Page 2 of New Day at the Beach House

“Right,” Trina said. “That is so smart to do. I never would have thought of that. I hope it goes really well.”

Kat smiled nervously. “Me, too. I’ll let you know.”

“Thanks.” As Kat went off to her room, Trina looked at her mom and grandmother. “I guess we should head downstairs and see what’s next on the list for the salon.”

“Good thinking,” her Mimi called out as she got up and headed for the stairs. “Margo, don’t forget about the play tonight.”

“I won’t,” Margo said.

“Well, I’m off, too, then.” Trina’s mom took a few steps after Mimi before glancing at Trina. “You coming?”

“I am,” Trina said. She really thought the rest of them would have had more to say. “Bye, everyone. See you later.” She waved at Aunt Jules, Cash, Margo, and Claire, but only Aunt Jules and Cash waved back. Claire was on the phone and Margo’s only response was a nod.

Trina pulled out her phone and sent Miles a quick text to tell him everything had gone well, and she’d fill him in later, then she caught up to her mom. They went down the steps together, but her mom didn’t say a word until they were back on the first floor.

Then her mother exhaled as if she’d been holding her breath. “I am so glad you got half the house. I was so worried Claire was going to get it and that she’d throw us out.” She put her hand on her heart. “I feel like a weight has been lifted off me.”

Trina frowned. “Claire wouldn’t have done that.”

Roxie shook her head, smiling tightly. “Trina, I love that you always think the best of people, but there are some folks in this world who don’t deserve that. I’m not saying Claire’s a bad person—in fact, I wouldn’t have blamed her for sending us packing—but I have no doubt that’s what she would have done. Maybe not today, but she would have given us a deadline. Mark my words.”

“Maybe,” Trina said. But she really didn’t believe it. She didn’t want to believe it. She changed the subject as they headed into the living room. “Can you call Ethan and see what we need to do next?”

“Gladly, but I have a feeling he’s going to want your decision on the paint color and whether or not you want wallpaper on that accent wall.”

“Right,” Trina said. “I’ll go pull out all those samples again and have a look at them on the deck. I want to see them in natural light.”

“Smart,” Willie said. She was already sitting on the couch, phone in her hands. “I’ll come out and look at them with you just as soon as I text Miguel. I want to remind him about the play tonight, too.”

Trina’s mom gave her mother a look. “When did you invite him?”

“Don’t worry about it,” Willie shot back.

Trina just shrugged. “The more the merrier.”

“Yeah, but what if we can’t get tickets?”

Willie shook her head. “I’ve already emailed about needing another one.”

“Good thinking, Mimi.” Trina glanced at her mother. “Ma, it’s a play at the seniors center. I doubt it’s going to be sold out. Even on the day of.”

“You’re probably right. Come on, let’s go have a look at those samples again.”

Trina gathered everything from her room: the paint samples, the wallpaper book, the lighting book, a pen, and her binder where she was keeping track of things for the salon. She carried it all out to the deck. She put everything on the couch, then spread the paint samples out on the table. “There they are.”

Her mom sat on the couch, put her elbows on her knees, then leaned her chin in her hands as she studied them. “They’re all pretty.”

“That’s the problem,” Trina said. She sat by her mom and started flipping through the wallpaper book. She had a few samples bookmarked. She looked at all of those and managed to eliminate one of them right off the bat. What had she been thinking with that one?

But there was one she kept coming back to. It was a bright, scrolling design that was sort of floral but also geometric. To Trina, the hot pink on magenta pattern looked bold and fresh without being completely over the top. She put her finger on it. “I really, really like this one. Am I crazy?”

Her mom looked at it. “It’s bright.”

“I know. But it’s only going to be on that one wall. And maybe in the bathroom, because why not?”

Her mom smiled. “It’s happy and colorful and really makes a statement.” She laughed softly. “It’s very you.”

Trina wasn’t sure what to think about that. “Is that a good thing?”

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