Chapter 26
Frankie
I've got no clue how long we’re in Flo’s office. But when someone knocks on the door and Cal and I break apart, it’s too soon.
Miguel pops his head around the door before stepping in. “Sorry, guys. Gotta grab something for Flo.”
He scans Flo’s desk, then quickly grabs a random piece of paper before leaving without shutting the door behind him.
Cal and I look at each other.
“Think we’ve worn out our welcome?” Cal asks.
“Well, one of us has. Didn’t hear many welcome homes walking in here today.”
“Nobody’s going to stay mad at you,” he says without conviction.
“I was talking about you. Everyone here looooooves me.” Now that I’ve stopped running, sarcasm is my go-to when it comes to covering up hurt.
Cal doesn’t fall for it. “I know you don’t have a part in what Wild Coast has done. Everyone else will figure it out soon enough, just like they did with Rancho Mirage.”
I nod. “I’m working on fixing it—Archie, too. I promise. I just hope it’s not too late by the time we do get things sorted.”
“If you can fix things with your dad, you can fix anything, Frankie. I don’t doubt that.” He tucks my perpetually loose curl back under my Barry’s hat, then tugs the bill lower. “This looks good on you, by the way. I guarantee Barry’s not mad you’re wearing his merch.”
“Barry didn’t lose a whole crop of endive because of a cancelled contract.” She adjusts the hat and puts on her sunglasses. “We should go.”
“You parked out front?”
I nod.
“Take the long way around or go through?”
The smart answer is the long way, but that feels a bit like running, so I tip my head toward the dining room. “Through.”
Cal smiles and holds out this hand. I take it and we walk out of the office and come face to face with Flo, standing outside the door.
“I’m not hiding you this time, Frankie.” She has her hands on her hips with a big metal spoon in one of them. For a second, I worry I might be in real danger.
“I’m not hiding, Flo. I didn’t have anything to do with Wild Coast breaking contracts, but I’m doing everything I can to fix it.”
Her face softens enough I’m not afraid of being spooned to death, but she’s still mad. “That’s not the only thing we’re upset about.”
“There’s more?” I look to Cal to see if he knows but he shrugs and shakes his head.
“You barely said goodbye when you left, then you don’t reach out to any of us? You don’t tell us where you are or that your dad is dying? We’re supposed to be your friends, Frankie.” Her chin quivers, and she pulls in her lips.
All I can do is blink. Seconds pass before I’m able to piece together some words.
“I thought I was doing the right thing. You’d already lost your cove and your seclusion because of me.
Then I found out about Wild Coast and knew everyone would think I had a part in it.
” I stop and shake my head. “I didn’t think you or the Mafia or Pearl or anyone else would ever want to see me again. ”
Flo’s mouth twists into an angrier curve. “Don’t be ridiculous! You knew how we felt about you. You could have checked in every once in a while. You could have told us what was happening with Wild Coast. We would have believed you over some news story. We trusted you. You should have trusted us.”
I know how Flo feels about hugs, but I don’t care. I throw my arms around her and bury my head in her shoulder. “You’re right. I’m so sorry, Flo. I really thought you’d be happy to be rid of me.”
She returns my hug with a loose one of her own and a gentle pat on my back. “You ninny. We’re your family. Why would we want to get rid of you?”
I pull away to look her in the face. “We’re family?”
“Of course.” She scoffs and rolls her eyes like I’ve asked a stupid question. “Unless we’re not good enough for you now that you’re back in Hollywood.”
“Don’t be ridiculous!” I copy her scoff. “You’re too good for me. I’m lucky you want to keep me around after everything I’ve put you through.”
A smile almost slips out before she points her spoon toward the dining room. “You’d better tell the rest of them the same thing. No sneaking out the back.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it.”
Cal takes my hand and leads me into the dining room, which goes silent as we go through instead of around.
Not one of the Oatmeal Mafia members tries to say hello.
They stare into their coffee cups like I’m not there, although I catch a glance from Barry whose eyes go to my hat. I swear he’s fighting a smile.
When we reach the door, I turn to face the room and everyone in it. Summer season is over and tourists are gone. There are only a few people I don’t recognize, but I don’t care anymore. I’m not running from cameras. I’m not running from bad press. I’m not running, period.
“I didn’t know what they were doing,” I say loudly enough that almost everyone looks at me. Not Gerry, though. “Wild Coast. With the Sanctuary, I mean. That’s not an excuse. But I want you to know I wouldn’t do this to you.”
I glance at Cal for support. With his nod, I face the angry faces again. “I’m doing everything I can to make sure the promises we made are kept, not because it’s the right thing to do, but because…you’re my family.”
I stop and wait. Not sure what for. Applause? Maybe.
Definitely not confused looks from the strangers and silence from everyone else.
So, I turn and go.
But before I make it through the door, Gerry calls. “Whether you fix it or not...”
On his pause, I turn around. Whatever he has to say, it should be to my face, not while I’m leaving.
“We love you, Frankie,” he finishes, looking a bit flustered.
Barry and Larry nod together, and Pearl does something with her mouth that could be a smile or reflux.
“I love you, too!” And I mean it. I’d mean it if they were still casting dirty looks at me. They took me in when I needed family, and I won’t leave them again.
As soon as we’re out the door, Cal pulls me close enough to kiss my cheek. “Well done.”
“That was so much more terrifying than running.”
“But with a better outcome, right?”
“Much better.”
When we get to my car, he opens my door and asks, “What do you need now? Quiet or company?”
“Quiet with your company?”
Cal sends me the lopsided grin that hooked me the first time I saw him.
“I've got a few things to handle at the office. After that, I'll break Junie out of school early, then I promise all the quiet company I can give you. In the meantime,…” He opens my car door for me. “I’ll give Mom a heads up you’re on your way.”
“Jo will be okay with me just showing up?” I slide into my seat, waiting for a “yes” or “of course,” but when I look at Cal, he tips his head to his shoulder, which isn’t super comforting.
“I’ll be there as soon as I can. We’ll work it out then.” He points to my mobile in my hand and gestures for me to hand it to him. “In the meantime, soak up all the quiet you can. Once Junie sees you, that’ll be the end of your quiet until her bedtime. But then you get me all to yourself.”
His mouth quirks to the side in an expression that says he’s as amused by his joke as I am. Then he taps the ranch address into my mobile and leans into my car to hand it back to me.
“Call if you have any problems getting there.”
“I’m not worried about getting there. I’m worried about what happens after I do. Cassidy’s not there, is she?”
He laughs and shakes his head. “You’re safe from her.”
He’s close enough I can smell his soap, something clean and mellow. Soothing.
And there’s no way to resist taking his face in my hands and kissing him again. His cheeks are sandpaper rough with stubble. Not enough to hurt, just enough to add texture…to make him more real.
He pulls away with a smile. “It’s Wes you’ve got to worry about.”
“Not helpful, Cal.” I push him away, and he shuts my door.
I watch him look both ways before jogging to his big red truck. His arms swinging easily, his t-shirt hugging him brilliantly, his jeans…
Let’s just say, I enjoy the view.
I’m glad I came here, back to Serenity Cove. Back to Cal. No clue if it was the right decision. But I can’t leave now, even if I wanted to.