Chapter 10
Harper stood in front of a photo of Arlington, Jackson, and Teddy Marsh. The same photo hung in Arlington’s office in his California home, but it looked like it had been taken on the beach here.
The three were standing on the sand, the blue ocean the perfect backdrop to their Hollywood good looks. But it was Arlington she was focused on. “I don’t know about befriending that man, Arlington. I don’t think he wants a friend. Not saying he probably doesn’t need one, but he’s not nice. How am I supposed to befriend a man who wants nothing to do with anyone? Most of all me.”
Arlington, of course, did not answer.
She sighed. “I get that the death of his wife wrecked him. I take it your passing wasn’t good for him, either. On that, we share common ground, but I don’t think it’s enough to get him to let me in. Honestly, I’m not sure how to get in. He has a lot of emotional walls up. The man is closed off.”
She shook her head. “I know you want me to befriend him, and I am going to try, but just telling you now, I’m not sure I can make it happen.”
Arlington seemed to be looking directly at her, that knowing smile of his saying she could do it. That he believed in her.
That was so like him. She rolled her eyes. “I’ll make another attempt. If the opportunity arises. That’s the best I can offer at this point.”
She walked away. She didn’t have much to do until Frankie arrived, so she worked on reading the last few chapters of the memoir, finishing up her notes, and putting her thoughts into an email. She wouldn’t send it yet. She’d sleep on it, reread what she’d written, tweak it some, and make sure it was gentle and supportive while still being truthful.
Then she’d probably let it sit another day before doing one more read-through. At that point, she’d hit Send. She worked hard to craft her words and the feeling of such an email. Her clients deserved constructive criticism that was also kind.
They could get harsh, slanted analysis from the world around them. Every so-called influencer on social media would weigh in on this book when it was published. Harper hoped to spare her client from as much negativity as possible.
She couldn’t protect them from all of it. There were people on social media who made their money from being snarky and unkind. It was their brand. Those people were never going to change until the general public stopped feeding into their style of journalism.
Calling it journalism was like saying a selfie was the same as modeling, but that’s how those people saw themselves.
They were everything that was wrong with the world. People needed more kindness, not less. She sighed. They were the same people who would gleefully destroy her if the truth ever came out.
She went back to reading, jotting thoughts and suggestions down in her notebook as she did.
When she finished, she fixed herself a light lunch of a tuna sandwich with a side of grapes. She cleaned up the kitchen, then took her meal out to the deck. It was beautiful outside. Warm, but there seemed to be a constant breeze off the water. That made the temperature bearable. And this part of the deck was covered, so the shade helped, too.
Archie accompanied her, sitting on the couch next to her. He was already settled in, and she wasn’t going to disturb him, but she’d put a towel down for him for the next time.
It was odd being in this house. It really did not feel like hers. Maybe someday it would. Having Frankie here would be make it seem more real.
She checked the time. Frankie was at least an hour away. While Harper ate, she downloaded the book club book onto her phone and started reading.
The story was good. Interesting in that kind of modern way of psychological domestic thrillers where the protagonist was a pretty gray character with obvious flaws and enough questionable behavior to make the reader wonder if they weren’t actually to blame for what was happening in the book.
She read until a few minutes before Frankie was due to arrive, realizing she’d lost track of time. She could see why everyone was talking about it. The book was hard to put down, even with the somewhat unlikeable characters. It was almost like the enjoyment of the book came from rooting against them.
She much preferred the intricate fantasy world of Mitchell Ripley’s stories. Not that she’d be telling him that anytime soon. “Come on, Archie. Let’s take you out for a quick pee.”
He hopped off the couch and followed her back into the house.
She put her plate and cup in the sink, then hooked his leash to his collar and put on her flipflops. They took the steps down going to the side yard this time, so she could watch for her sister.
As they headed toward the grass, her phone chimed.
A text from Frankie had come in. Are you kidding me? You said cottage. I don’t think there are any cottages in this place.
Harper smiled as Archie did his thing. She was about to respond when she heard tires on pavement and turned to see Frankie’s SUV coming down the driveway.
“Archie, look who’s here!” Harper went toward the vehicle, Archie at her side.
Frankie opened her door and stepped out, her mouth open in amazement as she looked at the house.
“Quite a place, huh?” Harper laughed.
“You said a cottage. You made me think it was a trailer!”
“No, I did not. That was all on you. I just never corrected you.”
“Holy smokes.”
“I know. Trust me.”
Frankie grinned. “I might stay longer now that I know I won’t be cramping you.” She looked at the house again. “I honestly wasn’t sure I was in the right place. This house is…this whole neighborhood is…wow.”
“Let’s get your stuff inside and get you settled. We only have a few hours before book club.”
“Book club? I thought you’d only been here since yesterday?”
“I have been.” Harper shrugged one shoulder. “I just ran into a neighbor on the beach, and she invited me. You, too, actually.”
“That was nice of her.” Frankie squatted down and finally greeted Archie, who’d been dancing around her legs. “How are you, you handsome boy? It’s so nice to see you in person instead of a video call.”
She gave him scratches and pets and ruffled his fur before kissing his face. “You are too adorable.”
“He really is,” Harper agreed.
They brought all of Frankie’s stuff in, which wasn’t much. One large suitcase, one smaller suitcase, a computer bag, plus her purse and a cooler.
Harper took the big suitcase and the cooler, which she deposited in the kitchen after they exited the elevator. “What’s in the cooler?”
“Some perishable stuff I just bought. I didn’t want it to go to waste.”
“Well, there’s plenty of room in the fridge.” Harper planted her hands on the counter. “Where do you want to stay? There are guest rooms upstairs, but there’s also what looks like pullout couches in the rec room downstairs and the office on this level.”
Frankie’s brows went up. “I’m too old to sleep on a pullout couch.”
“Hey, now. I’m two years older than you.”
Frankie snorted. “Um, it’s more like three years older, so you should know what I’m talking about. I’ll take a guest room upstairs, thank you.”
“Two and a half,” Harper corrected her. “Let’s take the elevator, since there’s luggage.”
They did, and Frankie picked the room that had its own bathroom, which was exactly the one Harper would have picked, too.
Frankie stood by the sliding doors after putting her suitcase in the room. “The view is just amazing.”
“It is. I could look at it all day. Tomorrow morning, come downstairs when you get up and we’ll sit outside on the covered deck and have our coffee.”
“I can’t wait.” She looked at Harper. “So book club sounds fun, but I haven’t read the book. Obviously.”
“No, but you’ve probably heard of it. The Last of the Wildflowers.”
“Oh, hang on,” Frankie said. “I actually have read it. Wasn’t the ending crazy? I mean, the fact that she—”
Harper plugged her fingers into her ears and sang, “La-la-la.” She pulled them out once her sister had stopped talking. “Don’t tell me anything about it. I only just started reading it today.”
Frankie laughed. “Okay, not another word. But once you’ve finished it, we’re discussing.”
“I’m sure the ending will get ruined for me tonight but, oh, well. Better to be social, don’t you think?”
“Absolutely.”
“Get yourself unpacked, then come downstairs. I’ll be out on the deck. Reading.”
“See you in a few.”
Harper headed down and went right back to the book. Archie joined her on the couch again. Eventually, she’d put a towel on the cushions out here for him, but the outside furniture was upholstered with much more durable fabric and she wasn’t that worried about a little dog hair. Plus, she was too lazy to do it now.
The late afternoon sun wasn’t nearly as intense as the morning sun. The temperature and breeze on the deck made her want to lay down and nap.
The book was too good, though, and she wanted to get as far ahead as she could before the meeting tonight, so she read on.
The sliders opened and Frankie stuck her head out. “I’m going to put the stuff in the cooler away. Do you mind if I help myself to something to eat? I’m kind of starving.”
Harper got up. “I’m sorry, I should have offered to make you something. Whatever you want. Or I could make us an early dinner?”
“What were you planning?”
Harper ran through the groceries she’d bought in her head, coming up with something that would be quick. “How about something easy like pasta with peas and chicken? I could do a light lemon and white wine sauce with that. I can probably have it done in about fifteen or twenty minutes. If you can wait.”
“I can wait. That sounds amazing.”
Harper tucked her phone into her back pocket. “Then I’ll get started. You sit and relax.”
“Even better.”
Harper went inside, Archie with her. She got a pot of salted water going for the pasta. After that, she started pulling ingredients. She got out the rest of the precooked chicken, a bag of frozen peas, and a few slices of the bacon she’d bought for breakfast.
The bacon got chopped and put into a medium sauté pan to render. With that working, she grabbed a bottle of white wine from the wine cooler under the counter, and a lemon from the fruit bowl by the toaster.
“I can open that bottle for you,” Frankie offered.
“That would be great. You can pour us each a glass, too. Not too much for me, though. I’m sure there will be wine at book club, and I don’t want to overindulge.”
“Agreed,” Frankie said. She found glasses and filled them each about halfway. “Here you go.” She lifted the glass. “Here’s to some much-needed sister time.”
“I’ll drink to that.” Harper took a sip, then set her glass down. She was eager to find out what was happening in her sister’s life. Since the divorce a few years ago, Frankie had struggled a bit with life on her own.
Or at least that had been Harper’s impression. “So. Tell me what’s going on with you. What’s new in your life? And how are the kids doing?”