by Wendy Wax
“Magnificent!” Troy said.
“Bravo!” Avery added.
“Thank you! Thank you!” Maddie made a small bow as she retrieved a second soufflé and set it next to the first.
Kyra snapped a photo of both soufflés just before they fell. “I’m posting this to Instagram right now and adding it to the new Facebook and Twitter pages later. But I don’t think we’re ever going to match the numbers we had on the original Do Over social media.” She should know; she’d been the one who’d built their presence by chronicling their original renovations of Bella Flora.
“I can’t believe the network had the right to take over all of the show’s social media the way they did,” Avery said. “Or how long it’s taking to get any kind of ruling.”
A knock sounded on the kitchen door. It opened and Nikki stuck her head in. “Am I dreaming, or is there egg soufflé for breakfast?”
“It’s no dream,” Avery said. “Lots of cheesy wonderfulness of the never-fail variety.”
“Come on in,” Maddie said. “You’re just in time and we’ve got plenty. Is Joe with you?”
“No.” Nikki closed the kitchen door behind her and Kyra noted the difficulty with which she moved. “He’s on his way to Tampa, but he insisted on dropping me off first.”
“Is there something wrong with your car?” Troy asked.
“Not exactly.”
They looked at Nikki in question.
She grimaced. “It seems my stomach’s too big. And when I move the seat far enough back for it to fit, my feet don’t reach the pedals.”
Troy and Steve laughed out loud. Avery attempted to hide her stutter of surprise. Kyra made a point of staring down at her camera until the desire to laugh had passed.
“It’s probably just as well,” Maddie said, displaying no hint of amusement. “You could go into labor at any time. It’s probably better not to be behind the wheel of a car when it happens.”
“Yeah, well, that’s what Joe said,” Nikki said stiffly as she maneuvered her bulk into the closest vacant chair. Maddie set a place and poured her a large glass of orange juice. “Sorry,” Nikki said. “What did I interrupt?”
“We were just discussing the fact that we’re pretty much dead in the water until we get some sort of ruling on the breach of contract and noncompete,” Maddie said. “I can’t believe any judge will decide we have no right to the title of the show we created or the ability to sell the documentary about the Sunshine Hotel.”
“That did it. I think I just lost my appetite,” Nikki said. “And as you can see, that rarely happens.”
“I wish that were all,” Avery said. “But it seems we’ve lost the paparazzi, too.”
“Yeah, even Nigel has given up and gone looking for more interesting game,” Maddie said.
Nigel Bracken had been the most persistent of the paparazzi who had once stalked them in hopes of catching Daniel frolicking with his son. When Kyra had managed to bore them into leaving, Daniel and Will had hatched a plan to get them back in an attempt to save Do Over.
“They were out in force for the grand reopening of the Sunshine Hotel and Beach Club,” Nikki pointed out.
“Yeah, well, that was mid-October and both Daniel and Will were there. This is January and we’re on our own. I heard there was an Elvis look-alike sing off in Clearwater. Apparently even imitators of dead celebrities are more interesting than us,” Kyra said.
“Stop it,” Avery said. “Or you’re going to suck all the pleasure out of this egg soufflé.”
“Right.” Maddie picked up the knife. “Why don’t you do the honors, Steve? In celebration of your first official day as a Realtor?”
“Don’t mind if I do.” Kyra’s father accepted the knife and began to cut across the first soufflé.
“Me first, Geedad!” Dustin held up his plastic Superman plate.
“Absolutely.” He placed clumps of cheese and egg on Dustin’s plate then began to carve out other pieces.
Her mother winced but made no move to take the knife or relieve him of the task.
“I have to admit I never imagined trading finance for real estate.” Her father had been a successful investment adviser in Atlanta before he’d lost his clients’ money, their money, and his job to Malcolm Dyer’s Ponzi scheme. That had been three and a half years ago, and a lot of lying around feeling sorry for himself had followed. Her mother had been left to get them out of the mess and she had. Which was when Kyra had discovered how strong her mother really was.
“Maybe we need to give the paparazzi something to photograph,” Avery said. “Anyone want to shoot a seminude selfie or two like Kim Kardashian?”
Nikki snorted. “It would serve them right if I did.”
There was laughter, but Kyra didn’t join in. Her stomach churned and the loss of the paps was the least of it. Sunshine Beach Club memberships were growing, but they had to sell every one of the Sunshine Hotel cottages as well as the documentary if she was going to have a snowball’s chance of paying back the loan she’d taken out against Bella Flora.
“Why don’t you give Daniel a call? Maybe he could stop by. Just to wave the flag a bit?” Her father, who had once called Daniel an overrated, overpaid prick of a movie star, said this around a mouthful of soufflé, as if it were no big deal.
Dustin sat up at the mention of his father’s name. “Is my Dandiel coming?”
“No,” Kyra said. “Right now we’re just going to enjoy our breakfast.” Assuming she could choke any of it down. “Here. Try some of these.” She distracted him with a small bunch of red grapes. Feeling Troy’s eyes on her, she forced herself to take a bite of soufflé and even managed to swallow it though it might as well have been cardboard for all the pleasure it gave her. “Now that you’re working for Franklin Realty, I hope you’ll focus on selling the Sunshine Hotel cottages.”
Her father, who was the only other person at the table who knew about the loan, lost some of his smile. “You know I’ll do everything I can to find the right buyers for those units,” he promised. He was careful not to look at her mother.
“What do we do about Bitsy Baynard?” Avery asked.
“Good question.” Nikki was eating with gusto.
“We can’t afford to let her steamroll us,” Kyra said.
“I agree.” Avery sat back in her chair. “Why don’t I set up a meeting for her with Ray and me to choose finishes? I’ll try to stall for as long as I can before the meeting actually takes place. We’re not starting build-out or anything else until we know what’s going on.”
“The woman is an heiress to a huge fortune. She can’t really want to live at the Sunshine Hotel. Something’s obviously wrong in Bitsy’s world,” Maddie said. “We need to find out what it is.”
“Yeah, well, the next time we try to find out what’s going on, I suggest we leave out the alcohol,” Kyra said.
“Good thinking,” Troy said.
“I’ll speak to her,” Nikki said before Troy could yank their chains about their last failed attempt. “Bitsy and I have a history. Maybe if I can get her alone and ask the right questions, she’ll confide in me.”
“It’s worth a try,” Avery said. “Leaving her in the model isn’t going to work, either. It’s not going to show well overflowing with her things like it is.”
They ate on, though not with their original gusto.
“Do you need a ride back?” Maddie asked Nikki when she’d finished.
“I can give her a lift. The Sunshine is only a few blocks away from the office,” her father said, clearly proud to have an office to go to. Even if it was located in a small bungalow in an equally small beach town.
“Thanks,” Nikki said. “But Gabriella invited me to stop by.”
Kyra noticed she didn’t exactly look eager to go.
“Well, I’ve got some errands later,” Maddie said when Nikki had carri
ed her plate to the sink and was preparing to leave. “I’ll call you when I’m heading out in case you’re ready then.”
• • •
The Giraldis’ two-bedroom unit at the Cottage Inn was smaller than the one she and Joe had moved into at the Sunshine Hotel. It had not been updated by Avery and Chase or decorated by Ray Flamingo. It did, however, have a large plate glass window that overlooked the pass and Shell Key just beyond it. Its broad front porch was even closer to the water and was furnished with a table and chairs. A wooden swing dangled from the ceiling and stirred gently in the breeze.
Gabriella welcomed her with a hug and led her to the dinette where Nonna Sofia sat sipping tea. Sofia wore black track pants and a neon pink T-shirt. The arms that protruded from the short sleeves were pale but wiry; the hands that held the cup were heavily veined. A coordinating neon pink visor sat atop her head.
“Please sit,” Gabriella said. “Would you like a cup of tea and a chocolate croissant?”
Nikki was already stuffed from the egg soufflé, but decided it would be rude to refuse. “Thank you.”
“Come, sit next to me,” Nonna Sofia said, patting the empty chair. “I promise I won’t bite.”
Nikki noticed that the gleam in Sofia’s eyes contradicted her assurance. Nonetheless she smiled and sat, chiding herself for being nervous as Gabriella placed a croissant on a plate and set it in front of Nicole. “Joe Senior found these at that little bakery near Belle Vista. They’re completely irresistible.”
Nikki took a bite while Joe’s mother poured hot water over the loose tea in the cup’s strainer, chatting amiably as she did so. “Your cottage is just lovely. I think Ray is incredibly talented. And we so enjoyed meeting Madeline, Kyra, Avery, and the Hardins. The Franklins, too.” Gabriella smiled. “In fact, Renée brought these flowers by yesterday.” She motioned to the bright tropical arrangement that sat in the center of the table. “It’s nice to know that you and Joe have such a lovely community of people around you.”
There had been times when Nikki had felt overwhelmed by Joe’s family and how much a part of each other’s lives they were. But Gabriella’s voice was soothing and her smile was kind. Nikki began to relax. “From what the Franklins have said, the west coast of Florida was largely settled by Midwesterners.” Nikki set the tea strainer aside and stirred in milk and sugar. She took another bite of the croissant and felt the perfect combination of pastry and chocolate melt in her mouth. Her eyes closed briefly in ecstasy.
“I wouldn’t really read your tea leaves,” Nonna Sofia said. “Unless you wanted me to.”
Nicole’s eyes flew open.
“Mama,” Gabriella said. “Don’t tease Nicole.”
“Who’s teasing?” Joe’s grandmother said as Nicole lifted the teacup to her lips. “Besides I don’t need tea leaves to know that she and Joe should be married before those babies are born.”
A bit of croissant stuck in Nikki’s throat. Attempting to wash it down, she took a too-large sip of hot tea. Mouth open, she waved her hand frantically, as if that might actually put out the fire in her mouth.
Gabriella shot her mother-in-law a look, then raced to the refrigerator, where she dispensed ice cubes into a glass. Placing it in Nikki’s hand, she winced as Nikki tilted the cup to her lips and sucked a cube into her mouth.
“Mama!” Gabriella scolded as she watched Nikki’s face. “You promised!”
“Promised what? To keep my thoughts to myself? Pffft.” Nonna Sofia flung her hand open, beseeching fingers and all, in obvious dismissal. “Not to ask her why she hasn’t married Joe yet? It was one thing when it was just the two of them. But now?” She cast her gaze on Nikki’s stomach, as if she could see the babies curled up inside and knew everything about them. “It isn’t as if he hasn’t asked her many times.”
Nikki’s tongue had finally begun to numb, but even if it had been in working order, she would not have corrected Sofia’s statement. It seemed Joe hadn’t told them that he’d finally stopped asking. He’d given her what she’d said she wanted just when the babies were becoming real in her mind and she’d begun to realize that she wanted for them what she’d never had—a solid, extended, loving family tied strongly together.
She was trying to imagine what it might feel like to confide in Gabriella and Sofia when her cell phone rang. Seeing Maddie’s number, she answered.
“Nikki?”
“Yes.”
“I’m out back with Dustin. Do you want us to drop you at the Sunshine?”
Any thought of sharing confidences evaporated as soon as a means of escape presented itself. “It’s Maddie,” she said to Gabriella. “I have to go. Thank you so much for the tea.”
She found Maddie and Dustin standing on the seawall midway between Bella Flora and the Giraldis’ cottage. Both of them were watching a shiny black boat out in the pass.
“Are you all right?” Maddie asked as Nikki joined them.
“Yes,” Nikki said. “Just burned my tongue.” And fled like the coward that she apparently was.
“Look at that!” Maddie pointed to the boat, which was racing through the pass at breakneck speed.
Nikki looked more closely and saw Hard Case painted across the side in big white letters. It was Chase Hardin’s boat. But while the driver bore a striking resemblance to Chase, Chase would never be driving like that. Nor would he flaunt a girl in a bikini under their noses. Nikki narrowed her gaze just as the driver turned his head. The driver was one of Chase’s sons. The girl, who was pressed against him like a second skin, was very young.
“Is Jason!” Dustin chortled happily. But then Dustin had no idea it was a school day. Or that Jason’s father probably had no idea that his younger son had taken his boat without permission. In order to play hooky with a girl who was as close to naked as it was possible to get.
Nikki lifted her phone and snapped several pictures as the boat practically flew over another boat’s wake.
“Do you think I should call Avery?” Maddie asked. “I’d feel terrible if something happened and I hadn’t said anything.”
“I’m not sure,” Nikki said around her still tender tongue. “That would make Avery the messenger.” And everyone knew that sometimes the bearer of bad news was the one who ended up getting shot.
• • •
Avery paced the marina parking lot in south Tampa late that afternoon waiting for Jason Hardin to show up with his father’s boat. She’d spent close to an hour wishing Maddie hadn’t told her what she and Nikki had seen, and another debating whether to call Chase and tell him. In the end she’d raced to the small bayside Hi and Dry where Chase kept the boat, ultimately arriving with no real plan in mind.
The sun was close to setting when the Hard Case finally pulled into the marina and nosed up to the dock. Avery had actually prayed that Maddie and Nikki were mistaken, but Jason was at the wheel and the young, dark-haired girl, now bundled up in Jason’s baseball team hoodie, was still welded to his side. He tied the boat up swiftly but made no move to spray the boat down. In the fading light, he leaned down and kissed the girl, who giggled seductively.
This was not a first kiss, but one between two people who knew each other’s bodies. When she’d arrived, her biggest concern was that Jason had skipped school and another practice on top of taking the boat without permission. But this was something with an even greater potential for disaster. There’d been no hint of a girlfriend or even signs that Jason had been dating. She hoped to hell Chase had already discussed the birds and bees with his son, and that Jason had paid at least some attention.
He was so caught up in feeling the girl up that he didn’t notice when Avery stepped out of the shadows and walked onto the dock. When she cleared her throat, he only looked up lazily, not the least bit self-conscious about the public display of affection.
“What are you doing here?” he asked with the insolent tone he often
turned on Chase.
“I was going to ask you the same question,” she replied.
He didn’t look away, but he didn’t respond, either.
“If you were planning to keep the fact that you skipped school and took your father’s boat without permission a secret, you shouldn’t have been showing off so close to Bella Flora. Or were you hoping to get caught?”
“I’m allowed to take the boat out,” he said sullenly.
“Not alone. And not when you’re supposed to be at school.”
“He wasn’t alone. He was with me.” The girl’s tone was belligerent, her eyes glassy.
“So your parents don’t care if you skip school and spend the day partying alone with a boy?” Avery asked.
The girl stuck out her chin defiantly, but it was Jason who answered. “Sleeping with my dad doesn’t make you my mother.” He stepped up onto the dock then leaned down to help the girl out. With his arm around the girl’s shoulders, he walked toward Avery with an unpleasant swagger, stopping right in front of her so that he towered over her. “And you have no right to tell me what to do.”
She was careful not to fall back. Despite the bluster and intimidation tactics, her heart ached for Chase and Jeff and for the young, eager boy she remembered.
“You’re right. I’m not your parent. But I’ve known your father and grandfather most of my life. You all are as close to family as I’ve got. I’m an adult who cares about your family and you.” She looked up at him because she had no choice, but she remained on the offensive. “I don’t care how tall you are. You’re behaving like a little shit. And no one, including me, is enjoying watching you piss your opportunities down the toilet.” She had no experience with parenting and hoped that using so many potty words did not nullify the importance of what she said.
His blue eyes turned dark and decidedly stormy. “Thanks for the concern. It means so much to me.” His words dripped with sarcasm. “Come on, Kylie.” He led the girl toward the parking lot.
“Just a minute!” Avery called, striding after him.
He didn’t turn until they’d reached the Explorer he shared with his brother. “What the hell do you want?”