The Innkeeper's Secret: His Daughter

n hired his new assistant, a woman who looked just like his d

e was pregnant with his son. And for months, the prenatal vitami

rayal caused me to mis

ook my family's company, and left me with noth

urn it all down with me inside, I disc

death and d

quiet inn I now own with his family

pte

ith his executive assistant, Charley Hood. The world tilted, then crashed. That same morning, a tin

. I drove without direction, the Hamptons estate, our home, pulling me like a magnet. Not for comfort, but f

hed from a distance, the heat a strange comfort against the chill in my bones. No one

miliar balm. The Vermont air was crisp, clean, so different from the hum

me back to the present. She pointed at a glossy bro

d, stared back at me from the guest registration. My world, so carefully

a silver streak at his temples that hadn't been there five years ago.

ded on me. He froze. The laugh died on his lips, replaced by a look of

come to The Haven, sir," I said, my voice st

cus unwavering. "Alysa?" His voice was a whi

formal. "You must have me confused with s

urrowed. "But... you l

. A woman stood beside him, her hand linked through his arm. Charley. Her ey

. Roth," I said, my voice dripping with an iron

earching for something. He looked uncertain, lo

e, darted from behind Charley, cling

ach churn. "We'll get you some snacks, darling." She loo

pted, her voice lilti

... it's nothing." He turned to Charley, a carefully constructe

ng from curiosity to something colder. She tighten

the lobby from the back room, her bright pink backpa

He looked at Emma, then at me, then back at Emma, a terrifying question forming in their b

ice barely a breath. The words hung i