Page 101 of All Signs Point to Malibu

As I hit the highway, the life coaching billboard comes into view and I see that it’s defaced with graffiti that reads: #CancelHaileyHarris. She’s been given devil horns and there’s a broken heart painted on the sign.

I stare at it and sigh.

Somehow I know that her heart was in the right place throughout all of this, even if her actions caused chaos, and she doesn’t deserve to lose everything over one mistake.

Wish I’d come to that conclusion a little sooner.

Amelia’s son lives in a beautiful bungalow two hours outside Los Angeles. In the passenger seat of my convertible, Amelia looks like Hollywood royalty—her hair wrapped in a bandana and wide-rimmed sunglasses on. She glances nervously at the house.

“Looks like a nice neighborhood,” I say to break the thick silence. We barely spoke on the drive over. I wish there were some way I could offer her the reassurance she needs. Family is complicated—I know that better than anyone—but I hope this reunion goes the way she deserves, because I also know how hollow it feels not to have a family.

When she makes no motion to get out, I climb out and open the door for her. “Okay, time to be brave.”

Amelia hesitates, her eyes on the house. She looks older today, a little frailer, and I know the stress of this visit is weighing on her. But I also know that time’s running out to make amends and heal, and if she doesn’t do this now, while there’s still a chance, she’ll regret it.

“What if he won’t talk to me?”

“He will.”

“I put my career before family for a long time, what if I’m too late?”

“You’re not.”

“You’ve seen it?” She looks hopeful.

“I don’t need to. He’s family. Go. I’ll wait right here.”

Amelia climbs out and slowly walks up the front steps. She stands in front of the door and I see her shoulders rise and fall in a deep breath.

This has taken a lot of courage, and I know what this means to her to be here right now. Mending fences after years of stubbornness and heartache is a huge step to take and I’m proud of her—no matter what happens.

Her son, Aaron, opens the front door, and his face is full of surprise when he sees her standing there.

I hold my breath and press my sweaty palms against the legs of my pants as I watch and wait for his reaction. If my heart is pounding this hard, I can only imagine how Amelia must be feeling.

Aaron finally smiles, happy to see his mother, and I release a huge relieved breath as he ushers her inside. As she steps in, she glances back toward me and the look on her face is happiness and gratitude like nothing I’ve ever seen before. Even more radiant than she’s ever looked on the silver screen.

It steals my breath for a second as emotions threaten to overwhelm.

Leaning against the vehicle, I wave and smile through my tears. I may not always help people, but today I’ve truly supported a friend when they needed me and I’ll take the win.

NINETEEN

HAILEY’S DAILY RULE FOR SUCCESS:

Not that anyone cares anymore...

On the resort room bed, a suitcase is partially packed with Liam’s clothes.

I duck as a shoe comes flying toward me.

An enraged Sonia alternates between filling the suitcase and throwing things my way. Maybe a Zoom chat apology would have been safer. “Please just let me explain,” I say, holding my arms up to prevent injury.

“You acted like my friend,” she says, balling up a dress shirt and throwing it into the suitcase. “You agreed to be my maid of honor.”

“I tried to decline that,” I say and duck as the other shoe narrowly misses my head.

Okay, I deserved that one.

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