Chapter 2 #2
“Amazing.” Julia took the newspaper from Faith and stared down at the words. “It says that the filming location changed at the last minute, and that’s why we haven’t heard about it until now. Can you imagine a film crew running through our streets?”
“Well, I don’t think they’ll be running exactly.” Faith laughed. “It sounds like a sweet film, not something that’s going to have car chases or anything like that.”
“Mm, I guess we’re not much of a car-chase kind of location.” Julia shook her head, still feeling delighted and stunned. She remembered her pie and excitedly took another bite. “You want some pie?” she asked Faith, covering her lips with her hand because her mouth was full.
Faith laughed. “Maybe I will. Some celebration pie. We’re going to be living next door to a movie star for the next few weeks.”
A teenage waitress came by and Faith ordered a slice of lemon meringue pie and a glass of milk. Julia kept her eyes glued to the newspaper article, still feeling stunned.
“I mean, I was just watching her movie about the heiress last week,” Faith said, shaking her head. “You’ve seen that one, right? Riviera Pearls? It was made like thirty years ago but it’s so good.”
“Oh, yeah, but I saw it a long time ago and I barely remember what it’s about. And I think all old movies are good, you know that.”
“Right.” Faith chuckled. “I’m still used to talking to my friends in the city, and they were always into what’s trendy.
Anyway, she plays this heiress who decides to give it all up to marry the man of her dreams, even though it means she’ll lose all her money.
It’s such a tear-jerker. I went through a whole bowl of popcorn crying and thinking about how much I love Ryan without even realizing I’d eaten the whole thing. ”
Julia laughed. “Yeah, I’m pretty sure I cried a lot the last time I watched that movie too. She’s such a good actress—you really believe everything she’s saying so it doesn’t feel cheesy.”
Faith’s slice of pie arrived and for a while the two women were quiet, enjoying their pie and mulling over the exciting news.
Julia imagined what she would do if she ever got to meet Delilah.
Would she beg her for an autograph and a picture or would she try to act more calm, since there was a good chance that she would see Delilah again after that?
I’m not sure I could keep my cool, she thought with a quiet laugh. This is the most exciting thing that’s happened around here, since—well, probably ever.
She watched her cousin as Faith stared out the window with a smile of glee on her face.
Julia chuckled again, feeling a surge of affection for her cousin.
She was so glad that Faith had come into their lives.
They’d given her companionship and a sense of belonging, and she’d given them fun and the kindness that went hand in hand with her sweet spirit.
“You know,” Julia said with a grin, “Delilah Bates coming to town isn’t the only exciting thing that’s going to happen during the next couple of weeks.”
“Yeah?” Faith’s eyebrows rose. “What else is happening?”
“Your birthday, of course.” Julia’s eyes twinkled. “We need to celebrate it, and you. Is there something fun you usually like to do to celebrate?”
A shadow passed over Faith’s eyes and she shrugged. She smiled, but the smile looked a little forced. “I went out with friends sometimes in the city, but I don’t usually celebrate it, not really. One year I even went out with people but didn’t even tell them it was my birthday.”
“Oh, Faith,” Julia said, feeling sympathetic. “How come?”
Faith’s smile looked even more forced. “I guess it always makes me a little sad, you know? I lost my parents, and ever since then, my birthday reminds me that they’re not around.
And I haven’t had any family to celebrate it with before coming here.
My friends in Boston were always nice about it once they knew when my birthday was, but I never did anything too elaborate.
I’d get a few cards and maybe get casual drinks with people after work.
Most of the time we were all too busy with cases for that, though. ”
Julia’s heart stirred as she listened to her cousin.
She knew that not really getting to celebrate a birthday was a small sorrow when compared to the loss of Faith’s parents, but the two things were intertwined.
She had a sudden desire to give Faith a birthday party so memorable that it would start to rewrite her memories of the day, and she would have so much more to think about besides the fact that her parents weren’t with her anymore.
“I’m sorry, Faith,” she said, reaching across the table and squeezing her cousin’s hand. “I wish you didn’t have to deal with all that. But you’re here now, making a new life for yourself. Now that you’re here in Rosewood Beach, what do you think you want to do for your birthday?”
Faith shrugged again. “I don’t know—maybe Ryan and I will have a nice dinner together. We could go out, or maybe I’ll ask him to make me a steak or something.”
“That sounds nice,” Julia said.
Internally though, she was already squirming with ideas for something better. A nice dinner with Ryan would be fine for Faith’s birthday, but there were plenty of other people in town besides Ryan who loved her and wanted to celebrate with her.
Absentmindedly, she tried to spear another piece of pie with her fork, only to find that she’d already finished her slice.
“Oh, gosh.” She laughed, and then glanced at her watch. “I’d better head on home. Cooper and Macey are waiting for me. Thanks for telling me the news, Faith.” She grinned at her. “Enjoy the rest of your pie!”
“I will.” Faith laughed. “I can’t wait to talk about Delilah Bates coming to town at family dinner night.”
“Oh, same. I can’t wait to see the look on Mom’s face when she finds out.”
“I wish I could see the look on everyone’s faces. Ryan might not even really know who she is since she’s done so many ‘girly’ movies, but he’s definitely going to be excited about the film being shot here.”
The two women got caught up in discussing Delilah Bates and the movie again until Julia finally tore herself away. She gave her cousin a quick hug and then hurried out into the cool April evening.
What an exciting day, she thought as she climbed into her car. Delilah Bates is coming to Rosewood Beach, and I’ve decided to plan a birthday party for my cousin, who absolutely deserves one.
She started the engine of her car with a smile. She knew that the coming days were going to be very interesting indeed.