Page 16 of The Lighthouse on Plum Island
“I still believe you should’ve got the house in the divorce,” Jennifer said, pulling her shades from her face as they pulled up in front of Robert’s brownstone.
“I couldn’t afford to keep it back then,” Caroline reminded her as they climbed out of the car.
They had just started climbing the few steps to the front door when it flew open, and Jules flew out, wrapping her arms around Caroline.
“Mom!” Jules said, hugging her tightly. “I’m so glad to see you.”
Caroline and Jennifer exchanged shocked glances. It had been a while since Jules had greeted Caroline like this.
“Hi, sweetheart,” Caroline greeted her, kissing her daughter’s blonde head. “Is everything okay?”
“Yes.” Jules stepped back and looked at her mother quizzically before hugging Jennifer. “Hi, Aunt Jen.”
“Hey, kiddo.” Jennifer returned the hug. “How’s things at your father’s house?”
“Oh, you know.” Jules shrugged. “It’s been good to see my friends.”
“That’s great.” Jennifer smiled and wrapped her arm around Jules’s shoulder as she led them inside.
“Dad isn’t here,” Jules said, turning to close the door, then stopped and looked at Caroline in surprise. “Mom!” She gasped. “You look beautiful.”
“Oh!” Caroline felt her cheeks heat.
“I gave her a makeover,” Jennifer said proudly. “Your mother’s heading for fame and fortune. I thought she should look the part.”
“I always knew you were gorgeous!” Jules smiled.
“Thank you!” Caroline wasn’t quite sure how to take that.
“Caroline!” Tanya’s voice drifted to them from the sweeping staircase.
“Hello, Tanya,” Caroline greeted the woman, forcing a smile and doing their usual air kiss greeting. “You’re looking radiant.”
“Fat, you mean!” Tanya pouted. “And don’t even look at my swollen ankles.” She moaned, forcing them to look at her ankles. “See. They are nowcankles.”
“They’re not that fat!” Jennifer said, and Caroline bumped her warningly. “I’ve seen worse.”
Caroline shot Jennifer another warning glance and rolled her eyes at her.
“Thank you.” Tanya sniffed and hugged Jennifer, taking her sarcasm as a compliment. “Can I get you something to drink?”
“No, thank you, Tanya,” Caroline declined her offer. “We don’t have a lot of time.”
“I’m sure,” Tanya said, dabbing her eyes with a crumpled tissue. “You’re a celebrity now.”
“Well, I wouldn’t go that far,” Caroline said, quickly changing the subject. “Should we go to Jules’s room?”
“Yes, of course.” Tanya nodded and led them up the stairs. “I’m sorry we have to move Jules to another room. But with the baby coming, we need her room.”
“And one of your other six bedrooms wouldn’t suffice as the nursery?” Jennifer raised her eyebrows in disbelief.
“Jules’s room is next to the main bedroom,” Tanya pointed out. “We’re going to join the two rooms.”
“Oh, nice,” Caroline said, feeling hurt. She’d begged Robert to do that when Jules was born, but he’d refused.
Tanya’s gaze fell on Caroline, and she frowned. “Have you cut and colored your hair?” she asked, making Caroline feel her space was being violated as Tanya touched one of her golden locks. “And you’re wearing contact lenses.”
She stepped back and ran her eyes over Caroline’s attire. She wore designer jeans that fit her without being too tight and a cream cotton shirt with soft pink roses. Instead of her usualcomfortable sneakers, her perfectly pedicured pink toes popped out of a pair of sandals.
