"I think it has something to do with a woman."
"That sounds about right," she said with a laugh. "Maybe the one who got away."
"The woman was a singer. Her name was Reina Chapman."
"That name doesn't mean anything to me, but I don't follow music much. No offense," she added hastily.
"None taken."
"Are you happy living here, Jax? Is it what you hoped for?"
"The place is a lot friendlier than I was expecting," he conceded.
"But everyone has left you alone, right?"
"Yes."
"Good," she said with approval. "Everything in its own time. That's what I always say."
He gave her a warning look. "If you're thinking I'm going to become a part of the pool crowd, I wouldn't hold your breath."
"Do you know why I agreed to let you live here under a different name?"
"The high rent I'm paying?" he asked dryly.
"If you think I'm about money, you haven't been paying attention," she said, annoyance sharpening her words. "It's because I've been where you are now."
"What do you mean?"
"Did you know I won an Oscar?"
"I had no idea," he said in surprise, although Josie did have a theatrical flair.
"I was in my twenties. I thought I had the world at my feet, but many things went wrong. I got hurt in more ways than I could count. People I trusted betrayed me. I had to start over."
"I know that feeling."
"One of the people who helped me start over was a Hollywood agent named Peter Henning."
"Clay's father," he said. "That's how Clay found you, found this place." He'd been too caught up in his problems to question why Clay had chosen this place, but now it made sense.
"It's where I started my life over, away from prying eyes and endless questions."
"It's a big leap from award-winning actress to apartment manager."
"I like to think of myself as more of a community leader. I needed a new home, a new family. I found that here. And I have had the happiest life ever since I moved in."
"That's difficult to believe considering the kind of life you were living before."
"Money, luxury, fame…they never brought me the joy I thought they would. I found that here."
"Well, I'm not looking for home or family. Those aren't words that mean anything to me."
"Maybe you don't know what you're missing because those words don't mean much to you. But that might change."
He felt the need to squash that optimism. "I don't think so. I appreciate your cooperation, and this is a nice building. It's great to be by the beach. But I'm not looking for more than a roof over my head."
"The ocean is always healing. Anyway, everything in its own time."
