Ep.15) Embers of the Cove

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Shadows Before Midnight
Step into the moonlit forests of New England romance with Lila Sterling’s tales of love, legacy, and supernatural intrigue. From the pines of Maine to the hearths of small-town artisans, each story weaves passion and mystery under the stars.
© 2025 Lila Sterling. All rights reserved. Recorded under the moonlit pines of New England, September 17, 2025.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Embers of the Cove, a Harlequin romance, Chapter one. The
October wind swept across Starling Cove, a seaside village hugged
by rugged cliffs and the restless Pacific, where the air
carried the tang of salt and driftwood. Amara Quinn stepped
from her rented Seedan onto the pebbled path leading to
her family's lighthouse, Starling Light. At thirty two, Amara had

(00:23):
carved a career as a marine biologist in San Francisco,
studying ocean currents, far from the small town life she'd
left behind twelve years ago. Her uncle's sudden passing had
drawn her back to settle the lighthouse's future, a task
she planned to complete swiftly before returning to her city world.
The lighthouse, with its weathered stone tower and salt streaked windows,

(00:46):
stood as a beacon of her childhood, full of memories
she'd tried to bury. Amara unlocked the heavy iron door,
its grown echoing in the quiet. Inside. The keeper's quarters
were dim, their walls lined with faded nautical charts, the
air heavy with the scent of old wood and sea.
She was here to assess the property, meet a realtor

(01:07):
and sell. The lighthouse was faltering, her uncle's debts were
piling up, and Amara had no intention of staying. But
as she traced a finger along a brass lantern, her
heart stirred with memories of summers spent climbing the cliffs,
her laughter mingling with another's. Amara quinn A deep voice
cut through the silence. She turned to see a man

(01:29):
in the doorway, his tall frame silhouetted against the gray light.
He wore a navy sweater, his dark hair tousled by
the wind, his hazel eyes sharp yet warm. Her breath
caught Levi Tate, her teenage love, the man who'd broken
her heart at twenty, Levi, she said, Her voice steadied
despite the jolt. What are you doing here? He stepped inside,

(01:52):
his boots soft on the stone floor. I'm the lighthouse keeper. Now.
Your uncle hired me to keep this place running. Didn't
know you'd be bad. Amara's throat tightened. Her uncle hadn't
mentioned Levi, not once. I'm here to sell, she said,
lifting her chin. It's temporary. His eyes flickered. This lighthouse

(02:12):
is more than a job, Amara, it's your family's legacy.
It's just a building, she said, turning to a stack
of logbooks to hide the ache. His presence stirred, but
Levi's gaze lingered, rekindling memories she'd buried deep chapter two.
Over the next few days, Amara dove into the lighthouse's affairs,

(02:32):
reviewing maintenance logs, inspecting the tower's lens, and arranging a
realtor's visit. The property was in worse shape than she'd feared,
unpaid taxes, a cracked fraynell lens, and the winter storm
season looming. Levi was a constant presence, repairing railings, polishing brass,
his quiet competence both comforting and unsettling. He changed his frame, broader,

(02:56):
his demeanor steadier, but his hazel eyes still held the
spark that had once made her dream of forever. One afternoon,
as a storm brewed over the cove, Amara was in
the keeper's quarters, sorting through rusted tools when rain began
to lash the windows. A leak dripped onto the floor,
threatening a stack of her uncle's journals. She grabbed a bucket,

(03:18):
cursing softly. When Levi appeared, his jacket soaked, his hair damp.
Need help, he asked, I've got it, she said, but
the bucket slipped, water splashing her jeans. Levi caught it,
the hands brushing, and a spark shot through her Warm
and dangerous. You're still stubborn, a half smile playing on
his lips. Her pulse raced, Why you hear? Levi? Really?

(03:43):
He set the bucket down, his eyes locking onto hers.
Your uncle asked me to stay, to save this place
for you. He knew you'd come back. Amara's chest tightened.
He was wrong, I'm not staying. Levi stepped closer, rain
dripping from his hair. This cove in your blood, Amara,
You feel it, don't you. The air crackled, the storm outside,

(04:06):
echoing her in a turmol. She wanted to push him away,
to flee the pull of his presence, but her feet
stayed rooted. We were young, Levi. It's over, is it,
he asked, his voice soft a challenge. Thunder clapped and
they both laughed, the tension breaking for a moment, they
worked together to secure the leak. Their movements synchronized. When

(04:28):
their shoulders brushed. Amara's skin tingled and she caught Levi's glance.
Intense unguarded, she turned away, her heart pounding. She wasn't
here for this, She couldn't be Chapter three. As weeks passed,
Amara and Levi fell into a tense rhythm, managing the
lighthouse while sidestepping their shared history. She noticed him his

(04:51):
hands deftly polishing the lens, his rare laugh cutting through
the salty air. But their break up loomed. Levi's sudden silence,
his refuge usual to explain why he'd ended things. One evening,
while sorting through her uncle's study, Amara found a letter
tucked inside a log book. Her uncle's scrawl read, Amara, Starling,

(05:11):
light is your heart, even if you've run from it.
Trust Levi. He's kept his promise. Her throat ached, What promise?
Levi appeared carrying a coil of rope. Thought you'd need
this for the tower, he said, setting it down. Their
fingers brushed as she took it, and she flinched, the
letter falling. He picked it up, his expressions softening. We

(05:34):
had good times here, didn't we? Until you left me?
She said, her voice sharp. You never told me why, Levi.
He exhaled, his jaw tight. My mom was struggling back then.
After my dad left. I was stuck supporting her, working
odd jobs. You were headed for college for a bigger life.
I didn't want to hold you back. The confession hit

(05:56):
her hard. You should have told me, she whispered. I
would have stayed. That's why I didn't, he said, His
eyes haunted. You deserved more than Starling Cove. Tears pricked
her eyes. You broke my heart. I broke mine, too,
he said, Stepping closer. His hand hovered near her cheek,
but she stepped back, afraid of the fire. His touch ignited.

(06:20):
I'm here to sell, she said, her voice trembling, not
to relive the past. Leve I nodded, but his eyes
held a vow. I'm not going anywhere, Amara. Chapter four,
Starling Cove's Beacon Festival was days away, and the lighthouse
was set to host a lantern lit tour to attract buyers.
Amara threw herself into preparations, polishing brass, hanging lanterns displaying

(06:45):
her uncle's nautical charts. Levi helped, his presence steady but electric,
their every interaction heavy with unspoken words. The festival night arrived,
the cover glow with lanterns, the air rich with salt
and cedar. Amara wore a teal dress that flowed with
her movements. Her dark hair loose. Levi's eyes followed her

(07:06):
as she mingled, his sweater, accentuating his lean frame, making
her heart skip. You're making this place shine, he said,
handing her a mug of tea, his voice warm. She smiled,
her guard slipping, just trying to sell it. His gaze softened.
Is that really what you want? Before she could answer,

(07:26):
a woman's voice cut through the crowd. Levi Tate, still
tending this old lighthouse I see. Amara turned to see
a woman in a tailored coat, her red hair sleek,
her smile sharp. Levi's face hardened Serena. He said, what
are you doing here? Serena's eyes flicked to Amara, calculating

(07:48):
exploring an investment. This lighthouse could be a luxury retreat
with the right byer. Amara's heart sank a new threat,
a shadow from Levi's past, and the lighthouse's future hung
in the balance. Chapter five, The Beacon Festival's lanterns cast
a warm glow over Starling Cove, but Serena's arrival had

(08:08):
thrown a chill across Starling light. Her tailored coat and
sharp smile stood out against the village's rugged charm. Her words,
this lighthouse could be a luxury retreat, echoing in Amara
Quinn's mind like a warning bell. Serena's presence threatened the
lighthouse's future and stirred doubts about Levi Tate, whose past
seemed to hold secrets Amara hadn't yet uncovered. Serena lingered

(08:31):
near the lantern lit path, her red hair gleaming under
the lights, her eyes scanning the crowd. Amara, I presume,
she said, offering a manicured hand, Serena Holt with Holt
Coastal Ventures. Your lighthouse is quaint, but it's bleeding money.
My firm's offer could clear your debts and set you
up for life. Amara's grip tightened on her tea mug

(08:52):
starling light isn't for sale, she said. Serena's smile was
raise thin. Everything has a price. A Levi knows that,
don't you, Levi. Levi's jaw clenched, his hazel eyes cold.
Leave Serena. You're not welcome here. Serena's laugh was sharp,
still the guardian, I see, but you can't save this

(09:14):
place forever. She turned her coat swishing, and vanished into
the festival crowd, leaving a heavy silence. Amara faced Levi,
her heart pounding. What did she mean? What's your history
with her? He exhaled, rubbing his neck. Serena tried to
buy my family's fishing doc years ago, after my mom's

(09:34):
troubles tanked it. She wanted to turn it into a Marina.
I fought her off, but she's relentless. Amara's chest tightened.
You didn't tell me she was part of your past.
I didn't think she'd come here, he said, his eyes
meeting hers. I'm sorry, Amara, I'm on your side. The
sincerity in his voice softened her, but Serena's words gnawed

(09:56):
at her. Could she trust Levi with shadows lurking in
his history? No more secrets? She said, I need the truth, Levi.
He nodded, his hand, brushing hers. You'll have it, I promise,
Chapter SIGs. The next morning, Starling Cove woke to a
foggy dawn, the air heavy with salt and seaweed. Amara

(10:17):
plunged into the lighthouse's chaos, sorting financial logs, inspecting the towers, wiring,
planning for the winter storm season. The finances were dire,
unpaid taxes, a cracked lens, and outdated generators. Selling seemed inevitable,
but the thought of losing Starling Light, her uncle's legacy
felt like losing a piece of her soul. Levi was scarce,

(10:40):
tending the cliff side paths, his absence a quiet ache.
Amara caught herself missing his steady presence, his rare smile
that warmed the coastal chill. But Serena's threat loomed, her
offer of one point five million dollars dangling like a
lifeline or a trap. Serena appeared at the lighthouse's base
mid morning, her heels clicking on the stone steps. I've

(11:02):
run the numbers, she said, sliding a contract across a
weathered table. Your uncle's debts are public. My offer clears
them with profit to spare. Sign now and you're free.
Amara's stomach churned. I told you it's not for sale.
Serena leaned closer, her voice low. You're drowning Amara and Levi.

(11:24):
He's tied to this place's failures. Ask him about the
deal he nearly made with my firm last year. Amara's
blood ran cold. Another secret. She found Levi in the tower,
polishing the fraynell lens, his hands smudged with oil. Serena says,
you considered a deal. With her, she said, her voice trembling.
Is it true? Levi set down a cloth, his eyes

(11:47):
meeting hers. It was before your uncle passed. The lighthouse
was sinking, and I was desperate. I backed out, Amara,
I couldn't betray your family. Why didn't you tell me,
she asked, tears pricking her eyes. I didn't want to
hurt you, he said, stepping closer. I stayed for you, Amara,
I never stopped loving you. Her breath caught, her heart,

(12:09):
torn between trust and doubt. I don't know if I
can believe you. LEVI not with her here, then let
me prove it, he said, his hand grazing hers. The
touch sent a shiver through her, and for a moment
she leaned into it. The embers of their past flaring.
Chapter seven, The days blurred into a rhythm of work

(12:30):
and longing. Amara and Levi labored side by side, repairing railings,
polishing brass. Their every interaction charged, his fingers brushing hers
as they stacked logs, his smile easing the weight of
her fears. But Serena's presence was a constant shadow. Her
visits to Starling Cove laced with hints of a takeover.

(12:51):
One evening, as the sun dipped below the cliffs, painting
the cove in hues of amber and indigo. Amara stayed
late to balance the books. Levi j joined her, hanging
lanterns in the keeper's quarters. His movements steady and sure
you're good at this, she said, watching him a just alight,
the glow softening his rugged features. He grinned his hazel eyes,

(13:14):
catching the light. Learned from my mom. She loved fixing things,
even if she couldn't fix herself. Amara hesitated, then asked,
do you ever think about what could have been if
we hadn't ended? Levi's hands stilled every day. But I
let you go so you could shine, and you did.
Her throat tightened. I shone, but I was empty. I

(13:36):
missed you, Levi. He stepped closer, the air humming between them.
I missed you too. I'm not letting you go again.
Her heart pounded, and before she could think, he kissed her, slow, deep,
a rush of heat that melted her doubts. She melted
into him, her hands tangling in his hair, the seas
scent wrapping around them. They pulled apart, breathless, when a

(13:59):
shit shadow crossed the doorway Serena stood there, her eyes narrowing, charming,
she said, stepping inside. But love won't save this lighthouse. Amara.
Levi's arm tightened around her. Get out, Serena, he said,
his voice cold. Serena smirked. You're throwing away a fortune, Levi,
for what a crumbling dream. Amara's face burned. This is

(14:24):
my family's home. You can't have it. Serena's smile was sharp.
We'll see. She turned her heels, echoing on the stone,
Chapter eighth. The next morning, Amara woke with Levi's kiss lingering,
but Serena's words gnawed at her. Was the lighthouse a
lost cause? Could she trust Levi with his past hiding thorns?

(14:45):
She found a journal in her uncle's desk, its pages
filled with tied charts and sketches. One entry stopped her.
Levi's loyal, but he's haunted. Tell Amara the truth when
she's ready. What truth? Amara confronted Levi in the tower,
the air thick with salt and oil. My uncle wrote
about you, she said, holding up the journal. What truth, Levi?

(15:08):
He exhaled, his eyes haunted. Your uncle knew why I
ended things, my mom's struggles, the debts I was drowning.
He told me to let you go, to give you
a chance at a bigger life, but to stay and
protect the lighthouse for you. Amara's heart ached. You let
me go because of him, not just him, he said,

(15:29):
stepping closer. I loved you too much to hold you back,
but I never stopped hopping you'd return. Tears streamed down
her face. You should have told me, I know, he said,
his voice, raw, I love you. Amara. The words broke
her open, but Serena's threat loomed, and a call from
the bank shifted everything. A new loan offer, but it

(15:51):
required putting the lighthouse up as collateral sell or lose
it all. Chapter nine. The bank's ultimatum weighed on a
Mara Quinn like a storm rolling in from the Pacific.
A new loan offer, but the lighthouse as collateral sell
or lose everything. She stood in the keeper's quarters of
starling light, her uncle's journal trembling in her hands, its

(16:12):
words Levi's loyal, but he's haunted, clashing with the weight
of her decision. The lighthouse, with its weathered stone walls
and salt streaked windows, was her family's legacy, a beacon
of her past. Yet the debts, her uncle's financial struggles,
and Serena's looming offer pressed like a tide against her heart.
Levi Tate found her there, his hazel eyes searching hers,

(16:35):
his presence a steady anchor in the chaos. Amara, he said,
his voice soft over the crackle of the fireplace. What
did the bank say? She clutched the journal, her voice breaking.
They'll give us a loan, but if we can't pay,
they take the lighthouse. Serena's offer, it's the safe choice.
Levi's jaw tightened, his hands bawling into fists. Your uncle

(16:59):
poured his life into this place. It's worth fighting for, Amara,
So are we. Her chest ached, his words, stirring the
embers of their past. I want to believe you, Levi,
but you kept secrets Serena the deal. How do I
trust you now? He stepped closer, his warmth cutting through
the room's chill. I messed up, Amara. I hid things

(17:21):
to protect you, to keep this place alive. But I'm
here and I love you. Her breath caught his confession,
a spark in her heart. I love you too, she whispered,
But I'm scared of losing the lighthouse, of losing us
you won't lose me, he said, his hand cupping her cheek.
We'll save this place together. The promise steadied her, but

(17:42):
Serena's threat and the bank's deadline loomed, and the Beacon
Festival's final day was tomorrow. Amara nodded her resolve, hardening. Okay,
let's fight. Chapter ten. The morning of the festival's final
day dawned foggy and cold. Starling cove alone with the
scent of salt and cedar. Starling light buzzed with preparations

(18:04):
for a grand lantern tour and auction. The keeper's quarters
adorned with twinkling lights, tables laden with nautical relics and
local crafts. Amara wore a deep sappha dress that hugged
her frame, her dark hair loose, but her nerves jangled.
Serena was circling, and the bank's deadline was midnight. Serena
arrived at noon, her tailored coats stark against the lighthouse's warmth,

(18:26):
her smile sharp. Last chance, Amara, she said, sliding a
revised contract across a table, one point eight million, clear
your debts, walk away rich. Amara's stomach twisted, but she
pushed the contract back. Starling Light not for sale. Serena's
eyes narrowed. You're making a mistake. Levi's dragging you down,

(18:49):
just like he did with his family's dock. Levi appeared,
his presence solid. She's not going anywhere, Serena, neither am I.
Serena laughed, glancing at the craft. We'll see my firm
doesn't lose. As she left, Amara turned to Levi, her
voice trembling one point eight million. Levi, we could start over,

(19:10):
be free. What if we're wrong? He took her hands,
his eyes fierce. We're not wrong. This lighthouse, this cove,
it's us. I'll fight for it for you. Her throat tightened,
his words, grounding her. They threw themselves into the auction,
Amara showcasing her uncle's nautical charts, Levi charming bidders with
stories of Starling Cove's history. The bids climbed, but not

(19:34):
enough to cover the debts. Chapter eleven. Desperate, Amara and
Levi rallied the town for a final push, a community
fundraiser to save Starling Light. Locals donated quilts, fishers offered
boat tour, and Amara's marine sketches became coveted items. The
cliff side glowed under the festival's lights, the air rich

(19:56):
with hope and sea spray. Serena returned her pre presence,
a chill in the warm night. Quaint effort, she said,
sidling up to Amara, but it won't be enough. Sign
my offer by midnight, or my firm will push the
bank to foreclose. Amara stood tall, Levi at her side.
We're not giving up. As the auction continued, a local

(20:18):
historian donated a rare lighthouse log book, sparking a bidding war.
A wealthy collector from San Francisco, moved by Amara's passion,
offered a record sum. The total surged enough to secure
the loan and clear the debts. The crowd erupted in cheers,
and Serena's smile faltered, her eyes flashing with defeat. You

(20:38):
won't last, she said, her voice low. This place will
break you. No, Amara said, her voice steady. It makes
us whole. Serena turned her heels, clicking on the stone,
her threat. Fadding into the night, Amara exhaled, leaning into
Levi's warmth. We did it, she whispered. He grinned, pulling

(20:59):
her clothes. We're just getting started. Chapter twelve months later,
Starling Light thrived a beacon for tourists, its tower gidding ships,
its quarters alive with visitors. Amara had stayed, blending her
marine expertise with the lighthouse's charm, her heart anchored by Levi.

(21:19):
One winter evening, as snow dusted the cliffs, they walked
the cove's shore, the oceans raw a distant song. Levi stopped,
pulling a small box from his pocket. Inside was a
silver ring etched with a wave, glinting in the starlight,
Amara Quinn, This lighthouse brought you back to me. Will
you stay forever? Marry me? Tears of joy streamed down

(21:41):
her face. Yes, she said, throwing her arms around him. Yes, Levi.
They kissed under the starlet cove. The seas whisper a
symphony of their love, the past, Serena's schemes, the debts,
their heart break faded, leaving only their future rooted in
the heart of Starling Cove. The end and