Page 7 of Sunsets at the Beach House

Roxie held her arm out toward her mom. “Paulina, this is my mother, Willie. Willie, Paulina Thompson.”

Paulina stared at Willie’s lavender hair, which didn’t surprise Jules. It was hard not to look at it. “Nice to meet you.”

Willie just grunted.

Jules filled the silence with small talk. “Your son is beautiful, Paulina.”

That got her to smile. “Thank you. You have two boys?”

“I do. Cash and Fender.” Jules laughed. “My husband and I are both musicians and singers, hence the names.”

“Is your husband here, too?” Paulina asked.

“No, we’ve been divorced a long time. I should have said ex. But my son, Cash, is upstairs. Waiting on us to eat dinner, actually.”

“I’m waiting on the same thing,” Willie said. “Pretty sure the pizza’s cold by now.”

Paulina shook her head. “I’m sorry. Please, you should all go eat. Nico should be in his crib by now anyway. Like I said, it was an impulse that drove me here.”

Trina pulled out her phone. “Let’s exchange numbers. Otherwise, I won’t know how to see my little brother.”

“Of course,” Paulina said.

With what seemed to Jules to be a little reluctance, Kat got out her own phone and did the same. Roxie, too. Claire, Jules noticed, did not.

In a matter of minutes, they were saying their goodbyes, which were quick, and headed back upstairs. Kat, Trina, and Roxie took the steps, letting Willie ride up with Margo, Jules, and Claire.

Willie said nothing until her stop. “Thanks for the lift, gals. Have a good night.”

“You, too, Willie,” Jules said. She looked at her sister as the doors closed. “You didn’t give Paulina your number.”

“Nope,” Claire said. “I see no reason for her to contact me. If Kat wants to see Nico, that’s up to her.” There was pain in Claire’s eyes.

Jules understood. Once again, Bryan had betrayed her. And this time it had not only been recent, but with a woman about the age of his daughters. Jules put her arm around Claire. “I’m sorry, sis. I know this has opened up wounds that were just starting to heal.”

Claire nodded. “Thanks. I’ll live. But I could have done without that woman showing up, too.” She shook her head. “Bryan really did a number on all of us.”

The doors opened and they all got out. Margo stopped to look at Claire. “It’s true what he did affects all of you, but you were the first one he married. And you were the only one he should have married. Feel free to hate him as much as you want to. He deserves it.”

Claire just shrugged. “All I want to do is eat some dinner and go read my book.”

Cash got up from the table and came over. “You okay, Aunt Claire?”

She gave him a quick smile. “I will be. Thanks for asking, honey.”

He held his arms out. “You want a hug?”

She laughed. “You know what? I do.” She hugged him, letting out a sound that might have been a soft sob. “Thanks, Cash.”

Jules smiled. He was such a good kid. She went to the table to make sure they had everything they needed for dinner. Her heart went out to her sister. What an unfaithful husband and scummy human being Bryan had turned out to be. She was surprised Claire had an appetite, but Jules was glad about it.

The last thing Claire needed was to let this new wrinkle get the best of her.

For a moment, Jules wondered if she should reach out to Danny and let him know what was going on, but it wasn’t her place. If Claire wanted to tell him, she would.

She glanced at her sister again. Claire was getting a glass of water. And looking very much like she had right after she’d first found out about Roxie.

Jules would have to keep an eye on her. Now was not the time for her to sink into a dark place. Jules might be busy with her music and trying to get songs written for her new album, but family came first.

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