Seaside Secrets by Cindy Bell

didn't I, son?” he asked as he looked over at Jason.
    “ Yes, you did,” Jason replied though his gaze was lingering on the cufflink. “Our families were close,” Jason explained to Mary and Suzie. “My mother and Samantha were best friends,” he added in a softer tone. “I still can’t understand why Samantha ran off."
    “ Oh well, that's not dinner talk, Jason,” Thomas said sharply. “We don't need to air our family business.”
    “ I am family, too,” Suzie spoke up with determination. “And I'd love to hear anything that Jason has to share.”
    “ Sometimes I think about her,” Jason admitted as he toyed with the cufflink. “I wonder where she's gone and what life she's living now. Don't you, Thomas?” he asked as he looked over at the man beside him.
    “ Jason, it's only been a few weeks. She'll run it out of her system, and I'm sure she'll be back in no time,” Thomas sighed as if he carried the burdens of every person who roamed the earth. “Sometimes being married to a free spirit is hard.”
    “ You poor thing,” Mary replied with just enough edge to her words that Suzie could tell she meant it sarcastically. Luckily, before Jason or Thomas could pick up on it the waitress was back with their wines.
    “ I understand that you're part of the family, Suzie,” Thomas said after the waitress walked away. “But this isn't just about the Allens. Garber is its own special kind of family. We all know each other, and have known each other for decades. We trust each other. Surely you can appreciate that,” he smiled.
    “ I suppose,” Suzie nodded and cast a smile in Mary's direction. “Mary is more like my sister than my friend, so I can understand that family is not just limited to blood.”
    “ Exactly,” Thomas smiled. “That's why I was surprised when Jason didn't inherit Dune House. I had hoped that you would be interested in following his wishes, since truly you should have no claim to the property.”
    “ Well, from what I understand your only interest in the property is to flatten it,” Suzie reminded Thomas and glanced over at Jason. “Isn't that right, Jason?” she asked. Jason nodded as if he was coming out of a daze.
    “ It's what's best for everyone,” he insisted.
    “ Don't you have any fond memories of your home, Jason?” Suzie asked in a softer tone.
    “ Surely there are some experiences you treasure,” Mary prompted him as well.
    “ Sometimes the darker memories outweigh even the most precious memories,” Thomas interrupted in an attempt to change the subject. “Are you ladies ready to order?”
    Jason was still staring wistfully at the cufflink.
    “ Actually, I am a little more tired than I expected,” Suzie said as she picked up the cufflink. “How about you, Mary?” she asked as she looked over at her friend.
    “ Me, too,” Mary agreed. “Didn't know how tired I was until I sat down.”
    “ I think we're going to call it a night,” Suzie said with a slow smile as she looked back at Thomas. “But you two, enjoy your meal,” she added as she stood up from the table. “And as for Dune House, my uncle left it to me, because he trusted me to value it and protect it. Obviously that trust you spoke of doesn't run through every home in Garber,” she turned on her heel and walked away from the table with Mary right behind her. They had almost made it to the car when Jason caught up with them.
    “ What was all that about?” he asked sharply.
    “ Sorry, Jason, but I don't like that man,” Suzie said as she turned to face him. “I don't trust him.”
    Jason frowned as he met her eyes, and then nodded a little. “Do you still have that cufflink?”
    “ Sure,” Suzie opened her hand to reveal it.
    “ He said he lost it years ago, but I gave these to him,” Jason said grimly. “I bought them for him right after my mother died, because he was so there for me. But I know for certain that I saw him wearing them about a month ago.”
    “ Jason, we know