Page 26 of Beach Vibes

Jana processed the information. “Is that bad? I thought you wanted him involved. Or am I remembering wrong?”

“You’re not. I want him happy, with a family. He needs that—the connection. He works hard, and he’s a great guy with a lot to offer.” She paused. “The woman scares me.”

Jana wasn’t sure what that meant. “How?”

“I’m afraid she’s in it for what she can get.” Beth sighed. “She’s a single mom, which is no big deal. Not everyone needs a partner. I get that, but I look at you, at how much you have going on. You have a job. You’re going to college. You’re a responsible, hardworking, caring person. The woman he’s seeing has told him she’s working to get by. I’m afraid that translates into waiting to find a man to take care of her. My mom was like that, so maybe I’m being irrational, but I’m afraid for him. What if she doesn’t actually care about him but instead sees him as a successful guy she can trap?”

Jana totally got the whole “worrying about a sibling” issue. “Have you met her?”

“Not yet.” Beth held up a hand. “I know, I know. I need to meet her first and make up my mind based on who she is rather than who my brother tells me she is. It’s just he’s clueless when it comes to reading people. He’s been burned by women being in it for the money before. I’m hoping she’ll be great, but I have such a bad feeling.”

“You have to meet her,” Jana said quietly. “You’re right. You don’t have enough information yet, and speculating doesn’t help. She might be terrific, or she might be exactly what you fear. But if you still have a bad feeling after you get to know her, you need to pay attention to that.”

Beth looked surprised. “Why would you say that?”

Jana motioned to where Kai and Linnie were playing in the very shallow part of the waves. “You have great instincts when it comes to people. You’ve talked about how all your employees have been with you for several years. That means you hire the right ones. Like I said, trust your gut.”

Beth visibly relaxed. “Thanks, Jana. You’re right. I’ve already told him that if they keep going out, I want to meet her. Once I do that, I’ll have more information. You give good advice.”

Jana grinned. “I’m glad you think so, because my people skills are sadly lacking.”

“I doubt that.”

“No doubting. My last boyfriend? Paul? I was so careful with him. I was worried about having a toddler and getting involved with a man, so I waited five months before I slept with him. I thought I knew him, but I was wrong.”

Beth’s expression turned sympathetic. “Your tone says whatever it was, it was bad. Married?”

“No, a single dad. He belittled me, insisted Linnie abide by his very strict rules, and when she pushed back, he slapped her.”

Beth’s gasp was audible. “He hit her? What did you do?”

“I grabbed her and walked out. Later, when he tried to talk to me, I told him it was over and that I never wanted to see him again. He didn’t take it well.”

She shuddered, remembering how scared she’d been for both herself and her daughter. And then how angry. Of course, once the anger had faded, she’d been left with humiliation and shame.

“I thought dating a single dad was a good thing,” she continued. “I thought Paul would get it and we could help each other the way Teddy and I do. But I was wrong about him. I dated a guy who hit my kid. I can never forgive myself for that.”

“Did you ever see him hit his children?” Beth asked quietly.

“No. He was stern, but there was never any physical contact like that.”

“So you didn’t know, and when you found out, you left.”

Jana nodded, knowing the words were meant to make her feel better, only they didn’t help at all. She’d messed up, and knowing she’d put Linnie at risk haunted her.

She glanced toward her daughter, who was laughing with Kai, then looked back at Beth. “I’d been so careful. After something like that, it’s really hard to trust my judgment. I still feel like the worst mother ever.”

Beth touched her arm. “It wasn’t your fault. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“I tell myself that, but sometimes it’s hard to believe the words. You would have figured out Paul was a bad guy. Trust your gut.”

“I think you’re giving me too much credit, but I will pay attention when I meet the new girlfriend.”

* * *

Sunday morning a week later, Jana glanced around the big dining room table and let the happy wash over her. The four kids were talking and laughing over pancakes that Teddy had made. Her brother was reading the Sunday edition of theLos Angeles Times, as he did every weekend. The morning was alreadyclear and warm, with the promise of a beautiful day, and she’d had a very good week.

She’d gotten an A– on her first calculus test, she and Rick had enjoyed a quick dinner Wednesday night, and Linnie continued to be her bright, adorable self. She was in a good place and grateful for it.

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