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“Then you’ll just have to come visit me, won’t you?”
“How did you get everything arranged so quickly, anyway?” Zoe asked, brushing back her long black hair.
“I didn’t have much choice, since I quit my job with no notice.”
“Oh yeah,” Marissa raised her flute again. “We need another toast to that, for sure. You’re my hero, Sara.”
A giggle escaped as Sara sipped her champagne. “Not very professional, I admit. But it was worth it just to see the look on Mathilde’s face.”
“Still,” Zoe said. “You leave in another week, right?”
“Yeah, just after Thanksgiving. It’ll work out fine. It always does. And you, my dear,” she held up her flute to Marissa, “get the honor of hosting me for one final Thanksgiving dinner.”
They toasted all around, then Sara continued. “My furniture isn’t worth the hassle of trying to sell, so I’m having a thrift shop pick up the entire lot the day before I move. Hope is arranging for a one-bedroom furnished apartment for me as we speak.”
This was a white lie. The apartment at the complex they had passed on the way to the airport was unfurnished. Since agreeing to move and manage the spa, Hope had called daily, giddy with the details of her decorating adventures. And she insisted on footing the bill. But Sara didn’t want Marissa and Zoe getting curious about how she could afford her new furniture.
The treasure windfall was still sitting in the bank, though Hope wanted Sara’s name on the account as soon as she moved. But she was still uncomfortable accepting the money. Hope had always looked after her, but Sara had no intention of just accepting the gift, wanting it to go toward something concrete and productive.
Which she was having a hard time figuring out. She liked the idea of managing the spa, but she liked the idea of owning one even more. Which could prove difficult when Hope already owned the salon. Guess I don’t have to figure this all out right now, do I?
“My little brother is ecstatic to buy your car,” Marissa said, then laughed. “He can’t wait until you’re gone!”
Sara arched a brow sardonically. “He might feel differently once he owns it. Even a thousand dollars might be too much for that jalopy.”
Zoe leaned forward, speculation gleaming in her eyes. “You’ve been there twice now. Any guy you’ve noticed? Is the place swarming with lifeguards and pool boys?”
Sara laughed. “No, sorry to disappoint you. It’s a small but very tranquil resort. The dive staff doubles as lifeguards when they aren’t underwater.” She groaned, shaking her head. “The only guy I’ve had repeated contact with is this total klutz of a divemaster they just hired. The two times I’ve met him, he’s dumped a water bucket over me and almost knocked me flat on my ass.”
Marissa tittered. “Ok, not too promising, I’ll admit. But is he at least cute?”
“I have no idea. The only times I’ve met him, my eyes have been closed in self-preservation. I plan to stay far away from him, and I’m sure he feels the same way.” If she were being fair, Sara would admit Jack had beautiful eyes, with ridiculously long, thick eyelashes.
But she had no intention of being fair.
CHAPTER 6
Sara squinted as she left the airplane, digging into her purse for her oversized sunglasses. She slid them on with delight, the bruising tropical sun now diminished to a soft glow. These had been her crowning purchase at the thrift store when she and Marissa had finalized the sale of her furnishings. They had beckoned from a locked glass case and Sara happily forked over her money when the shopkeeper gave her a deal on them, apparently feeling guilty that Sara was practically donating all her belongings.
Imagining paparazzi snapping photos as she descended the airplane steps in the new-to-her Armani shades, Sara entered the terminal. Sparkly earrings that dangled nearly to her shoulders highlighted her long black and green sundress. She had put together the whole outfit this morning to give her a confidence boost after a nervous night of tossing and turning had induced a flurry of second thoughts. Fortunately, her plan worked, and she strolled across the tile floor toward the arrivals hall with her head held high.
Spotting Hope immediately, Sara matched her wide smile and hurried to her sister. Hope clapped her hands as she bounced up and down. After embracing, she pressed Sara back to arm’s length, laughing. “Wow. You look like a movie star. All you need is a scowling bodyguard behind you.”
“Nope, just me. Speaking of scowling bodyguards, where’s yours?”
Hope slid an arm around her shoulders as they headed toward the baggage claim. “Alex is working this morning. He sends his—and I quote—eternal brotherly love and devotion.”
Sara snorted. “Yeah, I’ll bet.”
“How many suitcases do you have?”
“Three. That was the hardest part. Picking what went and what stayed behind. One suitcase is dedicated to my painting supplies.”
“I didn’t know if you’d just buy new painting stuff once you got here.”
“No, I buy quality, so I wasn’t about to leave anything behind.” While she dabbled in oil and acrylic painting, her true passion was watercolors.
As was typical with airlines, Sara’s first bag appeared on the carousel right away and the third appeared just as she was ready to give up. Hope led one wheeled bag by its handle while Sara wrestled the other two, and they headed toward the doors.
