Chapter 2
Harper’s stomach rumbled, reminding her that she would have to go out for supplies soon. She planned on doing a big shop, enough to last at least two weeks so she didn’t have to go out again for a while.
She’d driven here from Los Angeles. Not her preferred method of escape, but she didn’t like flying with Archie. He was too big to go in the cabin and the idea of crating him and putting him in the hold was far too worrisome to consider. She’d read so many nightmarish stories about pets being lost. Or worse.
She leaned down and ruffled Archie’s fluffy fur with both hands. “Not taking any risks with my boy, am I?”
He looked up expectantly and opened his mouth, his pink tongue peeking out.
“Such a baby. Mama needs to do some shopping. Are you going to be all right here by yourself? Maybe I should stick you in the laundry room, huh?” She scanned the house. “If there is a laundry room. There must be, right?”
She stood. “Let’s go explore and see what’s what.” Most of her stuff was still in the car. She’d brought two bags in with her, her carry-on and Archie’s bag of supplies, but that hadn’t included his bed or his best friend, Mr. Brown.
He got up and followed her.
The first floor where they’d come in had a gracious foyer that led into a large, open room. The wall that faced the river was all glass and overlooked the pool, then the water beyond. There was also a big L-shaped covered and screened area right off the first floor. The main room was set up for hanging out in, with a small kitchen area, a big seating area, and a billiards table. A treadmill, elliptical, and stationary bike were lined up behind the couches to face the big-screen television. Doors led to a full bathroom and a spacious storage closet.
On either side of the rec room area were twin two-car garages. Her car was still in the driveway, but she’d move it into one of the garages as soon as she figured out how to open the doors. One of the garages housed an electric golf cart. Steps led from the foyer to the two upper floors but there was also an elevator. Not one of those tiny standard residential ones, either.
She and Archie had taken the stairs up to the second floor, where they were now, but she’d been so impressed with the view she’d gone straight out through the great room to have a better look.
The great room, the dining room and the kitchen were all one big room. The centerpiece of the great room was a long, low, glass-fronted gas fireplace against the far wall. Above it was the enormous television. To the right of that were the doors out to the main deck.
She walked back toward the stairs. A small hall led right and left to more of the house. She went left and found two doors. One opened onto a covered walkway that went to what she guessed was a guest house. Or maybe staff quarters.
The second door went into a good-sized office complete with desk, chair, and a loveseat that looked like it folded out into a twin bed. There was no window on the side, since it would have overlooked the guest house. The windows at the front of the office looked out toward the driveway, but that meant the tops of the palm trees lining the entrance were visible. It was a nice touch of green.
But the best part about the office was the watercolor painting on the wall. It was of Arlington on a sailboat named Sojourner, from the movie he’d made by that same name. Harper had commissioned the piece from her sister, Frankie, as a present after he’d won an Oscar for his role in the film.
Frankie was a fantastic artist in several mediums, even if that wasn’t her full-time job. It was nice to see the artwork again. And it touched Harper that he’d put it here. It fit so well in this beautiful house.
She looked at Archie. “This might be a good place to do Zoom calls, huh?”
He tentatively wagged his tail. He still seemed to be wondering when they were leaving.
“Next room.” She went in the other direction, past the stairs and elevator, and opened the door. “Oh. Wow.”
The master bedroom lay before her. The wall behind the bed was a deep marine blue painted with constellations all picked out in gold. The thick rug that lay over the dark wood floor was patterned with medallions of blue and tan on a white background. The rest of the walls were white as was the ceiling, where more gold constellations added additional character. Sheer white curtains on brass rods hung ready to cover the windows and sliding doors that led to the covered part of the deck.
A large rattan armchair with pale gold cushions sat next to a big dresser painted in marine blue. Antique maps, framed in dark wood and rattan, decorated the walls. The bed linens were white trimmed in more marine blue. Two squat, round ottomans sat at the end of the bed, both woven from thick rope. The chandelier over the bed was also made of rope and looked like it could have been taken from a pirate ship.
She smiled.
The vibe was definitely masculine, but she liked it. The room felt powerful. As much as a room could feel that way. It reminded her of Arlington, too. “What do you think, Archie? We good to sleep here tonight?”
He licked his chops and sat beside her.
“I know. You need your bed. And Mr. Brown. I’ll bring them in as soon as we see the rest of the place, okay?”
She opened the other doors in the bedroom. Two of them led to walk-in closets, both of which still held some clothing. The last door led to a sumptuous bath with a big tub, a walk-in shower, and two sinks, all in blue glass tile with tan and gold accents and touches of dark wood. Gorgeous.
From the master there was access to the deck she’d first walked out onto, as well as a small balcony area that overlooked the front of the house. Another door led off that front balcony. It definitely didn’t go into the bedroom or the bathroom, but the glass on the door was covered with a sheer curtain and she couldn’t see in.
She went back into the house and toward the stairs to figure out where that door went. There was only one other door she hadn’t opened. Behind it was the laundry room, which also connected to the balcony. “You know, Archie, this might be a good spot for you. Just while I go out to get groceries. What do you think? Will you be okay in here with your bed and Mr. Brown?”
Mr. Brown was his teddy bear. The two had been inseparable since Archie had been a puppy. Mr. Brown had seen better days, but love was blind. She was a little surprised he hadn’t carried the bear into the house with him, but maybe Archie had wanted to protect Mr. Brown from the unknown.
“Let’s go see the third floor, then we’ll get your stuff.”
They went up the steps together. Her phone rang again. Another number she didn’t recognize. Another call she didn’t answer.
The third floor had a pretty simple layout. A decent-sized family room with three guest bedrooms, one with its own bathroom, the other two shared a bath. There was an open deck off the family room with more spectacular views of the water.
The guest house could be inspected later. Wasn’t like she needed the room. All she really needed was two weeks’ worth of groceries and to be left alone by the paparazzi desperate to find out who she was and why things had ended with Ford.
They had to get bored sooner or later.
She went down to the car and got the rest of her stuff, focusing on Archie’s bed, Mr. Brown, and then her own things, which was only two large tote bags. She carried it all back inside, this time taking the elevator up to the second floor. Lazy but effective.
As she stepped off the elevator, she sang out, “I have Mr. Brown!”
Archie wagged his tail and panted excitedly.
She handed the ratty brown bear to him. He took the toy in his mouth and danced his front paws back and forth, making her smile. “Better?”
He did his best to bark with a mouthful of bear. The silly woof that came out made her laugh. “Good boy. Let’s get your bed down.”
Still wheeling her big suitcase, she carried the plaid and fake shearling oval into the laundry room but instantly had second thoughts. Archie was not a dog who destroyed things. She didn’t love the idea of putting him in here.
She took his bed into the bedroom and plopped it on the floor in front of the stationary glass door. “How’s that?”
He immediately carried Mr. Brown into the bed, circled three times and lay down.
“You’re such a good boy.” She set her suitcase by one of the walk-in closets. Unpacking was a job that could wait until later.
There was no point in making a list for the store, either. She needed everything. Just to be sure of that, she went back to the kitchen and opened the cabinets and drawers. Fully equipped with dishware, glasses, cutlery, and cooking equipment.
She found a pantry cabinet with some food in it, but all of that would have to be thrown away. Same for anything left in the fridge, which she checked next. Nothing in there but three bottles of good champagne.
That made her smile. Those she would not be throwing out.
Behind her, set under the counter was a wine fridge that was nearly full. Was that Arlington or Lisa’s doing, she wondered. Probably Lisa. She’d never seen the woman without a glass of wine in hand and Arlington was more of a whisky guy.
Harper got Archie set up with food and water in the kitchen and opened a few windows to let some fresh air in. The place wasn’t musty or anything like that, but there was a staleness to the air from being shut up for so long.
With that done, she donned a hat and sunglasses, found her purse on the coffee table where she’d tossed it, and went to check on Archie. He was sleeping, his head resting on Mr. Brown’s belly. She crouched down by his bed and stroked his soft fur. “I won’t be gone long, baby dog. You be a good boy, okay? There’s food and water in the kitchen.”
He briefly opened his eyes to look at her, let out a sigh, then went back to sleep.
Content that he’d finally settled, she went down to the car. She searched her phone for the nearest grocery store and found one called Publix just across the causeway that had brought her to Hideaway Bay.
She tapped the arrow to start navigation and headed off to buy supplies. It was good to have a task to focus on. Even something as mundane as getting groceries. For however long that took, maybe she could forget that her life was probably never going to be the same again.