Page 1 of New Day at the Beach House

Trina glanced around at everyone gathered in Claire’s living room. Maybe the outcome of the will being read was still settling over everyone, because no one said a word. She’d expected some kind of response to her comment about no one going anywhere, meaning that no one would have to leave the beach house now that she and Kat each owned half of it. But nope. Nothing.

Maybe, she thought, they hadn’t heard her. She had sort of been speaking to Roxie, her mom. Or it could be that they were all still dealing with how the reading of the will had left them feeling.

For instance, Trina found it kind of surprising that she and Kat had gotten the beach house, and not either of their mothers.

Either way, Trina figured it was worth saying again, so she stood, glancing at Kat. “Since Kat and I each get a half share of this house, then I see no reason for anyone to go anywhere. We can all just stay right here.”

Kat nodded and got to her feet. “I agree.” Then she made a little face. “Except we’re using more than fifty percent of it, since Cash is staying on the third floor.”

Trina shrugged. “Doesn’t matter to me.” She smiled at Cash, her Aunt Jules’s son and, technically, Trina’s cousin. “I’m happy you’re here. You’re family. You can stay as long as you want.”

“Thanks, cuz.” He grinned back at her. “You’re all right.”

Being called “cuz” made Trina feel good. Especially from a member of her newly discovered family. She glanced at Kat. “I can’t believe Dad gave us the house.”

Kat nodded. “It is kind of surprising, isn’t it?”

Trina had a feeling she knew why their father had left them the house. Probably because he’d known they wouldn’t fight over it like their mothers would.

Trina’s grandmother, Willie, got to her feet. “Well, that’s that. At least this place won’t have to be sold now.”

“Maybe,” Claire, Kat’s mother, said. “Even split in half, the upkeep and utilities on this place aren’t going to be free.”

Roxie, Trina’s mom, shot her a look. “We’re getting the life insurance money. That’ll help.”

“And the salon will be open before too long,” Trina said. “Hopefully, once that happens, I’ll be able to contribute something.” She said that assuming her mom and Mimi would take care of things until she had the money to do so herself.

“Don’t you worry,” her Mimi said. “Your half of things will be taken care of, my girl.”

Trina kissed her grandmother on the cheek. “Thanks, Mimi.” Considering that her grandmother had just inherited seven million dollars from her last husband, Trina had sort of thought she might say something like that.

Not that Trina expected her grandmother to foot the bill for everything just because of that new money. Her grandmother had already bought a small strip mall for the sole purpose of giving Trina a place to open her own salon. That was far and above anything Trina could have dreamed anyone would do for her.

She certainly didn’t want her grandmother to think that she’d become a blank check to her granddaughter. Trina very much wanted to get her place open and operational as soon as possible so that she could start paying her grandmother back.

That was important to her. Even if all she could afford was a hundred dollars a month, she was going to do it.

Claire just shook her head as she got up. “It would help if I knew how much that life insurance check was going to be. That would give me some piece of mind. Or let me know how soon I need to go back to work.”

For once, Trina’s mom seemed to agree. “Yeah, it would be nice to know that.”

Claire pulled out her phone. “I’ll call Kinnerman’s office and see what I can find out. I’ll let you know.”

“Thanks,” Roxie said. “I really don’t want to have to live off of savings. Or my mom’s money.”

“Neither do I,” Claire said.

Margo, who’d been quiet up until now, spoke up. “I don’t mind contributing to my portion of the bills.”

Trina didn’t love all the talk about money and bills. It made her worry that things might get ugly. That there might be fighting. She wanted them all to get along and be friends, despite the circumstances.

She didn’t think her mom and Claire would ever be best friends, but if they could just be civil, she’d settle for that. She understood, though. It was a big shock to find out the man you’d been married to for most of your adult life had secretly had another family. Another house, another wife, another daughter.

It was a lot of hurt feelings, lying, and betrayal to get past, that was for sure. So far, they seemed to be doing all right. Her mom and Claire were still a little chilly toward each other, but they weren’t calling each other names or acting like the other one didn’t exist, either. Trina was okay with that. But she hoped things would warm between them a bit.

Especially since they were all going to be living in this house together.

“Hey,” Kat said softly. “I need to get ready. I have an interview in a bit and I want to study up on the company before I go in. I want to be prepared, you know?”

---