AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Okay,” said Charlotte. “Time for a toast.” She filled three plastic margarita glasses and handed out two to Brooke and Livy. Raising her drink, she said, “Here’s to us. The three ’keteers!”
“No mouse?” Brooke said, grinning.
“No, we’re our own threesome,” said Livy.
They raised their glasses and sipped the cool, tangy drink.
“Don’t let me get drunk,” said Brooke. “Mom can’t have alcohol, so I rarely drink.”
Charlotte and Livy exchanged glances.
“Brooke, maybe it’s time for you to relax a little and do your own thing for once,” said Livy.
“I know, I know,” said Brooke. “I’ve really needed this time.” Her eyes filled. “I liked the last guy I dated a lot. Know what he said? He told me he loved me, but he already had one mother and didn’t need another to try and please, that all my time was spent doing that.”
“You and Aunt Jo,” said Charlotte.
Brooke sniffed and looked out at the water. “I’ve always wanted a family of my own, and time is running out.”
“Hold on. You’re a year younger than I am,” prompted Charlotte.
“And me,” added Livy.
“Well, you know what I mean. Twenty-eight is damn close to thirty,” said Brooke. “Do you realize how little traveling I’ve done, how few places I’ve seen?”
“Because of your mother,” said Charlotte grimly. “It’s a good thing we’re here with you now. We’re going to make sure it’s a healthy break for you. Right, Livy?”
Livy bobbed her head. “Time to make some choices for yourself. I love your mother. She’s very nice. But it’s time for you to break the routine you’ve built around her.”
They toasted Brooke’s new life and talked about their jobs. Finally, conversation turned to Gran.
“Why do you think she invited us here at the same time? I have a feeling something’s going on with her,” said Brooke.
“I’ve wondered about that, too. We have to make sure everything is right with her,” said Livy.
Charlotte had taken advantage of her time alone with Gran to ask her a few questions, but she’d been evasive, telling her that it was just a matter of aging.
Their conversation ended when Austin came by with another man from their past. Charlotte focused on the man’s face, broad shoulders, andtight abs, andher body resonated with a tingling sensation. Austin’s older brother, Shane Ensley, was a heartthrob. All the girls in the cove had drooled over the more sophisticated member of the Ensley family from time to time.
“Hey, do you remember my brother, Shane?” Austin asked. “He’s come for a visit too. Thought we could get together sometime.”
“That would be nice,” said Livy in a breathy voice Charlotte understood. Shanewas a tall, well-built man with classic features and blond hair—a real poster boy for the Gulf Coast.
Austin introduced Livy, Brooke, and her to Shane. He politely lifted his sunglasses and acknowledged them all with a smile, and then his gaze rested on Charlotte. She lost herself in a sea of blue. A smile played at his lips as they continued to stare at one another, oblivious of the others. It was, Charlotte would tell herself later, as if a web had been magically woven, tying them together in some weird way.
“We’ve got plans for tonight, but how about setting aside tomorrow night for one of Granny Liz’s beach parties,” said Austin.
Charlotte glanced at her cousins. “Sounds great.”
Austin’s grandmother was a close friend of Gran’s and was usually agreeable to a party with the kids. When they were teenagers, Austin’s Granny Liz, with help from the other four families in the cove, used to set up a table with hamburgers, hot dogs, salad, chips, and the fixings for s’mores and start a bonfire. She and Gran would cook for the kids and leave them alone after dinner. While no liquor was allowed because of the mix in ages, an occasional beer got through without any repercussions.
“Wholesome fun,” is what Gran had called it, sitting with her friend and watching from a distance each time until the kids grew too old to want to participate. Now, as adults, the beach party took on a whole different aspect.
The last beach party in the cove Charlotte had attended was fun. Everyone brought food and booze and relaxed around the fire without getting disorderly even when one or the other had too much to drink.
“Who else is going to be there?” asked Charlotte.
Austin named several people—both male and female—and Charlotte’s interest grew. She’d known most of the five families living here all her life. It was a tight-knit group.
