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The warmth from the coffee cup seeped into Rebecca’s hands, a welcome respite from the crisp autumn air. She took a sip, letting the rich, slightly bitter liquid warm her from the inside out. As much as she appreciated Sarah’s concern, she’d rather not keep talking about Chloe.
“How’s Quinn doing?” Rebecca asked, her voice carefully casual. “Has she gone back to California yet?”
Sarah’s eyebrows lifted slightly, a hint of surprise flickering across her face. “Actually, she told me last night that the lake house she rented wasn’t just for a week. She’s rented it for a year.”
Rebecca’s steps faltered, her grip tightening on the coffee cup as she processed Sarah’s words. A year. Quinn was staying in their sleepy little town for a year? That news sent a ripple of something unidentifiable through her chest, a mixture of excitement and maybe a little intrigue.
She tried to picture Quinn, the epitome of Hollywood glamour, settling into the quiet rhythms of small-town life. It just didn’t make sense. Even though Rebecca didn’t follow her career closely, she knew that Quinn’s career had taken off in the last few years. Why would she stay away from Hollywood when she was at the height of her career?
Rebecca took another sip of her coffee, using the moment to gather her thoughts. “Did she say why?”
Sarah shook her head, her expression thoughtful. “No. I have no idea why. And I can’t figure it out. Her schedule is normally so jam-packed that I barely can get a fifteen-minute phone call with her, and now she’s dropping everything for a year?”
“Maybe she’s filming something nearby?”
“No. I asked her that, and she casually said, no, that she doesn’t have any more movies lined up.” Sarah sighed as they continued walking. “She’s never taken a break like this, and another thing I don’t get is why she’s not staying at home, with us.”
“I guess, if she’s staying for that long, she’d probably want her own space,” Rebecca guessed.
“Well, you’re practically neighbors. She gave me the address for the house she’s renting, and it’s two down from you. Number seventeen. You didn’t think there was anything off with her when you were talking to her?”
“No.” Rebecca thought back to their brief conversation on the deck. “No. There was nothing strange.” She remembered the way Quinn had reacted to one of the catering staff trying to get a selfie, but how else was she supposed to react? She was in her own home. She shouldn’t have to take photos with strangers. “Why don’t you ask her why she’s staying?”
“I will. At some point. We’ve always had a good relationship but I feel like she always has people looking for information, asking why she said something or didn’t say something. She’s turned into a very private person. Not that I blame her. I have no idea how she handles it all. So I just don’t want to be another person trying to pry into her life. She’ll tell me when she’s ready, and maybe she’s burnt out and needs a break.”
“Yeah, that could be it.” Rebecca once again thought of the way that Chloe had just walked straight over to them, interrupting their conversation to talk to Quinn. How was Quinn going to live here for the next year? Every time she went out to get groceries or to pick up a coffee, someone was going to recognize her.
Rebecca’s boots crunched softly on the fallen leaves as she and Sarah meandered along the forest trail. A gentle breeze rustled the branches, sending a cascade of leaves spiraling downaround them as they walked. To their left, a squirrel darted up a nearby oak, an acorn clutched in its mouth.
“Did you think Chloe was too young for me?” Rebecca asked out of nowhere. It was a thought she’d had right from the start, and she hated to admit that she’d purposely left out that bit of information when she’d told Sarah about her.
Sarah laughed softly beside her. “Please tell me that’s not why you really ended things.”
“No. It’s just… Was it obvious? How much older I was?”
“No.” Sarah took a sip of her coffee. “I hadn’t even thought about, but now that you’re saying it. You’re forty-eight, and she’s what? Forty?”
“Thirty-eight.”
“Ten years is nothing.”
“Really?” Rebecca asked as she wrapped both hands around her cup. “Because Anthony and I were the same age, not that that really counts, and you and Jeff are just a year apart.”
“All I’m saying is that it didn’t even occur to me that she was too young for you or that you were too old for her. You looked good together. I’m sorry that it didn’t work out.”
“Yeah.” Rebecca took a drink, the coffee warming her. “Me too.” The idea of going back to dating apps or weekends in the city was not something she was looking forward to. It was fun in the beginning, when it was new and full of firsts, but now, she kind of wanted to skip all of that and just be with someone who made her happy.
5
Quinn settled into the weathered Adirondack chair on the back deck of the lake house as the late afternoon sun dappled the water’s surface, creating a mesmerizing dance of light and shadow. A gentle breeze carried the crisp scent of pine and freshly bloomed wildflowers, mingling with the earthy aroma of the lake.
She watched as a pair of kayakers glided across the glassy surface, their paddles creating small ripples that spread outward in perfect symmetry. The distant laughter of children playing on a nearby shore floated across the water, accompanied by the rhythmic lapping of waves against the dock below.
Quinn closed her eyes, letting the warmth of the sun caress her face. The past week had been a whirlwind of emotions, but here, in this tranquil setting, she felt a sense of calm, and even though this was a rental, it was already starting to feel like home. Her nearest neighbors were out of sight on either side, and the trees surrounding the property gave her the privacy she needed from anyone driving by.
Finding out about Rebecca at her mother’s birthday party had sparked something within her – a glimmer of hope, maybe, or a newfound courage to not hide away. If Rebecca could turnher life upside down, why couldn’t she? Yes, it was different for Rebecca. She didn’t have thousands of people commentating on her life every day. She didn’t have fans all over the world waiting for her next movie, putting her on some kind of pedestal, but she did have a marriage to end and probably small town gossip to overcome.
Opening her eyes, Quinn gazed at the lush greenery surrounding the lake. The trees stood tall, their leaves rustling gently in the breeze. She inhaled deeply, filling her lungs with the fresh, crisp air. It was so different from her life in Los Angeles. Her modern home was private, with a beautiful pool area and lush gardens, but sitting here now, Quinn couldn’t deny how much she liked being back here.
