Forever Beach by Shelley Noble Page A

self-doubt.
    I LONA WAITED FOR the elevator to close on a satisfied and disheveled Garrett. She smiled, even toodled her fingers at him, which made him laugh. It was a ridiculous gesture, like the cherry on a sickeningly sweet sundae.
    He was good enough in bed. Hit all the right places, didn’t talk too much. And he did make her laugh.
    Tennis, bar, dinner, bed. They had a standing invitation.
    And that was all either of them wanted or expected out of their relationship. If she ever married again, though she couldn’t imagine why she would ever want to, it would be on her own terms. With her eyes wide open, and to someone who could hold his own without trying to destroy hers.
    She put the top back on the gin, added two more glasses to the dishwasher, and turned it on. She yawned; she was ready for bed and the sleep of the truly satisfied. Good match, good food, decent sex . . . She even chuckled as she thought of Kevin’s pregnant trophy wife. No sense worrying about her or the percolating kid.
    She’d get a good settlement when Kevin chucked her over for the next step of his career ladder. And if she didn’t, she could always pay Ilona to represent her in divorce court.
    Wouldn’t that be a kick. She turned out the light.

Chapter 7
    K aren picked up Leila early Monday morning. “We’re going to McDonald’s before camp,” Bessie announced from the backseat, when Sarah opened the car door for Leila to climb in.
    Leila stopped. “Am I going to camp?” she asked, her brows dipping into the beginning of a look Sarah knew so well and had tried to banish.
    Sarah had explained it twice yesterday. She explained it again. “No, you’re going to your fun school, and Bessie and Tammy are going to their camp.”
    â€œMcDonald’s?” Sarah asked Karen.
    Karen shrugged. “We were running late.”
    â€œBetter you than me.” Sarah was beginning to feel sick, and she really needed to get ready if she was going to leave plenty of time for traffic.
    She gave Leila a quick kiss. “Love you. I’ll be waiting foryou at the bus stop this afternoon.” She started to close the door.
    â€œSing my song, Mommee.”
    â€œOkay but really, really fast, because you don’t want to be late. Sarah started, “You are my sunshine . . .” then slowed down. She wouldn’t rush through a minute of life with Leila.
    Jenny and Karen joined in from the front seat, then Tammy and Bessie. They were all singing when Sarah shut the door and Karen drove away.
    As soon as the car turned the corner, Sarah hurried back inside. She changed into black linen slacks and a nubby cotton shell. It was already hot, so she carried the matching jacket. She opted for sandals. She didn’t feel forceful in sandals, but she didn’t feel secure in heels.
    She’d already carried out a box of documentation earlier that morning. She doubted if she’d need it today, but she wanted to be prepared. She put her purse and briefcase on the backseat, carefully draped her linen jacket over the passenger seat back, and climbed in. She resisted the urge to go back inside to make sure she hadn’t forgotten anything. She had everything she needed. Now she just needed to get there.
    She backed onto the alley that ran behind the house and stores and headed for the highway. Twenty minutes later she was parked and standing in front of the law offices of Erickson, Cartwright and Hefley.
    It was a newer building, modern architecture, lots of large smoky windows and gray stone—or maybe it was concrete. Sarah supposed it was meant to look strong and immovable. But to Sarah it looked like a prison. She thought of her lovely Victorian clock repair store and thanked her lucky stars that Sam hadn’t been a lawyer.
    She should have asked Reesa more about this lawyer. She could have at least googled her. But she was trying not to get ahead of herself, to just be herself.