Chapter 5
5
C arley tapped on the office door and quickly stepped inside. Margo whirled around in her desk chair, a huge smile on her face.
"Hi Carley. It looks like you had a nice conversation with Mason out there."
"Are you spying on me?"
Margo grinned and pointed to the three monitors on the wall. "I saw you. Not spying on you."
Margo stood and wrapped her in a hug. Carley hugged her little sister in return, enjoying the feel of her sister’s warm embrace. She closed her eyes and let Margo's warmth seep in.
Margo stepped back and looked into her eyes. "Is everything okay with you?" She saw concern in her sister's eyes and that bothered her.
"Yes, everything is fine. I sold another condo and brought Mason his keys. Quinn's letting him move in before closing so he can get out of his apartment."
"Aw, that's so sweet of Quinn. He's a good person."
"He is." Carley stared at her sister, whose appearance had changed tremendously in the past few months and it was for the better. She smiled at Margo and took a deep breath. "You look happy, Margo. I hadn't realized how much your appearance has changed in the past few months. You looked tired and kind of sad before. Now, you look bright, vibrant and ten years younger. Marriage agrees with you."
Margo laughed. "This marriage agrees with me. The last one, not so much."
"True. I should have clarified."
Margo sat in Jace's vacated chair and motioned to hers. "Take a seat and tell me what's going on."
Carley sat and faced her sister. "I'm selling these condos easily. I've gotten two new listings this week and I love selling real estate." She took a deep breath. "I'll never be able to thank you enough for the opportunities you've given me. I appreciate it more than you know."
Margo's smile was infectious. It lit up her entire face. "I knew you could do it. You're my sister and I want only the best for you. I'd have done anything to get you away from that loser, Don, you were living with."
Carley nodded her head. "I'm embarrassed about the years I spent with him. I must not have had any self-esteem."
Margo laughed. "Well, the same could be said of me. So, here's to new beginnings and bright futures." They high-fived in the absence of drinks to cheer with.
She sat back and listened as Margo told her about the new ideas she had for the Sandbar. She was excited and alive when she spoke of her husband, Jace, and the plans they had. Carley was happy for her sister and brother-in-law, but a little hole of sadness built in her heart and felt like a weight.
A half-hour later, Carley's phone and watch chimed. She glanced at her wrist and saw a text from a potential buyer. She grinned.
"I have someone else interested in looking at the condos. We'll have to push Quinn along to get the rest of them built, the way they're selling."
Margo laughed. "Good for both of you. And I might add, success looks good on you."
Carley laughed. "It sure does feel good."
Carley stood and Margo jumped from her chair and wrapped her in a warm hug once more. Carley was the older sister of the two, yet she was seeking comfort from her younger sister. What did that make her? She should always be the strong one. At least that's what their father would have said.
Her eyes filled with moisture, and she blinked rapidly to dry them. Margo pulled back, and the beautiful smile she'd had on her face only moments ago faded. "What's wrong, Carley?"
"Nothing."
"Bullshit."
"It's...nothing."
"I said. Bullshit."
Margo's eyes bore into hers and held.
Carley took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "It's stupid."
"I bet it isn't."
"It is."
"Well, I could use a little stupid right now. Then we'll both chuckle about it and move on with our day."
Carley rolled her head on her shoulders and huffed out another breath. "I guess I'm feeling a little lonely. Or something. I don't know. I'm more successful than I've ever been. I have a fantastic home. My own business. I don't know what's wrong with me. See, stupid."
Margo pulled her in for another hug. "Aww, honey. It's not stupid. I used to say the same thing to myself when Logan was on a trip, and I rattled around the house alone. I thought I was the most pathetic creature on earth."
"You did?"
"I did."
"You never said anything."
Margo chuckled. "Of course not. I didn't want anyone else to think I was pathetic."
"Oh." Carley grinned. "I get it. I didn't want to tell you just now either."
"Right?"
Margo took her hands and squeezed them in hers. "I love you. Holly and Josseline love you. Jace loves you. Our friends love you. You're amazing, beautiful, smart and successful. Girl, you've got it going on."
That started a giggle that bubbled into laughter, and the two of them stood in the middle of Margo's office and laughed.
Jace walked in. "What's so funny?"
Carley pulled back, still laughing. "I'm successful."
Jace looked between the two women. "Why is that funny?"
"It isn't. Not really," she replied.
Jace's brows pinched together. He glanced at his wife, and she started laughing again. "I'll tell you later, honey," she managed to get out between breaths.
Jace shook his head in a "women" sort of way, snagged a notebook from his desktop, and slipped out the door without another word.
Carley watched him leave, then turned to her sister and they both laughed again. There wasn't anything funny at all, but boy did it feel good to laugh. That's most likely what she'd been missing lately. She'd been too busy to do much in a social way and she missed the fun and banter she had with her sister and their friends, Grace and Hanna.
"I could really use a ladies’ night out. How does that sound?"
"That sounds great to me. I could use one too. We've been working our tails off. How about Thursday night? We have a great band playing here and Jace is taking off to go to the Legion with Sid and Quinn. It'll be perfect."
She felt the invisible weight she'd created over the past few weeks, lift from her shoulders. "That sounds like a great idea. Thank you."
She turned to leave when Margo said, "Wear something sexy for Mason."
She froze but didn't turn around because her cheeks felt as though they were on fire.
Deciding instead to leave, she strode past the bar where the flirty girls were still perched on their stools, and Sid and Quinn still sat at the other end of the bar. She turned her head to see Mason watching her, and her cheeks burned a little hotter. She smiled and waved at him before hurrying out the door.
Once she was outside, she sucked in the fresh air and hurried to her SUV. There was a note on the windshield in scribbled handwriting.
"You have something that doesn't belong to you, and I want it back."
Her heart hammered in her chest, and she looked around in all directions to see if someone was watching her. Scared, she hurriedly got into her car and locked all the doors. Thinking better of it, she twisted in her seat to make sure no one was in the backseat.
Her hands shook and her breathing came in spurts. She wasn't sure what she should do, so she pulled from her parking spot, watching her mirror to see if anyone followed her. As she turned onto Sunset Beach Road, she sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly. She should have gone back inside.
A car pulled out behind her, and she watched as it followed her around the corner and onto Main Street. She watched the car in her mirror, nearly hitting the sidewalk. Pulling her SUV back onto the street, she slowed down. Quickly turning left, she entered the grocery store parking lot. She drove around the perimeter, the car followed her partway, then pulled into a parking spot. Carley blew out a breath and circled the lot until she came to the exit once more. She turned right onto Main Street and drove down Hospital Drive, which took her past the hospital and out of town to her house.
The car didn't follow her, and she shook her head at her paranoia. She pulled into her garage, watching both ends of the street to make sure no one had followed her. Quickly closing the door, she heaved out a sigh of relief. She reached over to the passenger seat to grab her purse and saw the note.
Dread filled her once more.