Maileah drew her lower lip in, hesitating. “And what would that look like?”
Just then, Skeeter called out to her brother with a question, breaking the moment between them.
Sailor smiled with a sigh and pushed himself up. “To be continued,” he said, offering his hand. “Can you wait?”
“This is our last break until after the event,” Maileah replied. “But I can wait for you.”
25
With so much to do to prepare for the big event, the last few days passed quickly for Maileah. Now, the day before the charity event, Maileah sat on her patio staring at her computer, wondering what else she could do.
All the videos she’d made had been uploaded and donations were coming in. She had set up the auction tables at the Majestic Hotel earlier today with the help of volunteers. Little remained until the main event kicked off tomorrow morning.
Her phone rang, and she saw that it was her grandmother. She picked up, glad to take her mind off the preparations for a while.
Ella’s bright greeting rang out. “Hi, darling. Are you ready for tomorrow?”
“I can’t think of anything else to do.”
“Then why don’t you and Sailor come over? You can relax and recharge before the event. We’ll have pasta and salad.”
“Sailor is turning in early. He likes to have a good night’s sleep before competitions. But I’d love to join you.”
“I’ve also invited Junie. It will be just the four of us again like old times.”
“Or like the night before final exams,” Maileah said. “When you’ve studied all you can and just want to chill.”
After a final check, Maileah closed her laptop. She had done everything she could. A short time later, she arrived at Ella’s rosy-pink home on Beach View Lane. Junie was in the kitchen with their mother and grandmother.
The tantalizing aroma of roasted garlic filled the air, and a sweet Doris Day song played amidst the chatter. This was Maileah’s idea of home, more so than where she’d grown up in Seattle. Looking back, her father sadly had a way of putting them all on edge. But here, her memories were mostly of happy times. On reflection, she realized the arguments she’d once had with Junie were mostly her fault. But she was different now.
“Hello, everyone,” she said cheerfully. “It’s hard to believe we were all living here less than a year ago.”
“So much has changed since then,” April said as she sliced vegetables. “And all for the better.”
Maileah nodded. “More than I ever imagined.”
“Oh?” Junie looked up with interest from the stovetop, where she was stirring tomato sauce. “Anything you want to share?”
“I was talking about my new business,” Maileah replied, teasing her.
Her sister looked disappointed. “I hope that’s not all.”
“And how is Sailor?” April asked.
Even as Maileah thought of him, happiness filled her. “We’re definitely more than friends now.”
Her grandmother brightened. “That’s wonderful to hear. Friendship and shared interests are just as important as love in a marriage.”
Maileah smiled. “I went surfing the other day. And this time, I stood on the board.”
“Well, look at you,” Junie said. “I remember when you crashed my lesson with Sailor.”
“I didn’t crash it—you invited me,” Maileah said.
Junie chuckled as she scooped roasted garlic into the sauce. “I was so upset with you?—”
“And I was a brat?—”
