EIGHT
Maddie watchedthe children playing near the water’s edge and the waves crashing on the beach as the sound of a fighter jet filled the air. A moment later, the children disappeared, and Jimi Hendrix appeared suspended over the sand with his guitar. Soon, his voice and music drowned out all other sounds. Mesmerized, she watched his fingers dance over the guitar strings. But why was he here, and how could he remain in the air like that?
As a wave crashed on the beach, Keith and a blonde wearing a bright red bikini appeared, holding hands and walking along the sand. When they reached a sandcastle, he put his hand on her breast like in the photo as she whispered in his ear. Then, just as suddenly as the couple appeared, they and Jimi Hendrix began to fade. Somehow, though, she could still hear his music. She didn’t remember the song’s name, but she’d heard it before. Keith often played the man’s music in his truck.
Thud.Maddie’s head bounced off the truck window, and the beach instantly disappeared. Opening her eyes, she shifted in her seat as the song Hendrix sang in her dream continued to come through the truck’s speakers.
Explains why the man was in my dream.
As for the appearance of Keith with another woman, well, she’d had similar dreams ever since Lisa sent her those photos. Each time it happened, or she thought about the pictures, a weird combination of anger and regret bombarded Maddie. Not surprisingly, the anger was directed toward the blonde who’d come on to Keith. Who did the woman think she was?
Maddie’s lack of trust in Keith caused her feelings of regret. For over a year and a half, they’d worked dangerous assignments where they depended on each other to remain safe. Keith wouldn’t betray her trust by cheating when he knew, tomorrow, she might be the only thing standing between him and a trip to the hospital or worse—just one fact Alex had reminded her of on Tuesday night. And one she would’ve eventually remembered when the shock of seeing Keith with the woman—who Alex had referred to as a floozy—wore off.
“Have a nice nap?” Keith glanced in her direction briefly before focusing on the road again.
She’d closed her eyes because of a headache, not so she could take a nap. “Well, my headache is gone.” But, unfortunately, a cramp in her neck had replaced it. It was bound to happen when you fell asleep with your head resting on a truck window. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to fall asleep. How long was I out?”
Yesterday they’d caught a late-afternoon flight out of Dulles airport. After landing at TF Green, which, according to Keith, was in Warwick, not Providence as everyone always claimed, they’d driven straight to his parents’ house. There she’d been greeted by not only Reggie and Erica Wallace at dinner but also Keith’s two sisters, his brother-in-law, Dan, and his niece, Bella. Then, not long after a late breakfast this morning, they’d hopped on Interstate 95 toward Maine. However, she remembered seeing the sign stating they were crossing into New Hampshire, so she’d fallen asleep sometime between then and now.
“About an hour. It’s probably a good thing you got some rest now.” The car in front of them stopped when the traffic light turned yellow, leaving Keith no other choice but to do the same. “You won’t be getting much rest tonight.” The glint in Keith’s eyes as he smiled was guaranteed to melt any woman with a pulse. Maddie included.
If he’d told her how long the drive from his parents’ house to their hotel in Maine would take, Maddie didn’t remember. “Are we almost there?”
If they’d be there soon, she could wait. Otherwise, she needed Keith to find her a bathroom.
“About another ten minutes.”
If it meant not using a public restroom, she could wait another ten minutes.
“But I was going to stop at Marginal Way and then the market. I want to pick up some wine and snacks for the room.”
Maddie often did the same when on vacation, so she didn’t spend a fortune eating out or on room service. And she was curious about Marginal Way. Both Keith’s mom and his sister had mentioned the location last night when they learned Maddie had never been to Maine.
“Can we check in and then go do that?”
“Whatever you want.”
Roughly ten minutes later, Keith turned into the parking lot for the Admiral’s Resort. Unlike more traditional hotels, the resort consisted of five four-story buildings, four of which appeared to be connected. With fall upon them, the owners had decorated the grounds with pumpkins, mums, and the biggest scarecrow she’d ever seen.
The fall-themed decorations didn’t end at the main entrance. Orange and burgundy mums that were reminiscent of the fall foliage outside added color to the lobby. A cornucopia filled with mini pumpkins, different types of squashes, and colorful leaves sat on the mantel over the fireplace.
“Your suite is in the Sebago Wing. Just follow this hallway to the end and take a right.” The hotel employee at the registration desk gestured toward the hallway running past the fireplace. “Our indoor pool and the Roman bath are both open from seven in the morning until ten at night. The fitness room has the same hours, and it’s located in the basement of the Echo Wing. You will need your room key to access it.”
Maddie could see the indoor pool. Like most indoor hotel pools, it was much smaller than the one she’d noticed outside. Fully enclosed in glass, the area currently being used by a couple with two children appeared inviting. Later tonight, she wouldn’t mind coming down for a swim, especially if they had the area to themselves. Unfortunately, there was no sign of the Roman bath the employee mentioned, and she wondered what they’d find there.
“Since it is the off-season, Acadia only serves dinner. There should be a menu in your suite. The restaurant provides room service. You should also find a map of the area in your suite.” After inserting two room keys into a holder, the employee handed it to Keith. “If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to call the front desk. Enjoy your stay.”
Maddie waited until they were down the hall before speaking. “Echo and Sebago are interesting names for a hotel to use.”
“The owners named all the wings after lakes in Maine. And in case you couldn’t guess, the restaurant takes its name from the national park further north.”
She’d assumed that. Even though she’d never spent time in the state, she’d heard of Acadia National Park. “You’ve stayed here before?”
Keith had insisted on not only making their hotel reservations but also paying for their stay. Finally, she’d given in after he reminded her they were only traveling here this weekend so he could attend his friend’s wedding.
“Three or four times. But my parents always stay either here or at Seabrook By The Sea. I tried to book something there because it overlooks the ocean, but they didn’t have any suites available this weekend.”
A standard room would’ve sufficed since they were staying only two nights. But hey, it was Keith’s money. He could spend it any way he wanted.