She measured out the coffee, filled the reservoir with water, then pushed the button to start it brewing. She leaned on the counter, her gaze captured by the beautiful blue water visible beyond the sliding glass doors.
Were the camera crews still out? Still hoping for a glimpse of Jack? He’d stayed until well after dark last night, laughing with them at an old Steve Martin movie and telling them stories from his childhood that included more stars than she could remember.
The man had lived quite the life. She didn’t covet it, though. To be watched all the time? That was no way to live.
She went to the doors and looked out. There were only two boats, but it was easy enough to see the camera tripods set up on the decks. All of them aimed at the house.
She frowned. What a bunch of losers. Did they really have nothing better to do? Probably not.
Harper came out of the bedroom, Archie dancing around like he knew he was about to go out. “Are they still there?”
“Yep. Morons.”
Harper snorted softly as she shuffled toward the coffee.
Frankie looked over her shoulder. “How late were you up?”
“Too late. Midnight. But we got to talking and you know how it is.”
“Yeah.” Frankie went to get coffee, too.
“You’re going into town, right?” Harper got two mugs down and handed one to Frankie.
“I am. You need something?”
“We could use a few groceries. Plus I told Jack I’d get him some grapes. Oh, that reminds me—he gave me money to give to you. For the painting. Like a deposit. Anyway, he thought you could use it for buying supplies.”
“I can, definitely. So do you want to come with me? I think Willa’s coming, although she might change her mind. If she thinks she can get her picture taken by the paparazzi just for laying out by the pool, she just might do that instead.”
Harper chuckled. “Yeah, I’ll come. I was supposed to go over to Mitch’s this morning to work with Kyle, but he texted around four a.m. to say Ruthie was fussy and he was going to try to sleep in. So I’m free.”
Frankie grabbed the pot and filled their cups. “I’m glad you’re coming. How much did Jack give you?”
“A thousand dollars. In cash.”
Frankie looked at her. “Seriously?”
Harper nodded as she got the creamer out. “He always travels with a lot of cash. Most celebrities do. At least they do if they’re tippers, which Jack and Teddy are. They got that from their dad. Arlington was a huge tipper.”
“Nothing wrong with cash.” A thousand dollars. That would buy her everything she needed and then some. This was really happening. “I’ll, um, get him a receipt.”
Harper lifted her mug and drank like it was the only reason she’d gotten out of bed.
Frankie just grinned and fixed her coffee the way she liked it.
Willa came down the steps, yawning, hair sprouting out of a messy bun on top of her head. She was still in her pajamas, which consisted of a Taylor Swift T-shirt and loose pink shorts patterned with smiling cactus plants. “Coffee?”
Frankie lifted her cup. “Hot and fresh.”
“I’d take it cold and stale at this point.” Willa made her way into the kitchen, going straight to the cabinet that held the mugs.
Frankie moved out of the way. “Are you going to the art store with me today?”
“I don’t know. I just got an email with my welcome packet from the school. There’s a whole list of stuff I need to do or prepare to do. I feel like I should read through that before I make any decisions about my day. And I need coffee before I do that, so...”
Harper shot Frankie an amused look. Frankie smiled back. She glanced at her daughter. “How early is your teaching day going to start?”
Willa stirred creamer into her coffee and groaned. “Seven thirty a.m. That ought to be illegal. I’m going to have to get up at like six thirty. Maybe six forty-five.” She shook her head. “That is going to take some getting used to.”
