Page 11 of The Paradise Plan

Cass looked at her, her dark eyes brighter than the last time Bea had seen her.Her hair had been cut shorter than normal, but it still hung below her shoulders in very straight layers.Bea had cut hers a couple of years ago once her divorce was final.She’d only tried growing it out once to know she didn’t want to do that.

“I’ve planned a trip for us next week,” she said, measuring her words.

“Why are you talking like that?”Cass asked, her eyes turning into slits.

“Like what?”Bea asked.

“Carousel four,” Grant said, and he took off in the direction of Cass’s bags.

Bea followed, albeit much slower.

“Like you’re a travel agent trying to sell me a vacation I don’t need,” Cass said.

“You do need it,” Bea said.“It’s to the Everglades, and Cass, I’ve only been to four National Parks.It’s on my list, and Ican’tgo without you.”

Cass paused, but at least her eyes came open a normal width.“The Everglades.”

“I know you were planning to go there with West.”Bea swallowed, his name almost rusty on her tongue.“But I thought we could go.Me and you and Grant and Harrison.”

Cass’s eyebrows flew off her face.“Harrison?This man I’ve met, oh, let’s see—never?”She shook her head.“Bea, no.”

“Don’t say no,” Bea said, but Cass got the word out first.“It’s not a date.I’mnotsetting you up.I wouldneverdo that to you.He’s just been working like a dog, and he has a break between builds.He’s Grant’s best friend, and you’re my best friend, and I thought it would be fun.”

“Bea?”Grant called.

She looked over to him and waved.Cass started to walk, so Bea went with her.She’d gone quiet, and that had changed about Cass.She’d always been so opinionated and loud.She still was, but in some ways, she took more time to contemplate and think through things.

“When is the trip?”she asked.

“Tuesday through Saturday,” she said.“We’ll be there for three full days.Two days of travel.”Bea didn’t dare look at her but kept her focus on her husband up ahead.“You’ll meet Harrison in like, ten minutes.He’s a nice guy.He’s divorced, no kids, and has made it very clear to Grant he’s not interested in dating.So it’snota set-up.I promise.”

“I believe you,” Cass said quietly.She touched Bea’s arm and stopped again.Bea stepped in front of her and faced her.“Bea, what if—?”She swallowed, and Bea hadn’t seen her nervous like this in a while.Cass always exuded confidence.She made decisions all the time, and she never looked back.

“What if what?”

“What if I stayed for the whole summer?”she asked.“Could I find somewhere to rent on the island, do you think?”She spoke faster and faster.“I know the island fills up in the summer.Could Grant work some kind of landlord magic?Or miracle?”She took a big breath, and looked at Bea with earnestness.

Bea searched her face.“You want to stay in Hilton Head for the summer?”

“Yes.”

Bea burst out laughing.She did a little dance around Cass and said, “Yes, I’ll help you find somewhere to rent for sure.”She faced Grant, who looked at her like she’d gone crazy.“She wants to stay for the summer, Grant.You have to help her find a place to rent.”

“What about the Everglades?”he asked.The first bag came plunking onto the belt.“Is she coming on the trip with us?”

Bea turned to face Cass, who squared off with both her and Grant.She put one hand on her hip and gave them a look that Bea knew well.This was the look mothers gave to naughty children, and Bea also knew to hold very still and give Cass the time she needed to come to the decision she had to make.

Grant started to say something, and Bea squeezed his hand.“Give her a minute,” she whispered.“Just one…more…minute.”