Chapter 47
Chapter Forty-Seven
F rankie exhaled, then took in a big breath of ocean air as waves crashed against the shoreline and gulls careened overhead. She was very glad she’d chosen the beach over painting. “This is living right here.”
“Amen,” Jack said.
He’d dug around in the storage closet and found something he’d called the beach tent. After he’d set it up, in a remarkably short amount of time, she’d seen that it wasn’t really a tent but more like a shade canopy.
The turquoise awning was supported on four sides by telescoping poles. It was far superior to the umbrella they’d been using. It made a lot more shade, while still allowing breezes through, and because it was a rectangle instead of a circle, there was room to spread out beneath it.
Besides the tent, they’d brought folding chairs, towels, and a cooler. They’d used the wagon to haul it all, but Jack had pulled it, leaving Frankie and Willa with nothing but their beach bags.
Frankie had brought her tablet and stylus but couldn’t bring herself to work just yet. There was something too relaxing about just sitting there, watching the waves, breathing in the salty air, listening to the wind and water. She stretched her legs out, digging her heels into the sand.
She truly wished Harper had come with them. Frankie understood her not wanting to. She probably wouldn’t have either in the same situation, but there was something so…life-affirming about being here.
The ocean had a way of putting you in your place in a good way.
Maybe Jack was right about those negative ions. He’d brought his knitting, which amused her greatly. The Hollywood legend, The Rule Breaker, son of the great Arlington Marsh, was sitting next to her, knitting on the beach.
Life was crazier than fiction at times. At least hers was. Willa had gone down to the water for a quick dip.
Frankie pulled one of her library books from her beach bag. She just didn’t have it in her to work right now. She opened the book. It was a historical drama, set in the aftermath of World War Two and she was engaged from the first paragraph.
Until, a few pages in, a voice interrupted her. “Is there room for us?”
She looked up to see Harper and Archie standing beside her. “You came.”
Harper nodded, eyes hidden behind big sunglasses. She had a chair in one hand and a beach bag on her shoulder. “I have some time to kill before we head for the airport. I thought spending it with my family was a better idea than hiding away in my room being sad.”
Jack set his knitting down and hopped up, taking her chair. “Here, let me get that for you.”
“Thanks.”
He opened it up and set it beside Frankie, then looked at Harper. “I’m glad you’re here, man. You okay?”
She nodded. “Getting there.”
Without another word, he hugged her. She let out a little oof as he embraced her, almost knocking her hat off. “I’m so sorry about your mom.”
“Thanks.” She patted him on the back as he let her go.
He went back to his knitting, and Harper sat. Archie gave her a look. She nodded at him and unclipped his leash. “Go to Willa. But stay with her.”
Archie took off toward the water.
Frankie used the flap of the book’s jacket as a bookmark, then rested her hand on her sister’s arm. “I’m really glad you came.”
Upon seeing Archie, Willa looked at them, spotted Harper, and with a big grin on her face, waved.
Harper waved back. “I am, too.”
“What changed your mind?”
“Believe it or not, Buck.” Harper shrugged. “I’m not sure why, but I had this urge to call him, so I did. Talking to him made me feel better. I guess it made me realize that what I needed was not to be alone, but to be with family.”
Frankie squeezed Harper’s arm, then gave it a little pat. She loved her sister so much. Buck had done a good thing, whatever he’d said. “You want something to drink? We have plenty.”
“Water would be good.”
Frankie twisted to reach into the cooler behind her, dug out a bottle of water, and handed it over.
Harper took a sip, then looked at the canopy overhead. “Where did this come from?”
“Storage closet. Jack knew it was in there and he found it. He also set it up.”
Jack gave them a nod. “At your service.”
“It’s better than the umbrella,” Harper said.
“My thoughts exactly.” Frankie watched as Archie and Willa played in the surf. “Do you want to talk?”
“Nope. Just want to be.”
Frankie nodded. “You got it.” She went back to her book.
Harper got out a library book as well, pushed her sunglasses on top of her head, and started reading.
Through the reflection on Frankie’s sunglasses, which were resting on the arm of her chair, she could see Harper’s face. Her eyes were puffy. Frankie just wanted to hug her and love on her, but she knew that wasn’t what Harper needed right now.
Jack kept knitting. It was quiet and peaceable and when Willa returned with Archie, she went to Harper. “Can I have his leash so I can walk with him?”
“Sure.” Harper handed it over.
“Thanks.” Willa clipped the leash onto Archie’s collar.
Frankie looked up. “We’ll probably eat in a bit.”
“Okay,” Willa said. “I’m good with that. I’m hoping we’re both dry, or mostly dry, by the time we get back.”
“Have fun,” Frankie said.
They took off.
Harper glanced over. “I’m surprised you didn’t invite Lucas and Angelo.”
“I did, actually, but he and his brother were going out fishing today so they couldn’t make it. It’s all right.” Frankie shrugged. “This way it’s just family.”
Jack cleared his throat, then made a funny face when they looked at him, making them laugh.
“You’re kind of like family now,” Frankie said.
Jack smiled, clearly pleased with that answer.
Harper shook her head. “Who knew all you had to do to evade the paparazzi was hit the beach?”
“Man, I wish I’d figured that out sooner,” he said. “Although it’s probably only a matter of time before they find me.”
“Have you thought any more about what you’re going to do about Monica?” Harper asked.
“I talked to Teddy—he says hi, by the way—and he doesn’t think I should pay her, either. In fact, he thinks I should turn her in to the cops. Angie said she had a couple of warrants. She gets picked up and chances are good she’ll be too busy to think about me.”
“Hmm.” Frankie shook her head. “I hate to play devil’s advocate, but what if you do that and she thinks you’re her ticket out? That if she tells the cops she was assaulted by someone famous, they’ll go after you because you’re a bigger fish.”
His eyes narrowed. “I hadn’t thought about that, man.” He sighed and stopped knitting.
“You need to talk to your attorney,” Harper said. “I think it’s time to bring in the big guns. I know you have one.”
“Clancey Withers. Used to be my dad’s guy,” Jack said. “Good dude. A little sharky for my taste, but you sort of want that in a lawyer, you dig?”
Frankie and Harper both nodded.
He tucked the knitting away into the bag from the art supply store that he’d been keeping it in and got a can of sparkling water from the cooler. “I wish people could just be chill with each other, you know? Let each other live.”
“I understand what you’re saying,” Harper said. “But if no one was interested in you, no one would come to see your movies, and then where would you be?”
“Probably surfing in Costa Rica, living in a little shack by the beach, and dreaming about being in the movies someday.” He grinned. “I get what you’re saying, man, and it’s a valid point. Gotta take the bad with the good, eh?”
Harper’s chest rose and fell with a deep breath. “That’s for sure.” She went back to staring out at the water.
Frankie knew Harper needed time. And maybe just to know that her family was there for her. She went back to reading, content to be near her sister, hoping Harper would ask if there was anything else she could do.