Page 48 of The Me I Left Behind (Tuckaway Bay #4)

Twenty-Five

August, Tuckaway Bay

Beach Week

“ Oh. My. God. I can’t believe how much I missed this beach house!”

Alice hustled through the back door of Tequila Sunrise, carrying a cooler and set it down beside the refrigerator. “I have ice and…” She popped open the cooler lid and plucked out a bottle. “I have tequila on ice!”

“Yay! Margaritas!” Lia said.

“And Tequila Sunrises!” Maggie added.

Lia frowned. “Alice, you know the refrigerator works now, right? We really don’t need the cooler.”

“I like to plan for backup. Remember last time?” Alice popped open a bag of potato chips.

“But that was two years ago, and we got a new one.”

Alice touched the hem of Lia’s beach wrap. “I really like this. Is it new? The colors look good on you.”

Maggie recognized Alice’s M.O. of changing the subject. “It is a great wrap,” she said to Lia. “But you look good in everything.” She poked at her own bathing suit shoulder strap. “This feels tight. Have I gained weight? Am I fatter?”

Lia rolled her eyes and gave her a hug. “You are beautiful, my friend. Even if you’ve gained weight.”

“Oh shit. So I have gained weight. Damn it!”

“I didn’t say that, Maggie.”

“But….”

“Ladies. Stop.” Julia moved closer to the cooler and looked inside. “Great. We have margarita mix and grenadine and orange juice. Cool beans, Alice. I’ll make my virgin versions of anything tequila.”

“Well,” said Maggie, “that will be the only thing virgin around here.” She snorted.

“Good God, Maggie.” Julia picked up the mix and wiped the water off with a paper towel. “We’ve had no virgins around here for a couple of decades.”

“With the exceptions of our girls,” Alice said. “I’m sure they are all still virgins.” She opened the fridge and pulled out a cheese platter. “I guess we’re doing snacks and drinks now?”

Lia coughed. “Excuse me? My daughter just had a baby out of wedlock. Virginity theory smashed on that one.”

They all laughed.

“True.” Alice dipped a chip.

“Wedlock,” Julia said. “Is that even a word anymore?”

“No clue,” Lia admitted. “Just came out of my mouth.”

“Besides…” Maggie dug into a bowl of guacamole on the kitchen bar with a tortilla chip. “I’m betting Ella isn’t still a virgin either, Alice.”

Alice whipped around, giving Maggie a firm stare. “What? I’m sure she is.”

“She’s a freshman in college,” Julia quipped. “Are you kidding me?”

Alice bristled. “Oh, she’s still a virgin. Ella would tell me.”

“Right.” Lia rounded the bar. “Keep telling yourself that. Who is making the sunrises?”

“I will,” Julia said.

They all stared at her.

“What? I can’t drink them, but I’m still a good bartender.”

Lia touched her arm. “You won’t be tempted?”

“Hell no. I don’t eat bacon, either, but that doesn’t mean I fall off the bacon wagon when I cook it for Sam. I’m good. I promise. Besides, I like to concoct things.”

“Well then, sister. Have at it,” Maggie said.

“Time to par-ty!” yelled Alice.

“What about Carol, Maggie?” Lia poked a chip in her mouth. “You think she’s sleeping with Logan?”

Maggie snorted. “She’s on the pill. Definitely. And besides, she and Logan are staying at the Gull this week together, so there is that.”

Alice whirled around. “You put her on the pill?”

Maggie laughed. “Seriously, Alice? Get with the century. She put herself on the pill and I bet Ella is too!”

Alice looked stunned, then plopped down onto a bar stool. “I’m still living in Pollyanna world.”

“Well, you better get out of that soon because your life is about to flip. How’s the divorce coming along?”

“Not.”

“Really?”

Alice closed her eyes. “I don’t want to talk about it. Maybe next year.”

“Sure. Let’s just drink then.”

Their chatter halted for a few seconds, then Alice said, “Julia? What about Hannah? Do you think she’s a virgin?”

Julia didn’t miss a beat. “What kind of virgin? The boy–girl penetrating kind of virgin or lesbian virgin?”

Alice blinked several times. “I should know how to answer that, shouldn’t I?”

Maggie burst out laughing. Lia joined her. Julia just smirked and pushed the button on the blender.

“Frozen margaritas coming up. Tequila sunrises are in the cups. Choose your poison, ladies.”

Maggie reached for a sunrise. “I’ll meet you chicks on the deck. Last one there gets the broken lounge chair.”

“So, Maggie, tell us about Lilly.” Alice took a drink of ice water.

They’d just finished dinner at a popular Carolina buffet, stuffing themselves silly with seafood and hushpuppies, and were contemplating cocktails.

“I’m so full I’m not sure I can even talk,” Maggie said. “Let alone drink?”

“Oh, one margarita won’t take up much room.” Alice signaled the server. “A round of margaritas, please. Make one non-alcoholic.” She pointed at Julia. “And make sure she gets that one.”

The server smiled and nodded. “Got it.”

Julia leaned across the table toward Maggie. “You don’t have to talk if you don’t want to, Mags.”

Julia knew most everything that had transpired, anyway. She’d just not had the opportunity, yet, to talk much to Lia and Alice.

“No, it’s fine. Lilly was awesome, actually. She got caught up in Max’s shit just like me, but she’s young and will survive. Little Leo, her son, is a stinker.”

“Goodness,” Lia interjected. “The way Chloe loves little Gracie, she will probably be obsessed when she finds out she has a baby brother. Belle and Zach said earlier that Chloe was stuck to Gracie like glue.”

Maggie could easily imagine that. “I hope she’s not making a pest of herself. I really do appreciate them taking on two more kids for the week.”

Lia batted the air. “Oh, piece of cake. Belle’s in her element.” She stared for a moment. “Does Chloe know, though? About Leo.”

“She knows there is a child.” To be honest, that thought hadn’t crossed Maggie’s mind. “Interesting thought, though. Carol sure was taken with him. Maybe I should have her talk to Chloe.”

“How did Jason react?” Julia plucked the last piece of shrimp from the cocktail appetizer and popped it in her mouth.

“With the same indifference he’s reacting to everything else. Poor child. He wanted his dad’s attention so bad—that is, until Max… Well, you know.” She didn’t want to dredge up that last day Max had popped into her kitchen.

Julia patted her hand. “No. Not going there. This is beach week.”

“Do you think you will see her again? Lilly, I mean. And Leo?” Alice asked.

Maggie let her mind wander over that question. “You know, I actually want to see her again. I liked her. And Carol just completely fell in love with Leo.” She thought for a moment. “And Brisbane was lovely. I want to go back and explore.”

Alice grinned. “Hey, you should invite Lilly to beach week next year.”

All the women stared at her.

“Not cool, Alice,” Julia said.

Lia fiddled with her napkin. “Beach week is sacred. It’s only for us. Right?”

Maggie agreed and nodded. “Lilly is not a beach week girl. Now, would I invite her to Tuckaway Bay for vacation? So she and Leo could meet Jason and Chloe, and spend more time with Carol and me? I’d definitely do that. But not beach week. No, ma’am.”

“Of course, you all are right. Mouth engaging before brain.” Alice met all their gazes. “So, Maggie, you’re still glad you took Carol?”

“Definitely, Alice. We both needed the closure. Cleaning out Max’s condo, and then spending time with Lilly and Leo, and her nanny Poppy, who is a hoot by the way, was something we both needed to do. Honestly, I feel good about the whole situation.”

Alice looked thoughtful. “So, Julia told us about the scandal, by the way, while you were gone. I can’t even believe we didn’t know Max was married before you. And that investigation into his wife’s death? I keep wondering why we didn’t read about that in the papers?”

“Probably because it happened before I knew him,” Maggie said. “None of us were exactly news junkies back then. Besides, we were young and busy.”

“I guess you are right.” Alice said. “Is the estate all settled now?”

“Geez, Alice.” Lia punched Alice’s arm. “You writing a gossip column or something?”

“No, why?”

“Kinda nosy?”

Alice looked shocked.

Maggie chuckled. “It’s okay. We wrapped it up last week.

The trust fund for the kids is all set. All four children are beneficiaries of Max’s trust fund—yes, including Leo.

Everything has cleared probate. I have the house, the Escalade, and the money he had in the bank.

His bills are paid, and the business is dissolved.

While I’m not sure what I’ll do with the house, I’ll probably sell the SUV soon and get Carol a car for school.

I might consider selling and downsizing in a year or so. I want to let things settle first.”

“I think that’s smart.” Julia’s head bobbed in agreement.

Lia reached for Maggie’s hand. “It sounds like most everything is resolved.”

“Mostly. I still have Mommy issues but I’m sure I’ll have those the rest of my life. I’m definitely handling things, though. Funny, though, how the Mommy issues were weirdly connected to the Max issues.”

“But you are okay. How are you holding up? It’s a lot.” Lia gave her a concerned look.

“I’m good. I’ve had time to reflect, have learned a lot about myself, about Max, and about why I got caught up in his drama.

The kids are good, too. Honestly, we’re all still processing, and I’m sure we will continue to do that for some time.

But right now, I couldn’t feel better about my life, and where it’s heading. ”

“And where is that?”

Maggie laughed and shrugged. “I honestly have no clue, and that’s okay. I have some ideas, some things I want to do, but whatever happens, wherever the rest of my life leads me, I know I’m the one in control.”

The margaritas came and Maggie took hers, tipping her glass to the girls. “Here’s to the future. Our future, one and all.”

A couple of hours later, the women meandered up the back stairs of Tequila Sunrise and slowly rounded the deck toward the ocean side. They’d called an Uber to take them home because of a second round of drinks at the restaurant. Mostly, they were all tipsy.

Halfway around the house, Maggie abruptly stopped. “Do you smell that?”

Lia, Alice, and Julia paused, almost running into each other.

“What?” Julia said.

“Weed.”

“Are you sure?”

“I am. Take a sniff.”

They all did. Alice’s eyes lit up. “You’re right. Someone is smoking pot somewhere.”

“Well, I want some,” Maggie said.

Julia held her back, grasping her elbow. “Now hold on, Mags. You can’t just go off….”

Lia had stepped ahead, still sniffing. “Wait. I think it’s coming from our deck.”

“No.”

“Yes. Seriously. Someone is smoking weed on our deck.”

They all froze for a moment, their eyes widened. Lia gasped. “It can’t be.”

In mass, they rushed around the corner.

Wren and Willow stood on the deck, facing them. “Surprise!”

“Shut. Up.” Maggie stopped stone still.

“How…?” Lia shook her head. “I don’t understand.”

Julia dropped her sunglasses. “What the hell?”

“What the fuck? ” Alice clutched at her chest. “You almost gave me a heart attack.”

“Good God,” Willow said, “it’s beach week. Where the hell else would we be?”

“You brought weed?” Maggie gave Willow a smile.

“I found a weed man.”

“I bet you did.” Julia rushed forward and hugged Willow tight. “You bitch you! Where the fuck have you been? And Wren…? Seriously?”

“And what about the baby? Whose is it? Where is it?”

Willow grasped Lia’s arms. “Slow down. The baby is with Spence. All is good. And yes, she’s mine.”

“We wondered if you were trying to trick us.”

“So when you were sick…?”

“Some of that was pregnancy and some of it was some other health issues that are all taken care of now. I’m fine.”

They all rushed together then, chattering and laughing. After a moment, they settled down and Lia asked, “But how? And where have you been? Can you tell us?”

Willow glanced at Wren. “We can tell you a little. Not much.”

“See that guy over there?” Wren subtly pointed to a man sitting on the bench at the top of the dune walkway that led from Tequila Sunrise to the beach.

“Yes?” Lia said.

Julia clasped Wren’s arm. “He’s a cop. I can tell. Undercover.”

Willow took a deep breath. “Yeah,” she said softly. “We’re in witness protection.”

Alice’s eyes flashed bigger. “Seriously? Like in the movies. Is he like, your handler or something?”

“Something like that. He’s kind of our bodyguard for today, and he’ll have to stay in the house tonight. Hope that’s okay.”

Alice waggled her brows a little. “Is he available?”

Wren laughed. “I thought you were married?”

Julia waved a hand and scoffed. “Yesterday’s news.”

“I’m getting a divorce,” Alice said.

Willow laughed. “Alice, you tart you!”

Alice’s cheeks pinked.

Julia snorted. “Tart? You have no idea. She is leaving George for a woman.”

Wren’s mouth dropped open.

Willow shouted, “Get the fuck out of town!”

“It’s true.” Alice said.

Willow put her arm around Wren’s shoulders. “We’ve been gone too long, sister.”

Maggie pushed forward. “Enough about Alice’s old news. I want to know more about Mr. Undercover over there. Do either of you have dibs?”

“That, my dear,” Wren said, “is outside of his job description. He’s here to keep us safe.”

“Say more.”

The twins shared a glance. “We can’t,” Wren said. “Maybe one day, but not now.”

“Can you stay all week?” Alice asked.

“Just tonight. We have to leave in the morning.”

Julia stepped forward and hooked one arm in Willow’s and the other in Wren’s. “Well, come on in, then. Bring Mr. Undercover, too. We have a shit-ton of life to catch up on.”

Maggie figured they had a shit-ton of beach week to cram into one night.

Thank God for Tuckaway Bay. And Tequila Sunrise.