Chapter 41
Chapter Forty-One
F rankie couldn’t work outside. It was too bright, even in the shade, to do the kind of fine, detailed work her illustrations required. Not only that, she needed fewer distractions. Not more. Sitting in view of the pool? Big distraction. She set up in the office again and got down to business.
After dealing with a few more emails, she switched to her tablet and stylus for drawing.
She had four of the eight required illustrations done for the book, so she was halfway there. One of those eight would become the cover, which would mean a few more tweaks, but she wasn’t responsible for the typography. They had someone in-house for that. Fine by her.
She could have charged more if they’d let her do the title and author name. But this was better. This way was quicker.
It made her think about the future, though. Maybe she should mock up a few book and album covers or even a poster to show what she could do with typography. Wasn’t a bad idea. The more things she had in her portfolio, the better.
Of course, there were the mugs and T-shirts that she’d designed in her shop. Maybe she should put those designs in her portfolio, too. She sighed. There was so much to think about. So much to do.
She jotted a note to herself about that before putting on headphones and going back to work.
The headphones were something new she was trying. She’d found them in the desk drawer. They were the high-end, noise-cancelling, Bluetooth variety, which she knew because she’d looked them up on Amazon.
They synced easily with her laptop. She played her favorite working tunes, which wasn’t music so much as soft tones that helped her focus.
Before long, she was in the zone and had finished the first of the last four illustrations needed. She went straight into the next one. She really wanted to take a break. Actually, what she wanted was to be down at that pool, enjoying the beautiful day with Willa and Harper.
But if she was going to do this as a business, as her sole business, she needed real discipline. So as much as she’d rather be by the pool with her family, this work needed to get done.
It wasn’t fun, but it was very grown up.
That made her laugh. If she couldn’t act like a grownup at her age, there was no hope for her. She turned the tunes up just a little and got back to her drawing.
She was almost done with the illustration when she sat back. All of today’s work would need finetuning, so it wasn’t completely finished, but she’d made real progress. Knowing that she’d get paid when these illustrations were turned in made the day’s work even sweeter.
She got up, went to the bathroom, then went out to the kitchen for something to drink. She grabbed a can of raspberry-lime sparkling water, popped the top and went onto the back deck to peek at Willa and Harper.
Frankie started chuckling as she realized what she was seeing. Harper was sitting in the shallow end wearing her big sun hat while Willa was standing in the water where it was about waist high, but the funny part was that Archie was in the pool with them. And one of them had put him in sunglasses.
He seemed to be enjoying being the center of attention as he paddled through the water and Willa took pictures of him.
Frankie wondered if she should call it a day and go down there. She was missing out on time with her family. Moving here would mean she’d have a lot of time with Harper. The same wasn’t true for Willa, though. She’d be headed back to Ohio for school soon.
The familiar ache of missing Willa pulled at Frankie’s heart. She loved her kids. As proud as she was of them, she missed the days when they were little and needed her. Willa and Jason had grown into remarkable adults. Having Willa around was wonderful.
So why was Frankie working? She sipped her drink, the can icy cold in her hand, condensation already forming like tears on the aluminum. She could work more tonight.
She didn’t love extending her work hours like that. To her, that felt like a path to burnout. Maybe that was silly to think about that so early on in this business, but she wasn’t Willa’s age anymore.
She had to protect herself physically and mentally. Especially if she was going to be her own boss and reliant on the income she could bring in.
But spending time with family right now felt like the right decision. She went back to the office, made sure the work was saved, then ran upstairs and changed into her swimsuit, throwing on a coverup, hat, and sunglasses before taking the elevator to the bottom floor.
She strode out toward the pool. “How’s the water?”
“Hey, Mom! It’s great. Are you coming in? I thought you were working all day.”
Frankie tugged off her coverup and tossed it onto a lounger, realizing she’d forgotten a towel. There were some in the downstairs bath, thankfully, so she wouldn’t have to go all the way back up. “I’m taking a break to spend some time with my beautiful daughter and sister. And my very entertaining dog-nephew.”
Willa laughed. “I’m sure Archie would love more people paying attention to him.”
“No doubt. Let me just grab a towel and I’ll be in.” Frankie went back and got one, threw it on the chaise next to her coverup, and waded down the steps. The water felt amazing. As she hit the second-to-last step, she dove forward, plunging her whole body into the water.
She sliced through and popped up a few feet past Willa. “This was definitely the right decision.”
“Did you get much done?” Harper asked. She leaned back on her forearms and kicked her feet, sending little ripples toward Willa.
“I did. There’s plenty more to do, but I’ll work some more later tonight. I thought you were working, too, Harper. Or was the lure of the pool too much to resist?
Harper nodded. “I am working. Just taking a break. And keeping an eye on Archie.”
Frankie glanced toward Harper’s lounger. Her tablet lay there in the shade of the umbrella. “What are you working on? Or are you contractually obligated not to tell us?”
Harper grinned. “I’m reading something for Mitch and that’s all I’m going to say.”
“Seriously?” Willa slapped the water in mock anger. “If you’re reading the new Charlie Nightingale book—”
“I’m not,” Harper assured her. “It’s something else. And now I’m really done talking about it.” She got out of the water and went back to her lounger, where she dried off before settling in the shade with her tablet.
Frankie shrugged at Willa. “Must be nice.”
“Right?” Willa dropped back into the water and floated. “But then, we’re in a pool with a view of the ocean under a beautiful blue sky, so there’s not much that’s going to ruin my mood. I wish I didn’t have to go back to school. I’d just move in here with you two and…well, I don’t know what I’d do but I’d do something. Florida has jobs like any other state.”
Frankie didn’t say anything. She’d love to have Willa around, but she didn’t want to influence her daughter one way or the other. Personally, she thought Willa should finish what she’d started. She was so close to getting her doctorate, it would be a shame to quit now.
Then again, Frankie was in the midst of making a major life change. Who was she to tell anyone else what to do with their life? She would support Willa, and Jason, no matter what they did.
Which reminded her that she needed to check in with her son. She hadn’t talked to him in a couple of days. She’d send him a text later.
“Mom.”
Frankie looked over. Willa was on her feet again, wading toward her. “What, honey?”
“Do you think I’d be able to get a job around here after I graduate? Wouldn’t that be amazing if I could live close to you guys?”
“That would be wonderful. As far as jobs are concerned, you’d just have to look, but I’m sure you could find something.”
Willa nodded. “I might do a quick search later, just to see what’s out there. Give myself an idea, you know?”
“Definitely.”
Archie paddled to the steps and climbed out. He went straight to Harper, then gave himself a big shake.
“Archie, quit that, no!” Harper held her tablet up to shield her face as she laughed.
Willa snorted. “Archie, you naughty thing.”
Harper wiped her tablet off on her towel. “You are naughty. Good thing I love you.”
Archie looked pleased with himself.
“Hey,” Willa said. “What are we having for lunch and when are we having it? I’m getting hungry.”
Harper looked at Frankie. “What do you think? Sandwiches?”
Frankie nodded. “I’m good with that.” She smiled. “You making them?”
Harper rolled her eyes but got up and pulled on her coverup. “I guess I am. Be back in a bit. Keep an eye on Archie.”
“We will,” Willa said. As Harper went inside, Willa sighed. “I really don’t want to leave, Mom. This time here with you guys has been just the best. I know I have to go back to school, but if I didn’t, I wouldn’t leave.”
Frankie pulled Willa into her arms and kissed the side of her head. “You’ll have that doctorate before you know it, then you can come back here and find a job.”
Willa nodded. “I just wish I didn’t have to wait. I love being here with you guys.”
“We’ve loved having you, too, sweetheart. But just think—now you’ll be able to visit both of us in one place.”
“Yeah.” Willa nodded. “That’s true. And what a beautiful place it is.”
Frankie smiled. “Isn’t it?”
She appreciated that her daughter wanted to be close to her. It made her feel like she’d raised Willa right. Jason, too. She was blessed to have such loving children.
And soon, maybe Willa would be a more permanent part of her life.