Page 11 of Sunsets at the Beach House

“We’re going to be here a long time,” her mom said. “We’ll make it work eventually.”

Cash was looking around on the counters. “Is there anything for dessert? Maybe some more of those cookies?”

“There are,” Claire said. “I bagged up whatever was left into a bunch of sandwich bags and put them in the pantry. Help yourself to a bag.”

“Cool,” Cash said. “Thanks.” He went for the pantry.

Claire sighed. “I wish I had that boy’s metabolism.”

“We all do,” Kat said.

Cash came back with two bags of cookies. “Tell my mom I went upstairs, okay?”

“Sure,” Kat said.

He went out the sliding doors and she started loading stuff into the dishwasher. “Mom, what are you baking next?”

“Believe it or not, a wedding cake.” Her mom emptied what remained of the salad into a big glass container with a snap-on lid.

Kat straightened. “You are? Wait. Did something happen with you and Danny that you didn’t tell me about?”

Her mom laughed. “No, silly. But I guess I did forget to tell you that Willie and Miguel have decided to tie the knot. With Paulina showing up, it sort of slipped my mind. Roxie wanted to hire me to make the cake, but I told her I’d do it as a wedding present to them.”

Kat put her hand on her heart. That was some very cool news. “There’s something so romantic about getting married at that age.”

“You think?” Her mom took the big salad bowl to the sink to wash it.

Kat nodded. “Heck, yes. I mean, to find love again so late in life…it’s kind of magical. Meant to be. You know?”

“Maybe it is.” Her mom gave her a funny look. “I did not expect you to have that kind of reaction.”

“You mean because of everything with Ray?” Kat tipped her head. “Did you think I’d be bitter about love?”

“Not bitter, exactly. But maybe a bit jaded. Or at least reluctant to believe in anything remotely romantic.”

“Nah.” Kat added detergent to the dispenser, then closed the dishwasher door. “I might have been that way, if not for Alex. He’s helped me realize a lot of things about life. And not just relationship stuff. Life stuff.”

She leaned on the counter. “Surfing was kind of a life-changing experience.”

Her mom put the salad bowl on the drying rack. “In what way?”

Kat picked at one of her nails, feeling a little self-conscious. “I was kind of scared of being in the water. Trina said something about sharks, and I couldn’t stop thinking about them. I know it’s dumb, but—”

“Doesn’t sound dumb to me,” her mom said. “I was thinking about them, too, and I wasn’t even there!”

“Well, Alex talked me through it. He got me out of my head and back into reality. And when I actually tried surfing, it was such a…high. I’ve never felt anything like it before.” The memory of flying over the water made her smile. “It made me feel like I can do anything. I just need to be willing to try.”

“Like your new job?”

She nodded. “Exactly like that.” She exhaled. “I can’t believe how many years I wasted being okay with okay. Ray, my actuary job, living at home—which I loved, by the way, but I’m twenty-eight. Who still lives at home at twenty-eight?”

Claire laughed. “In this economy? A lot of young people. And I loved having you there.” Then she frowned. “Does that mean you want to live here by yourself?”

“What?” Kat jerked back. “No way! Mom, I love us being here together. I know Grandma’s going to move out and Aunt Jules, too, at some point, but I don’t care if Alex and I get married, I want you here. There is more than enough space.”

Claire smiled. “That’s very kind of you.”

“I’ll tell you something else,” Kat said. She hesitated, trying to find the right words. “I haven’t felt this close to you ever before. I don’t want that to go away.” Liquid rimmed her lower lids. She hadn’t expected to get emotional. She chuckled. “Look, I’m all weepy now.”

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