Page 79 of Summer on Sunshine Bay

“I’m sorry, honey. I’m happy. Honestly, I am. It’s just been a crappy few hours. I’ll make it up to you, okay? We’ll celebrate once everything settles down here.” A door slammed, and he winced. “I’d better go.”

Lila walked down to the beach and slipped off her shoes, disappointed and hurt by David’s reaction. She thought about going to La Dolce Vita but didn’t want to face her mother. She’d know something was wrong.

“Lila!” She turned. Her dad waved. He and Luke were walking behind a group of people on the pier. Her dad must’ve gone out on theCaptain Joe, Luke’s boat. It was named after his father. The charter company was also named Captain Joe.

Lila’s dad jogged over and hugged her. “Eva sent me a photo of the sonogram.” His eyes got shiny, and he hugged her again. “A baby girl. That’s the best news, sweetheart.” He held her out from him and searched her face. “Your mom says the doctor wants you to eat more and rest. No more stress.”

“I’m fine, Dad.” Her cell phone rang. It was David. “Sorry, I have to take this.”

“No problem, sweetheart. I’ll see you later, and we’ll celebrate.” He kissed her cheek and then went over to talk to Luke, who was atCaptain Joe’s ticket booth talking to his mother while keeping a firm grip on Admiral’s collar.

“I’m sorry, honey,” David said as soon as Lila answered. “I was just so mad at how my dad treated you, I wasn’t thinking straight. Can you send me a photo of the sonogram? I want to show my mom.”

“Sure.” She removed the sonogram from her purse, took a photo, and then sent it. “How is your mom?”

“Sad, angry, and maybe a little relieved too. I don’t know. It’s a mess, and somehow I have to keep it from impacting Windemere. Both of them refuse to leave, and I’m stuck in the middle trying to mediate while my brother stirs the pot.”

“I’m sorry, David. That sucks. Why don’t you stay at the beach house with me? At least you’ll get a break for a few hours.”

“Trust me, there’s nothing I’d rather do, but I can’t leave them on their own.”

“Okay. Let me know if there’s anything I can do.”

“Thanks, honey. I will. I’ll call you later, okay?”

She disconnected just in time to avoid getting bowled over by Admiral.

“Sorry. I got distracted, and he got away from me,” Luke said, reaching out to clip a leash on Admiral, which earned him an unhappy woof. “It’s either the leash or doggie jail, doofus. He took out Sergeant Mills on the beach yesterday.”

Lila made a face. “I remember Sergeant Mills. He used to break up our parties at Paradise Cove, didn’t he?”

“He did, and he’s gotten crankier with age.” Luke smiled. “So, a baby girl? Your dad’s over the moon.”

“He is,” she said, scratching Admiral behind the ears.

“And both you and the baby are healthy?” His gray gaze was intent as he searched her face.

She angled her head. “We are.” Then she sighed, realizing what was behind the concern she saw in his eyes. “Don’t listen to my dad. Both he and my mom are overreacting. Dr. Alva just wants me to eat more.”

“And rest more and avoid stress,” he said, raising an eyebrow.

“Yes, just like every other expectant mother in the world. So,” she said, anxious to change the subject, “my dad went out on the boatwith you?”

“He did, and I should warn you, he’s got it bad. I think he loves being out on the water as much as me and doofus. He was talking about—” He broke off when a sixtysomething woman approached him. “Hi, Rhonda. How’s it going?”

“Good, thanks.” She smiled at Lila, and Luke introduced them. After they’d said hello to each other, Rhonda cast an uncomfortable glance at Luke. “I hate to bother you, but I haven’t heard back from you, and I was wondering if you had a chance to look at my résumé?”

“I’m kind of at a loss here, Rhonda. What about a résumé?”

“Your mom didn’t talk to you about it?”

“Nope, she didn’t.”

“Oh, okay. I actually feel better now. It’s not like you to blow anyone off.”

As they learned, Rhonda, who was a marine biologist, had left a résumé for Luke with his mother at the ticket booth the week before. She ran a program for children during the school year but was looking to fill her time in July and August.

“Sorry about that, Rhonda. We’re changing booking systems, and my mom is a bit overwhelmed. Resend me your résumé, and I’ll get back to you before the end of the week.” Luke gave Rhonda his personal email, and she put it into her phone.

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