Sunset on Moonlight Beach - Sheila Roberts Page 0,119
was ungrateful and being emotional and unreasonable. No, he was a selfish bastard. Where did the truth lie in all that? She still wasn’t sure. All she knew was, what they’d been building between the two of them had gotten torn down. If he let her buy the inn, maybe they could at least build a bridge that would help them find their way back to friendship. She missed that. Missed him.
Oh, well, the single life wasn’t so bad. Soon she’d be rid of Damien the leech and actually have a little money to spend on herself. Maybe she’d get a total makeover at Waves. For sure, once she had her freedom, she was going to throw a big party.
But first there was a dog park to dedicate. It had rained the week before, but on the big day, the sun burst through the clouds as if Aunt Edie had pushed them aside. The park had been built with loving care and it sported plenty of lawn and a doggie wading pool. It also had an area with doggie obstacles for agility practice and bright red fire hydrants at every corner, as well as a couple of doggie drinking fountains. The sign was wood with Aunt Edie’s name burned into it and was held up by two thick wooden posts.
Before the ribbon could be cut, there had to be speechifying, and Parker was happy to do that. But she did let Jenna have the honor of cutting the ribbon, which she did, to much applause. Then owners and dogs rushed in to enjoy the new park. Jenna remembered her earlier conversation with her sister when Nemo did his part by lifting his leg and leaving a calling card at the base of the sign.
Parker scowled and Jenna chuckled. Well, Aunt Edie, you should have been nicer to him.
A week after the dog park opened, Jenna got her freedom. She called her sister. “I’m free! No more spousal support.”
“All right. Come over for dinner tonight and we’ll celebrate,” Celeste said. “I’ve got a bottle of champagne I’ve been saving for the occasion.”
“Champagne sounds good, but no toasts in front of Sabrina. After all, he is her father and I don’t want to upset her.”
“Yeah, I guess that wouldn’t be cool. I bet he’s not celebrating now that the gravy train has stopped running.”
“About time,” Jenna said.
“You are going to have that party to celebrate, right?” Celeste asked as she and Jenna laid out the side dishes to go with the meat Henry was barbecuing.
“For sure,” Jenna said. “As soon as Mom gets back from her honeymoon.”
“I’ll help you plan it. We can burn Damien in effigy.”
The idea appealed, but, “Somehow, I don’t think that would go over well with Sabrina. How about we set off fireworks instead?” Jenna suggested.
“To celebrate your Independence Day. I like it. Let’s do it Memorial Day weekend. Mom will be back by then.”
Sabrina came in from the back deck with a plate of ribs, and Celeste’s face flushed. Jenna could feel the heat on hers as well. What a guilty-looking pair!
“We’re talking about having a beach party Memorial Day weekend,” Jenna said.
Sabrina nodded but didn’t say anything.
The two sisters exchanged looks. You think she heard?
She did. Later that evening, when it was the two of them back at the house, raiding the fridge for lemonade, she asked, “You don’t mind if I don’t come to your party, do you?”
“So you heard.” Busted.
“I know you’ve been mad at Daddy and, um, him needing money.”
Needing money. Way to whitewash the truth. Damien had probably had a hand in that.
“I promise, we’re not going to burn your father in effigy or any other tacky thing. We’re just going to have a party and celebrate my new beginning. But I’m sure you and Scotty and the gang would rather find somewhere else to party that day.”
“I do want you to be happy,” Sabrina said. “I know it’s been hard, and I know Daddy’s not perfect.”
There was the understatement of the century. “None of us are,” Jenna said. “Except you, my darling daughter, come pretty close. Come here.” She held out an arm, and Sabrina tucked herself under it and hugged her. “Even though things didn’t work out between your father and me, we still did one thing right, and that was you.”
“I hope you find somebody like Aunt Celeste and Grammy did,” Sabrina said. “But don’t take as long as Grammy,” she added.