Alexandra glanced at the wall clock. “But it’s just afterone.”
“You work harder than anyone I’ve ever met.” Leaning close, he waggled his brows. “Even harder than me, butshh, not a word.” They laughed. “You’re here all weekend anyway. Goplay.”
With a nod and another thank you, sheleft.
Since her girlfriends were at work, she’d celebrate alone. After jumping into her BMW, she retracted the rooftop, slipped on her mirrored Prada sunglasses, and rolled out. She cranked up the music of Bishop Briggs’s “River” and the singer’s sultry voice, coupled with the powerful beat, pounded through thespeakers.
Rain had soaked the city all week, but for the moment, the sun smiled down on her. The temperature indicator boasted seventy degrees. After eleven years on the West Coast, she flipped on the heater to take the chill out of her car.I’m awimp.
With time on her side, she took the 10 out of LA, then traveled north on Pacific Coast Highway. Over an hour later, she drove into a posh neighborhood and cut her engine in the driveway of her close friend, Montana Spaulding. Though her pal was shooting on location in Argentina, Alexandra was welcome to swing by anytime. With her tattered Mexican blanket in hand, she let the housekeeper know she’d be outback.
As she rounded the house, she paused to take in Mother Nature’s perfect blend of sand and sea, sky and sun. Sparkling sunshine danced on the ocean as the lapping waves kissed the shoreline. On the horizon, shimmering water glistened like diamonds that merged with an endless stream of vibrant blue sky.This isheaven.
Before stepping onto the beach, she tugged off her four-inch stilettos. As she made her way toward the water, her toes sank in warm quicksand. This portion of the private Malibu beach was never crowded and on this sunny November afternoon she shared her little patch of heaven with noone.
She laid out the blanket, sat down, and hugged her knees to her chest. The hypnotic rhythm of the sea quieted her overactive mind. She loved the calming aroma of the salty air and breathed deeply. As she stared at the vastness of the undulating water, the tightness running across her shoulders relaxed while her thoughts drifted like seaweed. Without question, this was her happyplace.
“Congratulations,” she murmured. “You didit.”
A tiny smile ghosted across her lips. She’d come a long way since her first internship where she’d done everything from running copy to fetchingcoffee.
For the past seven years, Alexandra worked between sixty and seventy hours week in and week out. She craved the fast pace and nonstop energy of a newsroom and she thrived on the demanding schedule. The station never slept, which meant Alexandra was never alone. A convenient way to mask herloneliness.
She envisioned a celebratory dinner overlooking the water. A loving toast with the man she adored. A scrumptious meal. A bottle of champagne. A night of doting kisses and passionate lovemaking. Her vision blurred from the unexpected rush of emotion and she blinked away the familiar face with piercing blueeyes.
A couple strolled by, hand-in-hand. She envied their soft laughter and intimate whispers. The man slowed, pulled the woman into his arms, and kissed her. Pain jabbed at Alexandra’s heart and she busied herself by fishing her phone from herhandbag.
I don’t have a boyfriend to share my news with, but I do have someone who won’t leave me, unceremoniously dump me, or break my heart.After checking the time—five thirty in DC—she dialed. Her mom would be so proud ofher.
“Kimberly Mitus Real Estate,” answered thereceptionist.
“Hi, Jennifer. It’s Alexandra. Can I speak with my mom,please?”
The pregnant hesitation sent a shiver through her. “Kimberly has taken…um, uh…a bit of timeoff.”
What? Hairs on the back of her neck prickled. Her mother worked more than she did. Pushing past the concern, she asked, “Whatfor?”
“Best to check withher.”
The receptionist’s tight tone gave her away. Rather than pressing for information, Alexandra hung up. With shaky fingers, she redialed. Her mom’s cell went straight to voicemail. Her brother, Colton, would know. As she called him, anxiety churned in hergut.
“Mitus,” Coltonanswered.
“Hey, what’s going on withMom?”
“I’m in a meeting. I’ll call youlater.”
“Just answer my question,please.”
“She’s not been feelingwell.”
“Yeah, that much I got fromAmy.”
“I can’t talk now,” he said. “Later.”
When Colton didn’t call her back that evening, she phoned him the following morning. “Stop avoiding me. What’shappening?”
“Come home,” he said. “Mom hascancer.”
