Page 106 of Sunsets at the Beach House

They deserved it. Far more than she did. She’d already had love so many times. Trina had never had it, and Roxie had only had a poor copy of the real thing. Willie frowned. At least Bryan had given Roxie Trina. She was the only thing that kept Willie from hating him completely.

“Dinner is ready,” Trina announced.

Roxie came in then. “Smells good.”

“You look nice, Ma,” Trina said.

“Thanks. Just going to grab my bag out of the fridge and then I’m off. You two have a good night.”

Willie nodded. “Tell Ethan we said hi.”

“Will do.” Roxie waved as she headed out.

Willie put her phone back on the side table. Trina brought the plates over. Willie took hers. “You’re such a dear, sweet girl. How was your day with Miles? I got so preoccupied with my dress that I didn’t ask more about it. I’m sorry about that.”

Trina laughed. “Mimi, your wedding dress is a pretty big deal. You don’t have to apologize for being preoccupied with it. My day was good. We picked Alex up from the hospital, then took him for some breakfast before getting him home. After that, we got him some groceries. Then I made him a tater tot casserole, so he’d have some food for the week. Then I gave him and Miles haircuts.”

“You were busy!”

“I was.” Her smile didn’t look all that happy.

“Something happen today?”

Trina shrugged before going back to the kitchen for her drink and some napkins. “I ran into Liz at the grocery store. Or rather, we ran into her, then she ran into me.”

“Who’s Liz?” Willie took the napkin Trina was offering.

“Miles’s ex-girlfriend. I first met her when we went to eat at that place on the beach, Coconuts. She’s very pretty, has nice clothes, good teeth, the whole thing. Comes from old family money, apparently. You know the kind.”

“Mm-hmm.” Willie frowned. “Looks like she smells something bad and it’s you. That kind?”

Trina nodded. “Yeah. She’s like a pretty snake, you know? Nice to look at but just as deadly when it bites.”

“Did she bite you?”

“Not exactly.” Trina explained how Liz had come into the salon for an interview, not realizing the salon was Trina’s. Then she told Willie everything that had gone down in the grocery store. “I was upset but Miles made me feel better. In fact, he went right back to the soup aisle to say something to her, but she was gone. He looked but couldn’t find her.”

Willie was incensed. “How dare that snooty little so-and-so act that way toward you. She’s got no right.”

“No, she doesn’t, but that didn’t stop her. You know how some people are.” Trina sighed. “I just hope she doesn’t do anything against the salon. She’s connected. Or at least her parents sound like they are.”

“Honey, nothing is going to happen. It’s all going to be just fine. You’ll see. That girl will realize what a fool she made of herself and probably never bother you again.”

“I hope you’re right.”

“What did you say her name was?”

“Liz Stewart.”

Willie nodded. “Say grace for us, Trina.”

“Okay, Mimi.”

While Trina had her eyes closed praying, Willie grabbed her phone and made a note of that name. Liz Stewart. She didn’t trust her memory not to let it slip.

“Amen,” Trina said.

“Amen,” Willie said right after her. She hadn’t really been paying attention, but she thought God would understand on this one.

---