“Hey there,” Renée said, closing her book. “I knew you’d come back.”
Alison laughed. “Maybe you’re as gifted as your mom.”
“No way, she’s out of this world.”
“I met your mom earlier. She’s super nice,” Alison said. “I had a reading, too.” She sat on the sand next to the girl.
This got Renée’s full attention. “Isn’t she everything I said and more?”
“She certainly seems to know a lot about a person.” She didn’t want to reveal any details of her reading, as Renée might tell her mom. She still wanted an unbiased opinion in case she decided on a second reading in the future.
“I know Mom tells you not to talk about the things she tells you, but if you want to tell me, you can.”
Alison laughed. “No, I’ll keep this to myself, only because it’s my way.” She waited for her to digest her words. “Nothing personal.”
“It’s okay. Most people don’t want to talk about that stuff, anyway. So, forget that. I’m all good with what you do. I’m nosy, just so you know. At least Mom says I am.”
Another laugh. “Are you?” Alison couldn’t help asking.
She grinned. “Yep, I am. In the summer, it’s so boring here, I have to be nosy when I meet someone new, though I would never ask you to reveal personal stuff, like if you have a boyfriend, girlfriend, or both.”
“I’ll be happy to let you know; at this point, I don’t have a boyfriend, and I’m not into girls.”
“I didn’t think you were, but you never know. I have a major crush on Blake Hamilton. He’ll be a senior this year, and he is so hot. I’m hoping we’ll hook up once school starts.”
“So does Blake know you’re crushing on him?”
“No, he has no idea I even exist. He’s a football player, and they only go for the cheerleaders, so really there is no hope.”
Alison nodded. “Times haven’t changed. Same thing when I was your age.”
“You crushed on a football player, too?”
She didn’t want to lie to the girl, so she said, “A little, maybe. I was more into studying than boys at your age.” She was more into surviving, finding her next meal.
“So how old are you?” Renée asked. “Nosy me, huh?” She smiled, and her perfectly white teeth sparkled.
“I’m twenty-nine. Thirty in September,” she told her. “Old.”
“No way! I thought you were like twenty-one. You look really young.”
Alison didn’t believe this for a minute. She’d aged badly, from living a rough life, but she appreciated her kindness.
“You’re too sweet, thank you.” Not wanting to spoil the girl’s opinion of her, she would let this one slide.
“So you want to stay with me, see the sunset? We still have a couple hours.”
She really wanted to, but she had to search for a place to stay for the weekend. “I have to go. I need to find a hotel for a couple nights, though I may take you up on your offer as soon as I get settled in that little yellow cottage behind us,” she said, a smile as wide as the beach on her face.
“Really? You’re moving here?” Her blue eyes brightened. “Cool.”
Alison nodded. “I can’t believe it either. I meet with the real estate agent Monday; then it’s all mine.” Saying the words out loud cemented her decision, at least in her head.
“Mom will love this. We’re right over here.” She pointed to one of the grand homes behind them. “It’s two doors down, a little bit behind us.”
No wonder she spent the days on the beach. If she needed a drink or a bathroom break, all she had to do was walk a short distance.
“Do you know who lived in my house before?”
Renée clammed up, looking away. “You’d have to ask Mom.”
“I will do that as soon as I get settled in. So, I’m going to call it a day, kiddo. Find a place to stay for the night. I’ll be seeing you around for sure,” she said, standing and brushing the sand off the back of her legs.
“Wait! You don’t need to stay in a hotel. We have five bedrooms. You can stay with us.”
“No, I can’t do that. You hardly know me, and besides, I wouldn’t want to impose. I could be a weirdo, for all you know.”
“If you were, I would know. I have good instincts about people. You’re good to the core.”
Alison was surprised, as this was basically what Valentina had also told her. It wouldn’t be too much to assume Renée had her mother’s gift, as well.
“I’m going to call Mom now, so stay here for just a sec,” Renée said, taking her cell phone out of her pocket.
Because the girl was as sweet as sugar, Alison waited while she called her mom, but no way was she going to impose on strangers.
Renée spoke so fast, Alison could barely keep up with the one-sided conversation. Once finished, Renée stashed her cell phone in her pocket. “Mom says you have to stay with us. There’s nothing decent on the island as far as hotels go. Closest motel is the Courtesy Court, but no one in their right mind stays there.”
“Why?” Alison had to ask.
“The lady that owns the place is wacko. Her son, too,” Renée explained. “They’ve been involved in shady stuff, though I’m not sure exactly what kind of stuff. I’ve heard Mom talk about them, and it’s not like her to talk about people behind their back, but those two are the exception.”
Should she tell Renée about her experience? Didn’t Betty tell her she had no family? She wouldn’t stay at that place again if hell froze over. She knew something happened to her other than a twenty-four-hour bug. She didn’t believe the hamburger she’d eaten gave her food poisoning, either.
“I did see weekly cottages for rent as I crossed the bridge,” Alison said.
“They’re okay, I guess. I don’t know much about them, but I suppose it’s an option.”
Renée was wise beyond her years. “Tell your mom thank you, but I’ll find a place tonight. I’ll be back tomorrow. I want to start cutting back the overgrowth so I can use the driveway.”
“If you want company, I can help.”
“That would be great,” Alison said. “Not much fun, though.”
“Anything is fun if you have the right attitude.”
This kid is too smart for her own good. “You’re spot-on. I’ll see you sometime tomorrow.”
“I’ll be right here catching some rays,” Renée said. “If you change your mind, come back anytime. Mom and I are night owls on the weekends.”
Alison wished the girls she’d met in school had been as sweet and kind as Renée. The past is prologue. Bad times were over. With a renewed sense of purpose, she waved goodbye as she headed back to her Jeep. She’d drive into town if she couldn’t find a place to stay.
She drove to Matlacha Pass, where she’d seen the cottages for rent. Matlacha Mariner’s Cottages looked decent. Deciding this was as good a place as any, she parked her car. The office was a small cottage painted aqua blue. Inside was just as cute. A pale blue desk held a lamp, the base of which was a blue marlin. Fish-themed. She smiled to herself. Cute, but not her style. Unsure what her style was, she cleared her throat, hoping whoever worked here had heard her.