Page 36 of Beach Vibes

“Tell me,” Agatha said before sipping her brandy.

“Rick’s new girlfriend is Jana from the food bank.”

She quickly explained about how Rick had figured out she and Jana knew each other, then the unexpected encounter on the front porch.

“I guess he thought it would be funny to spring it on us, but it wasn’t. I felt…” She paused. “I don’t know how I felt.”

“Betrayed?” Agatha offered. “Used?”

“I want to say no, but maybe. Which doesn’t make sense. Jana was as shocked as I was, and she didn’t think the situation was the least bit amusing. I was upset and confused.”

She glanced at her aunt. “Rick is such a dweeb when it comes to relationships. I get that. I just wish he hadn’t thought this would be great fun for all.”

Agatha’s mouth drew together in a line. “You’re giving him too much credit.” She frowned. “Or maybe not enough.”

“What do you mean?”

“Your brother is far more aware than you think, although I agree that he didn’t think the situation through from anyone’s perspective but his own.”

Beth knew that hadn’t been what she’d said. “You’re blaming him?”

“I don’t think blame is called for, and I have no idea why he did what he did, but Rick is a grown man who has experienceda lot of life. He’s not the shy, overly intelligent child you remember.”

“He hasn’t changed that much. Jana’s the first woman he’s gone out with in what? A year?”

“Oh, I suspect there have been other women. He just chooses not to tell you about them.”

Beth shook her head. “You’re wrong. Rick tells me everything.”

“No one tells their sibling everything. You have secrets.”

“No good ones,” she grumbled, then turned her attention back to the actual problem. “I was prepared to hate her. The girlfriend. The way Rick described her, the things he said.” She sipped her brandy. “Only I like Jana.” In fact, having Jana in her life had become much more important ever since the billboard incident. “Except I can’t reconcile who I know with who he described. Only one of us is telling the truth.”

She set down her glass and shifted in her seat. “I don’t mean that how it sounded. I don’t think Jana’s lied to me, and we both know Rick tends to say the wrong thing. I guess it was just a misunderstanding.”

“What’s your concern?” Agatha asked. “That Jana’s secretly only dating your brother for the money and potential lifestyle?”

Beth didn’t want to admit that, but knew her silence was its own answer.

“It’s happened a bunch of times in the past,” she said instead. “And then there’s what Mom did with men.”

Her mother had always been looking for a man to take care of her. Caryn would seduce them with talk of the adventures they would have together. While she always came through on being game for anything, she also insisted on expensive gifts or help paying the bills in return.

“Jana isn’t your mother, and she’s not the women from Rick’s past. Maybe you should consider judging her for what she has and hasn’t done instead of by your brother’s history.”

“You’re right.”

Agatha sighed. “But?”

“I need to take care of him,” she admitted. “Rick doesn’t see the world as it is.”

“Oh, he’s very clear on the world, but again, we’ll agree to disagree. Jana’s your friend.”

“Rick’s my brother.” The words were automatic and defensive. And while she was desperate to have a friend in her life, family came first.

“So you’ve made up your mind. You’re Team Rick.”

“I’ve always been Team Rick.”

---