Page 4 of Sandbar Summer (Summer Cottage #3)

Libby did not know this version of Goldie. Libby’s version of Goldie hugged, kissed, swam, and did all things, full-throated and raw. Surviving in Hollywood required a glossy veneer.

Most people wanted something from Goldie. She’d learned how to deflect that. Hugging strangers or old friends was not in her playbook these days.

Libby smiled at her.

“You grew up gorgeous,” Goldie said.

“Ha, you were always. I’ve missed you.”

“Yes, well, it’s been a long time.”

Goldie’s well-learned skeptical attitude returned. What was this woman doing here? They may have been BFFs before the term BFFs was invented, but they were strangers now.

“It has. We’re all so proud of you. J.J. said she—how did she put it?—spit out her popcorn when she saw you in The Sandwich Shop.”

“J.J., how is she? I mean, she was so vibrant!”

Goldie thought back to her friend, J.J. She tapped into the memory of J.J. when she needed to play fearless characters. There was quite a bit of J.J. in Goldie’s interpretation of Brenda Lee.

“She’s still a firecracker, hasn’t changed.”

“Ah, well, that’s good to know.” Goldie realized she was probably being a bad hostess.

“I know I am here unannounced.”

“No, it’s fine, have a seat. I’ll get Tally to get us some cold drinks.”

Tally was her current personal assistant and Gal Friday. She went through them quickly, but Tally had lasted over a year.

“Oh, don’t go to any trouble—”

“Please, it’s not. TALLY!” Goldie yelled, and Tally appeared on the patio.

“Yep, what can I get you?” Tally was in her twenties, originally from Chicago, good at explaining TikTok to her and mediocre at returning phone calls.

“Can you bring us two cucumber waters and take Myrna?”

“Hey, you’re Libby Malcolm,” Tally said, clearly recognizing Libby.

What had Goldie missed? Was Libby famous or something?

“Yes,” Libby said and lowered her head a bit.

“I grew up in Southland! My mom’s still there. I did the Sunday Art in the Park for years. And that was total crap, what your ex did.”

“I’m so glad you enjoyed the program. That makes me really happy. And thank you.”

“Wow, Libby Malcolm, I never know who I’m going to meet in this job. Last week I ran into Suzanne Somers when I was picking up Goldie’s green matcha powder.”

“Tally, could you?” Goldie put the dog in Tally’s arms and ended the girl’s rambling grocery shopping with the stars tour.

“Oh, yes, sorry. Again, honored to meet you, Libby.”

“Well, so you’re famous,” Goldie said. “I had no idea.”

Goldie knew that sounded mean, dismissive. It was another trick one picked up in her status-obsessed business. Oh, you’re an actress. Would I have seen you in anything?

“Not really, maybe in Southland Neighborhood board meetings in Chicagoland. Though I did meet Bono once.”

“He’s so little, right? I mean, a giant in the world, but so little?”

“I did feel rather monstrous sized next to him.”

They laughed. There was an ease, a familiarity, that Goldie was surprised to feel. Surprised to be warmed by.

“So, Chicago, community organizer, hanging out with Bono—what’s next, a bid for president? Are you here for my celebrity endorsement?”

“Ha, no, you missed that second part. My husband, ex-husband, nearly got me sent to prison when he embezzled from my non-profit. So, yeah, not interested in high office. But I am going to admit that I am still a community organizer. Just a different community.”

Here it was, here was the ask. Goldie liked to support charity. She’d walked the red carpet at tons of fundraisers.

“How much do you need? I’m happy to donate. Though you may not want my endorsement for whatever. My name isn’t great right now.”

“What I want is to honor you at the First Annual Goldie Hayes Film Festival, to be held in Irish Hills.”

“Shut up, that’s hilarious. And Irish Hills, that place was wiped off the map, right? After the tornado.”

Her parents had moved to Florida after the tornado. There had never been a reason to go back. And honestly, once she started making it big, everyone just wanted to visit her here. Why wouldn’t they?

“Well, almost. So let me put all my cards on the table. I’ve moved back to Irish Hills, well, maybe ran away to Irish Hills after my husband dragged my name through the mud. And the place turned into my mission. I’m working to save it, and well, it’s a cliché for sure, but it’s saving me, too.”

“Oh, brother, that’s Hallmark Movie dialogue right there,” Goldie said. It was probably too harsh. She was used to harshness. She was used to rudeness. That was show business.

“I know, but it doesn’t mean it isn’t true.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be, well, me.”

“It’s cool, really, and what I have in mind is nutty. I made a similar offer to Hope just a few weeks ago.”

Hope Benton. Strong, self-assured, and tall. Those were the things that flashed in her mind about those long ago summers with Hope, J.J., Viv, and Libby.

“Hope, wow. I’m sure she’s a fantastic chef by now?”

“Yes, yes, she is. But it was a recent development. She just opened the most amazing place in downtown Irish Hills.”

“Cute!”

“So, this is the deal. Irish Hills needs you. Straight up. The town is fighting extinction, and it needs you. Irish Hills needs a dose of your glamour, your celebrity, and the sparkle you bring. And I’m not going to lie. It’s crass, but Irish Hills needs to hitch its wagon to your star.”

Goldie was used to people asking her to lend her name to things. It was part of her worth in the world, she figured.

“My fading star, tarnished star.”

“Please, you’re a household name. And look, yeah, we need your star power in Irish Hills. But more importantly, we need you back with our little Sandbar Sisters girl squad. And I think you need us, too.”

“Hmm, does it look like I’m suffering here, missing something?” Goldie put out her hands expansively to the million-dollar view in her million-dollar mansion. She felt hollow when she did it. Libby was someone who wasn’t impressed with this kind of artifice. Goldie knew it. She always knew it.

“No, it’s beautiful. In my case, and in Hope’s, Irish Hills was a refuge, financial, emotional, and spiritual, in a lot of ways.

I can see you don’t need that. But maybe it would be good to get back with a group of people who knew you way back when.

People that don’t care about your recent dust-up with the Victor Superhero Universe. ”

“Yeah, you heard about that,” Goldie said.

Everyone had heard about it. What no one knew yet, was that after thirty years in Hollywood, Goldie, movie star, and Oscar winner, was agentless.

“Well, TMZ does get to Michigan.”

“Ah, yes, well, look. I appreciate the offer. But I’ve got a career crisis going on.

And I need to deal with it. I have to be here to strategize and find a new agent.

Talk to an attorney on some things. I just can’t do a film festival all the way in Michigan.

In fact, I actually have to get going. I’m set to appear at Dream Factory Comic Con in like less than two hours. ”

“Oh, I’m so sorry. I did barge in on you.”

“No, no, I’m glad to see you. I want to catch up. But I am already getting a reputation for being a diva. This autograph and photo session at the Comic Con is important. If I don’t show, well, it will prove them all right.”

“I’ll get out of your way. I totally understand.”

Goldie did want to catch up, and despite the development of her thick skin, and tough Hollywood outer shell, part of her wanted to open up. In her heart, she was starting to see what her life was missing. It was friends like she had growing up on Lake Manitou.

She’d never let anyone in like she did then. But it was likely way too late now. Even so, she had an idea.

“I don’t know if you have other plans or anything, but would you like to go with me to this comic con event? It’s kind of fun to see the frenzy at these things.”

“I’d love it.”

“I must warn you; it can also give you a major headache. Loud, big, crowded, and filled with just, well, stuff. It’s not relaxing, but it is a show.”

“I’m in.”

“Great, TALLY! Tell the team I’m on the way.”

“Team?”

“Hair and makeup are standing by at the Anaheim Convention Center, they’ll spruce me up, and we’re all set.”

“Got it.”

Goldie was disproportionately happy about Libby agreeing to hang out for a bit at the Comic Con. She should be worried about Scott, the VSU, and her career.

But instead, she was going to get to find out what happened to her old Sandbar Sisters.

It would be a great way to distract her from the crap Scott and Trevor were slinging in her direction.