Jack placed his hand on hers at the white table where they sat. “Well, we’ve never gone to the beach together so I figured we’d walk the boardwalk at Hollywood and lunch there.”
This would be the first time she’d ever seen a real beach. Jack had gone once with his family on vacation. The clerk returned with a few phones in his hand and she quickly said, “Sounds awesome. But I didn’t bring a bathing suit.”
Jack massaged the small of her back. “We’ll buy them there.”
Charlotte sorted through phones and ultimately decided she wanted the same model as Jack so he could help her figure out how to use it.
It took a while but they set her up with a new phone and an hour later they were finished.
They lingered at the mall and stopped to get a pretzel to share.
Finally they left and the limo brought them to a wooden boardwalk that had stores and restaurants on one side and the turquoise beach on the other.
Families, friends, and couples walked or played near the water. Single people mingled near the bar areas on the other side, but she and Jack sauntered along the path to take it all in. A woman skated by in her bikini, carrying her tiny dog, and Charlotte elbowed Jack. “How did you even know about the Hollywood boardwalk?”
He put his arm around her waist, then stepped to the side of the path to hug her. “I mentioned I wanted to take you to the beach and keep it simple so my siblings recommended it. I hope you’re having fun?”
Her body was warm from both the sun and his touch. She pressed her head into his shoulder. “Yes. We’re together. That’s all I need.”
“Me too.” He kissed her.
Perfect. Jack was a prince amongst men and all hers, forever now—she believed it.
Chapter 20
The next day, Jack held her hand and Charlotte met his gaze as they stood outside the store she’d spent her entire life hiding inside. Now she had a life and love and didn’t need the shelter of these walls anymore.
She had more.
Lost in his blue eyes, she was at peace--she was his and he was hers forever. Today she would share with those in the store about the amazing changes for them too.
The ring on her hand was like a beacon of hope that love won over everything else as Jack squeezed her palm and asked, “Are you ready?”
Yes. She straightened her new black business suit and walked into the familiar glass doors on his arm. No customers shopped but the workers in their blue vests were all lined up near the front of the store.
Her stepmother and stepsisters stood in front like they were still running the show.
Nancy, with her unblinking gaze, didn’t scare her now as Charlotte took her place before them though she whispered to Jack, “You’re here. Facing Nancy was always easier when you were right beside me.”
“You’ll be awesome.” He nudged her forward.
Right. She glanced around at faces she recognized. Most of them were quiet but Nancy stood rigidly. “Charlotte, I was told you owned the store, as the will was found. So why were we summoned here?”
Since Nancy didn’t ask about the contents of it, Charlotte surmised that she’d known all along. But it didn’t matter. Moving on and forgiving the past mattered more. Charlotte held her head high and said, “My father wanted me to ensure you and my stepsisters were taken care of.”
Linda crossed her arms and pouted, “So you want to humiliate us? To get back at me for when I blogged about you.”
And to think Linda had been homecoming queen. The face she made now was childish and ugly, but Charlotte would never say that out loud. “Hopefully you learned your lesson, Linda. I’m honoring my father’s wishes.”
Mickey pressed her hand on her sister’s arm. “What do you mean, Charlotte?”
Charlotte studied Nancy while she said, “Each of you gets two point five million once the money from the sale transfers.”
Nancy’s face didn’t show any emotion, even now. “Why?”
For years she’d wanted to be accepted by these three. Now they didn’t matter. She held Jack’s hand. “I’m selling the store for ten and we’re splitting it four ways. There will be no more money for you after this but I figured the number ensures everyone can live comfortably.”
The workers mumbled about a golden parachute.
