Page 100 of Sunsets at the Beach House

“Okay,” Claire said. “Thanks. Maybe we should leave the rental truck until tomorrow.”

“I’d rather do it today,” Danny said. “Tomorrow, I have some bakery work I have to do.”

Jules nodded. “And I need Cash with me in the studio tomorrow.”

“Right,” Claire said. “I wasn’t thinking. Tonight it is.”

“Don’t worry,” Danny said. “We’ll have two more people to help. Cash and I can deal with the heavy stuff.”

“Hopefully, there won’t be too much of that.” Claire looked around then, frowning. “Where are Mom and Conrad? I saw her car downstairs.”

Jules answered. “They dropped her stuff off then went to his house to put some of her boxes in his garage. They should be back any second.”

“Just text me,” Danny said again. “I’m going to move my car to my driveway, then check in with my dad.”

“Okay.” He left and she got to work unpacking a few boxes. She wasn’t in the mood, but it had to be done. Jules helped her. Half an hour later, Claire’s phone went off. She took it out and checked the screen. “Cash and Kat are here.”

“I’ll head down,” Jules said. “I know you need to text Danny.”

“On it,” Claire said. She sent the text, then huffed out a breath. She was tired, but at least they were almost done. “Here we go again.”

She took the elevator downstairs.

Danny was helping Cash back the truck in, giving him some hand signals so he could get close without clipping the house. The rental truck was a lot taller than anything any of them drove.

Cash hopped out. “Thanks, man.”

“Sure,” Danny said.

Conrad and Margo returned as Cash was opening up the truck. Jules was already helping Kat unload what was in her car.

Claire put her hands on her hips as she took a good look at what was in the truck. “I really hope everything in there fits in the elevator. Otherwise, we might need some more help.”

Cash jumped up into the back of the truck. “I think it will. The biggest piece is that buffet server from the dining room, and if that can go up on one end, it should fit.”

Claire made a face. “That sounds like a great way to scratch it.”

He shook his head. “Don’t worry, we have moving blankets. We can protect it.”

He’d read her mind. “Okay, good. Thank you.”

“Don’t worry, Aunt Claire. We’re not going to do all the work to bring your stuff here just to ruin it.”

She smiled at him. “I know you’re not. I appreciate your help so much.” She appreciated all of them. If she and Kat had had to do this by themselves…she imagined it would have meant hiring a company and costing them a lot more time and money. “There are some kitchen-sink bars in your future.”

He smiled big. “That’s what I’m talking about.”

With the help of her mom, Conrad, Danny, Cash, Jules, and Kat, they were able to empty the truck and Kat’s car in about an hour and a half. As it turned out, the legs of the buffet screwed off, making it even easier to fit on its end in the elevator.

By the time they were done, however, it was sunset and they were operating by the outdoor lights.

“Mom?” Kat said.

“Yes?”

“If I drive the truck back to the rental place tomorrow morning, can you follow me over? That way Cash can get to the studio with Aunt Jules without worrying about it.”

“Of course,” Claire said. “Then I’ll have the rest of the day and tomorrow to work on the wedding cake.”

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