The Mermaid's Carol: A Last Chance For Love, #5

By Abigail Keam

Piper Hathaway discovers that her husband Joel is thinking about leaving her and their two children.  She loves her husband and doesn't want to lose him.  What to do?  Desperate to reconnect with her husband, Piper arranges a Christmas vacation at the Last Chance Motel in Key Largo, where it's been said miracles happen. Piper prays for one, but everything seems to be turning out wrong.

The children get into trouble with the law, and Joel is rude and distant. Piper is ready to throw in the towel and ask Joel for a divorce.

But something holds her back.  Perhaps it is the ethereal singing Piper hears in the lagoon each day at dawn.  Eva Hanover, the motel's owner, says the magical singing comes from a siren of the sea. Legend has it whoever catches a mermaid singing will have something wonderful happen in her life. Piper doesn't believe mermaids exist, but she is still drawn to the water's edge each morning in hopes the old sea tales about mermaids are true, because she does need a miracle.  And Piper needs one in a hurry!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Abigail Keam
• Release date: Oct 4, 2016
• ISBN: 9780990678281

Abigail Keam

Abigail Keam is an award-winning and Amazon best-selling author who writes the Mona Moon Mysteries—1930s rags to riches mystery series, which takes place on a Bluegrass horse farm. She also writes the Josiah Reynolds Mystery Series about a Southern beekeeper turned amateur female sleuth living in a mid-century home on the Palisades cliffs in the Bluegrass. She is also an award-winning beekeeper who has won 16 honey awards at the Kentucky State Fair including the Barbara Horn Award, which is given to beekeepers who rate a perfect 100 in a honey competition. She currently lives on the Palisades bordering the Kentucky River in a metal house with her husband and various critters. She still has honeybees. AWARDS 2010 Gold Medal Award from Readers' Favorite for Death By A HoneyBee 2011 Gold Medal Award from Readers' Favorite for Death By Drowning 2011 USA BOOK NEWS-Best Books List of 2011 as a Finalist for Death By Drowning 2011 USA BOOK NEWS-Best Books List of 2011 as a Finalist for Death By A HoneyBee 2017 Finalist from Readers' Favorite for Death By Design 2019 Honorable Mention from Readers' Favorite for Death By Stalking 2019 Murder Under A Blue Moon voted top ten mystery reads by Kings River Life Magazine 2020 Finalist from Readers' Favorite for Murder Under A Blue Moon 2020 Imadjinn Award for Best Mystery for Death By Stalking www.abigailkeam.com [e-mail] https://www.facebook.com/AbigailKeam https://instagram.com/AbigailKeam https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCThdrO8pCPN6JfTM9c857JA

Book preview

Acknowledgments

Thanks to my editors, Heather McCurdy and Tamara Beard

Artwork by Cricket Press

www.cricket-press.com

Book jacket by Peter Keam

Author’s photograph by Peter Keam

Other Books By Abigail Keam

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Last Chance For Love Series

Last Chance Motel Gasping for Air Siren’s Call Hard Landing The Mermaid’s Carol

Josiah Reynolds Mysteries

Death By a HoneyBee Death By Drowning Death By Bridle Death By Bourbon Death By Lotto Death By Chocolate Death By Haunting Death By Derby Death By Design Death By Malice

Epic Fantasy

Wall Of Doom Wall Of Peril Wall Of Glory Wall Of Conquest Wall Of Victory

1

Piper was exhausted. The long security lines at the airport had been stressful, not to mention the kids fought all the way from Miami to Key Largo. Of course, her husband was no help at all.

Since they’d left Cincinnati that morning, Joel was either on his phone with the office, staring at his computer on the plane, or driving the rental car, oblivious to what was happening around him.

But Piper wasn’t going to let Joel see how upset she was. She figured this vacation was a last-ditch attempt to bring her family together and keep her husband.

He hadn’t wanted to come, but Piper had pressed the issue. She knew the many texts and calls today were to his girlfriend from the office.

Believing Joel was thinking about leaving her, Piper was determined not to give up without a fight.

Months before, Joel’s secretary tipped her off about the budding romance. Sally was an older woman who had been through a difficult divorce. She blurted out the truth after Piper called the office a dozen or so times without being able to contact Joel. Not understanding why she could never reach her husband, Piper pumped Sally until the beleaguered secretary confided that he had taken up with a young colleague.

Shocked, Piper discovered it was true by secretly going through Joel’s text messages on his phone. At first she hoped the affair would burn out, but after six months Piper worried that Joel might actually be serious about this woman.

To play for time, Piper planned this trip to celebrate Christmas in the Florida Keys. A friend and her family had stayed at the Pink Flamingo Motel, raving about its restorative powers. So Piper hoped the motel would work its magic on her failing relationship with Joel.

First, Joel must not know she knew about the affair. Piper did not want a confrontation that might make matters worse between them.

Second, Piper felt she had a short window of opportunity to turn things around. She wanted to save her marriage.

She stole a furtive glance at her whiny kids, Trevor and Sophie. They were certainly part of the problem. Hitting the bumpy preteen years, they grew more argumentative and stubborn, especially Trevor. He tested her every day with his rebellious attitude. She tried to be patient, but Trevor was wearing her out.

Piper loved her children, but at the moment she didn’t like them very much. Their misbehavior was certainly driving a wedge between Joel and her.

Joel blamed Piper for their disrespectful behavior. He wouldn’t acknowledge Trevor and Sophie’s defiance was a stage in their development. Their behavior was normal, wasn’t it? All the parenting books said so.

Lecturing them about their attitude before the trip had obviously fallen upon deaf ears, so now Piper found herself in the front office standing before Eva Bishop, the owner of the Pink Flamingo Motel aka the Last Chance Motel, while her kids bickered outside the office door.

Eva bent over the counter and peered out the door at Piper’s arguing children and noticed their father on his cell phone, oblivious to the commotion.

Piper felt the heat rise to her cheeks. I’m so sorry, she declared. It’s been a long trip. I’m afraid my children are cranky.

I would get those kids in the pool as soon as possible and wear them out swimming. For dinner, order some pizzas. No soft drinks. Nothing with sugar. Plain water to drink. That’s the ticket. They’ll go straight to bed and sleep through the entire night. You and your husband can have a moment to yourselves, advised Eva, smiling.

Sounds like you’ve lots of experience with kids yourself, replied Piper, returning a smile for the first time in hours.

No, confided Eva, bringing up Piper’s reservation on the computer. Not really. I’m lucky to have a wise mother-in-law.

I’ll give it a try.

Your reservation states you’ll be staying ten days.

Yes, confirmed Piper. We wanted the three-bedroom bungalow by the ocean.

It’s ready for you. Just need a credit card, please.

Piper handed her card over the counter and waited patiently as Eva ran it through the machine.

Eva handed it back along with two old fashioned keys attached to large wooden flamingo-shaped paddles.

Piper regarded the keys in surprise as she took them.

Most people leave them at the office when they go out, offered Eva. We try to keep everything as authentic as possible.

Does the bungalow have Wi-Fi?

Of course.

Disappointed, Piper bit her bottom lip in dismay. Oh, I see. She was hoping the motel had no Wi-Fi, so Joel would stay off his computer.

Eva glanced out the door at Piper’s husband who was still on his phone, ignoring his rambunctious children. Let me know if you need anything. There’s someone in the office 24/7; however, we lock the front gates at midnight. If you’re going to stay out later, just inform the office.

Thank you.

I hope you enjoy your stay with us.

Piper nodded and hurried back outside to her waiting family.

What the Sam Hill are those things? asked Joel, glowering at the flamingo paddles.

Piper answered, These are our room keys.

Rolling his eyes, Joel replied, You gotta be kidding.

It’s part of the Pink Flamingo experience.

Where do we park?

Piper pointed. Over there.

Joel raised his voice. You mean we can’t park by the front door? I’ve gotta lug all our luggage over to where we’re staying?

A handsome older man in a golf cart pulled up. Howdy folks. I’m River, and I’m going to help get your luggage to your bungalow. Just point me to your car.

Joel gave River the once-over and snorted.

Piper blushed, saying hurriedly, Thank you. That would be nice.

Eva stepped out of the office and said, River will help you get settled in and show you where everything is. She turned to River. They are in Bungalow Seven, River.

Three bedrooms, right? Joel asked with an edge to his voice.

Yes.

You guys have Wi-Fi here? Joel shot back.

River gave Eva a quick look before responding to Joel. We have all the modern conveniences. I’m sure your stay will be very enjoyable.

You mean all the modern conveniences except for these ancient room keys, Joel complained as he held up the flamingo key paddles.

Eva silently counted to three before replying. She had heard these complaints before. We think the keys add a touch of old Florida.

It’s going to be a damned nuisance lugging these silly birds around, barked Joel.

Eva calmly answered, Most guests leave the keys in the office, and if the electricity should go out due to a storm, which frequently occurs in the Keys, you won’t be locked out of your bungalow as happens with the electronic card key systems. We learned the hard way that electronic keys have issues down here.

Joel grunted, looking away.

River, show Mr. and Mrs. Hathaway to their Key Largo home away from home.

My pleasure. This way, please.

There was an awkward silence as Joel stood sulking.

His children stood behind him with their arms crossed and the same expression on their faces. Obviously, Joel didn’t pick up that his children were, at times, mimicking his bad behavior.

Thanks so much. Ah, I’m afraid I’ve already forgotten your name, stuttered Piper, embarrassed at Joel’s churlish nature.

River, ma’am. The name’s River.

Piper briskly handed one of the keys to Joel. You get the luggage out of the car. The kids and I will go ahead.

Joel grabbed the key and turned away.

Sighing, Piper gathered her whining children and made way to Bungalow Seven. Each step deeper inside the lush grounds left Piper almost speechless as she took in all the holiday decorations and the gorgeous subtropical plants. The grounds were tastefully landscaped with bromeliads, heliconias, and hostas, with palm, banana, orange, and lime trees in every direction.

Strands of white lights covered the bases of all the palm trees and framed the roof line of each bungalow nestling in the luxuriant vegetation. The buildings looked like they had been built in the fifties, but were restored to their original glory. A large pine tree painted sparkling white and dressed with flamingo shaped ornaments colored hot pink stood in the middle of the courtyard.

It looks like fairies live here, commented Piper, stopping to gaze