Page 112 of Love Notes & Lifelines
“No,” she says with a heavy exhale. “Would the media show up on the doorstep?”
It’s a reasonable question considering what Carolina Counting has been publishing. I don’t know how celebrities deal with this shit. There are other wealthy families that garner much more attention than this, but it’s never been mine.
I’ve always been too boring. I’ve never been photographed with a date, never had a wild child stage. I’ve been focused, so perhaps that’s the appeal now.
“I don’t think anyone would be stupid enough to show up, and Daisie sounds happy with whoever it is, but stay here just in case. I’ll get it.”
She nods, and I kiss her forehead, then stand and warily walk to the front of the house.
“You’ve got to be shitting me,” I mumble, stopping a foot from the front door.
“What is it?” Stella asks, sticking her head out of the doorway.
“Not today,” I groan. I’m standing in the entryway while Oliver Shines waves with his entire body and a grin too big for his face through the glass. He hasn’t changed at all since I was a kid.
Stella’s footsteps pitter-patter against the hardwood floors. “Oh…huh? What’s going on?”
I pinch the bridge of my nose, then kick the basket of shoes that Daisie knocked over out of the way. “It’s the welcoming committee.”
“I thought they did that with the parade,” she says.
“They did. This will be the sand dance.”
She bites the inside of her cheek. She’s been doing it more lately, especially when she’s nervous.
“Steel yourself, Stella. You’re about to get a proper Sailport Bay welcome.”
It’s the worst possible timing for this, but if I say no, they’ll just set up on the beach anyway since it’s technically not private.
Rolling my shoulders, and with Stella’s palm between my shoulder blades urging me on, I open the door, holding Daisie by her collar.
Music hits us first. No one knows that Oliver’s radio program has been a secret addiction I allowed when I was truly at my lowest. It was the safest piece of home I could keep and still move on. But seeing him now, in my home, is a minor celebrity moment for me, and it’s all I can do to rein myself in.
It’s the least Becker Hayes thing I’ve ever indulged in.
“Becker Hayes, look at yourself,” Oliver says with a slow Southern drawl. He enters the house and I’m immediately engulfed in a hug while Daisie jumps and wiggles, attempting to get free. “It’s been too long, son. We’re happy to have you home. And this must be the beautiful Stella Anderson I’ve heard so much about.”
Stella cringes. “I hope you don’t believe everything you read,” she says demurely. I straddle Daisie and hold her with my legs and the collar.
“Oh, for heaven’s sake. No! We don’t believe any of that trash that girl is dreaming up.”
This catches my attention. There’s no mention of Danica in any of those articles and my forehead pinches in confusion.
Finally, he turns and gives Daisie the attention she wants. After a thirty-second head rub, the damn dog settles down.
“Daisie, go watch the girls,” I command. She tilts her head, looks at Oliver, then takes her sweet-ass time waltzing up the stairs. She’ll nose her way into Emmy’s room and stay there until she wakes up.
“Don’t be fooled, Stella,” Oliver says while waving people down to the beach. “We’ve known that girl since she was a child, and it’s no secret she’s taking you to court for custody of Cally’s babies.” He cups his hand around his mouth like he’s telling a secret. “Benny Johnson works in the town clerk’s office, and he told Wanda who told me about the paperwork she filed. She’s truly a piece of work, that one.”
He walks farther into the house. “Anyway, that’s why we’re here. To show our support with an old-fashioned sand dance.”
“What’s a sand dance?” Stella asks, moving quickly to shut the door to her mother’s room.
“Oh, Stella. We heard all about your mama too. If there’s anything we can do to support either of you, just say the word. We have a town-wide help network. All it takes is one phone call to get the ball rolling and before you know it meals, groceries, even books can be delivered in a flash.”
“How did you?—”
“I had the pleasure of running into Lucía at the market yesterday. It’s still too early for tourists, so I latched onto her quickly and learned we had two new residents. She. Is. Lovely.”
