woman replied, stepping forward. “Nice car.”
“Thanks. It’s a rental.” Bree glanced down and saw the simple gold band on the woman’s finger. “You wouldn’t happen to be Sam by any chance, would you?”
On a face devoid of makeup, gray-green eyes widened in surprise and looked back at Bree. “Yes, I’m Sam.”
“Nick said you’re the one who recommended the diner for dinner.”
The woman nodded.
“Thanks for that. The cobbler was fantastic.”
“I’m glad you liked it.”
“I’m supposed to meet Nick here. Do you know if he’s around?”
“I’m sure he’s around somewhere.”
“I’m Bree. Do you have a minute? I’d love to ask you a few questions.”
Sam shifted her weight, as if nervous, but then nodded. “Sure. Okay.”
They sat on the wide stone steps.
“Nick said you’re married to one of the partners?”
“Yes.”
Bree waited for her to say more. She didn’t.
“So, what’s your story? How did you two meet?”
A tiny smile pulled at the corners of Sam’s lips, as if she found the memory pleasant. “I worked in a coffee shop in town. Steve used to come in for coffee and muffins for himself and the guys, back before they had a kitchen here.”
“A coffee shop? Where? I’d kill for a good cup of coffee and decent Wi-Fi.”
Sam’s smile faded. “It’s not there anymore. It burned down a few years ago.”
What is it with this town and fires? “That’s a shame. So, tell me, when you first saw your husband, was it like in the movies? Love at first sight and all that?”
Sam’s lips quirked again. “No, not like the movies. It took us a while. We became friends first, and things kind of grew from there.”
“Gotta love a good slow-burn romance,” Bree said with a grin. “Was it an issue? Your friendship?”
Sam’s brows creased. “How do you mean?”
“Well, I get the impression that not everyone in Sumneyville is thrilled about Sanctuary. For some, it even seems to be an us versus them mentality. As a local girl, did that make things difficult for you?”
More shifting. “I don’t really concern myself with what other people think.”
“Commendable. I imagine that’s not always easy, especially in a small town.”
Sam said nothing, her silence all the confirmation Bree needed.
Bree decided to push forward. “What do they have against these guys anyway?”
Sam looked down at her hands. “Have you asked any of them?”
“Several,” Bree admitted. “But if there’s anything I’ve learned, it’s that small-town folk are wary of outsiders, myself included, and are cautious about what they share.”
“So, you’re asking me?”
“As a local and one of the owners, you’re the perfect person to talk to,” Bree told her. “You can see both sides.”
Sam looked off toward the woods, almost as if she was wishing she could make a run for it. “Why does it matter? You’ve got your story, don’t you?”
“I don’t know. Do I? Because on the surface, Sanctuary seems like a great place with good men and women doing good things.”
“It is,” Sam confirmed.
“But then why the rift?” Bree shook her head. “People don’t polarize without reason, whether it be real or imaginary. I can’t in good conscience write about how great this place is, knowing there’s an undercurrent of disquiet among the locals. Is it based in fear? Are these guys dangerous? A threat to the community or something?”
“What?” Sam looked shocked. “No, of course not. Like you said yourself, they’re good guys.”
“Then, help me understand. Off the record, okay? I just need to wrap my mind around this, so I can do this place justice.”
Sam was close; she just needed some gentle coaxing. She stared off into the distance, as if deciding where to start. Bree waited patiently.
“You have to understand that the Winstons were a popular, important family,” Sam finally began. “Their family history goes back to the founding of Sumneyville itself, and this resort was a big part of it. It was a real nice place. Fancy, too, but community-oriented. They often held celebrations around Christmas and the Fourth of July and invited the whole town.”
Bree nodded encouragingly. “Sounds nice.”
“It was,” Sam agreed with a sad smile. “When Matt went off into the service, there was a terrible fire. He lost his whole family, and the resort was destroyed.”
“I read about that in the town’s history as part of my background research.”
“Folks around here took it hard. The Winstons were active in the community and local politics. Their passing left holes that had to be filled. Matt was gone; no one expected him to return after what happened. So, other people stepped up, the