Kat called from the front room, “Julie, it’s for you. I think you’ll want to come see this.”
Julie looked to Wind, who tried to appear innocent, but Julie saw through her act. “I’ll get you for this, and your little iron, too.” She went out to the living room, bracing for the impact of seeing Trevor Ashford again, but she didn’t. Instead, she found Houdini waiting at the door. He held up a zip tie with a squawk.
“Not you, too.” Julie knelt down and picked Houdini up. “I thought you didn’t like Trevor.”
Houdini nuzzled her neck and handed her the tie. Inside she found writing in black permanent marker.
You are the only woman for me.
Trace grunted. “You did hear that man say he loves you, right?”
“I know. But…” Something still held Julie back, but she wasn’t entirely sure it was about the lie.
“But what? Do you know how many of us wish we could find a man who would confess their feelings, look at us, or even pay half the attention that Trevor Ashford pays to you?” Kat said with an air of jealousy.
“It doesn’t mean anything when the man’s a liar.”
“Why do you think that? The baby wasn’t his,” Kat said, stating the obvious.
Bri sat on the arm of the couch. “She means because of the beach incident.”
Wind joined the other three girls and sat between them on the couch facing Julie. “He didn’t invite that queen of mayhem to Friendship Beach.”
Julie snapped her attention to Wind as if she were the only one in the room. “I saw them. Together. He had his hand on her belly, and they looked intimately entwined.” The words were bitter on her tongue.
“No. Dustin said that Skip took Marsha to the beach. I asked Skip about it and she claimed the SMSB line told her that Trevor had been looking for Marsha to straighten the mess out. Trevor didn’t invite her. He’d never betray you like that.”
“More like Rhonda wants Trevor for herself and sent her mama after him. Remember when she tried to foreclose on Trace’s land so she could knock it down because it blocks her view of the ocean?” Kat went to her side. “Listen, if you want to get rid of his body, I’m your girl. Heck, any of us are, but if you love him, which I’m guessing you do, don’t let him go. There aren’t many men out there worth fighting for, but this one might just be worth it.”
Julie twirled the zip tie between her fingers. “I don’t know. It’s too much.”
Kat tucked Julie’s hair behind her ear. “Of course it is, darling. Anything worth living for comes with difficulties. Do you regret the years you spent with Joe?”
“No, not for a second.” Julie blinked at her, shocked at Kat’s question.
“So, despite the pain that you felt, you wouldn’t have wished to spend your life differently?”
“No.” Julie looked to Bri, who nodded.
“Then how can you let a chance at love again go without a fight? You already know how good it can be once you have it.”
“Yes, but when you lose it…” Julie choked. “It hurts so much you don’t know how you’ll take your next breath.”
The girls closed in around her. “That’s when instead of pushing us away to show how strong you are, you let us in and allow us to hold you up until you can stand on your own. Because from this day forward, none of us will be alone again.”
She held tight to Kat, Trace, Bri, and Wind. They were her zip ties that kept her together. “You promise?”
“We so swear as members of the Summer Island Book Club to never abandon each other today, tomorrow, or in the future,” Wind announced and held her hand out between them.
They all piled their hands on with an unanimous, “We so swear.”
“As an honorary member and your daughter, I so swear,” Bri added.
“Guess we’ll have that decision by the end of the night, kid.” Kat looked between them. “That is, if Julie isn’t too busy for us today.”
She threw her arms around them. “No, never again. You are welcome here anytime.”
They huddled together for a couple of minutes with Houdini jumping from shoulder to shoulder, chattering at them.
Wind pulled away. “Are you going after that man or not?”
Julie headed for the door. “I’ll meet you all at the beach.” She swung it open to find Trevor dressed in his suit, holding flowers tied together with zip ties.
His gaze was desperate and longing, and she didn’t need to know anything else because she saw it in his eyes. He loved her and would never betray her.
“Julie. I’m so sorry,” he whispered. “I never wanted to hurt you. You’ve been through so much. I wouldn’t be here now if I thought I couldn’t make you happy.”
She cupped his cheek, “Will you accept my apology?”
He dropped the flowers as if forgetting he’d ever held them. “For what?”
“For not trusting you more. I got scared and didn’t know if I could handle losing someone again.”
He took her hand. “You won’t lose me.”
“There’s no guarantees in life, but I’m not looking for guarantees anymore. I want you.”
“You have me.” He pulled her into his arms and kissed her long, hard, and passionate until the room spun and her legs went weak.
“Wow, that’s a hot flash and a half right there,” Wind called when Trevor released her lips and pulled her tight to him with a half spin before he put her back on her feet.
“I thought I was the only one who had those.” Julie looked between them.
“Ha, darling. I’m not sure you’d know the difference right now after that kiss. You’d burn from the inside out either way.” Wind fanned herself.
Dustin walked in and stopped short. “What did I miss?”
“Everything as usual, darlin’,” Wind announced.
“You must be the no-good friend who gave him bad advice.” Trace offered her hand, but Dustin didn’t move. He stood star-struck in the doorway looking
