Page 81 of Sunsets at the Beach House

Jesse picked up the house phone. “Hey, Leroy. The band’s headed to eat but we’re ready for lunch, too. Thanks.”

“What did you get us?”

“Two large green salads with grilled shrimp and our island vinaigrette.”

“That sounds perfect.” She sat beside Toby.

“You sounded perfect.”

A big smile bent her mouth. “I am so pleased with how good they all sound. I mean that. I had my reservations but no more. That is a great group. You know what you’re doing, Jesse.”

He beamed, obviously pleased by her praise. “Thank you. I’m glad you’re happy. That’s all that matters.”

A knock at the door announced their lunch had arrived. The chef himself brought the tray in and set it up on the coffee table. “You need anything else, boss?”

Jesse shook his head. “Nope, that’s perfect. Thanks, Leroy.”

As he left, Jules looked at Jesse. “Did you really want to talk about something or was that a ruse to get me all to yourself?”

“Can I say both?” He took the metal cover off his plate. “I really did want to talk to you about making a video for your song.”

“I know you think I should, but it’s going to be expensive. And I’m not really sure who I can get to do it.” The salad looked great. It was loaded with veggies and the shrimp were huge. She wasn’t sure she could finish it all.

“I might know someone. But I want your permission to pursue it. I don’t want to do it unless you’re on board. It will be a minimum of ten thousand dollars, but obviously, there’s no limit to how much you can spend. It all depends on what you do.”

Jules took a small bite of salad. The dressing was delicious. She swallowed the food before answering. “This could be my one chance to really get out there.” She nodded. “I think I have to give it a shot.”

For a moment, Kat wasn’t sure she was at the right house. There were cars parked on either side of the curb and three men sitting on the porch. One of the cars was Danny’s and he and Claire were on the porch talking to the men.

Kat parked along the curb, too, so that Cash could back the rental truck in.

As he did, he shot her a look through the windshield. She shrugged, not sure who the men were. She walked across the yard toward them. As she got closer, she realized one of the men was Pastor Freeman. “Pastor! I didn’t expect to see you here. My mom said she’d called you for help, but this is more than I expected.”

The other two men were from the church also. Kat recognized one as James Bennett but couldn’t remember the man in the red ballcap’s name. Pastor Freeman got to his feet as he nodded. “I said I’d get some men together and I did.”

“You sure did,” Claire said. “I’m so grateful, too.”

As Cash hopped out of the truck and came around to open the big roll-up door on the back, Kat filled him in. “They’re from our church. They came to help us move.”

“That’s great,” he said. “I was thinking we were going to be worn out before the day was over. They’re going to be a lot of help.”

“For sure.” One of the things she’d done at the truck rental place was buy bundles of boxes, including some tall wardrobe boxes for herself and her mom. Kat had bought a lot of them, even though they had probably been a slightly unnecessary expense, but she had her signing bonus coming and anything that would make today easier was worth it.

She and Cash hauled the box bundles to the porch. Her mom was already unlocking the door. Mr. Bennett and the man in the red hat went to the truck and got the rest of the bundles. “We’ve got packing tape in the kitchen, so we can use that to put the boxes together and seal them when they’re full.”

Pastor Freeman took the bundle of flat boxes from her. “We’ll get that done. Then you and your mom can focus on sorting through things and telling us what to move.”

Kat gestured toward Cash. “Pastor, this is my cousin, Cash.”

The pastor put his hand out. “Nice to meet you, son.”

“You, too. Thanks for showing up. And bringing more help with you.”

Pastor Freeman smiled. “We’re sad to see the Thompsons go, but after all the delicious things your aunt’s baked for us over the years, we had to show up and say thanks.”

Cash nodded. “Have you had her kitchen-sink bars?”

The two men started into the house together, comparing notes on their favorite Claire Thompson delicacies.

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