Jenna swiped at her wet cheeks and blew her nose. “I love the Driftwood. I’ve done a good job running it. I...don’t understand.”
“I don’t either,” Mel admitted.
“And it’s not just about the inn. It’s... I feel...” Unappreciated, betrayed. She couldn’t bring herself to say it, but there it was.
“I’m sure she had a reason,” Mel said.
“That’s what Brody said. I did it again, didn’t I? I chose the wrong man.” Great thing to say in front of your daughter. Jenna rubbed her throbbing head.
“Sabrina, dear, how about making your mother a cup of tea,” Mel suggested. “And see if you can find some aspirin.”
“I thought he was such a good guy,” Jenna lamented as her daughter disappeared to make tea.
“He is. You know he is,” Mel said.
“He’s always been there for you,” put in Celeste.
“Then why did he do this?”
“I don’t know,” Celeste admitted. “It doesn’t make sense.”
“And why blame Brody? It was Aunt Edie who changed the will,” pointed out her mother.
Because it was easier to blame Brody. Jenna simply couldn’t face the idea of Aunt Edie pulling the rug out from under her.
She shook her head. “I’m sure he influenced her.”
“At least he showed his true colors before you married him,” Celeste said.
How could she have been so wrong about someone? What kind of psychopath was Brody that he’d been able to fool her?
And yet he’d helped Courtney get Beach Babes. That wasn’t the behavior of some heartless villain.
Wait a minute, though. Courtney didn’t own it outright yet. Brody could just as easily screw her over, too. Whatever contracts she’d signed with him, Jenna hoped Courtney had taken them to Edward Weaver or his partner to look over.
Listen to yourself, she thought. A day ago you were in love with this man and ready to marry him and now he’s your arch enemy.
Yeah, well. That was how life went sometimes. One minute you were a sucker, and the next you wised up.
She blew her nose one last time. “I can’t do this. I can’t stay here and work for him. I’m done.”
“What do you mean?” Celeste asked, sounding alarmed.
“Someone else can run the Driftwood. I’m not staying to help the man who brainwashed my aunt and cheated me out of it. I’ll sell the house and move. Let someone else be on the Moonlight Harbor city council.”
Sabrina was back with a steaming mug and a bottle of aspirin. “Move? We can’t move. All our friends are here.”
“Nothing’s decided, darling,” Mel said, taking the mug and bottle from her.
“And I’m starting college,” Sabrina continued. “And Grammy just moved down and Aunt Celeste just bought a house.”
And Jenna was ruining everything. She opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. Her right eye began to twitch.
Sabrina looked at her as if she was the world’s worst parent. “I can’t believe you’d do this to me. Again!”
“I just....” Jenna began. Just what? Just don’t want to stay? Want to curl up in a fetal ball? Want to drown Brody? Want to start my whole life over on some remote island in the Caribbean?
Sabrina didn’t wait for her to finish her sentence. She stormed out of the room and up the stairs. The slamming of her bedroom door reverberated through the whole house.
Jenna covered her face with her hands. “I hate my life.”
“Give the dust time to settle,” Mel advised. “Things will work out. Remember, every storm brings—”
Jenna cut her off. “Don’t. Say it. Please.” If there was one thing she didn’t want to think of right then it was rainbows and pots of gold and other stupid happy endings.
Her cell phone pinged. Celeste pulled it out of Jenna’s purse and handed it over. “It’s Brody.”
Jenna tossed it aside. As if she ever wanted to talk to him again.
They heard angry footsteps stamping down the stairs. The front door opened and then slammed shut.
“It looks like Sabrina’s going out,” Mel said diplomatically. “Why don’t you girls come over to the house and have a bite to eat? Winston is gone now.”
Jenna shook her head. “I don’t feel like eating.”
“I should get back home,” said Celeste. “I promised Henry I’d be back by dinner and take over baby patrol. Are you going to be okay?” she asked Jenna.
“Of course. I’m a big girl.” Also a big fool. “You guys go on. I’ll be fine.”
Who was she kidding? She wasn’t sure she’d ever be fine again.
Her mother and Celeste left, and Jenna found a bag of Cheetos in the pantry and devoured the