Page 55 of Sweet Love at Bayside
Violet tapped her spoon on her coffee mug. “By the look of that blush on my sister’s cheeks, I’d say we’re up for a second course!”
How could she leave her brash sister after they’d just found each other? Desiree put a hand on her hip, trying to keep a stern expression, but inside she was already missing her. “You’d better be quiet, or these breakfasts will stop.”
Dean’s finger shot up in the air. “I’ve got duct tape if she can’t manage it on her own.”
Violet glared at him; everyone else laughed.
Cosmos went paws-up on the fence, barking up a storm, and everyone turned to watch as Lizza climbed from a cab in another bright maxi dress, her thick hair billowing around her face. She looked even more radiant than she had a few weeks ago. She dropped her suitcases in the driveway and headed in their direction.
Desiree grabbed the back of a chair to steady herself as hope soared inside her. Had she come back because she felt bad and wanted to spend time with them after all? “What’s she doing back so early?”
“Hey,” Rick said. “That’s the woman I met on the dock.”
“What? When?” Desiree asked as Violet opened the gate and Cosmos bolted out. Her mother scooped him up, laughing as he smothered her in puppy kisses.
“A few months ago,” Rick explained. “I told you about her. She’s the one who told me life would take me where I needed to be, when I needed to be there.”
“Rick…? That’s Lizza. She’s my mother.”
Lizza set Cosmos down, and he ran around the yard barking, his tail wagging, like his long-lost friend had finally arrived.The friend who had forgotten to tell us you even existed.Desiree squelched that annoyance as Lizza embraced Violet.
“I thought you said you were away for the summer?” Violet’s arms hung loosely at her sides, her gaze shifting to Desiree with a look Desiree couldn’t read.
Lizza moved like the wind around the table, touching each person’s shoulder or back or arm. “I was but…Oh, goodness. Look at this lovely gathering of gods and goddesses!” She reached over Drake’s shoulder, grabbed a strawberry from the bowl of fruit, and popped it into her mouth. Her eyes moved between Rick and Desiree, sparkling with satisfaction. “Cosmos did his job. I knew he was special.” Turning her attention to Drake and the others, she said, “Tell me. Who are all you lovely people?”
“I’m Serena.” Serena waved from across the table and pointed to the others as she spoke. “And this is Drake, Dean, and Rick.”
“It is a pleasure to meetallof you. I’m Lizza, Violet and Desiree’s mother.” She opened her arms as if she were going to bless the food. “Eat up. Fill your souls with this delicious bounty, and I will be out of your hair in no time.”
The amusement in Drake’s eyes turned to concern, and he shot a look at Rick.
“Lizza…?” Desiree shook her head to try to clear her confusion. “Out of our hair? You aren’t staying?”
Still eyeing Rick with a look of sheer joy, Lizza said, “It appears the universe has other plans for me.”
“What?” Desiree and Violet said in unison.
“I met the most amazing people while I was away,” Lizza explained. “They’re going on a meditation mission overseas. Visiting villages and leading—”
Violet held her palms up, silencing her. “Hold on. What dotheyhave to do with you and this property?”
Lizza laughed. “Silly me. Did Rob finish the renovations?”
“Yes, but not the onesyouwanted,” Violet said gruffly.
“Then I think we should sell the house, and you ca—”
“No!” Violet and Desiree snapped.
“Maybe we should give you some privacy.” Drake rose from the table.
Lizza put a hand on his shoulder, pushing him back down. “Nonsense. Eat, sweetheart.”
“We busted our butts to keep your gallery and shop alive,” Violet seethed, stalking toward their mother. Only she could look fierce in a bikini top and miniskirt. “Desiree worked her butt off in the gardens, too, in case you hadn’t noticed. And Dean and Rick helped with the flower boxes because your dog kept going into the pool at the resort. You arenotselling this house.”
Lizza’s smile faded, and she picked up Cosmos, petting him with a sad expression. “It took me weeks to teach him to climb that fence.”
Desiree’s hand fisted by her side and Rick tightened his hold on her. “Youtaughthim to climb the fence?”
