Plus, the Summer House was unusually quiet this late afternoon. The only sound was the rustle of the palm fronds outside and the distant waves providing a steady rhythm to her thoughts. Vivien was out running design errands, Mom had gone for a walk, and Maggie was upstairs napping.
And her darling Lacey had gone hours ago to meet a friend from college somewhere down on 30-A. Forcing herself to concentrate on the Pinterest board full of overpriced centerpieces, she put her head back into little Naomi Kaplan’s Bat Mitzvah.
A dog? Really, Jennifer?
Naomi’s mother’s latest idea was a stretch, but it could drive the theme. Apparently, she wanted to get a rescue that Naomi loved as her big “surprise” gift…so an animal-themed party was perfect. But how to pull that off?
She looked up again, squinting at the driveway. Lacey would know. She’d have some good ideas. Where was that girl? She hadn’t called or texted all day.
Not that Lacey owed her a minute-by-minute accounting, since she was the world’s most underpaid assistant. Tessa had fully approved of her taking some time to herself, but still. It wasn’t like her to disappear for hours without checking in.
A while later, Tessa was on an animal-theme roll—was “Stay Wild” too much for a Bat Mitzvah?—when shefinallyheard the front door open.
“Lacey? That you?”
“Yep! It’s me!” She sounded breathless and high-pitched as she breezed around the entryway wall, bright-eyed—very bright—with her dark blond locks wild as she dropped her bag on the table.
“Did you drive with the windows open?” Tessa asked. “Or have a drinky lunch?”
She inched back. “No. I didn’t drink. And I didn’t…” She tried to smooth her hair, her gaze darting around the room, the floor, the kitchen…but not at Tessa. “We walked around Rosemary Beach and went down by the water. That place is so stinking cute. Have you been?”
Well, well, well. Someone looks guilty.
“To Rosemary Beach? Yes. It’s very…intentional. And precious.” Tessa lowered the laptop screen, eyeing her young protégé and good friend who seemed…nervous. “Did you have fun?”
“So much,” she said, heading into the kitchen to grab a glass and fill it with water. “Where is everyone?”
“Out and about.” Tessa watched her lift the glass to her lips and could have sworn her hand was shaking. What was up? “So, tell me about your friend, Lace.”
Lacey choked a little, but managed to get her sip down. “Oh, he was…”
“He?” Tessa raised a brow. “I thought you said it was a girl from college.”
“No…a guy.” She took another drink and stood awkwardly in the kitchen, like she wasn’t sure if she should sit or keep walking.
Tessa leaned back on two legs of the dining room chair, trying not to snicker. “Do you really think you can keep it from me?”
Lacey paled. “Keep…what?”
“Was it…Romeo?”
Her eyes widened to shocked blue saucers.
“Whatever his name was,” Tessa said. “The guy you’re talking to on the dating app.”
“Roman.” Lacey croaked the name and took another drink, making Tessa chuckle.
“Did you have a date with him?” she asked.
Lacey kept drinking. Gulping, actually.
Tessa let the front legs of the chair hit the floor.
“You did! And you’re keeping it from me, you little brat!” She snapped the laptop fully closed, officially ending work in exchange for good old-fashioned fun. “I want every single detail, not a thing left out. Everything.”
Lacey lowered the glass and tried to swallow. Finally, she shook her head. “Not much to?—”
“Lacey Knight!” Tessa shot up. “What was he like? Is he nice? Do you like him? Are you going to see him again?”
