I shoot a look at Stella.
She hikes her shoulders up toward her ears. “You never said it was a secret.”
“It’s not. It’s fine. It’s just…things are complicated.” I rub at my temples.
“What kind of complicated? Like Beck-complicated?” Daisy waggles her light brows while smirking.
My mind drifts back to the other night when Beck was in the bathroom with me and then afterward when I nearly confessed I was still in love with him. “No,” I finally say, accepting the wineglass Stella’s holding out for me.
“That was a long pause,” she accuses.
“What’s going on with you two?” Daisy brows lift in interest.
“Nothing.”
“No, girl, you can’t lie to us. This is you and Beck. Things with you two have always been more than complicated.”
“Well, if that’s true, things got more complicated. Not just with Charlie, and Dottie leaving the cottage to me. But then learning what Dottie’s wishes were.” I shake my head, pushing back unwanted emotions.
“Maybe it’s time for a pros and cons list,” Daisy says over her shoulder as she leads the way toward the sofas in the living room set up into an L-shape.
“Oh, yeah because that always goes over well in romcoms,” Stella chimes in, carrying the charcuterie board.
“Making a list is pointless. I can’t move here. West would never.” I plop down on the end of one of the sofas and hold my glass out so wine doesn’t swish out.
“If he really, truly loves you and wants to spend the rest of his life with you, he should at least consider it. That’s love. That’s marriage. It’s full of compromise.” Holding her glass up at me, Stella gestures with her chin before swirling her wine around and taking a sip.
I know she’s right. I should be able to talk to West about all of this and not make the decision on my own. But what kind of job opportunities would he have in Golden Harbor? His current job is too involved to do remotely. And I’m not a fan of long-distance relationships.
“What about Charlie? Has she said what she wants?” Daisy asks, plucking a cracker and a piece of cheese off the tray before tucking her legs underneath her.
“She’s six. What do you think she wants?” I glance at her. “She wants to stay here, by the beach, with her dad”—I mimic a child’s voice when I say the last part—“but she also said West can come visit. She doesn’t understand.”
“Maybe he can. Maybe he comes on the weekends.”
“Call me old-fashioned, but I don’t want a husband only on the weekends.”
“Well, you’ve had one that you haven’t seen for seven years and that hasn’t seemed to bother you.”
I shoot her a glare.
“Damn, Daisy,” Stella drags out, eyes wide.
“Sorry.” She winces. “I didn’t mean it how it came out.”
“No, no. I deserve that.” The food choices spread out on the charcuterie board no longer look appetizing.
Daisy pats my leg. “No, you don’t. And I am sorry. I know it was hard for you to stay here. Thinking you’d lost the baby…” She shakes her head. “I can’t imagine.”
“And we’re glad we got to spend these few days with you. Charlie too.” Stella smiles at me and warmth blooms in my chest. “We’ll support you in whatever you decide. As long as you don’t go seven years without seeing us again.”
My lips tug up at the corners of my mouth. “Deal.”
After Beck brings Charlie back, Stella and Daisy leave and the three of us watch a short show on TV like a regular family. She asks if he can read to her and tuck her in. I try not to allow the hurt to show on my face when I tell her it’s fine and kiss her good night from the couch.
Respecting their time together should come easier, especially since they’re up there saying goodbye. Even though we’ll be back in about a week, I’m sure it’s hard on Beck. He’s just learned he has a daughter and now I’m taking her away.
I clean up the dishes, handwashing the wineglasses while my mind processes the conversations from the evening with my friends.
