“You know,” Lil said casually as she spotted Maggie coming out the front door carrying a tray holding a pitcher and two glasses, “On screen, that Sam Elliott is a handsome man, but in person, he’s…what would you call him, Mags?”
“A hottie.”
Angelina’s eyes widened.
“Oh, yes. He most certainly made me want to fan myself.” Lil hid her small smile behind a fluttery wave.
“Angelina,” Maggie said, “I didn’t realize we were expecting you.”
What went unsaid is that they never expected Angelina, but when she showed up, she inevitably brought along trouble.
Angelina glanced up at Maggie and immediately reached for one of the tea glasses on the tray. “Oh, thank goodness. I can’t tell you how stressful it was to drive through all that traffic on the way here. I’m parched.” Without a thank-you, Angelina lifted her glass and drained half of it. When she pulled it away from her mouth, she was wheezing. “Wha…what’s in that?”
Maggie’s eyebrows lifted until they were hidden by her dark bangs. “Excellent quality loose leaf tea, well water, and ice. What else?” With a wink at Lil, Maggie passed her the second glass and whispered, “Figure you need this more than I do now.”
Angelina took a more careful sip of her drink this time. “You may be wondering why I’m here.”
Out of Angelina’s line of sight, Maggie rolled her eyes, but Lil said, “Oh, you mean this isn’t just a neighborly visit?” Of course it wasn’t. Angelina had more agendas than a corporate board meeting.
“I’m sure it won’t surprise you to hear that Broussard B&B has been in high demand with all these actresses and actors. I hear those Hollywood folks are staying all over four counties, but, of course, I was booked up not two hours after they announced where Jessie Wyatt’s funeral would be held.”
“Congratulations?” Lil said. If Angelina had a full house, a body would think she’d be there seeing to her guests instead of sitting on Summer Haven’s porch getting snockered on Maggie’s tea.
“But Summer Shoals being the friendly small town it is, I knew my neighbors would want to pitch in at a busy time like this.”
So help her, if Angelina asked her to come over and help clean up after her guests, Lil might have to contemplate a felony offense. Her first job at Walter Stiles Federal Prison Camp had been bathroom duty, and if she never saw a soiled commode and toilet brush again in her life, it would be three days too soon.
“A guest of mine needs a room for two nights. Normally, I don’t have a problem accommodating him at the last minute, but this time…” She trailed off and shot a hopeful smile at Lil.
“Well, that’s too bad.”
“He’s a regular, and I hate to disappoint him.”
Yes, Lil was certain Angelina’s regular customer probably paid regular prices for his room at the B&B whereas she was probably charging the Hollywood people several times that. “Maybe you could bump one of your other bookings.”
Angelina, currently mid-sip, gasped and choked. She coughed, and although she politely covered her mouth with her hand, a trickle of Maggie’s tea escaped from the corner of her lips. “That would be…be…”
The headache that had sprouted in Lil’s head when the ruckus was raised about Jessie’s missing outfit now bloomed fully. And with it, her patience vanished. “Let’s cut to the chase. What is it you want from me?” Oh yeah, you’ll have to grovel for this, Angelina.
“My normal rates are two hundred dollars a night.” She lifted her chin toward the front porch columns, currently rotting from the bottom. Lil cringed inside that others could so plainly see that Summer Haven’s glory days were in the past. “And I thought you, of all people, might need an influx of cash. Of course, you couldn’t charge him full price to stay here.” With a manicured hand, she reached into her purse and pulled out a wad of twenties. “But I have three hundred right here. He only needs a place for two nights.”
Oh, no. She would not open her house up to a stranger. Who did Angelina think she was? “Summer Haven is not a hotel.”
“Charlie Millet is good customer. And he’s no trouble. It’s only two nights, Lillian.” She dug back down into her purse. “Fine. I’ll give you three hundred and sixty dollars.”
Maggie bumped Lil’s chair with her hip. “We have an empty room. What would it hurt?”
“Think about it,” Angelina said, waggling that stack of bills.
“But the only empty room in the house is Abby Ruth’s.” While Lil had still been in prison camp, she hadn’t been too thrilled to discover Abby Ruth Cady, an abrasive Texan, was squatting in the Sweet Vidalia Room with no plans to leave.
But since Lil’s return to Summer Haven, she and Abby Ruth had finally stopped circling each other like a couple of junkyard dogs. Then, a few days ago, Abby Ruth had taken off on a mysterious trip, and Lil strangely missed the woman’s big and bold personality.
Maggie grabbed the arm of Lil’s rocking chair and swung her around to exclude Angelina from the conversation. “Why are you so against this, Lil?”
“Summer Haven is a genteel family home, not some fly-by-night boarding house that opens its doors for any stranger off the street.”
“I can understand you’re a little hypersensitive after I took in Abby Ruth. And now Sera’s husband is here. But, Lil, we’ve begged and begged you to let us pay rent.”
“Out of the question.”
“Exactly. Which is why saying yes to Angelina’s request is a good idea. You don’t have to feel guilty taking money from a stranger.”
“It’s not guilt. It’s…it’s…” What was her issue with accepting money? Maybe she had a hard time because until the past few years she’d never wanted for anything. But then Harlan had squandered her inheritance on lottery tickets.
Or maybe it was because her momma had always said ladies should never sully their hands with business concerns.
Then again, Momma wasn’t living in the twenty-first century. God rest her soul.
Lil sighed. “I don’t know, Mags.”
“You’re right,” Maggie said briskly. “We shouldn’t consider it. After all, it wouldn’t be polite to let a stranger invade Abby Ruth’s space. This is her home.”
Abby Ruth’s home? Abby Ruth might be growing on Lil little by little, but she did not have more of a claim on the Summer family home than Lil did. No, sir. Not now, not ever.
She turned to Angelina and gave her a sharp nod. “We’ll do it. But the Sweet Vidalia Room is as nice as any of the rooms at your B&B. And from the looks of that stack, you have the full amount.” Lil held out her palm. “So you can hand over four hundred. After all, that would be the neighborly thing to do. Don’t you agree, Maggie?”
“You bet.”
Angelina huffed and slapped the cash into Lil’s hand with more force than was strictly necessary. Still, the weight in Lil’s palm felt right nice. “He’ll expect breakfast as well. So don’t y’all go thinking you can shortchange him.”
“We wouldn’t dream of it.”
When Angelina stood, she tottered slightly on those high heels, but quickly steadied herself. “It’s all settled then.”
Unfortunately, Lil couldn’t imagine the day when things between her and Angelina Broussard would ever be completely settled.
Chapter 5
Sera cleared her mind, trying to concentrate on the yoga and Maggie’s breathing beside her. But it was a challenge with Marcus watching from a rocking chair on Summer Haven’s front porch. When she woke this morning, he wasn’t in bed beside her, and his car was gone. But he’d returned a half-hour ago, whistling an off-key tune and answering with a vague “out and about” when she asked him where he’d been.
“He looks at you like he can’t believe he’s lucky enough to have you,” Maggie said, as she moved into the warrior pose. “George used to look at me like that.”
Sera was proud of Maggie. She’d obviously kept up her yoga practice while Sera had been away. Maggie had slimmed and toned and was movi
ng with the ease of someone who’d practiced for years.
Sera spoke quietly as they changed positions in unison. “There’s something I probably should explain to you about Marcus. Have you ever wondered why I left California in the first place?”
“Several times, but I figured if you wanted to talk about it, you would.” Maggie laid her hand on Sera’s arm. “It doesn’t change who you are to me. To any of us here.”
“Thank you.” Hearing that lifted her spirits. These ladies knew what real friendship was. But they still deserved, more than deserved, an explanation. “When my dad died a few years ago, I had a hard time. He wasn’t rich when it came to material possessions, but he was so prosperous when it came to friendship and love. He didn’t leave much behind, but one thing he treasured was—”
“That van.” Maggie smiled gently. “Understandable.”
“After he died, I took a long look at my life, and I wasn’t very happy with what I saw. I’d allowed myself to become an accessory.”
“What do you mean?”
Sera slid into another pose, unsure how to explain how trivial she often felt around Marcus. So instead, she blurted out, “We have a grown son.”
Maggie glanced away. “I could say I didn’t know, but that wouldn’t be true. You taught me some pretty good computer skills. When Lil and I found out your boy Finn was a musician, I went right out to iTunes and downloaded all his band’s songs. He’s talented. Obviously takes after his mom.”
“Do you hate me for not telling you everything?”
“Of course not. You had your reasons.”
“Life is so complicated.” Tears blurred Sera’s vision. “But when I lived at Summer Haven, it was simple. All made sense, and I was truly happy.”
“It wasn’t always simple. What about running down those baddies? And the time you fell through the ceiling?”
“Yeah, that was one wild ride.” Sera laughed. “Maybe not simple, but it was fun and spontaneous. Genuine. I always felt like I was making things better. And I liked who I was when I was here.” She took in a breath. “I don’t always like who I am when I’m with Marcus.”
“What do you mean? It’s more than obvious he loves you. And I can’t imagine you being anything but the gracious and kind woman we know.”
“Marcus also loves his work. Maybe more than is healthy. At least more than is healthy for me. By the time Finn was born, I was tired of following Marcus from location to location. Our entire marriage, we were apart more than we were together. That’s no way to build a relationship, a family. He wasn’t about to give up his movie career for me, and in all honesty, I didn’t ask him to.”
“So things have been strained for a long time?”
“Well, after Finn left home, Marcus retired, at least unofficially, which gave us more time together. Then someone came to him with a project he was so excited about, luring him back in. He just couldn’t say no to it. And he didn’t. He’d been on location for about two months when my dad died. Not long after, I told him I was going to take some time to myself.”
“And you landed in Summer Shoals.”
“Yes, after a trek across the country, I found my way here.” Sera tried to breathe away the tight feeling inside her. “Marcus is a good man, full of creative brilliance, but that brilliance comes with a cost. He’s passionate, but that passion is often channeled with a very single-minded focus. He forgets life goes on, with or without him.”
“You make it sound like he never paid attention to you.”
Oh, when Marcus had been focused on her, it was like the sun after a long, hard winter. And that made it even tougher when his attention shifted away, because his movie always became his mistress. “One time, when he was between projects, he rented a hot air balloon for an entire week. He took me on a sunset ride over Santa Monica and Malibu. Then the crew moved the balloon and we soared over Napa and Sonoma. Did the same with San Francisco and the Sierra Nevada foothills.”
“That sounds so romantic.”
“It was. Champagne and laughter and making love every night.” She sighed, remembering. The closeness and love she and Marcus had shared was indescribable. Still, sometimes she’d longed for a normal marriage, one where they lived together day-to-day, did normal things like shopping for groceries and going to the movies instead of hosting catered parties and making movies.
She and Maggie went through the final moves, ending stretched out in the savasana pose. Three deep breaths, and Marcus knew her routine well enough after all this time to notice she was done. His nervous energy was thrumming—practically waving its way from the porch across the yard to her. But she was determined not let his go-go-go attitude ruin the peace inside her.
“You’ve promised to show me around town ever since we got here,” he called to her. “Can I get a date with my best girl?”
She sat up. Maggie gave her a hug of support and headed back inside the house.
“It’s a beautiful day for a ride.” Marcus leaned forward, his forearms on his knees. “Come on. It’ll be fun.”
Her memories of their past—both bitter and sweet—still occupied her mind, and right now…she was exhausted. “It’s still crowded in Summer Shoals. Lots of people stayed after Jessie’s funeral. Traffic will be crazy. Why don’t we wait until—”
“Traffic? Have you forgotten we live in Los Angeles? I doubt Summer Shoals’s main drag can compare with the 101 at rush hour.”
True, but every time he asked, all Sera could think was that she didn’t want to share Summer Shoals with him. It was hers. But Marcus was a man used to getting what he asked for, so he wouldn’t let this drop. “What do you want to see?”
“I’m not sure, but I have a feeling about this place.” He breathed deep, making a show of taking in the fresh country air, and he sauntered across the yard toward her. “Something unique. Special.”
Oh, no. When Marcus said he had a feeling about something, it always meant he had a feeling about making a movie. Might as well give him the penny tour. Maybe she could throw him off the Summer Shoals scent.
“You’re right.” She pulled her legs underneath her and stood, glancing down at her spandex tights and tie-dyed tunic top. It had made her happy and lighthearted to shed the slick outfit she’d worn to Jessie Wyatt’s funeral yesterday and change back into her Summer Shoals clothes. “It is a great day for a drive.”
Marcus rewarded her with a smile, the one that still gave her goose bumps. He reached for her hand and she let him take it, allowing the prickles of awareness to sweep over her.
He headed for the Maserati he’d rented.
“No, sir,” she said. “If I’m leading this tour, we do it my way.” She veered off toward Dad’s VW van. Technically it was hers now, but it would always be his in her heart. She’d missed it while she’d been in California. “Come on. Ride with me.”
“I’m not driving that thing,” he said.
“Didn’t say I’d let you.” She skipped around to the driver’s side, happy to be back in the down-to-earth comfort of the van. It was more than simply a memory of her dad now. She’d grown to love this old ride. And it had been a dependable and good one all the way across the country.
He reluctantly climbed in then leaped in the air as if a crab had pinched his butt. “For God’s sake!”
“What’s the matter?”
“There’s a spring coming through this seat. Why are you still driving this clunker? And if you’re so hell-bent on keeping it, you could’ve at least put it in the shop for restoration.” He swiped his hand across his butt. “Snagged a hole in my favorite Tom Ford pants.” With a muffled damn under his breath, he balanced on the edge of the worn seat.
“Sit back, you can’t ride all day like that. Besides, you’ve got five more pair exactly like those.”
Chuckling, he picked up a newspaper from the floor and slid it under his rump, then he plopped down on the seat. “This is the only pair I packed.”
“You won’t need slacks in Summ
er Shoals anyway. Please tell me you brought blue jeans.” There’d been a time when she’d have packed his things for him, but their relationship had been different since she’d gone back to California to try to make things work with him. Careful not to fall back into the role that she’d run from before, she no longer doted him. She loved him. After all, he was a huge part of her past, the father of her child.
But she missed being just Serendipity Johnson. Yoga instructor. Not a worry in the world. Well, except for the social security fraud, the online dating scandal, the art fraud…okay, different worries.
By the time she’d pulled out to Main Street, Marcus finally relaxed into the seat. She cruised through Summer Shoals, pointing out the landmarks, and with each one she recalled special moments she’d had there…but she kept some of those memories to herself.
She turned at the city municipal building and then showed him around the town square. “Holloway’s has any kind of hardware you could ever need. And all the other basics are right here too.”
“What about an art supply or music shop?”
“You mean like the type of place where we used to buy Finn his drums and keyboards?”
“Yeah.”
What a strange question. “I think the local kids get their band instruments somewhere closer to Atlanta.” She pointed toward a trio of neat brick buildings. “But there’s the flower shop and the bakery, which has the best eclairs in the whole world, and the salon-slash-bookstore is on the square too.”
“Eclairs? You telling me you were eating pastries?”
“I’ve tried them,” she admitted. But her friends had tried her way of eating too. It all worked. A good balance somehow.
“You led a different life here.”
She smiled to herself. A good life.
“Where do you buy your Mike & Ike’s? Don’t tell me you didn’t sneak those while you were here.”
She laughed. “You know me too well. I wasn’t that different here. I still had my stash. And I was able to get them right down the road at the Piggly Wiggly, but trust me, if I couldn’t find them, I’d have shipped them in.”
Under the Gun Page 4