Chapter9
As Felicity and Brent entered the B&B, Gran greeted them. “Glad you two made it back before the storm hit.” She glanced out the window at the darkening sky. “Looks like it’s going to be a doozy.”
She nodded, relieved they’d beaten the rain. “We were just at Coastal Coffee when we noticed the clouds rolling in.”
“Good thing you didn’t linger too long, then.” The lights flickered and Gran frowned. “I was about to go searching for the battery-powered lanterns. Would you mind helping me? They should be in the storage room. I want to have them handy, just in case.”
“Of course.” Brent nodded. “Glad to help.”
As Felicity led the way to the storage room, the lights flickered ominously. Gran’s voice called out, “Better hurry and find those lanterns. We might need them sooner than we thought.”
She began rummaging through the shelves, past canned peaches and Gran’s strawberry jam in neat rows of glass jars, and boxes of paper products. She scanned the shelves, looking for the familiar shape of the lanterns. Brent looked at a set of shelves just to her left. Just as she thought she’d found them, the lights went out completely, plunging them into darkness.
A startled gasp escaped her lips. A wave of unease washed over her as the darkness pressed in from all sides. But then Brent’s warm voice broke through the silence. “It’s okay. I’m right over here. Say something and I’ll come to you.”
“I’m over here.”
Soon she felt the gentle pressure of his hand on her arm, steadying her. The simple gesture sent a flutter through her, and she was grateful for the darkness that hid the blush creeping up her cheeks.
Brent took out his phone, the soft glow of the screen illuminating their surroundings. In the faint light, she spotted the lanterns on a nearby shelf. She reached out and grabbed them, handing some to Brent.
His fingers brushed against hers as he took the lantern. Again, she was grateful for the dim light as the warmth of another blush flooded her cheeks. She reached out and grabbed some more lanterns.
She needed to get a grip on this blushing thing.
Brent turned on one of the lanterns and held it high. They made their way back to the kitchen, the lantern casting a gentle glow in the darkened inn. Gran looked up as they entered, relief evident on her face. “Ah, good.”
Brent set the lantern on the counter, its light pushing back the shadows. “We found them, Darlene. Looks like you’re prepared for whatever this storm brings.”
“I need to go knock on everyone’s door and offer them a lantern. And I’ll put some by the front door to give anyone when they come back if they aren’t here.”
“I’ll bring the lanterns to the guests,” Felicity offered, not wanting Gran walking around in the dim light.
“I’ll help you,” Brent insisted.
They each grabbed a few lanterns and headed upstairs, the light from the lanterns casting dancing shadows on the walls.
“I’ll take the east wing if you want to cover the west,” Brent suggested.
She nodded, grateful for his efficiency. “Sounds good. Meet you back here when we’re done?”
As she made her way down the hallway, she knocked on each door, offering a lantern to the guests inside. Most were grateful for the extra light, though a few showed her that they had come prepared with their own flashlights.
She’d never been that organized when she traveled, she thought wryly. Just last year when she came to the island, she’d forgotten her swimsuit of all things. Gran had just laughed and sent her off to go shop for a new one.
When she reached the last room in her section, there was no answer to her knock. She tried again, calling out softly, “Hello? It’s Felicity from the front desk. I have a lantern for you if you need one.”
Still no response. She carefully placed the lantern on the floor next to the door, hoping the guests would find it when they returned.
She met Brent back at the top of the stairs. “Any luck with yours?”
He shook his head. “One room didn’t answer. I left a lantern outside their door too. Ready to head back down?”
They descended the stairs by lanternlight. Gran was waiting for them in the kitchen.
“How did it go?” she asked.
“We got most of the rooms,” she replied. “Two didn’t answer, so we left lanterns outside their doors.”
