arms extended and a warm smile on her face. Cassidy stepped to the side to allow them to embrace. The woman hugged Ben tightly and then held him at arm’s length. “Been too long, boy.” She admonished.
“I’m sorry , Sarah.” Ben hung his head looking abashed. Cassidy had never seen him look so young. “It’s been a busy planting season.” He explained weakly.
“Excuses, excuses.” The woman waved her hand in the air dismissing his explanation. “Been having so much fun up on that old mountain you’ve forgotten all about me.” She lamented playfully.
“I could never forget about you , Sarah.” Ben assured her.
“And who is this beauty?” The woman asked turning to Cassidy hooking one arm through Ben’s.
“This is Cassidy, she’s staying with us at the Inn.” Ben explained and Cassidy thought it seemed like he was intentionally being vague about her. “Cassidy, this is Sarah Davenport, she owns this restaurant.” Ben introduced.
“It’s nice to meet you.” Cassidy said extending her hand, Sarah Davenport smiled as they shook hands but eyed her shrewdly. “Ben doesn’t usually bring guests to town.” Sarah observed as she showed them to a table.
“I told her she couldn’t miss your famous clam chowder.” Ben interjected quickly. Cassidy felt like she was missing something but decided to trust Ben and follow his lead.
“I love clam chowder.” Cassidy said smiling sweetly.
Sarah continued to scrutinize the two of them. “Odd time of year for guests at Miller’s. Leaves haven’t started changing yet.”
“I was just passing through and was lucky that Ben had a room.” Cassidy offered quickly.
“People don’t usually pass through Cedar Hollow.” Sarah challenged openly. Cassidy had no idea what was going on but she was getting more uncomfortable by the moment.
“I got lost.” She shrugged innocently.
“Do you still serve food around this establishment or just grill your customers?” Ben asked playfully.
“Two clam chowders?” Sarah asked. Ben nodded. “Coming right up.” She smiled and left them at the table.
“What was that about?” Cassidy whispered as soon as they were alone.
“Sarah is just a nosy old gossip, she’s harmless, but I don’t think it’s wise to publicize your presence until I have a better idea of what’s going on.” Ben explained in hushed tones. “So it was just easier to call you a guest, otherwise the entire east coast would know who you were by tomorrow.” Ben rolled his eyes.
“Doesn’t all of Cedar Hollow already know who I am?” Cassidy whispered back.
“All three hundred of them.” Ben laughed. “But most of them don’t know what you look like.”
“Well that’s easy enough, I’m the girl they’ve never seen before.”
“That’ s true.” Ben looked frustrated. “I’m probably just being overly cautious.” He admitted.
“Ben , promise me something?” Cassidy asked, still whispering. Ben’s expression became guarded.
“What?”
“When you figure out what’s going on… will you let me know?”
Before he could respond a waitress approached the table. They both sat back in their seats, Cassidy hadn’t even realized how closely they’d leaned in toward each other until she pulled away. She looked up at the waitress who was steadily glaring at Ben. She was young and beautiful and obviously not a big fan of his. He glanced at her briefly and then looked away unconcerned. She practically dropped the bowls of clam chowder on the table and stormed away. That reminded Cassidy.
“Ben did you know the nurse from the hospital?” Cassidy asked as she tried her soup.
“Kaitlyn? Yeah, we went to high school together.” Ben explained.
“And the waitress?” Cassidy gestured with her head in the direction the waitress had gone.
“Amanda… we used to work together.” Ben confirmed.
“I’m guessing the girl who works at the hardware store…” Cassidy trailed off.
Ben nodded slowly. “Why do you
“I’m sorry , Sarah.” Ben hung his head looking abashed. Cassidy had never seen him look so young. “It’s been a busy planting season.” He explained weakly.
“Excuses, excuses.” The woman waved her hand in the air dismissing his explanation. “Been having so much fun up on that old mountain you’ve forgotten all about me.” She lamented playfully.
“I could never forget about you , Sarah.” Ben assured her.
“And who is this beauty?” The woman asked turning to Cassidy hooking one arm through Ben’s.
“This is Cassidy, she’s staying with us at the Inn.” Ben explained and Cassidy thought it seemed like he was intentionally being vague about her. “Cassidy, this is Sarah Davenport, she owns this restaurant.” Ben introduced.
“It’s nice to meet you.” Cassidy said extending her hand, Sarah Davenport smiled as they shook hands but eyed her shrewdly. “Ben doesn’t usually bring guests to town.” Sarah observed as she showed them to a table.
“I told her she couldn’t miss your famous clam chowder.” Ben interjected quickly. Cassidy felt like she was missing something but decided to trust Ben and follow his lead.
“I love clam chowder.” Cassidy said smiling sweetly.
Sarah continued to scrutinize the two of them. “Odd time of year for guests at Miller’s. Leaves haven’t started changing yet.”
“I was just passing through and was lucky that Ben had a room.” Cassidy offered quickly.
“People don’t usually pass through Cedar Hollow.” Sarah challenged openly. Cassidy had no idea what was going on but she was getting more uncomfortable by the moment.
“I got lost.” She shrugged innocently.
“Do you still serve food around this establishment or just grill your customers?” Ben asked playfully.
“Two clam chowders?” Sarah asked. Ben nodded. “Coming right up.” She smiled and left them at the table.
“What was that about?” Cassidy whispered as soon as they were alone.
“Sarah is just a nosy old gossip, she’s harmless, but I don’t think it’s wise to publicize your presence until I have a better idea of what’s going on.” Ben explained in hushed tones. “So it was just easier to call you a guest, otherwise the entire east coast would know who you were by tomorrow.” Ben rolled his eyes.
“Doesn’t all of Cedar Hollow already know who I am?” Cassidy whispered back.
“All three hundred of them.” Ben laughed. “But most of them don’t know what you look like.”
“Well that’s easy enough, I’m the girl they’ve never seen before.”
“That’ s true.” Ben looked frustrated. “I’m probably just being overly cautious.” He admitted.
“Ben , promise me something?” Cassidy asked, still whispering. Ben’s expression became guarded.
“What?”
“When you figure out what’s going on… will you let me know?”
Before he could respond a waitress approached the table. They both sat back in their seats, Cassidy hadn’t even realized how closely they’d leaned in toward each other until she pulled away. She looked up at the waitress who was steadily glaring at Ben. She was young and beautiful and obviously not a big fan of his. He glanced at her briefly and then looked away unconcerned. She practically dropped the bowls of clam chowder on the table and stormed away. That reminded Cassidy.
“Ben did you know the nurse from the hospital?” Cassidy asked as she tried her soup.
“Kaitlyn? Yeah, we went to high school together.” Ben explained.
“And the waitress?” Cassidy gestured with her head in the direction the waitress had gone.
“Amanda… we used to work together.” Ben confirmed.
“I’m guessing the girl who works at the hardware store…” Cassidy trailed off.
Ben nodded slowly. “Why do you
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