Present Day...

Rhea was taking her morning walk around the private barrier island. It was an island that her family had called home for over four generations. The sun was starting to rise and she had wandered down to the beach, sitting on the wet sand, not caring that it was making her rear-end damp, as she wondered how many more of her soul soothing morning walks she was going to be able to take. If they lost the island, and the old plantation house that they had turned into an inn, it would be devastating.

But her thoughts didn't linger on the house or the loss of it, instead they turned to Eli, she wondered where he was and what he was doing. The fact that he was staying so close made her want run as far and as fast as she could from the temptation to find him.

She heard the morning ferry chugging closer to the dock, and she knew she had to get a move on so that she could get the driver breakfast. Otto was an old school friend, and he had taken over driving the ferry when his father had retired the previous year. He liked to come early and have breakfast before he took those that needed to go to the mainland to work, and Rhea didn't mind feeding him because he kept her up to date on all of the gossip.

She stood, taking one last look at the red and gold rays as they rose above the cold grey ocean, giving the appearance of warmth that she knew was only an illusion. The walk back to the house was a short one and as she entered the kitchen, Otto was grabbing a mug of coffee.

"Hey, Rhea, your running late this morning," he noted as he sat down at the massive wooden topped island in the center of the kitchen, opening the newspaper he had brought with him.

"I didn't want to get out of bed this morning," she explained as she reached for a piece of fruit and popped it in her mouth. "What's the news today?" She cracked some eggs in one pan and started the bacon in another as they spoke. The kitchen was old but warm and homey. It had and old farm sink and a gas range that had seen better days, but it was her escape and where she loved to be more than anywhere else in the world.

"Elias Emory," Otto said as he sipped his coffee loudly.

Rhea almost dropped the egg she was holding at the sound of his name. "I heard something about that last night from Phoebe." She did her best to keep her voice even.

"Yep, that sister of yours has convinced him that your inn would be the best place for him and his friends to stay-"

"She didn't!" Rhea exclaimed, spinning around, her eyes wide in shock and fear.

"I know, it's pretty awesome, I have to go back and pick them up, they're checking in this morning."

"How did she mange that?" Her voice sounded weak even to her own ears, but Otto didn't appear to notice anything amiss.

"She said something about hearing him on the phone with his manager about needing peace and quiet so that he could write, so she mentioned your place. He was immediately interested and said he would be over to check it out this morning."

"So, he's only checking it out, he's not actually staying here?" Rhea looked down at her shaky hand as it stirred the eggs.

"Why wouldn't he stay here, its paradise?"

Rhea didn't object to the paradise statement. "There's no television, internet, or cell service. There's only one telephone on the entire property and two bathrooms that everyone has to share. It's not exactly a five-star hotel, is it?"

"You sound as if you don't want him to stay here?" Otto sounded confused.

She didn't but she couldn't say that, what person in their right mind wouldn't want Elias Emory staying with them? "I'm only being realistic, from what I understand, people like...him," she couldn't say his name, "don't like to be without their technology."

"But you offer so much to make up for it; private beaches, nature walks, wild horses, and peace. Wouldn't someone like that want a place like this to get away from it all? Plus, your sister sold him on the idea by using your grandmother's baby grand-"

"Which hasn't been tuned in years."

"and wait until he gets a taste of your cooking, he'll never want to leave." Otto smacked as he looked at the plate that was set before him.

"Remind me to call you next time I update our brochure," Rhea joked, surprised that she could with the nervous tension coursing through her.

"Just take a picture of this!" he said as he took his first bite of eggs.

Phoebe wandered into the kitchen at that moment, looking at Otto's cheerful face with a groan. "Why are you always so happy in the morning, you know you ruin it for the rest of us, right?"

Her blond curls were piled messily on top of her head and her face was rosy from sleep. She looked young, charming, and beautiful, and Rhea wondered if she might be the real reason that Eli had agreed to come and look at the inn as a place to stay.

"Otto was filling me in on Elias Emory's upcoming visit." Rhea cleared her throat after she said his name, pleased she had managed it without choking. It had almost stuck in her throat. Still, she thought she was holding it together pretty well.

"I don't want to go to school today!" Aion, Phoebe and Rhea's little brother, said as he joined them, slumping on a stool at the island. He was five and in kindergarten and hated it. He had spent his days, up until a few months ago, running wild on the island, and he hadn't adjusted well to school, but it had been the same for Rhea and Phoebe when they had started.

Rhea ruffled his hair as she set plates in front of him and then Phoebe. "You'll have fun once you get there," she assured him. "Why are you up so early?" Rhea asked Phoebe as she reached for her own plate.

"I thought I would help this morning." She shrugged.

It was unlike Phoebe to want to do anything more than she had to, it wasn't that she was lazy, she worked hard when she worked, but she liked to relax like most young people her age.

"I don't suppose that has anything to do with our famous visitor."

Phoebe blushed, but she didn't deny it. "Have you ever seen him in concert?" she asked in between bites of food.

"No, I never have." Rhea sipped her coffee as she watched the three-people shoveling food into their mouths. She had never told anyone that she had worked for him and Victoria Hewitt, not even her best friend, Lola, knew about it. That year she had spent in L.A. had been just for her. Although, Lola had dragged her to one of Eli's concerts once, after she had worked for him, but Rhea never made it to the actual concert.

"My stomach hurts!" Aion complained. Rhea looked at his empty plate and bit back a grin. "You'll live, go put on your shoes. Can you tie them or do you need help?"

"I can tie them, I'm not a baby!" He pouted as he slowly dragged himself towards the back staircase.

"Hurry or you'll be swimming!" Rhea said before she turned to pick up his plate. "Otto will make sure you get on the bus!"

Otto helped on days when she and Phoebe weren't going in on the morning ferry.

"You bet I will, it will be just us guys this morning."

Aion's face lit up. "Will you tell me the story of the ghost church?"

Rhea silently cringed, the last time Otto told him that story he had had nightmares for a week.

"You bet!" Otto said as he rose and carried his plate to the sink.

"Otto," Rhea warned.

"No, worries, I'll tone it down this time, or try to distract him with another story if I can, but you have to admit that the old church looks haunted and well worth a scary story."

"Even a made up one," Phoebe said in agreement.

Rhea rolled her eyes as she wondered when she gotten so old. Had she always been so uncool?

A few minutes later there was a flurry of activity as they all worked together to finish getting Aion ready then bustled him out the door and down to the dock.

"Can I have cookies when I get home!"

"Depends on if you had a four-star day," Rhea responded as he climbed onto the ferry like a pro then struggled to help Otto with the heavy ropes so that they could castoff. Aion wanted to do everything and most times he succeeded.

"I will, don't worry," he assured her as Otto fired up the engine.

"I'll blow the horn three times if he's on board," Otto said as he revved the engine and throttled into reverse.

"Who's gonna be on board?" Aion could be heard asking as the boat moved away from the dock.

"I think that will take care of the conversation for the trip in, don't you?" Phoebe grinned.

"Most likely," Rhea agreed.

"I'll do a quick vacuum and dust the main rooms. How do the bedrooms look?"

Rhea hid a smile, Phoebe was determined to have Eli stay with them, even to the point of cleaning. Her smile faded as she tried to think of a way to make sure he didn't want to stay. Maybe she could stop up a toilet or something.

"The bedrooms are good, I cleaned them the day before yesterday."

"You're worried about all of the extra work, aren't you?" Phoebe tucked her arm around Rhea's waist. "Don't worry, I'll help."

Rhea shot her a look of disbelief.

"We need the money, and just think of all of the business he'll bring us." Phoebe tried to reason with her.

Rhea tried her best to smile and nod in agreement, knowing that Phoebe had no idea of what having Elias Emory so close would mean, especially if he brought his regular crew with him, but she would find out soon enough.

"Don't vacuum until after Mom wakes up."

"Mom, I forgot, wait until I tell her!" Phoebe raced ahead, eager to share the exciting news while Rhea did her best to control the impulse to make oatmeal cookies.