to city, washes towels, and chases down dinner without complaint. Thanks, honey! I couldn’t do anything without you. My kids—Dave and Kara (and now Donna and Mark)—and my grandsons, James and Jorden Packer, love and support me in every way possible. Love you guys! Donna and Dave brought me the delight of my life—our little granddaughter, Alexa! I hope she understands soon what her Mimi does for a living as I’m about to embark on a children’s book project for her.

  Most importantly, I give my thanks to God, who has opened such amazing doors for me and makes the journey a golden one.

  ONE

  Libby Holladay fought her way through the brambles to the overgrown garden. She paused to wave a swarm of gnats away from her face. The house was definitely in the Federal style, as she’d been told. Palladian windows flanked a centered door, or rather the opening for a door. The structure was in serious disrepair. Moss grew on the roof, and fingers of vine pried through the brick mortar. The aroma of honeysuckle vied with that of mildew.

  She stepped closer to the house and jotted a few impressions in her notebook before moving inside to the domed living room. The floorboards were missing in places and rotted in others, so she planted her tan flats carefully. She could almost see the original occupants in this place. She imagined her own furniture grouped around the gorgeous fireplace. She’d love to have this place, but something so grand that needed this much repair would never be hers. The best she could do would be to preserve it for someone else who would love it. She itched to get started.

  Her cell phone rang, and she groped in her canvas bag for it. Glancing at the display, she saw her partner’s name. “Hey, Nicole,” she said. “You should see this place. A gorgeous Federal-style mansion. I think it was built in 1830. And the setting by the river is beautiful. Or it will be once the vegetation is tamed.” Perching on the window seat, she made another note about the fireplace. “Nicole? Are you there?”

  There was a long pause, then Nicole finally spoke. “I’m here.”

  “You sound funny. What’s wrong?” Nicole was usually talkative, and Libby couldn’t remember the last time she’d heard strain in her friend’s voice. “Are you still in the Outer Banks? Listen, I heard there might be a hurricane heading that way.” She dug into her purse for her jalapeño jellybeans and popped one in her mouth.

  “I’m here,” Nicole said. “The residents are sure the storm will miss Hope Island. The investor is really interested in this little town. And we have the chance to make a boatload of money on it. It’s all in your hands.”

  “My hands? You’re the one with the money smarts.”

  Nicole was the mover and shaker in Holladay Renovations. She convinced owners to dramatically increase the value of their historic properties by entrusting them to Libby’s expertise. Libby had little to do with the money side of the business, and that was how she liked it.

  “I think I’d better go back to the beginning,” Nicole said. “Rooney sent me here to see about renovating some buildings in the small downtown area. He’s working on getting a ferry to the island. It will bring in a lot more tourism for the hotel he’s planning, but the buildings need to be restored to draw new business.”

  “I know that much. But what do you mean ‘it’s in my hands’?” Libby glanced at her notes, then around the room again. This was taking up her time, and she wanted to get back to work. “We’re doing the lifesaving station for sure, right?”

  “Yes, I’ve already seen it. We were right to buy that sweet building outright. After you get your hands on it, we’ll make a bundle and have instant credibility here. I’ve started making notes of the materials and crew we’ll need. But I’m not calling about the renovations. I’m talking a lot of money, Libby. Millions.”

  That got Libby’s attention. “Millions?”

  “I stopped by the local attorney’s office to see about having him handle the paperwork for our purchase of the lifesaving station. Horace Whittaker. He’s got both our names on the paperwork now.”

  “So?”

  “The secretary gasped when she heard your name.”

  “She knew me?”

  “The attorney has been looking for a Libby Holladay. Daughter of Ray Mitchell.”

  “That’s my dad’s name.”

  “I thought it might be. I’d heard you mention the name Ray, but I wasn’t sure of the last name.”

  Libby rubbed her head. “Why is he looking for me? My father has been dead a long time—since I was five.”

  “He died a month ago, Libby. And he left you some valuable land. In fact, it’s the land Rooney thought he had agreed to purchase. So we’re in the driver’s seat on this deal.” Nicole’s voice rose.

  Libby gasped, then she swallowed hard. “It’s a hoax. I bet the attorney asked for a fee, right?”

  “No, it’s real. According to the secretary, your father was living in the Outer Banks all this time. And Horace has a box of letters Ray wrote to you that were all marked Return to Sender. It appears your mother refused them.”

  Libby’s midsection plunged. Throughout her childhood she’d asked her mother about her father. There were never any answers. Surely her mother wouldn’t have lied. Libby stared out the window
at two hummingbirds buzzing near the overgrown flowers.

  “Do you have any idea how much money this land is worth?” Nicole’s voice quivered. “It’s right along the ocean. There’s a charming little inn.”

  It sounded darling. “What’s the area like?”

  “Beautiful but remote.” Nicole paused. “Um, listen, there’s something else. I met a woman who looked like you a couple days ago.”

  Libby eased off the window ledge. “Who is she?”

  “Your half sister, Vanessa. You also have a brother, Brent. He’s twenty-two.”

  “My father married again?” Libby couldn’t take it all in. This morning she had no family but a younger stepbrother, whom she rarely saw. Why had her mother kept all this from her? “What about my father’s wife?”

  “She doesn’t seem to be around. But there’s an aunt too.”

  Family. For as long as she could remember, Libby had longed for a large extended family. Her free-spirited mother was always wanting to see some new and exciting place. They had never lived at the same address for more than two years at a time.

  “You need to get here right away,” Nicole said. “There are a million details to take care of. This is the big deal we’ve been praying for, Libby. You will never want for anything again, and you’ll have plenty of money to help your stepbrother. He can get out of that trailer with his family.”

  The thought of buying her stepbrother’s love held some appeal. They weren’t close, but not because she hadn’t tried. “I can’t get away until tomorrow, Nicole. I have to finish up here first. We have other clients.”