Page 13 of Sunsets at the Beach House

Claire shrugged. “Roxie asked me to do it. She wanted to pay me, but I figured it might as well be my gift. Wedding cakes aren’t really my area, but it’ll be a challenge and I like that. Hopefully, it comes out nice enough.”

“It’ll be beautiful,” Margo said. She pushed the button to start the brewing process. “You do wonderful work.”

“Thanks, Mom. If you and Conrad need a cake for anything, you just let me know.”

“We just might.”

Kat gasped. “Grandma, are you and Conrad getting married, too?”

“What? No.” Margo frowned at her granddaughter. “I was talking about for a possible book launch party. If and when that day comes. My word, you two have wedding fever all of a sudden.”

Kat laughed. “Gotcha. Just teasing.”

Margo rolled her eyes but smiled all the same. She’d already given some thought to what it would be like to be married to Conrad, but she wasn’t going to tell them that. “I don’t need to marry him. I’m going to be living a few minutes’ walk away. That’s close enough.”

“I can’t wait to see your new house in person,” Kat said. “I think it’s cool you’re getting your own place. And that it’s so close to your boyfriend. Except if you two break up, that could be awkward.”

“We’re adults, Kat.” Margo took some cups down. “If our circumstances change, I’m sure we’ll be able to deal with it in a civilized manner.”

She didn’t see their relationship dissolving, though. If they could write a book together, they could accomplish just about anything.

Willie and Miguel getting married was quite interesting, though. What had pushed them to do something that permanent so soon after meeting? Could they actually be in love? Margo had her doubts. Willie had been married so many times she was probably doing it out of habit.

In Margo’s experience, love was something that developed slowly, over time. Lust and infatuation, however, could ignite instantaneously with a flame that burned white hot.

A flame that rarely lasted.

Perhaps Willie was just infatuated. Or maybe it was Miguel, since the man usually did the asking. Although Willie had obviously said yes. Margo shook her head. She didn’t understand it at all. Maybe she’d text Willie under the guise of saying congratulations and see what she could find out.

She went back to the bedroom she shared with Jules and got her phone, then went to her chair to sit and wait on the coffee. She texted Willie.

I just heard the news. Congratulations to you and Miguel. What a surprise! I had no idea you were that serious.

The coffeemaker had just begun to sputter out the last drops.

“I’ll fix your cup, Grandma,” Kat called from the kitchen.

“Thank you. That’s very nice of you to do.” Margo picked up the remote and turned the TV on, scrolling through to the DVR option and the shows she’d recorded. She clicked on the first episode to bring it up.

Her phone vibrated in her hand. She looked down to see Willie had responded.

It was a surprise to me too but why not? We’re not getting any younger, are we? No point in waiting, we figure. That would only leave us with less time to spend together.

Margo couldn’t argue that. It was true that the years seemed to go by faster when you had fewer of them left. To that end, she could only nod at her phone in agreement. I wish you all the best.

You’re going to be there, aren’t you?

If I’m invited, of course.

You are! All of you are. Bring a date if you want!

I will. Thank you. Margo smiled as Kat came over with her coffee. She liked the idea of attending the wedding with Conrad. Of being officially out as a couple like that. Which they had been at the play but taking someone to a wedding felt like more of a commitment.

“You’re awfully happy about coffee,” Kat said.

Still smiling at the thought of seeing Conrad dressed up, Margo shook her head. “I was thinking about something else but thank you for the coffee. Will you be inviting Alex to attend Willie’s wedding? We’re all invited.”

Kat set her own cup on the coffee table. “I don’t know. It’s the first I’ve heard about it. How do you know we’re all invited?”

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