“Because it’s none of my business.” She gives me a small smile. “I’m not used to a small town like this with everyone into each other’s personal lives. That’s not the kind of article I’m writing. I’m here to talk to your mom and you about her experiences and writing her book. If I thought it was relevant maybe I’d follow up, but none of it was. It’s all petty high school girl shit and I’m not interested.”
“But still, breaking into my trailer, sending you postcards? That’s high-level mean girl.”
“The postcards came after I told them I wasn’t interested in their gossip.”
“Okay, wow. Okay.” The knot in my belly starts to unravel just a little. “I saw Isabel in the hallway tonight. Right after I found a vase of the flowers on my mom’s desk.”
Shay’s eyes light up. “See? Sneaky bitches.”
I laugh at that. “Okay, I guess I feel a little better. I’ll talk to my mom once everything with Anita settles down and we’ll figure out what to do.”
“Good idea.” She raises an eyebrow. “I’d definitely keep an eye on your men, those girls seems determined to get in the middle of that.”
I look over to the parking lot where they all stand in a group. Avery’s off to the side, scrolling through his phone. “Yeah, I don’t really have to worry about them, but thanks for the tip.”
“Well, I think I have everything I need for the interview, so I’m heading out tomorrow morning. Can you keep me posted about the baby?”
“Absolutely.”
She gives me a hug and surprisingly I realize that after all this time, I don’t hate Shay. I kind of like her. She’s a nice person just doing her job. I’m the one that struggles with sharing information about my life.
“It was nice meeting you, Shay.”
“You too, Summer.”
We step off the porch and Avery approaches. “Any chance I can get a ride home?”
She rolls her eyes and fishes her keys out of her bag. “Sure, come on.”
I leave them by their car and approach the guys, ready to wait for the newest member of the Ocean Beach family.
49
Summer
Juliana Paige Hawkinsis born at 2:32 a.m. at 6 pounds, 3 ounces. She’s two weeks early, pink and squishy face. I’ve never been around a newborn before, and suddenly life and birth and unconditional love all makes sense.
“She’s so tiny,” Nick says. We’re all looking into the glass viewing window at the row of babies. They’re all in different states of sleeping, squirming, or crying. Juliana is bundled like a burrito with a pink- and blue-striped hat on her tiny head, eyes closed and asleep. “About the size of a football, don’t you think?”
“Don’t think about throwing that baby,” I say, leaning closer to the window.
“What? Why would you say that?” he asks, horrified. We all burst into giggles. It’s late, we’re exhausted, and it’s been a really long day.
“Anyone want to drive me home?”
“I can,” Justin says, rubbing his eyes. “I need to get back to open the marina tomorrow since Bobby’s out.”
“Same,” says Pete.
“We’ll come in too,” Nick says, jerking his thumb at Whit, who hasn’t stopped looking at the babies.
Once we’re all in Justin’s car I ask, “Can you drop me off at my trailer?”
“You’re not coming to my place?”
After all the insanity of the day, I just need to be in my own bed. “I need to shower and change and sleep and sleep and sleep.”
The ride home from the hospital in Myrtle doesn’t take long at 4 a.m. Whit and Nick both pass out in the back seat and when we arrive, Justin doesn’t drive all the way into the park. It’s too late and the residents will throw a fit. He stops the car and Pete, still awake, gets out with me, walking me down the pathway toward my trailer.
