Sunset on Moonlight Beach - Sheila Roberts Page 0,42
when she worked for Susan it was a wonder it was still whole. But she didn’t work for Susan anymore and she’d taken about all the abuse she was going to.
“No, not yet. But if you stay here insulting me much longer, that’s going to change. You had your chance with this shop and with the people here and you blew it. You’ll have to live with that.”
Susan took a deep, offended breath. “Of all the nerve.”
“Maybe it’s time somebody had the nerve to tell you what you need to hear,” Courtney said. Not meanly, just firmly. Okay, maybe a little meanly.
Susan swelled up like a cartoon villain, and Courtney half expected her to sprout into a twelve-foot-high monster. “You... You manipulative, ungrateful... I gave you a job.”
“And I earned every penny you paid me, so we’re even. Okay?”
Judging from Susan’s expression, it wasn’t.
“Wherever you end up, maybe you’ll be able to make more friends than you did here,” Courtney said.
“I hope you fail,” Susan spat.
“Thanks for the warm wishes. I’ll be sure to pass them on to Brody,” Courtney said, keeping her voice light. Inside she was a blazing inferno. If Susan didn’t scram soon she was sure she’d set the old bat’s hair on fire.
Susan whirled around and stormed out of the store, and Courtney locked the door behind her.
“Wish you the worst,” Courtney said, flipping her off.
Not that Susan could see. Still, it made Courtney feel better.
“She’s got issues,” Moira said.
“She gives the rest of us issues,” Courtney said in return.
“Did you know that her husband left her for another woman when she was pregnant with their daughter?”
This was news to Courtney.
“How did you learn that?” Annie asked.
“I’ve been doing her hair, remember? Everyone talks to her stylist.”
“I can’t picture Susan talking about that,” Annie said. “Not to anybody.”
“It sort of came out one day. I was saying how glad I was that I’d got away from Lang. We started bonding over rotten men.”
“In Susan’s case, I can understand why he left,” Courtney said, refusing to feel sorry for her former boss.
“You never know,” Moira said. “Sometimes the meanest people are just people who’ve been hurt really bad.” She fell silent a moment, looking at the box of ugly clothes in front of her. “I feel kind of sorry for Susan.”
“I don’t,” Courtney said. “Everyone gets hurt. That’s no excuse for passing it on.”
“I guess. But maybe she doesn’t know how to be any different.”
“You are too softhearted,” Courtney said.
“Maybe I am. Sometimes I actually feel sorry for Lang.”
Courtney was shocked. “Are you kidding? After the way he treated you?”
“He’s paying for it now.”
“We all pay for our mistakes, one way or another,” said Annie, whose ex-husband Greg was still struggling with his own demons. “I feel sorry for Greg sometimes, too.”
“You guys are too nice,” Courtney said. As far as she was concerned, the Susans, Langs and Gregs of the world deserved what happened to them. They were all drowning in pools they’d filled themselves.
But that didn’t mean she had to stand poolside and gloat. “Well, Susan’s history now. Wherever she goes, I hope she figures out how to smile more.” And that was all the thought she was going to give to Susan Frank’s future. “Meanwhile, I’m going to prove to Brody that he didn’t make a mistake being a superhero and making this happen for me by turning Beach Babes into a huge success.”
“You will,” Annie predicted.
Damn straight she would.
* * *
Jenna was in Brody’s real estate office, dropping off a batch of cookies Aunt Edie had made for him, telling him how noble he’d been to buy Beach Babes for Courtney, when Susan Frank walked in.
“Susan,” Brody greeted her, wearing his diplomatic, friendly real estate agent expression.
She cut right to the chase, not bothering to return his greeting or give one to Jenna. “What is that woman doing managing my shop?” she demanded.
Brody’s brows pulled together and he shook his head, the picture of confusion. “Your shop?”
“Don’t you play dumb with me. You know what I’m talking about,” she said, wagging a finger at him. “I was just over there and saw Courtney Moore inside, boxing up all the clothes.”
“She’s going to manage it for me,” Brody said. “Surely you didn’t think I’d do that myself. I don’t know anything about women’s clothes.”
“Neither does she! This is wrong.”
“Susan,” Brody said firmly. “Did I or did I not offer you a fair deal?”
“That’s beside the point,” Susan said, her jaw jutting out at a