Page 2 of Harmless Scandals

She pushed that memory aside and took note of the beauty around her. Five years and she still couldn’t believe she lived in Hawaii. A spur of the moment trip turned into so much more. The extra privacy in her house off the beaten path made her feel safe. The close proximity to a beach only locals usually went to made it even better. It was still kind of early in the day, so humidity hung in the air around her, holding the scent of plumeria that grew in front of her neighbors’ house. When she walked up the steps to the front lanai, she heard the sound of paper being wadded up. She knocked on the screen door.

“Hold on,” a woman's voice called out.

When the woman stepped into view, Serenity couldn't help but feel kind of frumpy.

The woman was average height, with light brown skin, and braids that swayed with each step she took. The bright blue sundress showed off amazing tattoos. Also, she was hugely pregnant.

“Hello,” Serenity said. “I guess we're going to be neighbors.”

The other woman blinked as if not understanding the words. The silence stretched as she continued to stare at her.

“I live just down the path,” Serenity said, pointing behind her.

Her eyes widened. “Oh, oh! No, I don't live here.” She was laughing when she opened the screen door. “Come on in. Sorry about that.”

Serenity removed her slippahs and stepped into the house. She handed the woman the loaf.

“It's macadamia nut, just in case anyone is allergic.”

“Thank you. My name is Jillian and I’m just a friend of the guys.”

“Serenity.”

“What?”

“My name is Serenity. Serenity Jones.”

“Wow, that's a name.”

“Thank you, I picked it out myself. So, it's just the guys moving in here?”

“Yes.” Then after a moment of silence, Jillian laughed again. “Sorry. I can barely function in the last trimester. The hormones leave holes in my brain. Come on into the kitchen. Would you like something to drink?”

Serenity fought the urge to rub her hands on her board shorts. It was a nervous tick she’d had since her first days in acting. She hesitated, then reminded herself she needed to be friendly. This was why she made the bread and brought it over.

“Yes, just some water.”

“Great, and I hope you don't mind drinking out of one of the guys' plastic stadium mugs. They have real things, but I am not doing that much unpacking for them.”

“Not a problem at all.”

“Great,” she said smiling, then just stood there.

“Uh, water?”

She shook her head. “Okay, I’m now realizing that my husband might have a point and he isn’t only being overly protective. He doesn't like leaving me alone.” She motioned to the two bar stools. “Have a seat.”

“So, the guys are the couple?”

She nodded. “Been together for a while. They insisted that they needed a bigger place though.”

“Oh?”

She handed Serenity the water. “Yeah. No reason really. Knowing them, they just like things to be big. Men.” She rolled her eyes. “So, do you work?”

Again, even after a decade as a normal person, Serenity had issues with giving people her background. She nodded. “Freelance photographer.”

“Oh, do you do couples, or triples?”

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