Page 17 of The Lighthouse on Plum Island
“You’re even dressed differently,” Tanya noted. “You look gorgeous.” She surprised Caroline by complimenting her. “Success suits you.”
“You really do look gorgeous, Mom,” Jules whispered, her eyes shining with pride as she smiled at her mother. “Can I have my hair cut too?”
“We’ll make a day of it when we go shopping in Boston to pick out items for your new loft room,” Caroline promised, her heart lifting at Jules’s new attitude toward her.
An hour later, Caroline, Jennifer, and Jules had marked all the items Robert would have to send to Plum Island. Tanya had gone to nap, and Jules was leading them out of the house, reluctant to let them go.
“What time will you be picking me up tomorrow?” Jules asked Caroline.
“Are you actually eager to go back to Plum Island?” Jennifer looked at Jules in mock disbelief and then playfully mussed Jules’s hair, making her laugh. “Who are you, and what have you done with Brattigan Jules?”
“Hey, I’m not a brat!” Jules laughed at Jennifer, fending her off from tickling her. “Not that much anyway.”
“We love you, brat and all!” Caroline grinned and kissed her daughter goodbye.
Jennifer and Caroline had just walked through the front gate when they ran into Robert, who stopped dead and did a double-take seeing Caroline.
“Caroline!” Robert sputtered, his eyes widening in disbelief. “Wow!” He gave his head a vigorous shake. “You, uh—” He cleared his throat, attempting to regain his composure. “You look amazing.”
“She does, doesn’t she!” Jennifer chimed in with a smug expression. There was no love lost between Jennifer and Robert.
“Yes,” Robert replied absentmindedly, not even sparing a glance at Jennifer. His gaze remained transfixed on Caroline. “You’re gorgeous,” he added, his voice barely above a whisper.
“Thank you,” Caroline replied, feeling a sense of satisfaction despite the pettiness of it all. She knew she shouldn’t let his compliment affect her, but it did.
An awkward silence hung in the air as Robert continued to gape at her, seemingly at a loss for words.
“Well, this hasn’t been fun at all,” Jennifer drawled, tugging Caroline’s arm. “We have a yacht party to get to at the New York Yacht Club.” She casually dropped the name. “We wouldn’t want to be late.” Jennifer shot Robert another smug smile. “Goodbye, Robert.” She playfully pointed at his mouth. “You might want to close your mouth and wipe away the drool.”
With that, Jennifer led Caroline away, leaving Robert dumbfounded and gaping as Jennifer drove off. Caroline couldn’t help but smile. She no longer had any romantic feelings for Robert. Still, having him look at her like she was the most desirable woman on the planet was undeniably satisfying. It gave her a significant confidence boost.
“That must’ve felt good,” Jennifer remarked as they headed toward Fifth Avenue.
“I know it’s petty,” Caroline replied, her voice filled with elation, “but it really did. It felt really, really good.”
A few hours later, dressed in a chic, soft pastel A-line vintage pleated flare-style dress made of soft linen that breezed around her figure, Caroline looked radiant. The hemline stopped just above her knee, showcasing her toned legs, accentuated by matching wedge heels that weren’t too high. Her newly styled hair bobbed mischievously on her shoulders, framing her lightly made-up face that highlighted her most outstanding features.Without her glasses, her hazel eyes stood out, showing off her naturally long, thick lashes. Her soft pink lips shone with a touch of gloss, and two deep dimples punctuated her smile.
“You look breathtaking,” Jennifer complimented as they exited the cab upon reaching the yacht club.
“You always look like you’re ready for the runway,” Caroline laughed nervously.
Jennifer linked her arm with Caroline’s. She stood three inches taller than Caroline, with dark auburn hair, big blue eyes, and a stunning natural beauty. Jennifer’s long, elegant figure was highly toned from regular exercise, and she had an effortless glide to her walk. The two of them turned heads as they made their way to the yacht, where they could hear the party had begun.
“Wow!” Caroline murmured as they stopped near the yacht. “That’s not a yacht,” she spluttered. “That’s a mini cruise liner.”
“Come on,” Jennifer said, barely containing her excitement. “Let’s go find this man of yours.”
An usher greeted them as they reached the boarding stairs for the yacht. “Good afternoon,” the man in a tuxedo greeted them. “May I have your names?”
“Caroline and Jennifer Parker,” Caroline repeated the names Brad had added to the guest list.
“Ah, of course.” The usher nodded. “Please, mind the step at the top and enjoy the party.”
“Thank you,” Caroline and Jennifer said in unison, feeling like movie stars as they walked up the boarding stairs to the yacht. Caroline couldn’t help but whisper to Jennifer, “Wow! This is amazing.”
“I know,” Jennifer whispered, encouragingly squeezing Caroline’s arm. “I’ve been to A-lister yacht parties before, but this is like a New York royalty party.”
Caroline and Jennifer stepped onto the massive super yacht, the gentle sway beneath their feet a testament to its size and grandeur. The yacht gleamed under the soft glow of strategically placed lights inside. The air was filled with laughter, clinking glasses, and the soothing melodies of a live jazz band. Waitstaff moved gracefully through the crowd, offering trays of champagne and hors d’oeuvres. It was a scene of opulence and sophistication.
