Page 15 of Sunsets at the Beach House

Trina brought a glass to her, a wedge of lime nestled among the ice cubes. “There you go.” She went back to the couch and took her seat.

“Thank you.” Willie took a sip and felt better. “I don’t mean to get both of you spun up. There’s just so much going on.”

Roxie looked at her. “What else is going on besides the wedding and the salon?”

“Well, we need to get everything moved out of the Port St. Rosa house. Or at least donated so we can get that place sold.”

“True.” Roxie nodded. “But that can wait until after the wedding, don’t you think? Although I would like my car. That would help a lot.”

“Let’s do it tomorrow,” Trina said.

Roxie’s brow furrowed. “Get my car?”

“Yeah. I’ll drive and you can make phone calls in the car to the restaurant and the florist and whoever you’re calling about performing the ceremony. Whatever you need to do.”

“I don’t know,” Roxie said.

“It’s a great idea.” Willie lifted her glass. “I’ll drink to that.”

“Ma,” Trina said. “Very soon, I have a bunch of different interviews lined up over at the salon. Tomorrow is the best possible day for me. The rest of the week is going to be a lot busier.”

“Okay,” Roxie said. “Tomorrow it is. Can we leave early? Like eight, maybe?”

“Wow, that is early, but sure.” Trina smiled.

“That way we can get there and come back and still have most of the day left. The restaurant I’m calling about catering probably won’t even be open until eleven a.m.,” Roxie said. “If we get back early, there will be lots of time for making phone calls and anything else I need to do.”

Trina pulled out her phone. “Oh, wait. I can’t leave that early. I’m supposed to have breakfast with Miles tomorrow morning. I don’t want to cancel that.”

Willie had half of her gin and tonic gone and the gin had already softened her mood. “Let Trina go on her breakfast date. You can make your phone calls and leave when she gets back. Miguel and I are going over to Dunes West to look at the lots and model houses they have and see if there is anything we like.”

Trina let out a little gasp. “You’re going to build a brand-new house?”

Willie nodded. “We are. Isn’t that something? Never had a brand-new house in my whole life and now I’m getting one. Maybe. We’ll see what they have over there. We might not like any of it.”

“That is so exciting,” Trina said. Then her smile fell. “But it means you won’t be living here anymore and that makes me a little sad.”

“My girl, I won’t be far away. And you can come visit anytime. Besides, you’re going to want this whole place to yourself someday soon.”

Trina frowned. “Why would I want it all to myself?”

Willie laughed. “You were just talking about having babies! You’re going to need those rooms your ma and I are sleeping in. And I don’t think your husband, Miles or whoever he ends up being, is going to want to live with his mother-in-law, either.”

She wiggled her finger at Roxie. “But maybe there will have been another wedding by then. Maybe you’ll be living with Ethan by that time, hmm?”

Roxie smiled. “Ma, we aren’t you and Miguel. We’re taking our time.”

“Which is just fine,” Willie said. She swirled the ice in her glass, listening to it. “You should take your time. Make sure things are right. Miguel and I already know things are right. And we have a lot we want to do.”

“Like that honeymoon to Puerto Rico?” Trina asked.

“Exactly like that. And a little trip to Las Vegas, eventually. I’ve got tickets whenever I want them to see Zippy’s son’s magic show. I think Miguel and I could have a good time in Vegas. But Puerto Rico is first.”

“Are you really going for a month?” Roxie asked.

Willie nodded. “Why not? It won’t be until after the salon is open, I promise. But once that happens, you’ll both be busy. You’ll be glad to have me out of the way for a while. Danny will probably feel the same way about Miguel, too, because he’ll have his hands full with the bakery.”

“Mimi, I will never be glad you’re gone or think you’re in the way. But it will be nice knowing you’re off on your honeymoon.” Trina sighed dreamily. “I hope you have the best time ever.”

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