Welcome to Lavender Lass Books - Thursday Newsletter! Abigail and I have decided to publish The Magic of Burrows Bay one chapter at a time. As always, you can find out more information on these and all our other books at the Lavender Lass Books website.

Lavender Lass Books

We’ve created a group on Facebook just for our Thursday newsletter! It’s a fun place to talk about all things Burrows Bay related…and as we progress through the story, you’ll find out why we post all those 1920s-inspired dresses. Hope you’ll join us!

Burrows Bay Series - Facebook

And a reminder that we have a few FREE ebooks and offer 25% off all other ebooks at our Lavender Lass BookShop!

Lavender Lass BookShop

Finally, here is the next chapter of The Magic of Burrows Bay! We’ll have a new chapter every Thursday, so we hope you enjoy the story!

Maggie McCrae knew her granddaughters were not ready for the legacy she must leave them. The house, the grounds and everything that went with it would now be theirs. She vowed she would do all she could to protect them and hopefully, give them the time they needed to fulfill their destiny. Gabriella and Moira must learn to trust themselves and each other as they discover the true magic of Burrows Bay.

And remember, you can always catch up on all earlier chapters here.

Previous Newsletters

Chapter 14

Moira woke up and looked at the clock on her bedside table. Eleven in the morning. Eleven in the morning? How could she have slept so late?

She jumped out of bed and ran to Gabbi’s room. Knocking on the door, she walked in saying, “It’s eleven in the morning! How did we oversleep?”

“What’s the big deal?” Gabbi muttered, her head under the covers. “It’s not like we have to go to work.”

“No,” Moira replied, “but you were supposed to call your boss at ten, and I was supposed to remind you. They expected you thirty minutes ago.”

Gabbi started laughing. “I know I should have a better work ethic, but that restaurant is terrible. And my boss is a jerk. His hands are everywhere but on the food.”

Moira started to giggle. “How did you put up with him for so long? Or should I ask, how did he survive so long?”

Gabbi winked. “I introduced him to my favorite set of knives and explained if he was fond of his fingers, he’d keep them to himself.”

Moira sat on the edge of the bed. “He probably wouldn’t give you a good reference anyway. At least, you can take a long vacation while we fix up the house. Arthur said we should have our money by the end of the week for repairs.”

“Your coffee partner won’t be here for another three hours.” Gabbi looked at her watch. “Why don’t we explore that turret of yours? Maybe it will be a mystery we can actually solve.”

“Good idea,” Moira agreed, getting up from the bed. “I’ll make us some French toast, and then we’ll investigate.”

“Deal,” Gabbi smiled. “I’ll meet you in the kitchen. I don’t have a date, so I’m going to grab a shower and then the bathroom will be all yours this afternoon.”

Moira walked downstairs and started breakfast. The kitchen needed some updating, but it was a nice space. Her favorite part was the table in the bay window and the view, which showed she was not a cook. She really looked at the appliances and their relationship to one another as she made French toast. It was a long walk from the fridge to the sink and there was almost no counter space between the sink and the range. It was okay for her, but it must drive Gabbi crazy.

Then she had a wonderful idea! A way to do something special for Gabbi after everything she had done for her. She’d research kitchens and then sit down and help her plan out the kitchen of her dreams. Within their budget of course, but one that would make her happy. They would probably have to sell the house, but it needed to be redone. Marissa was right about that. So, why not have some fun with it? If they started next week, when they got their money, it might be ready for the holidays.

Moira looked around the space again and realized the kitchen needed one of those big islands with all the stools. Somewhere people could visit with the cook, and theoretically help, but usually just drink coffee. She smiled, thinking she’d start her research tonight and maybe surprise Gabbi this weekend. She was putting French toast on the plates when Gabbi walked in.

“Oh, you even warmed up the syrup,” Gabbi said, happily. “Most people don’t do that anymore.”

“In a pan on the burner, not in the microwave.” Moira smiled. “Grandma Dunbar was very particular about her syrup. She passed away three years ago, and I really miss her. Especially, during the holidays. She made wonderful Christmas cookies.”

“We should do that,” Gabbi stated, pouring more syrup on her toast, “the Christmas cookies. It would be fun.”

“And it’s something I know how to make,” Moira replied, “or at least I’m good at the decorating. My grandmother always made the dough ahead and had it chilling in the fridge. Sugar cookies and gingerbread men every year. We’d roll them out, bake them and have a great time decorating. Then cocoa to go with the cookies when we were all done.”

Gabbi smiled. “It’s nice to have memories like that. I have some of those with my Dad when I was little. We used to make cookies and set them out for Santa every Christmas Eve.”

“You should call him,” Moira suggested.

Gabbi nodded. “I should. I mentioned it the other evening, but I’m going to do it right now! Well, as soon as I finish breakfast. This is really good.”

Moira laughed. “Thank you. Compliments are always appreciated. Why don’t you call your dad, and I’ll do the dishes?”

“Thanks,” Gabbi replied. “We’ll investigate the turret as soon as I’m off the phone.”

Half an hour later, they’d looked over every square inch of space on the wall where the turret door should be but had found nothing. Gabbi shook her head. “I should have asked my dad if he knew anything about it. Why didn’t I think of that while I had him on the phone?”

“He is coming up to see you,” Moira said, smiling. “That’s a big deal. He hasn’t been back to the house in a long time, has he?”

“Not since he left to join the military.” Gabbi looked around. “I guess too many bad memories, then being stationed all over the place. When he finally retired, Gran was out of the country most of the time.”

“How long can he stay?” Moira asked, hoping to have company for the holidays. She doubted her parents would leave the paper long enough to visit.

“Actually, he shared some interesting news.” Gabbi looked down at the floor for a moment, not wanting to appear too excited. “He sold his share of the restaurant last week. He’s been looking for a new investment, but there’s nothing keeping him in San Francisco any longer.”

“Oh Gabbi, that’s wonderful! Why don’t you ask him to stay here with us?” Moira grabbed her cousin and hugged her. “You finally get to spend some time with your dad.”

“I know.” Gabbi looked up and her eyes were dancing. “He’s insisting on getting a hotel room in Anacortes and said he would fly up sometime next week. He’s going to phone me with the details.” Deciding to change the subject, she tapped the wall against the turret lightly with her fist. “I just can’t believe this wall doesn’t open up. Why have the space and not be able to get into it?”

“Maybe they sealed it up when they remodeled for the bed and breakfast,” Moira speculated.

“That’s possible. It might have been unsafe by then and easier just to put drywall over the opening.” Gabbi frowned. “But that doesn’t seem like Gran, does it?”

“No, it doesn’t” Moira agreed, “and that’s probably what’s bothering me. I can’t picture Gran walling over any secrets of the house without leaving a way to access them. Especially after finding the secret compartment in the library.”

“Maybe it’s accessed in some other way,” Gabbi said. “Not the wall itself, but some trigger located nearby.”

“The fireplace!” they both exclaimed at once.

“It’s like the ones in the parlor and dining room only a smaller size,” noted Gabbi. “Very pretty.”

“Just like yours except it’s not painted white. I do like the wood with the green tiles.” Moira smiled. She looked at them more closely and one of the vines seemed to be pointing to the right, rather than up. “Why didn’t I notice this before?” She pointed at the tile.

“Because you weren’t looking for secret passages or hidden rooms. We both need to be more observant.” Gabbi smiled. “It’s your room. Do you want to do the honors?”

Moira nodded and tried moving the tile. It didn’t budge at first and she thought maybe they were wrong, but slowly the tile pulled out from the fireplace and started to turn. When the ivy pointed straight up, the wall popped forward a few inches to the right of the fireplace. The opening was only three feet high, but they put their fingers in at the top and slowly pried it open.

“It’s so short,” Moira said, “but I guess that makes sense. The turret is not a full two stories tall.”

“Oh, look at this,” Gabbi gasped. “It’s wonderful.”

Moira peeked in and smiled. “It’s a toy room. A child-sized toy room with rounded shelves on one side. This would be perfect for small children.”

“Look at the names.” Gabbi pointed to the printing above the shelves. “Fiona, Violet and Sarah. Do you think Agnes had more children?”

“Either that or we’re looking at the second generation of the Three at a very young age,” Moira said, smiling. “Look at this stuffed bear. And the doll.”

“This would have been an awesome bedroom for a little girl.” Gabbi looked around the space more closely. “The window seat, the fireplace, the toy room. I would have loved this when I was younger.”

“I love it now!” Moira laughed. “I can’t even imagine how much fun this would have been at six years-old.”

“Well, one mystery solved.” Gabbi looked at her watch. “But you have a coffee date in about an hour. Better seal this up and get in the shower. Unless, you think Detective Jack has a thing for dust bunnies?”

Moira glanced in the mirror over the dresser. “Oh, yes…definitely an acquired taste. Maybe, I’ll wait and share this look on a later date.”

“At least, you see hope for the future.” Gabbi smiled. “Seriously, go have fun and see if this guy has any long-term possibilities. I’m going downstairs to start on the shopping list. Remember, I’ll answer the door.”

“Thanks,” Moira replied. “Do you think you can come back up in a few minutes and help me with my hair? It really looked nice last time when you put that fluffy stuff on it.”

Gabbi laughed. “It’s called mousse. And yes, I’ll help you. Now, go get in the shower, and I’ll close up the secret toy turret. It’s adorable but a little musty.”

“We’ll air it out later,” Moira agreed. “I’m going!” she said as Gabbi gave her an impatient look.

When Moira came down the stairs an hour later, Detective Jack Stewart was not there yet. “You’re supposed to make a grand entrance,” Gabbi reminded her. “Go sit at the breakfast table, so he has to come inside. I want to get a good look at him.”

“Fine,” Moira agreed, “but be nice.”

“I’m always nice,” Gabbi replied, arching one eyebrow, “but I will be especially nice to your handsome detective.”

Moira laughed and walked into the kitchen, imagining a few other possibilities for the remodel. With Uncle Montgomery coming to see them, she’d have two chefs inputting their ideas. It should be a fabulous kitchen if they could make it work with their budget. She’d taken a few minutes upstairs to do a little research on her phone. Kitchen remodels could cost anywhere from a few thousand dollars to a few hundred thousand. She thought they could afford around fifty thousand of the money Arthur was holding in trust and still get a good return on their investment.

She was still adding figures in her head when there was a knock on the door. He doesn’t use the doorbell, she thought, smiling. Why she liked that, she wasn’t sure. She could hear Gabbi talking, then they walked into the kitchen together.

“Moira, there’s a Detective Stewart here to see you,” Gabbi said sweetly while winking at Moira behind Jack’s back.

Moira smiled. “It’s good to see you again, Detective.”

“Jack,” he reminded her. “I thought we could have coffee in town, but if your cousin…”

“Oh no, she’s just about to go out and do some shopping, aren’t you?” Moira looked at Gabbi, pointedly.

“Just about to walk out the door when you knocked. I’ll see you two later and be sure to lock up.” Gabbi grabbed her jacket off the hook by the pantry on her way out the front door.”

Moira smiled. “I’ll just get my coat.” She picked it up and walked with Jack out to his black sedan. “This is a nice car,” she said as he opened the door for her.

“Thank you, but it’s a police vehicle. Mine is at home.” Jack smiled as he walked around and got in. “Do you like espresso or something a little more classic?”

“I like classic,” Moira replied.

There’s a café on Commercial Avenue that serves plain black coffee. And they make a great apple pie.”

“Sounds perfect,” Moira replied, leaning back in the passenger seat.

Join us next week for the another chapter of The Magic of Burrows Bay!

Lavender Lass Books - Newsletter

Lavender Lass Books - Thursday Newsletter 14