“Where are they? I want to see one!” The little girl, her pony-tail bouncing, pulled her mother along the lobsterman’s wharf.
“Maybe they’re fishing,” her mother answered. “Under the water. We won’t see them until after they’ve had their breakfasts.” She sat down heavily on a wooden bench beside the bait box and put her large canvas bag next to her feet. “We’ll have to wait.”
“Like we have to wait for my brother?” Brooklin scrambled up and sat next to her mother.
“Exactly.”
She put her hand on her mother’s bulging stomach. “Is he playing now?”
Her mom tugged lightly on her pony-tail. “He plays almost all the time now. I think we’ll meet him pretty soon.”
“I want to show him the seals,” said Brooklin, looking out at the harbor expectantly. “He’ll like the seals.”
“I’m sure he will,” said her mother.
The wind picked up and blew a dark threatening cloud in front of the sun for a few minutes. Brooklin shivered. “I want them to come out of the water NOW,” said Brooklin, impatiently. “I want them to see US.”
“Patience. We must be patient,” said her mother, changing the conversation. “When your brother comes, I’ll be very tired, and busy with him.”
“I know that. You told me. He’s going to be a baby,” said Brooklin, rhythmically swinging her feet under the bench and hitting the seat with the heels of her sandals.
“We may not be able to come to see the seals every day.”
Brooklin stopped. “Why not?”
“Because babies need to sleep and eat often. And we can’t leave him alone in the house.”
“They poop a lot, too,” said Brooklin. “They wear diapers, not big girl pants.”
“That’s right. So I got you a friend. To keep you company when we can’t come down to the wharf.”
“A friend?”
Mother reached down and pulled a tissue-paper wrapped package out of her large bag. “This is for you.”
Brooklin tore the wrapping off quickly. “A seal,” she said, smiling at her mother. “You got me a baby seal!”
Mother reached down and hugged her, as Brooklin kissed the gray stuffed animal.
“I love it!”
“And I love you,” said Mother. “For ever and always, as deep as the ocean.”
Shadows on a Morning in Maine is the 8th book in the Antique Print mystery series, published by Perseverance Press, September 2016.
Maggie Summer is making big changes in her life. The antique print dealer has taken a sabbatical and moved to Maine to run an antiques mall with Will Brewer, her significant other. And she will finally adopt the daughter she’s been longing for. However, the troubled girl doesn’t want any part of the plan, showing affection only for the harbor seals, which remind her of her “real mother.” But someone starts shooting the seals―and a young fisherman is murdered. Then Will confesses a secret from his past, and Maggie begins to wonder if this is the biggest mistake of her life.
# # # # # # # # # # #
About the author
Maine author Lea Wait writes two Maine-based mystery series: the Agatha-finalist Shadows Antique Print series, the most recent of which is Shadows on a Morning in Maine, and the USA Today best-selling Mainely Needlepoint series, the most recent of which is Thread and Gone. She also writes historical novels set in nineteenth century Maine for ages eight and up. For more information about Lea and her books see www.leawait.com. She invites everyone to friend her on Facebook and Goodreads.
All comments are welcomed.
Giveaway: Leave a comment below for your chance to win a print copy of Shadows on a Morning in Maine. US entries only, please. The giveaway will end September 11, 2016 at 12 AM (midnight) EST. Good luck everyone!
My!! This sounds like an interesting book. I haven’t read any in the series, buy will be adding them to my never ending list. 🙂 Thanks Dru Ann for the introduction. Thanks to Lea for the chance to win a copy!
Yes please Dru. I love this series but when the author went to the new publisher, we could no longer get them at the library. So toss my name into the magic hat please.
I have read one book in this series & would like to get them all read. Thanks for the chance to win.
I would like to win this book. It sounds very interesting. Thank you.
Sounds like a good book.
Thank you for including this book on your blog. I have not read any in this series but it sounds like a very interesting line for a mystery. Fingers are crossed my name is pulled.
I haven’t read any books in the series, but I love Lea Wait’s The Mainely Needlepointers. Thank you for this chance.
I’ve loved your other books. Thanks for a chance to win a copy of this one.
Thank you for a chance to win the latest in Lea Waite’s shadows series.
I’ve read some from each of her delightful mystery series and look forward to reading this one.
Thanks for this interesting book which I would enjoy.
Thank you for posting, Dru Ann! And I wish everyone could win!
I’m dying for for a HEA here. Not sure this book has it, but am willing to check it out.
I love the Thread and Gone books, and can not wait to read this one! Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
I really, really enjoy Lea’s writing. I would very much like to win this one.
I have read Lea Waite but not this series. Anything with Maine as the locale is on my To Read list. Thank you – and hope I win.
Patricia Lafferty
I haven’t read this series yet, but it sounds like a fantastic series. Maine is one state that i haven’t visited yet, but it is on my list, would love to read about Maine.
I’m hooked, must get this book.
Thank you for a chance to win. This sounds like a sweet book
This sounds very poignant.
I absolutely love this series and am very excited to hear of a new release. thanks for the chance to win a copy
I love this series Happy to see a new release
What a fun job it would be to work with a real antique print dealer. Thanks very much for the chance to win.
The Mainely Needlepoint series is terrific! I’d love to sample the Antique Print series as well. Thanks for the opportunity.
I’d love to win a print copy! Thanks for offering this giveaway!
Love this series and looking forward to reading this one. Anxious to see if Will is finally on board.
Lea Wait is one of my favorite authors. Love this series.