“Does it have something to do with Shane?” Sarah asked.
“Who?” Bella’s eyes narrowed as she frowned. Then she remembered the man she’d been dating last year and shook her head and chuckled. “That lasted a hot minute.”
“Oh, good.” Sarah sighed. “I didn’t like the guy.”
“You and Ben never like anyone…” She stopped herself. “Never mind.”
“None of them were ever good enough for you.” Sarah picked up her hand and turned it over. “It’s written right here.” She ran a fingertip up a line on her palm.
Bella laughed. “You never believed in all the mumbo jumbo your mother believes in. Why start?”
“Palm reading is mumbo jumbo, except when it comes to love.” She glanced up at her, then added in a thick gypsy accent, “I see a kind man in your future…”
“Just what I want,” Bella added sarcastically.
“Shush.” Sarah waved the comment away and continued. “A man you did not expect will come into your life and…” Sarah’s eyes narrowed as she bent over her palm. “Shield you from… the darkness that is looming over you.”
Bella felt a shiver race down her spine.
“You can read all that in my hand?” she asked, a little scared at the tone Sarah had taken when she mentioned the darkness.
“That”—Sarah fell back into her own voice—“and in your eyes.” She smiled. “So, if it’s not a man, then what has that lost look in your eyes? I know that the new record deal is going well, because I read all the gossip magazines.” She chuckled at the face Bella gave her. “I know, don’t believe everything you see in those, but still…”
“Yes, the second record deal is going great. I actually just wrapped up recording and have a few weeks off before they want me to start touring again.”
“Great, so…” Sarah waited. “What has you so down?”
“I guess I’m just tired.” Bella glanced away and took in all the flowers that surrounded them. The gardens at East Haven Resort were almost legendary. Even after Rodney, the old groundskeeper, passed away, they continued to bloom and grow under the new groundskeeper, Kevin.
She could hear guests of the resort enjoying themselves out near the pool and relaxed.
Sarah was silent for a while. “I’m here, you know, if you decide you want to talk.”
“Thanks.” She turned and pasted another smile on her face. “But what I want more than anything is some peace and quiet away from the demands of being a star.”
“You’re a star.” Sarah smiled. “It amazes us every day how far you’ve come. You knew what you wanted and went after it.”
“Kind of like you and Ben,” Bella said. “You two are great together.”
Her sister-in-law’s smile slipped.
“We had a big fight this morning.” Sarah leaned back on the bench. “It’s my fault.”
“What happened?” Bella instantly worried.
“I couldn’t find Luna’s blanket. The one you gave her. It’s her favorite, and she never goes anywhere without it. She was screaming and…” She closed her eyes. “I cussed.” Her eyes flew open. “In front of her.”
Bella couldn’t help it, she laughed. “Well, damn.”
Sarah’s eyes narrowed. “We are trying not to say those words in front of her.”
Bella tilted her head. “Did your mother cuss in front of you when you were a child?”
Sarah rolled her eyes. “So many people cussed in front of me. Along with doing a bunch of other things.”
“Okay,” she said slowly. “You turned out okay, right?”
“I’d like to think so.”
“Then I don’t think words, bad or good, are going to turn your daughters into serial killers or drug dealers.”
Sarah was silent for a while. “I know you’re right.” She rested her head back and looked up through the leaves of the apple tree. “Still, I had hoped to give my kids much better childhoods than I had.”
Bella took her sister-in-law’s hands in hers. “Then simply love them. Trust me, it’s the most important thing in the world.”
Sarah smiled. “I’m sorry. Here I was trying to unburden you from your problems but instead I loaded you down with my own.”
Bella laughed. “No, hearing them actually made me feel much better. Life goes on.” She stood up and stretched. “Now, I think I want to unpack and take a dip in the pool. Then I’m going to gorge myself on Adam’s dinner and desserts before I crawl into bed and sleep for two days straight.”
“Don’t forget the drinks.” Sarah laughed as she took her arm. “We have a new bartender.” Her voice changed, and she gained another fake accent. “He’s from Russia and has this sexy accent.” Sarah giggled.
They talked about food and drinks as they made their way up to the resort. When they stepped inside, Ben, Aurora, Luna, and Calvin were all waiting for them just inside the front doors.
Calvin had switched to giving Luna his attention, and the little girl was eating it up.
“Your luggage has been taken up to your rooms. Would you care for anything to eat or drink?” Calvin asked and, for a moment, she got lost in his sexy voice. He didn’t need an accent to make her practically drool over him. He handed her a key and waited for her answer.
“No, thank you.” She had expected him to leave, but he continued to stand there, holding Luna against his chest with Aurora attached to his leg as if they both belonged there.
Trying to ignore the hunk, and all the old feelings that were flooding her mind, she turned to her brother. “I was going to hit the pool before dinner,” she said easily. “Care to join in the fun?”
“We had promised the girls a dip and brought our swimsuits along.” He nodded to a backpack he’d thrown over his shoulder.
“Great.” She smiled and glanced towards the stairs. “I’ll go change and meet you at the pool.” She made her way up the wide staircase while avoiding Calvin’s gaze.
Stepping into the Summer Suite, she leaned against the door and took a couple of deep breaths. She hadn’t thought it would be this hard keeping a secret from her family.
Her bags sat just inside the doorway. Picking up the smallest one, which held her swimsuit, she made her way across the sitting room and into the bedroom. She’d only been in this room once before, when she’d visited Sarah and Ben during one of their weekends stays when she’d lived with them.
The Summer Suite had two full-sized bedrooms and bathrooms with a large sitting room between them. It was way too big for just her, but she wasn’t going to complain. She technically didn’t know how long she was going to be staying there or if her agent, Maggie, would be visiting during her stay.
Tossing the bag on the king-sized bed, she pulled out her swimsuit and changed quickly. Being at East Haven Resort was one of her fondest memories growing up, even though the first time she’d visited the place had been a few weeks after her sixteenth birthday.
She pulled a light cover-up on over her swimsuit and decided to braid her hair. When she stepped into the massive bathroom, she gasped at the beauty.