Harper stared out at the sea. “You marry well. Or you figure out how to do something that makes you incredibly rich, I guess.”
They set up their chairs with the cooler between them, then planted the umbrella. That was easy enough, thanks to the screw-in base that drilled right down into the sand with a little twisting.
Archie lay down in front of the chairs, taking full advantage of the shade.
“Hang on, buddy,” Harper said. “I brought you a towel to lay on so you don’t get completely covered in sand. Even though you’ve already got a start on that.” She called him to her side, then laid out the towel for him. “There you go.”
But Archie was fixated on a curious seagull that was edging closer and closer.
“Archie,no,” Harper said firmly. Even so, she knew he’d go after the bird if given a chance. She hooked the loop of his leash around one of the legs of her chair, then sat in it. She fished around in the beach bag for her own towel, which she spread over the back of the chair, then tossed the other one to Frankie.
Frankie grabbed it and put it on the back of her chair, too. “Are you going to go in?”
“Probably a little bit. Like up to my waist maybe?” Harper pulled off her T-shirt, then wriggled out of her shorts and stuck both in the bag.
Frankie sighed. “You have a great figure. I know you told me, but I can’t imagine the effort it takes to look like that.”
Harper grinned as she sat. “It’s all that fake sugar and oat milk.”
Frankie laughed. “Which is why I look like this. Body by real food.”
Harper laughed, too. She stretched her legs out and tipped her head back, pushing the chair into a slant. The chairs reclined, which seemed pretty fancy for a beach chair, but then, Arlington had never skimped on anything. “This is really nice. Not just the beach, but the two of us being here together. I’m so happy about that.”
“It’s great. Really unexpected to be here, but the timing couldn’t be better.” Frankie took a breath to say something else when a familiar female voice called to them.
“Hello, there, my friends,” Prisha sang out.
Harper sat up and looked over. “Prisha! Hi!”
Prisha had her beach chair in one hand, a tote bag over her shoulder, and a large sunhat that shielded her face, already partially hidden behind big sunglasses. “I am so glad you’re here. I owe you an apology for last night. I am so sorry about Suzanne. That was not polite of her, but that is her way. No excuses for her, just telling you that’s how she is. Are you terribly upset with me?”
“No,” Harper said. “I’m not upset with you at all. It’s not your fault. And my relationship with Ford hasn’t exactly been a secret, although I have really been hoping to keep my name out of all the gossip.”
“Of course,” Prisha said. “I understand completely. Those social media vultures take such joy in the downfall of others, don’t they?” She shook her head. “After you left, I told Suzanne her behavior was unkind. Fat lot of good that will do, but it needed to be said.”
“Thanks, I appreciate that.” Harper gestured to the shady spot next to her. “Why don’t you join us?”
“I don’t want to intrude,” Prisha said.
“It’s no intrusion,” Harper promised. “We’d love to have the company. You were so nice to invite us to your book club. Come on. Have a seat.”
“Thank you. That’s very nice of you.” Prisha settled in.
Harper looked over as Frankie pulled out her notebook and pencils, flipping the book open to a clean page. She tried to catch her sister’s eye, but Frankie seemed intent on getting to work. “You okay?”
Frankie nodded, gave a quick smile that didn’t last, and said, “I’m great. Just need to get some work done.”
Harper could tell Frankie wasn’t thrilled about Prisha joining them. She wasn’t sure why,. Prisha was a lovely woman. Maybe Frankie had just wanted it to be the two of them. Or she thought the talking would interfere with her work? Both were legitimate concerns. But it would have been rude not to invite Prisha. Wouldn’t it?
She reached over and touched Frankie’s arm. “I’m really glad you drove down.”
Frankie glanced over, nodding again, but her eyes were solemn. “Me, too.” Her smile returned then. “Beautiful day. Maybe later I’ll take Archie for a walk, wear him out. So he doesn’t decide to go chasing racoons in the wee hours of the morning again.”
Harper laughed. “That’s an excellent idea.” She looked over at Prisha. “You are never going to believe what Archie did last night…”
ChapterNineteen
Frankie liked Prisha, she just hadn’t counted on her arrival. And Prisha hung out longer than Frankie expected her to. She and Harper chatted endlessly about the neighborhood, the people in it, and life in general in Hideaway Bay. It was interesting stuff, but Frankie had been thinking it was just going to be her and Harper on the beach. Also, that it would be the perfect opportunity to finally tell her sister what she’d been up to.
