Page 24 of Spotted at Lighthouse Bay
“Well, you’re bad at it.” Adelaide waved a hand at him. “And you’re getting nowhere in life. Mia, close the window. We’re leaving.”
He slammed his hand down next to her head. Mia jumped.
“I’m not done yet,” he snapped.
Adelaide reached over and plucked his fingers off the car, one by one. “Yes. You. Are!”
He shouted, clutching his hand to his chest. Adelaide hit the button and the window climbed back up, sealing them in from the sounds of the street.
Adelaide let out a huff. “The nerve of these people is unbelievable. Are you okay, Mia?”
“Oh yeah, I’m fine.” She nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat.
“How about we go somewhere else to regroup?”
Why hadn’t she thought of that? If she sat here any longer, Rick would have to leap out of the back of the car and throw that guy in the air, too. It was mortifying that she couldn’t stand up for herself. She was an embarrassment.
A quiver rose in her throat as she put the car into drive.
“What is with people?” Adelaide said as they pulled away. “They act like they’re entitled to your attention. Why is it always the ones who have never done anything who have opinions about everyone else?”
Mia nodded.
Adelaide went on. “People probably think because your mom and dad are famous actors that they can say anything to you.”
That was exactly what it was. Even before she had been in any movies herself, Mia would get cornered by people who wanted her to know something about her mom and dad – either their opinions on their divorce, or ranting that their movies were bad, or asking to be invited to Thanksgiving.
It was one thing to get accosted by a pair of jerks at the dock. Now, not even an hour later, someone else? Was this going to be the rest of her life? She’d been a fool to think she could pull off being in a superhero movie. It was totally unbelievable. She was an embarrassment to the entire family.
Inside Mia’s chest, a balloon popped and a sob exploded out of her mouth.
Adelaide put a hand on her shoulder. “Let’s stop. Pull in right here.”
Mia’s vision blurred, shaking with tears. She blinked them away and turned into a parking lot, stopping in the first spot.
“I’m sorry,” Mia said, her voice shaking.
“You don’t have to be sorry,” Adelaide said gently. “You’ve had three strangers come after you today.”
“Two physical assaults, one verbal,” Rick noted.
Crying was only more shameful, but the more she tried to stop, the more the tears forced themselves out.
Mia buried her face in her hands and sobbed. Adelaide rubbed her shoulder, her voice soothing and calm, and slipped tissues into her hand.
After four loud nose blows, Mia was able to regain her composure.
“I’m so sorry,” she sniffed. “I’m not normally like this.”
“I’m sure you’re not normally attacked by strangers, either.” Adelaide shook her head. “Is this all about the same movie?”
“A movie I ruined.” Mia shook her head. “They’re right. I was terrible in it. I’m a terrible actress.”
“I’m sure that’s not true.”
She looked up, locking eyes with Adelaide. “It is.”
Rick cleared his throat. “Would anyone like a drink? Looks like they have coffee here. Tea.” He leaned, looking through the windshield. “Baked goods.”
