Page 21 of Sandbar Summer (Summer Cottage #3)
Chapter Fourteen
Goldie, Present Day
Joe drove, and Goldie got on her phone on the way to town. In less than ten minutes, she had the funds transferred where she needed them.
Aunt Emma and Libby would get a decent windfall, and Goldie would get a hotel! More than that, she had a valid reason to stay away from Hollywood while the scandal blew over.
“That’s some wheeling and dealing,” Joe whistled. He was amazed at Goldie, and maybe now he’d stop thinking she was an airhead actress. She had earned a fortune and could spend it whenever she wanted.
“Not really. I sort of know real estate. That’s one of the things I invested my earnings in.”
“Smart.”
Goldie focused on the task at hand. She found it helped her stop obsessing about her career.
“Raccoon trap, what else do we need at the hardware store?”
“You’re going to need a new hose for that washer. My fix was temporary at best. I’ll install it, but we need to get it if you want to keep washing clothes.”
“Yeah, I will need that.” Goldie thought about her luggage, what she had, and what she needed. How long did she need to hide out? A couple weeks? A few months?
She didn’t really think long term. Surely, she could farm out the management of the hotel whenever she needed to. But for now, she was happy to have the distraction and the project. She had rescued the place from tacky, that was the truth, and she’d helped sweet Aunt Emma. Libby, too, she hoped.
Joe handed her a washer hose, and she followed as he grabbed a metal contraption, the raccoon trap.
They made their way to the counter, where a good-looking man in a Peck’s Hardware polo shirt helped check them out. Goldie knew right away who this man was!
“Little Pudding, you’re a hunk!”
A bright red blush rolled from Jared Pawlak’s neck to his cheeks.
“I didn’t think you’d recognize me.”
“Of course I do!” Goldie thought back to the days he tagged along. He was a pest!
“You guys were brutal. Remember the time you made me be all the boy parts for the backyard production of Grease?”
“I do. You were a great Danny.”
“Ugh.”
Joe was smiling. She half thought he didn’t believe she was from here. Goldie supposed she came off as some sort of Hollywood Monster.
She was glad that Jared was making a fuss. She was happy to see him, and it was another sweet memory of her time here. She had wanted to get out so badly, get to her life, that she sometimes forgot that she started out pretty great, right here.
They chatted a bit, Jared explained the finer points of humane raccoon re-homing, and she made a promise that all her renovation supplies would be handled right here.
There were a few other customers in the store.
“We’ll let you get back to your work. Thank you, Jared. We all set, Joe?”
“Yes, boss.”
“Stop.”
“Yes, Goldie.”
They hauled their purchases out of Peck’s, past a few customers who were now lined up at the checkout.
One customer had a t-shirt that Goldie recognized.
It was only later that she realized why.