Summer on Highland Beach

Chapter Fifteen Something to Talk About

May 2022

Just as Alan had warned, many of the prominent families came to the gathering that evening—some to meet her and some to support the growing needs of the community.

Cindy wore a black-and-silver babydoll dress with spiked heels that made her legs look like they went on for days.

A Hervé Leger emerald dress with capped sleeves hugged Olivia’s body. She paired the beautiful gown with gold Chanel sandals with bows that covered her toes.

When they entered the pavilion with CJ, everyone stared. Christine, who stood on the other side of the room, glided over to greet her family. The click of her heels cut into the acute silence.

“Charles, so good to see you, son.” She pulled him into a hug. After stepping out of his embrace, she turned to face Cindy and Olivia.

“Cindy.” She surprised her with a greeting. “You look good today.” She reached for Cindy’s hand. Her mother, who looked too stunned for words, simply stared while her monster-in-law squeezed her fingers.

“And there she is. My granddaughter,” Christine said loudly and with pride. “Isn’t she just gorgeous?”

Alan walked over to the group and pulled Christine to his side. “Absolutely.” The crowd began speaking again. Some even formed a line to greet CJ.

“So this is the daughter.” An old man with a snow-white Afro that looked like cotton balls spoke in a booming voice.

“Hello, Mr....?” Olivia offered her hand.

“Wiley. James Wiley. Nice to meet you, young lady.” His loud greeting held warmth.

“Nice to meet you, too.” Olivia gave him a winning smile. “Are you a full-time resident or are you just here for the summer?”

“Oh, full-time now. I retired some years ago.” He wore an expensive gold watch, a tailored gray suit, and oak brown wingtip shoes.

“Oh? What industry?”

“I own a chain of boutique hotels called The Collections. I’ve passed it on to my daughter, Alyssa. She’s just over there, with my wife, Wilma.” Looking back at Olivia, he asked, “So what is it you do, young lady?”

Olivia told him about her work experience, from Array Capital to creating a nonprofit to protect historic Black neighborhoods. During her chat, Alan and Christine joined the conversation.

“We’re proud of Olivia’s accomplishments,” Christine said with a wide smile.

James cut Christine a look that conveyed his doubt and then sipped the brown liquid out of a stout glass.

“Since you were in the finance industry, you have heard of Amelia Vaux Tanner?” A little twinkle sparked the handsome older man’s eyes.

“Oh yes. She’s my godmother.” She missed Ama dearly and could really have used some of her pearls of wisdom right about now. Though everyone pasted on smiles and had been friendly so far, she could feel the undercurrent of tension flowing through the pavilion.

“Now, how were you lucky enough to have such an incredible woman in your life when you were growing up?”

Christine’s eyes narrowed. “Oh yes, please do share that story with us. I’m curious how your paths crossed, especially at such a young age.”

Olivia’s knees buckled. There was no way she could tell Christine or James the true story. That Omar, her godfather, had erroneously caused her son’s death by giving away the fact that Chris was a whistleblower for the police force. It had taken some time... years... for her to heal from the devastating news. She would never tell Christine or Cindy the truth.

Olivia inhaled and then relayed an alternate version of how she knew Ama and Omar. And one, she thought, that had been true most of her life.

“It started when Ama reached out to my mother. It seemed mysterious, at first, to get an invitation to spend time with such an accomplished person. She intended to start a mentorship program and had chosen me and my godsisters because of our academic performance and achievements. Well, she enjoyed our company so much that she decided against scaling out the program and focused on the three of us instead throughout the years. We truly feel blessed, and she has been one of the most important people in my life.”

At one point, Olivia had literally wanted to copy every career move her godmother had made. She wanted to be the new Witch of Wall Street and was so far into being Ama’s career twin that she hadn’t given herself time to discover her own dreams. Last summer had been a gift, though at the time it felt like a curse. But now, knowing her own worth, she could stand on her own and would never let someone make her doubt herself again. Remembering this gave Olivia another mental boost.

Alan leaned in. “There’re some refreshments near the beach. Or I can get you champagne.”

Olivia squeezed Alan’s arm. He was such a dear, and obviously giving her an out just in case she needed space. If memory served, James was the name Lauren had dropped as the person who wanted CJ to resign. It would be a boon to convince him otherwise, and without the help of CJ’s ex.

“Champagne would be nice. James, how about I meet your lovely wife and daughter?”

James offered his arm, and together they walked over to meet his family. After ten minutes, Olivia had the trio eating out of her hand. She and Alyssa exchanged cards—the newly minted CEO wanted to figure out a way to partner with Legacy Alliance, the nonprofit that Olivia and Whitney headed.

Olivia continued to work the pavilion with a flute of champagne in hand, meeting a handful of full-time residents as well as a judge who summered every year in Highland Beach with her family and a former reality star turned talent agent who worked bicoastally between New York and Los Angeles. As CJ had already told her, many of those in attendance were older, with gray hair and wide smiles. And as CJ had predicted, there was no one there who was outwardly unfriendly toward Olivia.

Meanwhile, he was having a few whispered conversations in various corners of the room. Her mother stuck to CJ’s side, though Olivia noticed that a few people had tried to move her out of the conversation. But anytime someone positioned themselves between the new couple, Cindy simply smiled, sidestepped, and put herself on CJ’s other side.

Olivia also saw that her father noticed Cindy making this move, because he always smiled and pulled her closer. He was making a statement too: Accept both of the new women in my life.

“They certainly seem cozy,” Christine’s voice cut into Olivia’s reverie.

“They are very cozy.” Olivia smiled before she sipped her champagne. She was proud that she’d played a tiny part in her parents’ romance, that she’d forced them to communicate. They had a long road ahead, but she could tell, between their heated looks and the way they moved around the room together, that they were prepared for the journey.

“Well... if he’s happy, then we’ll figure out a way.”

Olivia didn’t know who Christine’s “we” included. Alan, for one, did not seem at all surprised or bothered by her parents’ closeness.

As for the town’s opinion? Well, that remained to be seen. Glancing around, she saw facial expressions that ranged from curious to downright furious.

Then, complicating matters, Lauren Miles strode in, wearing a fire-engine-red dress that hit just above her knees.

Her eyes scanned the pavilion, then narrowed when she found Alan, CJ, and Cindy laughing together near the back entrance. She smiled a bit, pulled back her shoulders, and sashayed to the back like a glamorous huntress preparing to slay her prey.

“Excuse me.” Olivia turned to Christine. “I’m just going to—”

“Stay here with me.” Christine grabbed Olivia’s arm, as if that could stop her from leaving.

Olivia inhaled, pulling in oxygen and patience. “I really need to go help. That’s what I’m here for.”

“No. You’re here to abate the curiosity of the residents of Highland Beach, and you do that beautifully. Do not engage Lauren. Charles or I will handle it, since she felt the need to threaten my son about revealing details of their little arrangement.”

Olivia smoothly removed Christine’s hand from her arm. “You knew about that?”

“Of course. I’m the one who planted the seed in Lauren’s head when she told me about her interest in politics.”

“And what about my mother?” She didn’t want to see Cindy getting mangled in their power struggle.

“Your mother?” Christine snorted. “Please. Cindy can handle herself just fine. Unfortunately, we’re forced to play this out, and you, their daughter, should not be in the middle of this. It simply won’t do.”

“It’s not like I’ll cause a scene.”

“You want to protect Cindy, but I’m here to protect you. And for once, I intend to do my duty toward you. So please indulge me. Let’s walk outside and refresh our champagne.”

Christine slid her arm into the crook of Olivia’s arm and navigated them outside. Christine held her head high, and not once did she spare a look in the opposite direction.

Olivia, however, was not so evolved. She stared toward her parents for as long as possible. Then her body language stiffened when she saw Alan moving to block Lauren and Lauren simply going around him to stand in front of the couple.

Christine waved at a woman who stood near the beach bar and called, “Judy, hello! I must introduce you to my granddaughter, Olivia.”

Judy happily accepted Christine’s invitation and launched right into a monologue about her own grandkids. A few minutes in, Christine excused herself to chat with a younger couple, and moments later, Janice, CJ’s volunteer admin assistant, appeared.

Olivia’s face flushed. Shame coursed throughout her body. The woman had called her twice since the news came out, but Olivia hadn’t returned her calls. She was too afraid of what Janice would say and feared she would call her out for not revealing her identity that day she spent in the mayor’s office.

Olivia graciously excused herself from Judy and whispered her thanks to Janice.

“That woman can talk to a tree and bore grass.” Janice rolled her eyes. “How did you end up with her?”

“Christine wanted to distract me while CJ speaks to a few constituents.”

Janice nodded. “I won’t lie. The news really disappointed people. Especially after...”

Janice caught herself.

Olivia stiffened at Janice’s statement. “CJ told me about Riley.” Then Olivia looked away, sipped more champagne, and scanned the crowd.

“Don’t get me wrong,” Janice said in a low voice. “They don’t blame you or anything. Folks are just curious about you, but disappointed in CJ. So am I, if we’re being honest.”

Olivia’s attention jerked back to Janice. Alarm vibrated like a clanging bell through her chest. Janice had clearly adored her mayor before she discovered his daughter’s existence. “You won’t stop working with him, will you?”

Janice shrugged. “I’m here... for now.” She tilted her head, a move that seemed to reflect her teetering loyalty to her mayor.

“I’ll be honest, too,” Olivia told her.“CJ wanted to tell everyone straight out of the gate.”

Janice straightened her stance. “He did?” She looked around and then moved closer. “So why didn’t he tell us the truth?”

“Because of me.” Olivia didn’t whisper. Knowing what her father faced and what he stood to lose had injected her with a big dose of bravery.

“I don’t enjoy being the center of gossip. I didn’t want people to assume things about me or treat my mother like a monster. It’s all... very complicated.”

Janice nodded. “You’ve got that right. Especially with Chris. He adored your mother, you know. And CJ loved her, too. So yes, there’s been some speculation about all of that.”

“That part, I’ll leave to my parents. All I ask is that you give them a chance to explain. They were very young, and maybe they could have made different decisions. But here we are.”

Janice gave her a soft, warm smile. “Thanks for speaking to me. You didn’t have to answer my Nosy Nettie questions, but I’m glad you did.”

Though Olivia liked Janice well enough, strategically it was also advantageous to clear the air with a woman who was well connected and respected. Olivia understood that disregarding Janice’s questions would not have pleased the other residents. Hopefully, she would do as Olivia suspected and spread the word.

“Whatever you decide, I do hope we can meet up to chat. I would like to get to know all the good places in town to go to.”

“What do you mean ‘all the good places’? Every inch of this place is a gem.”

Olivia laughed at Janice’s attempt to be a one-woman marketing machine.

“And we’re only so big... but yes, of course. I hope you’ll still learn from us and help other neighborhoods stay Black and thriving.”

“I’m learning a lot, and some things we can incorporate to continue to protect Highland Beach. CJ and I have been strategizing.” They hadn’t exactly, but it wouldn’t hurt to make Janice and the town think they were a package deal.

“Oh, I can’t wait to hear more.”

“Janice!” someone called from the other side of the road. She waved and mouthed something to her friend. She turned around and slipped her card into Olivia’s hand. “You’ve got my number now. Call me sometime.” She winked and then flitted away to her waiting friend.

Olivia tucked the thick beige card into her clutch and then navigated to where CJ and Cindy stood conversing with an older couple. The older man was speaking and tapping the tip of his cane on the ground to emphasize the points he was making in whatever they were debating.

“I don’t know how you young ones get on now, but back in my day we took care of our responsibilities. Now, I know Christine and Daniel brought you to church every Sunday, but I wonder if you listened to any of my sermons.”

Oh Lord.Olivia snuck a glance at her mother, who rolled her eyes.

“Psalm 127: 3–5. Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them.”

Olivia cleared her throat. “Excuse me.” She raised her hand. “Fruit of the womb here.”

“Oh, well, hello there. I’m Pastor Stanley.”

“Nice to meet you. I hope you aren’t giving my parents too hard a time for a mistake made so long ago. I’m sure you realize they have changed and grown since then.”

“Well...” He straightened his shoulders. “It’s my job to make sure my flock doesn’t stray. CJ should’ve taken care of his responsibilities.”

“I won’t deny that.” Olivia looked at her father. “But it’s been such a blessing getting to know my father. If I can forgive him, the person who was wronged in the situation, then you can forgive him, too.”

“It’s not about forgiving. It’s about character.”

“I don’t know about that.” Olivia smiled kindly at the man. She could tell that he cared for her father but also wanted to give him a hard time. “There are quite a few Bible verses about forgiving, so I think it’s important.”

The old man laughed, and his wife patted his arm. “She’s right, Pete.”

Olivia leaned into the lighter atmosphere and the opening Mrs. Stanley had created. “You know, my godfather Omar used to have this conversation with me. When I was mad at someone for wronging me, he often told me, ‘Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.’”

The pastor smiled. “At least your mother raised you in the church.”

Cindy nearly choked on her cocktail. Olivia blanked her face.

“My upbringing was excellent, and I never wanted for anything. I don’t want to waste another moment of anger or guilt or fear. I only want to continue to get to know my father and this gorgeous town. Will you let us do that?”

CJ’s eyes glittered with remorse. She didn’t know if it was the pastor’s words or her own, but something had hit him in the gut. He looked worn out.

The pastor offered his hand to Olivia. She quickly shook his hand. Then, in an entirely exaggerated fashion, he turned to CJ and opened his arms.

“I’ll always be in your corner, CJ,” Pastor Stanley vowed.

“Oh? I heard you were thinking of supporting Harold Munroe?” CJ asked with a teasing smile.

“Nothing wrong with talking to the man,” the pastor hedged.

CJ stepped into the hug and patted his pastor on the back. “Good. I’ll see you at the mayoral debate then?”

“You’ve got it, son.”

The jingle of a bell halted the conversation. A hostess in a white shirt and black pants smiled at the guests. “Dinner is served.”

The pastor and his wife said their goodbyes and walked away, headed toward the pavilion across the street. Olivia moved, but CJ grabbed her wrist.

“Can you give us a moment, Cindy?”

Her mother nodded. “I’ll wait near the door.”

“Good.”

He leaned in and kissed her forehead.

CJ crossed his arms. “You’ve enchanted everyone.”

Olivia chuckled. “Are they enchanted enough to want to keep you around as mayor?”

“I think I’ve got a fighting chance because of you and Cindy. So... thank you. I don’t want you to feel like I’m using you. It’s not that I’m suddenly trying to be the family guy. I’m just a stubborn man who’s made the worst decision he’s ever made in his life.”

“Well, looks like you’re getting your second chance.”

“I shouldn’t have messed up the first chance.” He shook his head, muttering something under his breath. Then he spoke loud enough for Olivia to hear. “This entire time, watching you... standing beside your mother... I’m really kicking myself.”

“Your life isn’t over yet,” Olivia replied to her father. And, if she were being honest, neither was hers.

What was she waiting for with Garrett? Was she also missing out on the love of a lifetime and taking the risk of living with regret decades later? She needed to tell him, to show him, that she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him.

When they walked back into the pavilion, they saw that the seating arrangements were just as CJ and Alan had expected—with an exception, a very big exception that could not be ignored. Lauren Miles sat by herself at the round table, waiting.

Olivia strode toward her.

“Lauren?” Olivia spoke quietly enough to not startle the woman. “Will you join me outside before dinner is served?”

Lauren looked around, nodded, then followed Olivia out into the warm, dark evening.

“Was that your assigned seat?” Olivia asked her.

“No.” Lauren shook her head. “No, it wasn’t. Your father and I have been... partners for a while now. Maybe I didn’t have an assigned seat, but I should have had a seat.”

“You want to become mayor,” Olivia acknowledged. “It’s a fine goal.”

“It’s not some... some lofty goal. I deserve it. I’ve earned it. And Highland Beach needs new...” She cut herself off, laughing.

“New blood?” Olivia finished for her, remembering Alan’s comment about those who wanted to knock the Douglass-Jones family off their throne.

Lauren shook her head. “They need fresh energy. Someone forthright and brave.”

“You don’t think CJ has what it takes?”

Lauren arched her eyebrow. “You tell me. Was your father brave all those years ago when he let you and your mom go?” She waved her hand. “Now look at him, sitting there with his ready-made family. The town’s forgiven him, and now I look like a lovesick fool.”

“I’m sorry if my father hurt you.”

“It’s not your fault, Olivia.” Lauren sighed, still not looking directly at her. “Trust me, my feelings have nothing to do with you.”

“Then I’m sorry my father didn’t hold up his end of the partnership deal.”

Her eyes went wide. “He told you?” she asked with gale-wind force.

“I pushed him to talk about it after I met you at the boutique. Christine told me you two were dating. I wanted to make sure he wasn’t playing the field while my mom and I were in his home.”

She nodded absently. The steam of her anger seemed to fade. Slowly, she turned to face Olivia. “I’m going home now. I promise not to stand in CJ and Cindy’s way. They deserve a second chance. They deserve each other.”

“You know my mother?”

“Not well, no. I’ve just heard things, seen things. And deep down, when I saw her at CJ’s home, I knew they had unfinished business.”

“Thank you.” The woman’s easy surrender genuinely shocked Olivia.

“You’re welcome. You remind me of someone I once knew. She was forthright and brave. To be honest, she’s the reason I want to be mayor.” Lauren began to walk away, but then halted. “And because you remind me of her, I’ll tell you this: keep your eyes open and protect yourself, beautiful girl. There are sharks swimming among us.”

Olivia had thought of the person who took her picture without permission as a nuisance. But if they meant to harm her... that was another matter.

“Is my life in danger?”

“No,” Lauren said, shaking her head. “But there are other ways to hurt someone. Words, actions. Inaction... ask your father about that.” With that, she walked away.

Olivia stood outside, the moonlight casting a beautiful silver glow over her skin.

Thoughts of Indigo flittered in her mind. She wondered if her aunt would have liked her. Maybe she would’ve pushed CJ to reach out to Cindy. And then they would never have missed Chris’s funeral.

She hugged herself, forced a smile, and braced herself for the last leg of the night.

As Olivia reentered the room and scanned the smiling faces of the Highland Beach residents, she wondered about the sharks Lauren had warned her about. She knew just the woman who could help her find out.

Mayor Charles CJ Jones and Family Have More Skeletons

A person who has remained anonymous has reached out to this publication and provided proof that Indigo Jones, the daughter of the former mayor Daniel Jones and Mrs. Christine Douglass-Jones, lived with a mental illness.

The friend maintains that the Jones family, who were aware of her depression, did nothing to support their daughter. Indigo’s friend, who has remained anonymous, has shared firsthand accounts and letters written by Indigo.

My mother is having an affair!!!! She tells me that people can’t know I’m sad all the time, that I have to be perfect. But then she turns around and cheats on my dad!! She’s such a hypocrite. And she won’t even acknowledge the thing about our family line... I mean, who cares! We’re still a part of the Douglass line. It doesn’t matter about what happened in the past, right?

I still haven’t decided whether to tell CJ. He’ll be so pissed. He and Mom argue all the time about me and his girlfriend.

Chris will be upset, too. I think he ran away to join the military so he could get away from Mom’s stupid expectations. I wish I could run away, too. If I could, I’d jump in that water and swim as long and as fast as possible. As soon as I turn eighteen, I’m out of here. I hope you were serious about us moving out west and being roommates. I don’t think college is for me, since I’m an artist.

Well anyway, wish me good luck. But you’re right. The truth is the best route to take. I’ll talk to them tonight.

Your friend,

Indigo

The friend maintained that after the confrontation, Indigo’s body was washed ashore.

Here is a personal quote from the source:

“I’ll never forget that day the town came together to look for Indigo. I was sick to my stomach because I knew something had happened to her. I think Christine’s lover may have had something to do with her death by suicide, but I felt like I had no voice. Now, I do. And I’ll be sharing Indigo’s letter along with information that I know about the family. Justice will be served.”

The publication has reached out to the Jones family and will await their reply to the allegations.