Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
F rankie floated into the house behind Harper, Willa, and Archie.
Okay, she didn’t exactly float. She felt grimy and greasy from the sweat and sunscreen, neither of which the dip in the river had done much to eradicate, but there was a lightness in her soul that hadn’t been there in a long, long time.
Lucas had kissed her. Several times. And they were now officially dating. If that wasn’t float-worthy, nothing was.
She’d honestly thought that part of her life had ended with her divorce. Tom had left her feeling less than capable of ever attracting a man again. She’d felt frumpy and old and well past her prime.
She laughed. Lucas’s last name was Prime. There was a prophetic moment in there somewhere. Or irony. Or something. She was a little too sun-baked to think clearly.
“What was that laugh for?” Harper asked. “Did I miss something?”
Frankie shook her head. “Just amused by my own thoughts.”
“Are you going to share those thoughts?”
Frankie pursed her lips. “Nope.”
Willa, whose hair was now knotted on top of her head in a chaotic bun, kept going up the steps. “I’m going to shower. And then I want to lay on the couch and do nothing until dinnertime. What are we having, by the way?”
“Something easy,” Harper answered. “Salad or pasta probably. Or leftovers.”
“I wish we had some of that ginger shrimp Lucas made,” Frankie said. “I could eat more of that.”
Willa snorted as she continued to climb. “Why don’t you call your boyfriend and see if he’ll let you have the leftovers?”
Frankie could only smile. “Maybe I will.”
Willa stopped just before the landing, looking back to squint at her mother. “No argument about how he’s not your boyfriend?”
Frankie nonchalantly lifted one shoulder. “Maybe he is my boyfriend.”
Willa’s gaze shifted to her aunt. “And not a word out of you?”
“Nope.” Harper shook her head as she continued on into the kitchen.
Willa’s mouth fell open as she looked at her mom again. “Are you kidding me? You and Lucas?”
“No, I’m not kidding,” Frankie said. “But don’t get nuts about it. Things are very new between us, and we’re just sort of…figuring it all out.”
“Mom, that’s insane. In the best possible way.” Willa broke out in a big grin and came down the steps again. “I’m happy for you. Lucas is literally the best guy ever. And you deserve to be happy.”
“Thanks.” Frankie moved in to hug her daughter.
Willa stepped back. “I’ll hug you later. I feel a little gross right now. Seriously, I need a lot of soap and hot water. Then I just want to crash and watch some TV.”
Frankie laughed. “I feel the same way. In fact, I might join you on the couch after I shower. Although I have work to do, too.”
Harper got Archie fresh water, putting it down for him. He went to it right away. “I’m going to shower, too. Then crashing on the couch sounds like the perfect idea. I’ll probably need to go through some email. Work never ends, does it? See you kids on the couch in a sec.”
Frankie nodded. “That’s the plan.”
In less than half an hour, they were all back in the living room, all in comfortable clothes, all smelling like soap and shampoo. Damp hair had been clipped up and, in the case of Frankie and Harper, they’d brought their laptops.
Willa was, as always, on her phone.
Frankie felt human again. Ready to tackle a little work before dinner, but also happy to spend some time just hanging out with her sister and daughter.
She realized that this time with them was something special. It might never happen again. She wanted to absorb every second of it.
They got drinks and settled into their usual spots on the couch. Archie nestled in between Frankie and Harper. Willa searched around for something on the television. “Any preferences on what to watch?”
“I don’t care,” Harper said. “I’ll be focused on emails for a minute or two. Your choice.”
“I agree,” Frankie said. “You pick.”
“Okay.” Willa kept scrolling through the options.
The sun was a few minutes away from setting, streaking the sky visible past the back deck in sherbet shades of peach and pink.
Frankie stared out the sliding glass doors. It was so beautiful here. Not that it wasn’t pretty where she lived. Charleston was a lovely, historical town. But this place was kind of magical. All that water. Being right on it, having it within easy view, that was something special. She felt drawn to it. Just watching it flow past made her instantly calmer and more at peace with life.
The colors of the sunset grew more intense as the sun sank lower. “Look at that sky,” she whispered. “It’s so beautiful. I wish I could stay here forever.”
“Then why don’t you?” Harper asked.
Frankie looked at her sister. “What?”
“Why don’t you stay?” Harper’s mouth bent in a curious smile. “I think about it all the time.”
Willa gasped, the television momentarily ignored. “Aunt Harper, are you going to move here?”
“I don’t know,” Harper said. “But I have been thinking about it.”
“Because of Mr. Ripley?” Willa asked.
Harper hesitated, her smile growing ever-so-slightly larger. “He is certainly a factor. Working with him is one of the most rewarding things I’ve done. Outside of Arlington and his family, of course. Arlington was one of a kind.”
Willa shifted position, turning in Harper’s direction. “So if you stayed here, could my mom live here, too?”
“ Willa .” Frankie stared at her daughter.
“What?” Willa said. “It’s a valid question. Besides, the place you live in is a dump and that’s not in comparison to this place. It’s a dump all on its own merits. That’s just me being honest. Don’t deny it.”
Frankie raked her fingers through her damp hair. Willa hadn’t lied. Frankie’s apartment was not great. “It’s what I can afford. And my job is there.”
“You could, though, you know,” Harper said. “Live here. If you wanted. There’s more than enough room. There’s a whole guest house I haven’t even been in yet.”
“We should go look at it,” Willa said. She looked ready to bounce off the couch. “I bet it would be perfect for you, Mom.”
Frankie cut her eyes at her daughter. “Let’s take a step back, okay?” She looked at Harper. “That is very generous of you. But again, my job is in Charleston. And I need my job.” The bills her divorce had left her with were no joke.
“What about your artwork?” Harper asked, the screen of her laptop reflecting blue light onto her face. “Couldn’t you focus on that? I realize it’s not bringing in that much, but isn’t that because it’s just a side thing?”
“Yes, but even if I made it my main thing, it’s never going to replace my income as a vice-principal. Not to mention the health insurance.” Frankie shook her head. She just couldn’t make the math work. “It just doesn’t make financial sense.”
Willa frowned. “Then what’s the point of dating Lucas if you’re going back to South Carolina?”
Frankie opened her mouth to answer, then closed it again. She had no good response to that. In fact, it made her a little sad.
Willa leaned forward. “Does he know you’re leaving? Or does he think you’re going to be here?”
Frankie chewed her lip as that reality settled over her. She answered honestly, as much to herself as to Willa. “I don’t know what he thinks.”
They’d talked so much on the boat today, but not once about her going back to South Carolina. What she did know was that him opening himself up to the possibility of love again was no small thing. Not after what he’d been through with his fiancée.
The bubble she’d been floating around in was quickly losing air.
She sighed. She and Lucas needed to talk.