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“Slice of Life, now.” Amelia had all but run from the boat to the others waiting, directing everyone to the Village’s pizzeria. It sat squarely in the middle of the plaza with ample outdoor seating. They didn’t have to wait for a hostess, they could seat themselves and get straight down to business.
Which Amelia did.
Everyone had joined, except for the marina manager, who’d disappeared before Amelia rushed off the pier and into the plaza. Now, they were waiting for her to explain.
Kate held her hands out over the table. “Let’s just calm down a minute. They don’t even know what’s going on,” she lifted a hand to the motley group of men whose faces drew up in concern. Sarah, for her part, had plucked a menu from the hostess stand and was busying herself for an order. None of them had eaten dinner yet. Food felt like a priority even to Amelia. But it had to wait while she revealed her hunch.
Briefly, Amelia brought everyone up to speed, reviewing the truth about Nora and Gene’s history and covering the fact that it seemed increasingly clear that Wendell might have died, by accident or, more darkly, otherwise.
“So, let me get this straight,” Brian interjected. His tone was at once warm and also skeptical. Amelia glanced at Megan, who, impossibly, did not actually seem annoyed with him. “Your mom had a teen pregnancy with this Gene Carmichael guy and gave the child up for adoption, just like Kate—in a way, except she never got to see the baby again. Then, after you all returned from hiding Kate’s pregnancy, your dad had vanished. Everyone thought he left you and your mom, but now you’re saying some people think he actually died?”
Amelia began to nod, but it was Michael who offered an answer. He cleared his throat. “May I add something?”
“Please do,” Amelia said, still sitting on her latest theory.
“When I came to town and resurrected my granddad’s business, there was no hint of whatever happened with Wendell. When I eventually learned about it, through tidbits from Nora and now from Amelia, I felt like the answer was clear: he left. Now, I still think that’s the truth. And if you can find the daughter Nora and Gene had, maybe you’ll find out if she sprung the truth on Wendell. If so, then it makes even more sense for him to cut bait. I hate to even say that, but...”
Amelia sighed. “I see what you mean, Michael. But if what I’m thinking is true, then your idea makes less sense, actually.”
“Amelia,” Kate spat, “what in the world are you thinking?”
But before the sentence could even fly out of her mouth, Michael grabbed her hand. “Oh, my word. I know exactly what you’re thinking.”
They spoke at once, their words and inflection perfectly synchronized.
“Liesel Hart.”