Downstairs on the lanai, the cell phone rang and rang as hot water sluiced through Sophie’s hair and all over her body. When she was sure all the sand from the ocean was flowing down the drain, Sophie got out of the shower and dressed. She smelled so good she could hardly stand herself. She giggled as she dried off and powdered up, dressing in a light summery green sundress that showed off her glorious tan. She rooted around in the bottom of the closet till she found a pair of thong sandals that matched her dress. She looked in the mirror and decided she looked pretty darn good, probably the best she’d ever looked in her whole life. She wished Nick and Patty could see her.
Still giggling, Sophie tripped down the stairs. She whistled for Sula, who came on the run. “We’re going to town, girl!” Sophie reached up to a hook by the front door and removed Sula’s leash. The dog knew what that meant. She whimpered happily. New places, new scents, and a nice long walk with some treats thrown in for good measure. No sooner were they out of earshot of the lanai than the cell phone on the table in the lanai chirped to life.
On the walk into town, Sophie hummed to herself, “Today is Tuesday, today is Tuesday, today is Tuesday.”
Sophie walked along at a leisurely pace, Sula at her side. People smiled, the universal language of hello, and some stopped to pet Sula. The big dog basked in the attention. An open-air market that sold souvenirs, cosmetics, and perfume drew Sophie like a magnet. She wandered the aisles and finally settled on two tubes of lipstick.
“What do you think, Sula? The Cherry Berry or the Pink Flamingo?” She waved her hand about with the two strips of lipstick as though the dog was going to make the decision for her. In the end, Sula did. She barked twice, so Sophie bought both tubes. She also bought some whimsical postcards with fat little cherubs dressed in grass skirts and leis in outrigger canoes. She had no idea who she was going to send them to, probably no one. It was mind boggling that she had just spent $47 for tubes of lipstick.
Outside again in the warm sunshine, Sophie continued to drink in the sights and sounds of the busy street. She sniffed the flower-scented air. It was potent enough to make her light-headed. She was loving every minute of this excursion.
Sophie continued to meander down the street, looking in shop windows, fingering the merchandise that was outside. She bought two T-shirts, one for Patty, a pretty pink shirt with the word
Sophie came to a stall where a grandmother and granddaughter were selling leis. She bought two for herself and waited while the granddaughter made a small one for Sula. Everyone smiled as she paid for them and walked on, finally stopping at an outdoor cafe of sorts. She ordered a pineapple ice and a bowl of water for Sula.
Sophie did then what she called people watching. It seemed like everyone who passed her table took the time to comment on Sula and pat her head. Sophie smiled in return, and said, “My dog,” over and over. “My dog.” Beautiful words, and Sula was officially hers. The first dog she’d ever owned.
“Time to go, Sula,” Sophie said, tossing her paper cup into a trash container. She picked up the water bowl, set it on the table, a five-dollar bill tucked underneath. Ohhh, life was soooo good. She thought about everything and nothing as she crossed the street and walked back the way she’d come earlier. She checked the souvenirs, which were basically the same in every store. She was tempted to buy a bottle of sand, but the thought was so ludicrous that she passed on it. Three doors down, she stopped and bought a bottle, giggling the whole time. Her own personal souvenir.
Ninety minutes later, Sophie’s solo trip into town was at an end. She removed her sandals, walked between several buildings down to the beach, and headed for home. No doubt about it, she was a happy camper.
Back at the house, Sophie set out fresh water for Sula, then went upstairs to change into shorts and a tank top. She was back on the lanai within minutes. It was time for her last chore from her list.
She called Information for the number of the airline and did her best to make a reservation for her and Sula for the following day. She was told Sula would have to fly in the cargo hold. That was unacceptable. She then tried buying the dog a first-class ticket, to no avail. She offered to buy out the entire first-class section and was told that wasn’t going to happen.
Then she realized if she was going to spend that amount of money, she could just charter a flight. She made more calls, one after the other, until she was finally connected to a private charter company. She gulped at the cost but told herself it was for Sula and not herself. She rattled off her credit card number and was told someone would call her back by the close of business.
When the call finally came in, Sophie again gasped at the terms and conditions. First, the professional voice asked if she would be on the pilot’s return flight. That gave Sophie pause for thought. If she was going to stay in Georgia any length of time, she had to provide accommodations for the pilot and hostess. She was told if it was a one-day layover, she was also responsible for accommodations for the pilot and hostess. Rattled, Sophie said she would call back shortly after she checked her plans.
Sophie started to pace the lanai, uncertain what she should do. It wasn’t the money; she could afford whatever decision she decided to make. How long did she want to stay in Georgia? Just long enough to meet with the Star lawyers. Just long enough to see Nick and Patty. Just long enough to meet up with Jay, Linda, and Kala and thank them in person, pay off her bills, settle her finances, get some idea of where she stood in this new life of hers.
Five days, she finally decided. Five days, then Sula and she would head back to Hawaii. Her plan on her return would be to find a house of her own, buy it, and settle in. That was when she remembered reading that there was a house on the island that had belonged to the Stars. On some hilltop. The list of holdings said it was an estate. She needed to look into that before she left.
Sophie called the charter company back, relayed her plans and was told the pilot was clear in two days. He was booked for tomorrow and the next day. Sophie agreed, and was told her charge would be put through on her credit card. She clapped her hands in glee, then called Kiki, asking him if he knew about the hilltop estate and if he could find someone to take her there. He said he would take her up the mountain the following morning at ten o’clock.
Happier than a pig in a mud slide, Sophie checked the messages on the cell phone. She had thirty-seven messages. Her eyes popped wide as she listened to them, her face wreathed in smiles. Thirty-one of them were from Nick, and six were from Patty. And the cell phone was blinking red-the battery was dead.
Quicker than lightning, she plugged in the charger and sat back to daydream until she had enough minutes charged to call Nick. While she waited she ran out to the mailbox. And there it was, a large padded envelope from Linda with her belongings. She was ripping at the envelope as she made her way back to the house. There were her pearls, her bracelet, her Timex watch, which was actually ticking and had the correct time on it, and, of course, the locket Nick had given her. Her hands shook as she clasped it around her neck. She slipped on the bracelet and decided the fake pearls weren’t needed but she knew she’d never get rid of them. They were hers, bought and paid for herself with her savings. She knew then she could buy a dozen strands of real pearls if she wanted to. She could buy diamonds by the bushel if she wanted to. She never would, she knew. She had more than enough with what was right in front of her. Money could not buy happiness. It could buy security and contentment but not happiness.
“And how profound is that, Sophie Lee?”
Chapter 25
PATTY MOLNAR WAS SO EXCITED SHE HAD TO TAKE DEEP CALMING breaths. Sophie’s plane was due to land in three hours. Patty had personally arranged the welcoming committee. She thought about Nick then, and the look on his face when he told her about his hour-long conversation with Sophie. He had been so happy until he got to the part where Sophie was only staying five days. She herself had been devastated at the short length of time Sophie planned to stay. Lord, how she missed her. How would they ever cram everything in to five short days with all the legal stuff Sophie had to attend to?
There had been so many questions about Jon that she and Nick had to deal with. They had agreed beforehand not to tell Sophie until they could do it in person. Since it was Patty’s week to have Jon’s urn, she had him in the car to hand over to Sophie. She hoped Sophie wouldn’t fall apart. From the conversation they’d had, she knew Sophie wasn’t the same person she was ten years ago. Sophie was tough, or at least Sophie said she was. Patty wondered if it was true. The conversation had been sisterly, full of a lot of
