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nextwarden · 3 years

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Webtoons are good for the soul PART II - ECLECTIC BOOGALOO

A continuation of this.

Sea Salt and Sand by neggut [ongoing]

In the autumn holidays 3 months ago, Brynn and Bailey shared a kiss. When Bailey left, Brynn tried to forget all about her and continue living an unremarkable life, only for Bailey to suddenly transfer to her school! What follows is a coming of age story full of pining, misunderstandings and confusion as Brynn and Bailey question the true nature of their relationship.

It’s cute and a bit angsty but not too much. The art style often feels incomplete or rushed but in a good way, its flaws give character to the characters and the story. One of my all time favourites.

Apathy meets labrador/10

Dragonbourne by Gummy Shark [ongoing]

After a troubled past, Sir Ross Edmund Avery is somewhat content to lead a mundane existence, alone in his house. However, when he stumbles upon a child in the woods on Solstice Night who is anything but mundane, his simple life will be turned upside down.

A scar(r)ed man adopts a feral child, hijinks ensue. Once again, the art style is endearing, full of curves and long lines. Haven’t checked on that one in a while but the first twenty chapters were very promising.

Found family/10

The Last Human by Zack Jordan [ongoing]

She's the galaxy's worst nightmare: a Human. Fortunately, she's the last one. Now her adoptive (alien) mother is realizing that raising a young Human is no easy task.

Basically the badass and child duo trope but the truth may surprise you. Fun, cute, very wholesome, and surprisingly emotionnaly philosophical at times. Spidermom is best mom.

Recommend/10

Vampire Husband by Scragony [ongoing]

The life of Charles the Vampire an Cheryl the human after years of marriage.

What if tragic romance between human and vampire but they had their “happy-ever-after”? This is after. It’s funny and cute.

Relationship goals/10

Blood Stain by sigeel [ongoing]

A story about courage, growing up and finding friendships in most unlikely places... spiced with some MAD SCIENCE!

Haven’t quite wrapped my head around this one yet, but it’s fun and drawn by sigeel (a.k.a. Linda Sejic) so of course it’s beautiful. Enjoyed it a lot, will have to keep reading.

Bloody merry/10

Punderworld by sigeel [ongoing - on hiatus]

Hades' and Persephone's love-struck misadventures.

Another take on Hades and Persephone’s love story. Once again, sigeel, so of course I love the art.

Bumbling idiots/10

The Queen and the Woodborn by Shiniez [ongoing]

Far away behind seven hills and seven forests, seven fields and seven rivers, there lived a Queen... welcome to the queen and the woodborn. a fairy tale romance for the mature readers about the unseen Queen and the Goddess in the woods. a tale of the two forgotten by the world around them who will make the world remember their names. expect gods and monsters and a romance for the ages.

Not many chapters yet but very long ones to compensate. This one is by Shiniez (a.k.a. Stjepan Sejic) so, once again, love the art. The story, the character designs and concepts, and the pace are all amazing.

Very wow/10

P.E.T.S. by Gyxks [ongoing]

Just when Tasha was about to start a new life, she was abducted by aliens. Fortunately, she and other humans were rescued by an interstellar general named Tourmaline. She soon discovered that her body was unfit to return home without endangering life on earth. Join her on her journey traversing this new world and these new feelings for an alien general.

POV: You’re living your best life as a young adult, at the shopping mall at 2am in your pyjamas, when suddenly death aliens rain pain all around and you’re abducted only to be saved by tall buff alien commander lady. Romance ensues. Maybe, it’s slow burn but quite enjoyable to read.

Blush/10

Scoob and Shag by Misterie Krew [ongoing]

Scoob and his best pal Shag are up to their usual hi-jinks, but everything is not as it seems in their latest adventure.

No relations to any character whatsoever. None. None at all. Also no relations to any kind of sense at all either. Can’t quite explain that one except that it’s genius. Just read it.

Is that a gun?/10

Bewitched by peachyytown [ongoing]

The witch who keeps "kidnapping" the princess is actually her girlfriend and they're just going on dates.

Short but cute alternative take on all that witch/monster/princess shenanigans. In the same vein as Our days in Lumain. Also the art is very nice.

Meetcute/10

When the Pink Trees Bear Fruit by neggut [completed]

A sweet love blooms between two women on an orchard in 1973.

A short story, five chapters only, but play devastatingly well with one’s heart. In the same vein as It Stems From Love by Soya S. Holm. neggut ist sehr gut.

Tears/10

Rooftops & Roommates by Zaanart [ongoing]

Jeb is an architecture major at university, rooming with his best friend Todd. There's just one problem... Jeb’s secretly a gargoyle! Between studying, partying, and a bad ghost problem, will Jeb be able to keep his true identity a secret?

Jeb is sweet, Jeb is fresh, but Jeb is decidedly not very good at keeping a secret. It’s funny, slice-of-life, roommate college shenanigans at its finest. With a magical twist.

Ship/10

Everything is Fine by Mike Birchall [ongoing]

Sam and Maggie are a normal couple, in a normal house, in a normal neighborhood. There is nothing strange about their heads, their neighbors or their sweet little dog. Everything is Fine.

I haven’t actually started this one yet, but the premise is very very very interesting. Perhaps not for thos who are faint of heart? Deceptively cute. Or is it?

It’s fine/10

Castle Swimmer by Wendy Lian Martin [ongoing]

What happens when your entire life is ruled by a prophecy – your future foretold by people you’ve never met, who died long before you were born. Such is the story of two young sea creatures. One believed to be a guiding light for his people, a Beacon who will lead them to a bright, prosperous future. The other is a teenage prince for who’s destiny is to KILL the Beacon so that HIS own people might thrive. When both reject the course set for them, it leads to a raucous adventure as big and unpredictable as the ocean itself – and a romance that nobody could have predicted.

It’s fish. It’s gay. It’s under da sea and ya gotta kiss the boy. I haven’t read it all yet but enough to vouch for it and to have some vested interest in the universe and its lore.

Enemies to lovers/10

Demon Highschool by Kiiyoko [ongoing]

After a compromise it was agreed that criminals would attend a "demons highschool" where they would work as slaves for demons And while it was all in good favor, things take a very dark and twisted turn at said, highschool.

There’s something, some kind of twist, about the MC which I haven’t gotten to yet, and which I am very interested to discover. I’m not quite sure how I feel about this one as of now, mostly curious I’d say.

Pet/10

Hooky by Miriam Bonastre Tur [completed]

Dani and Dorian have missed the bus of the school of magic. Now, they must find someone who teach them how to be a great and good witches... Or maybe not.

This one is a strange one about witchery and family. Surprisingly deep and serious at times, very enjoyable. Unfinished on Webtoon but a good start to get into the story.

Siblings/10

Loving Reaper by Jenny Jinya [ongoing]

Animals struggle. Pets and Wildlife alike. The reaper cares for their stories and helps them with the crossover. Short stories about the "Loving Reaper" to raise awareness and collect funds. Breaking hearts for a good cause.

Beautiful bittersweet stories about animals, pets, life and death and love.

Tissues/10

Batman: Wayne Family Adventures by StarBite, CRC Payne, Kielamel Siba, Lan Ma, C.M. Cameron, and Camille Cruz [ongoing]

Batman needs a break. But with new vigilante Duke Thomas moving into Wayne Manor and an endless supply of adopted, fostered, and biological superhero children to manage, Bruce Wayne is going to have his hands full. Being a father can't be harder than being Batman, right?

What if Bat-family but happy? Official comic, barely started, very fun.

Wholesome/10

The First Night With the Duke by MSG, Taeva, from an original work by Hwang DoTol [ongoing]

A handsome, selfish noble falls for a beautiful, kind commoner -- at least, that’s how the story’s supposed to go. When an average college student wakes up as Ripley, an extra in her favorite romance novel, she resolves to enjoy the luxuries of her character’s status while watching the novel's plot unfold from the sidelines. However, her plans are soon derailed when she finds herself in bed with no other than Duke Zeronis, the novel’s hero! Dodging the villainess’ schemes, the Duke’s advances, and her own feelings, can Ripley keep the story on track and survive beyond the first night?

Haven’t read that one but a very dear (and respectable) friend (*cough* @berigolote *cough*) of mine keeps pestering me to give it a try. So here it is, try it.

Do it before me and you get a cookie/10

HEART Anthology by Marvin.W, caw-chan and many other artists. [ongoing]

Featuring stories from the 2020 Short Story Contest! From wholesome stories to tearjerkers, are you ready to catch these feelings?

A collection of beautiful stories on the shorter side, all about the many kinds of love in life, the many beauties of it, and the pains that make it worth living.

Tears that warm the heart/10

In My Heart by Redfield42 [ongong]

Sasaki Mari is a typical delinquent troublemaker whose only goal is to get a boyfriend, but due to her reputation as bully and low grades, all the boys reject her. Then she decides to change her style, and asks for help from the student with the best grades in the class.

It starts off light and fund and progressively seems to delve a little bit more into the seriousness of life. Not a tragedy, however, and very much worth a read still.

I think I have a trope I like/10

My awkward princess by LazyArts [ongoing]

This love story is about a girl named Luna charlotte, and the student council president Alice Evelyn. Luna is a delinquent whom often gets in trouble, as Luna reaches the end of the line she almost gets expelled, now luna has to become a model student with the help of Alice. Will Luna be expelled or will she succeed, read to find out.

Along the lines of Not So Shoujo Love Story, In My Heart, and Susuhara is a Demon. Delinquent/Good Student meetcute, romantinc hijincks ensue.

Seduction/10

RAINBOW! by Rue & Sunny Gloom [ongoing]

This is the story of a girl named Boo. She has pink hair and a vivid imagination and she is about to discover a side of herself that she never considered before.

Okay, so yes, this one is also also a delinquent meets cute nice girl, but - BUT! - there’s an element of story telling that I love about it: the way we see Boo’s anxiety incorporated visually into the story. Just for that it is one of my favourite recent discoveries!

Protecc/10

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Okay, that’s all for part II. Hope you enjoy those as much as I do. Thanks for your attention, sorry for the length and, please, do keep on reading, they all deserve it! As do you.

PART I

#webtoon #webcomic #comic #comics #recommendations #part 2 #the return of the revenge #wlw #mlm #long post #mega thread #keep reading punk

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ask-the-scremverse · 4 years

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Hop: "Hello? Hellooo? Is this recording?"

Bede: "You’ve hit record 7 times, dummy."

Hop: "Oh yeah... sorry."

Scremboi: "Uh, hey everyone! So my friends got an idea for us to start an ask blog. I guess i'll introduce myself. My name’s Scremboi. I’m a trainer from the Galar region and my goal is to catch and register every Pokemon in this region.

Hop: “I’m Hop, you might know me as Champion Leon’s brother. I’ve always looked up to my bro, and I wanna make my family proud one way or another.

Marnie: “Hello. I’m Marnie. I don’t know why I’m here.”

Bede: “My name is Bede and I hate everyone.”

Avery: “I am Avery, the soon-to-be Psychic Type Gym Leader of Galar. Even if my family thinks i’m a disappointment, that isn’t going to stop me!

Klara: “Hello, humanity. I am Klara. I used to serve Eternatus before realizing the error of my kind’s ways.”

Allister: “Hewwo...I'm awwistew...I'm a Gym Weadew dat speciwizes in ghost-types...fow the wongest time...i've had dis speech impediment...awthough...It doesn't seem to bothew anyone...and i don't mwind them cawwing me "The Baby Ghost Boy We Shall Protect".”

Gloria: “Why did you all invite me here?... Anyway, i’m Gloria. I’m another trainer from Galar and I guess i’m a rival to Scremboi. Wot? You expected me to act like a scottish stereotype?”

Scremboi: “Anyway, we’re open to pretty much anything. Don’t be afraid to ask or dare us.”

Overview/changes in this AU: - This AU is based on me and my friends' experience playing Pokemon Sword, complete with the randomness we put in there - Victor doesn't exist in this AU. He is replaced with an original character known as Scremboi - In this AU, Piers is still both a Gym Leader and a musician - The "Dexit" which caused half of the known Pokemon to not be on the Galar mainland happened after an Ultra Beast attack

#ask the scremsquad #pokemon sword and shield #art #ask blog #gloria pokemon #hop pokemon #marnie pokemon #bede pokemon #avery pokemon #klara pokemon #allister pokemon #scremboi #oc #original character

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ducktracy · 4 years

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131. i’d love to take orders from you (1936)

release date: may 16th, 1936

series: looney tunes

director: tex avery

starring: elmore vincent (pa scarecrow)

another merrie melody that would often be reused as an underscore in future cartoons (prominently in porky’s last stand as an underscore). this time, a little scarecrow longs to follow in the footsteps of his father.

our story begins in a spacious corn field, surveyed by a hungry crow above. pan across to meet a scarecrow in the distance. the crow lands right next to the scarecrow and prepares to indulge itself in a spare cob of corn lying on the ground, seemingly unbothered by the scarecrow’s presence. a stupid little dummy frozen in a pose—kid’s stuff for a smart crow. however, the crow quickly realizes that this scarecrow ISN’T just a run of the mill frozen dummy: the scarecrow bares its teeth and bristles at the crow, effectively shooing it away.

the scarecrow admires his work and stretches, cracking his back after a long day of work. his watch (an hour glass) signals it’s quittin’ time. snagging his lunchbox, the bag of hay happily strolls on home to a jaunty underscore of the titular song. the walk is full of character and the score compliments it very nicely, a happy and endearing atmosphere.

he arrives home, just in time for a tiny scarecrow to peer out of the window expectantly. the father scarecrow opens the gate and winks at the audience knowingly, quite obviously aware of his child’s presence. predictably, the scarecrow opens the door and pretends to have the straw scared out of him as his son tries to be as intimidating as possible. the father lifts up his son, who asks “did i scare ya, daddy?” he’s met with an encouraging “yessir! you sure scared me that time!”

all is well as he marches inside, his son perched on his shoulder. he meets his wife and they exchange a kiss, the son happily ducking beneath them. the mother inquires about the father’s day, who gently places his eager son down. he mentions that he scared 10 crows away—big news to junior, who couldn’t be prouder of his old man. ma tells pa that junior wants to play scarecrow, and that they should do so together while she whips up a meal. truth is only added to her statement as the little scarecrow eagerly tugs at his father’s pants.

and now we launch into a spoken version of “i’d love to take orders from you” as pa leads his son to a “scare chart”, ready to show him how to be the best scarecrow in all the land. pa shows off the various poses and the son mimics them (hence the song title, taking orders from his father.) there are some intriguing angles, particularly a lovely shot of the father’s legs in the foreground framing his son in the center. the song is cute and fun, hard to dislike.

on the wall hangs a tin pan. pa proposes that with each snack to the pan (creating a bell sound), the son must show off what he learned. the bells keep on coming and the son performs his poses in rapid fire succession. while not as exaggerated as other instances, it’s still a fun way of tex incorporating his knack for speed. the father is satisfied, handing off junior to ma to put to bed while he fixes himself dinner.

ma carries her son into his room, undressing him (a silhouette shot from outside, a curtain obstructing our view) and tucking him into bed. she gives him a kiss and turns out the light. suddenly, junior’s eyes widen. he jumps out of bed and says his prayers, wishing to be a “biiiig scarecrow, just like my daddy.” he snuggles into bed... and whips out of bed once more to coda with a quick “amen!”, a gag made funny with tex’s timing.

morning arrives, junior awoken by the crows of a nearby rooster. an idea hatches. junior gets himself dressed and creeps out of his bedroom—pa’s still asleep. all according to plan. he tiptoes across the house so as not to wake him, poking his head out the front door and doing the same happy, sneaky, knowing squint-n-point his father had done previously.

strolling along casually, whistling inconspicuously, junior slowly approaches the rooster perched on the fence outside. just as the rooster begins to crow, junior gives pose #2 (one his father lauded himself), and sure enough the rooster is effectively startled. success! junior puffs out his chest and marches along outside, terrorizing every animal in sight with good ol’ #2: a squirrel hammering away at a nut, who runs into a tree and rides an elevator to the top branch to continue his duties, and a rabbit gnawing away at a carrot and diving into a number of rabbit holes (a gag that’s reminiscent of the hayseed, looney, whack-a-mole bugs bunny portrayed by the hardaway-dalton cartoons.)

now his biggest test yet. junior stands in the very spot his esteemed father stood the day previously, same lone corn cob strewn on the ground. yet that’s not the only similarity: the crow from the day prior also returns, ready to feast on his corn. what follows is a very amusing scene of junior attempting to scare the giant crow with #2, waddling around at every corner and raising his hackles. the crow merely ignores the kid and continues to feast. what makes this scene 10x funnier is knowing that archive footage courtesy of bob clampett exists of tex avery and bob clampett acting out the scene for reference, tex as junior and bob as the crow (i’m actually not certain if that’s bob, but i don’t know of any other animator who looks like that.)

the crow finally finishes his meal, and junior’s efforts are more futile than ever. unamused with the scarecrow’s meager attempts to scare him, the crow retaliates by giving the scarecrow a taste of his own medicine. and, of course, junior is scared shitless. he makes a run for it, scrambling around in place as he only digs himself into the ground.

what’s a cartoon without a chase sequence? the crow gangs up on the scarecrow, who attempts to cut corners by running straight through the cornfield. following right behind, the crow cuts up the corn with its wings, a fun visual, reminiscent of country boy when the corn stalks fall back into place in bundles afterwards to the beat of the music (a hurried rendition of the title song.) while junior runs, he attempts to scare off the scarecrow with everything he knows, periodically posing, yet to no avail. the crow is too intimidating. another fun camera angle of an overhead shot from the crow’s point of view.

desperate, junior goes back to ol’ reliable, #2. and this time, it works! the crow recoils and all of the color drains, literally turning him white with fear—the first time this gag was ever used! it would become commonplace in the looney tunes universe. the crow flies away, and we see why junior is so effective: behind him tower two legs. pan up to reveal pa also doing #2, the real perpetrator, unbeknownst to junior.

junior is as revitalized as ever, grinning ear to ear as he runs back down the path for good measure, scowling and puffing out his chest. accomplished with his work, he turns around, marching pridefully straight into a blockade of legs. everything starts to register (some lovely subtle head movements and animation by bob clampett, who is the only animator i can seem to identify at this point—i’ll change that!), and junior laughs sheepishly, sputtering “o-oh, hello daddy!” pa scoops up his shadow, talking about how his mother’s been looking for him everywhere. father and son head home, reunited at last.

that night: pa lounges by the fire, reading while junior explains in depth the events of his exciting day: “no sir! i wasn’t a mere afraid of that ol’ crow, ma! i just stood there like this, and pretty soon down flew a great, great, great, GREAT big crow! and just then, i did like this—“ a shadow of a crow is projected onto the wall next to junior, and the all too familiar caw terrifies junior out of his wits. he cozies up to his mother for protection, and we pan over to see pa himself making a shadow puppet of the crow with the light from the fireplace—iris out.

for a tex avery cartoon, this one certainly felt much more freleng-esque. never a bad thing, though! friz doesn’t at all get enough credit for his merrie melodies, especially during the dark days of 1934 and the earlier half of 1935. this cartoon was much more cute than it was funny, but it definitely does cute really well. junior was very likable and relatable, as was pa. the scene with junior attempting to scare off the crow is great, but i think half of that is attributed to the fact that all i can see is tex himself acting out the scene. the music was lovely as ever, and overall the cartoon was extremely endearing, happy, and cute. i definitely think it’s good for a quick pick me up!

link!

#lt #i’d love to take orders from you #reviews #long post #avery

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boundlesssxuls · 4 years

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this is avery. based her color scheme off of cap/tain mar/vel cause im original. got her photo face from a br/ie lar/son caw.

i have her signatures set as a high angle leg lock & axe kick. her finishers are northern lights/final cut combo and mi/a yi/m’s finisher the protect ya neck one. you’re going to see i use a few actual wrestlers’ moves as finishers since i feel they work for my muses.

#❝ ✞┇musings. ( avery ) ❞

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averygaycat · 5 months

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Hey! I know you! Get Rotated, Consistent Person in my Notes (Affectionate)

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i have never been rotated before this is incredible

#avery caws #asks

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ornithic · 1 year

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NEW FRIENDS ALERT❗❗❗

#caw caw #soft friends #I LOVE THE LITTLE DUCKY SOMUCH............... ever since i saw avery while looking at a list of squishmallows; i wanted him So Bad #and now he's here!!! with a little hat! ^v^#they're meant to be christmas ornaments? but my family doesn't have a tree or anything + they still work as plushies!#Regular plushies; if that makes sense

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freakurodani · 7 years

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For the three character ask, I'm using your OCs, :O Caw, Noah and Avery!!!

ooooooh!!!! okay!!

Noah is who I’d want to be my mcDonalds employee trainer because Avery is definitely not as patient as him and Caw, while the oldest with a lot of experience, is pretty helpless with actually explaining things. Noah is nervous, but he’s definitely a go getter! he understands mistakes more than anyone and that’s super important if anyone is gonna teach me anything!

Caw, ten hours in the elevator. I’m actually terrified of elevators, and will take the stairs every time. ten stories up, i dont care, i will NOT ride unless i have too. and if i do ride, I will absolutely need someone to hold my hand and help me breathe. Caw is a v calm man and he’s very caring. He’s who I’d want looking out for me.

That leaves Avery for my lab partner, which... isnt awesome, since Avery isn’t very good in studies! But!! I’ve always excelled at them, so it’s fine! plus, I know sign so conversation between us would be possible and we’d probably joke a lot! I might actually have to worry about me not paying attention in class cause if someone can get me to laugh, i’m easily distracted. But, itd be a fun semester, for sure!

#ocs #my ocs #riviere family #OM verse #conspiracy lvl: ask #friends #omg thank you so much!!!!#juuzous13donuts

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readingactually · 6 years

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Book Spotlight: Best Beach Ever by Wendy Wax

Release Day

May 22,2018

Read an excerpt: ONE Nicole Grant Giraldi stood in front of a far-too-full-length mirror that hung on a wall of the too-small cottage where she, her husband special agent Joe Giraldi, and their twin daughters currently lived. It exposed two primary reasons women were not designed to give birth at forty-seven; lack of elasticity and surplus gravity. She closed one eye and shifted slightly, but the expanse of flesh did not become easier to contemplate. Despite all of her fears and doubts, the body she was staring at had performed admirably. It had adapted and stretched to accommodate Sofia and Gemma. Against great odds, it had carried them full term, propelled them into the world nine months ago, and then provided sustenance. What it had not done was snap back into anything that resembled its previous shape. Her eyes slid away. She forced them back. It was time to accept reality. Her breasts hung lower than seemed anatomically possible. Blue veins streaked across them no doubt to match the ones that now crisscrossed the legs she’d once been proud of. Stretch marks cut across the stomach that jiggled as she turned. Although she knew it was a mistake, she looked at her rear end, which had grown wider and had somehow been injected with cottage cheese. Most likely while she’d been sleeping. Or confined to bed-rest. “Are you ready?” Joe called. She sighed and turned her back on the mirror as she wriggled into a jogging bra, slipped her arms into a T-shirt, then began to pull the too-tight lycra up over her thighs. “Almost!” “I’m going to put the girls in the stroller. We’ll be outside.” Nikki tied her hair back into a low ponytail, donned a lightweight running jacket and laced up her shoes. Careful not to look at herself again, she left the bedroom and made it through the tiny cottage in a matter of seconds. It was the second day of January. On the west coast of central Florida, that meant a vivid blue sky, butter yellow sun, and a cool salt breeze. She breathed in the crisp air as she stepped onto the concrete path that bisected the Sunshine Hotel property and nearly stumbled at the sight of Joe and the girls waiting for her. Were they really all hers? Tamping down a swell of emotion, she moved toward the stroller taking in the pink and white knit hats neatly tied beneath their chins and the streaks of sunscreen slathered over their cheeks. Sofia had her father’s dark hair, sparkling brown-black eyes, and sunny temperament while Gemma was auburn haired and green eyed like Nikki. Where Gemma’s oversized lungs and the will to use them had come from, was still under debate. “All present, recently diapered, and accounted for. Requesting permission to move out.” Joe shot her a wink and saluted smartly. Though he was closing in on fifty, Joe remained broad shouldered and hard bodied with a chiseled face and piercing dark eyes that too often saw right through her; a skill she blamed on his FBI training. They’d met when he’d used her to help him catch her younger brother Malcolm Dyer, whose three hundred million dollar Ponzi scheme had left Nikki and then-strangers Madeline Singer and Avery Lawford with nothing but shared ownership of Bella Flora, a 1920s Mediterranean revival mansion at the south end of the beach. She saluted back and fell into step beside him. A few doors down they passed the two- bedroom cottage that Madeline Singer, her daughter Kyra and grandson Dustin had just moved into. “It’ll be great having Maddie here, but it’s so strange to think of someone else living in Bella Flora,” Nikki said thinking of the house they’d brought back from the brink of ruin and that had done the same for them. After they’d first renovated Bella Flora Dustin’s famous father, mega-movie star Daniel Deranian, had bought it for Dustin and Kyra. It had become home to all of them when they’d needed one most, but Kyra had been forced to rent it out. “Yeah,” Joe agreed as they wheeled passed Bitsy Baynard’s one bedroom, which the former heiress had taken in lieu of repayment for the money she’d put into their now defunct TV show. “When is Bitsy coming back?” “I don’t know. She said she was going to stay in Palm Beach until she found someone who knew something about where Bertie is hiding.” Nikki grimaced. In her former life as an A-list matchmaker, Nikki had brought Bitsy, heiress to a timber fortune, and her husband together and had counted them as one of her biggest successes. Right up until last January when Bertie disappeared with Bitsy’s fortune and an exotic dancer who was pregnant with his child. When the walkway split they wheeled the stroller toward the low slung main building, a mid-century gem that they’d renovated for what they’d hoped would be a new season of their TV show, Do Over. The sound of voices and the scrape of furniture reached them from the new rooftop deck, where tables and chairs were being set up. The pool area was quiet. The lifeguard would take his place on the retro lifeguard stand at noon when temperatures had risen and the rooftop grille started cranking out hot dogs and hamburgers. By the time they wheeled through the opening in the low pink wall and onto the beach, Nikki was feeling slightly winded. Joe was not. Despite the weak morning sun and the breeze off the gulf, he pulled off his T-shirt and tucked one end into the waistband of his running shorts. His chest and abs were hard, his arms and legs muscled. Dark hair smattered with gray dusted his chest and arrowed downward. She considered his body with an unhealthy mixture of admiration and jealousy. And a devout wish that men carried the babies in our species. “You know we don’t have to run,” he said when they reached the hard packed sand near the water’s edge. “It’s a gorgeous day just to be outside.” “Definitely gorgeous,” she agreed admiring the dip and dance of sunlight on the slightly choppy water’s surface. A windsurfer skimmed by as she began to stretch, his brightly colored sail bulging with wind. “But I know you’re ready for a run.” She had to hold onto his shoulder as she reached back to grab her foot and stretch her quads. “And so am I.” “All right.” When she’d finished stretching, he flashed her a smile and opened his arms wide, leaving their direction up to her. “Lead the way.” To their right lay the historic Don CeSar Hotel and the northern half of St. Petersburg Beach. In the other direction… she shrugged as if it didn’t matter, but she could not deny the tug she felt. Without a word she pivoted left and broke into a slow jog, heading toward the southern tip of Pass-a-Grille. And Bella Flora. Joe turned the stroller and fell in beside her. For a few heady minutes she simply gave herself up to the fresh air, the wash of water on and off the sand, and the caw of gulls wheeling through the sky. But it wasn’t long before her breathing grew uneven and her strides became shorter. She flushed with embarrassment when she realized that he had checked his stride to match hers. Her chin went up and she picked up her pace. She’d recently weaned the girls to formula and while nursing had helped her drop weight, she was going to have to do more than a crawl if she ever hoped to get her body back. “You worry about yourself and the girls,” she snapped careful not to huff or puff. “I’ll be fine.” “Okay,” he said easily. “You’re the boss.” His movements remained fluid, but she could still feel him holding back. “There’s no shame in taking it easy, Nik. And walking is exercise too. A walk could be nice.” “Right.” Surely that wasn’t her breathing that sounded so…labored. Or her legs that had turned into lead weights. She pinned a smile on her lips and focused her eyes down the beach. She’d run this distance a thousand times. There was no reason she couldn’t do it now. She woulddo it now. And if she felt a little uncomfortable, well no one had ever died from discomfort. Otherwise she would have expired early in her pregnancy. She picked up her pace another notch and ignored Joe’s look of concern. She was not going to whine or complain and she most definitely wasn’t going to walk. Breathing was overrated. And it was nothing compared to pride. # Shortly before her life imploded, Madeline Singer had decided to refurbish it slightly. Her nest had emptied and she’d hit the big five-oh. The time seemed right to take down a few metaphorical walls. Raise a few ceilings. Open things up. What she’d envisioned as a minor renovation turned into a total gut job when her husband lost everything in Malcolm Dyer’s Ponzi scheme. The life she’d only planned to tweak got demo’d; blown to bits before her eyes. There were casualties. Somehow she managed to drag her family clear of the rubble. Ultimately, those who were still standing constructed a new life; one that bore almost no resemblance to the original. Not exactly a ‘do over,’ but a chance to do and be more. Today was January second. The first useable day of a brand new year and once again her life was under construction. Yesterday she, her daughter Kyra and her four-year-old grandson Dustin and Dustin’s new puppy Max, had moved out of Bella Flora into the newly renovated two bedroom cottage she stood in now. Soon Kyra and Dustin would go to Orlando so that Dustin could play his father’s son in Daniel Deranian’s directorial debut. At which point Maddie would be completely on her own. A fact that both excited and terrified her. In the kitchen, the lack of counter space forced her to work more efficiently and in less than fifteen minutes she’d assembled an egg souffle, slid it into the oven, and set the timer. The souffle was of the never fail variety, guaranteed to pouf in exactly sixty minutes. Unlike life, which came with no guarantees and often ‘poufed’ when you least expected it. Soon the scent of melting cheese teased her nostrils and began to fill the air. She pictured it wafting down the short hallway to the second bedroom, slipping under the closed door, and crooking its finger. While she waited she put on a pot of coffee and puttered, unpacking and organizing the exceedingly compact kitchen. The cottage felt like a dollhouse after the castle-like Bella Flora, but Maddie felt oddly content. She lacked space and income and her resume consisted only of a brief and excruciatingly public stint on their renovation-turned-reality TV show. But the cottage belonged to her. And so did the new life that lay ahead. A text dinged in and the face of William Hightower, the rock icon formerly known as William the Wild, appeared on the screen. A reminder that the life that lay ahead included a relationship with a man whose poster had once hung on her teenaged bedroom wall. Mornin’ Maddie-fan. Hud and the fish send their regards. Ha. She had discovered early on that the fish that lived in the Florida Keys had a nasty sense of humor. Despite Will’s efforts to teach her how to fly cast, she was no threat to the fish population and they knew it. Catch anything yet? Nope. But the sun’s on the rise and it’s so beautiful down here this morning I’m not sure I care. Liar. Will loved to be out on the flats around Islamorada above all things, but he did not like to be bested by anything covered with scales. True. And Hud’s making me look bad. He and the fish want to know when you’re coming to visit. They’re just looking for entertainment. Hudson Power, Will’s longtime friend and fishing guide, had taught her to drive a boat and been very patient with her ineptness at fly casting. But she was fairly certain she’d heard the fish laughing at her on more than one occasion. True. He texted again. But I miss you madly, Maddie fan. A warm glow formed in her chest and radiated outward. She did not understand why Will, who had finally won his own personal war on drugs and was once again topping the charts, had chosen her when he could have his pick of younger, prettier, and undoubtedly firmer women, but she’d finally stopped asking. Plus it was hard to argue with his physical reaction to her. Her cheeks flamed at the thought and despite her two left thumbs, she was very glad they were texting and not face-timing. When are you coming down to Mermaid Point? They had met when their former network sent Madeline, Kyra, Avery Lawford, and Nicole Grant down to the Keys with instructions to turn Will’s private island into a Bed and Breakfast; an idea he did not appreciate in the least. As soon as Kyra and Dustin leave for Orlando. Kyra, who’d met and fallen for the megastar on her very first film set, was not at all happy about the upcoming film. Or having to spend six weeks on set with Daniel and his equally famous movie star wife, Tonja Kay. Can u tell me when? In 2 weeks. That’s 2 weeks 2 long. She was still smiling when she heard the first sounds of movement from the second bedroom. By the time she’d finished setting the dinette table, pulled the orange juice out of the refrigerator, and cut up a bowl of fruit, there were only a few minutes left on the timer. A woof and the shake of a dog’s collar were followed by the creak of a bedframe. Despite the early hour, the souffle had worked its magic. She poured herself a cup of freshly brewed coffee. Today was the first day of the rest of her life. Now all she had to do was figure out what to do with it. In the small second bedroom of her mother’s cottage, Kyra woke to the scents of coffee and egg soufflé. Dustin slept on the railed bunk bed above her. Max, the Great Dane puppy his father had unexpectedly and unaccountably given him for Christmas, stood next to her whimpering. She did not want to get up, but she definitely didn’t want to clean up another accident. Max nudged her with his wet, cold nose and she threw off her sheets. Today was not a good day. Today was the day a stranger would move into Bella Flora. Max began to circle and sniff the floor. Kyra sat up, careful not to hit her head on the upper bunk. She was debating whether she could make a run to the bathroom when Max’s whimper turned more urgent. “Got it. Hold on!” She grabbed him and raced for the door, holding him out in front of her. “Good morning.” Maddie moved to throw open the door. “Um-hmmm.” She sniffed appreciatively as they passed the oven that held the souffle. Madeline Singer was the mother everyone deserved but didn’t necessarily get. She’d created a home everywhere they’d landed from the initially uninhabitable Bella Flora to Max Golden’s neglected Deco home on South Beach to the rickety houseboat tethered to William Hightower’s dock. While Max anointed the grass and the nearest bush, she lifted her cell phone and roused it. The first six months rent had been released from escrow and deposited into her account, but the sight of all those zeros didn’t make her anywhere near as happy as it should have. It meant there was not going to be a last minute reprieve. The tenant would move in today. For the next six months he/she/or them would have the run of Bella Flora and the option to stay on for six more months after that. Which meant she and Dustin and Max could be sharing a bedroom in Maddie’s cottage for an entire year while a stranger lived in the house they’d poured their hearts and souls into and that was ‘home’ in every way that mattered. She’d been a fool to believe that everything would somehow magically work out when she’d taken the loan to finance the Sunshine Hotel renovation and their own version of Do Over. Max woofed happily as she pulled a plastic bag from her pocket, picked up his ‘offering,’ then dropped it in a nearby trashcan. She’d changed Dustin’s diapers easily enough but she’d known the day would come when he could toilet on his own. Unless they moved into a rural setting Max was never going to be able to dispose of his own droppings. She did not want to think about how big Max was going to get, or what size plastic bag he would one day require. Inside, she found Dustin sitting at the dinette drinking a cup of orange juice and chatting with his favorite person. That person held out a cup of coffee. “Thanks, Mom.” She swallowed a long sip, let the warmth slide down her throat. “The money’s in my account.” “That’s a good thing, Kyra. That will definitely take some of the pressure off.” “I know. But …” “Come eat.” Three plates containing souffle, buttered toast, and fresh fruit were on their way to the table. Within minutes Kyra was seated. She picked up her fork, but her appetite had fled. “Kyra, you need to let go of the worry. It’s done. Bella Flora’s only on loan. She still belongs to Dustin and you. Emotionally she’ll always belong to all of us.” “It’s just….” Kyra took a bite of souffle, but her usual bliss over the cheesy wonderfulness was missing. She needed to see the tenant for herself. Needed to make sure he wasn’t some Atilla the Hun of houses, bent on destruction. Or someone fronting for Daniel Deranian and Tonja Kay for some nefarious reason she’d yet to figure out. She took another bite of souffle then washed it down with another long pull of coffee. John Franklin was meeting the tenant at eleven to hand over the key. She stole a glance at her phone. It was early. There would be plenty of time after a leisurely breakfast to shower and dress and discover that she’d left something at Bella Flora that they couldn’t possibly be expected live without. # Avery Lawford did not want to get out of bed. Not now. Not ever. She clutched the pillow more tightly to her chest and kept her eyes shut. It would take a crowbar to pry them open. A tow truck to move her. Something warm passed under her nose. It smelled dark and steamy before it moved just out of range then back again. The lovely fog of sleep that had enveloped her began to dissipate. She closed her eyes tighter and wished she could shut her nostrils, but Avery braked for coffee. She drank it for the protection of others and had the T-shirt to prove it. She burrowed deeper into the cocoon of blankets but her nose betrayed her. No. She would not be ruled by coffee. She was stronger than coffee. The smell retreated. She’d begun to relax back into sleep when the crinkle of paper sounded near her ear. There was movement. A new scent joined the first. She sniffed, a reflex nothing more. She was only human. Sugar. “Avery?” Chase Hardin’s voice was warm and seductive. “There’s nothing you could say or do that would make me get out of this bed right now.” “Nothing?” The bed dipped as he sat on its edge. “You mean you don’t want this Dunkin Donuts coffee or glazed donuts?” He waved each item as he mentioned it. His voice grew muffled as he took a bite of donut and chewed appreciatively. “Ummm, that’s good.” He bent over and kissed her with warm lips sticky with sugar. This was what came of sleeping with a man who knew your weaknesses. She opened her eyes. A large Styrofoam cup of coffee sat on the nightstand. Chase finished off the donut, licked his fingers and grinned. “I don’t remember the last time I spent almost two days in bed.” His blue eyes glittered. Dark stubble covered his cheeks and his hair stuck up in a variety of directions. “I thought we needed sustenance.” When she didn’t make a move, he drew a donut out of the bag and placed it on a napkin next to the cup of coffee. She’d known Chase since childhood, much of which she’d spent crushing on him. They’d grown up on their fathers’ construction sites, gone their separate ways. She’d become an architect. He’d taken over Hardin Morgan Construction. He’d been a royal pain in the ass the whole time he was helping them renovate Bella Flora. And then one day he wasn’t. “Your cupboards are bare,” he said. “A man cannot live on sex and Cheez Doodles alone.” “This woman can,” she replied stung that he would disparage the snack that in the darkest of times could help make life worth living. “I give that donut and coffee about fifteen seconds.” He looked at her knowingly. She wanted to argue. And she really, really wanted to be asleep. She could resist if she wanted to. She could. But what would be gained by rejecting a warm, gooey glazed donut and a steaming cup of coffee? “If you were looking at me like you’re looking at that donut right now we could spend another two days in bed.” He stretched and scratched his chest. “I owe my sister big time for having Dad and the boys up for the week.” His blue eyes turned dark and steamy. They were a magnetic force. The siren call of coffee and donuts grew softer as a shiver of anticipation snaked up her spine. They’d been in bed since New Year’s Eve and today was… “Oh, no!” She sat up. “What?” “What day is it?” She ran her hands under the covers but her phone wasn’t there. “It’s Monday.” “Are you sure?” He nodded without hesitation. “But that means it’s…” “… January second,” they said simultaneously. But it was just a date on the calendar to him. She began scooting out of bed. “What time is it?” He glanced down at his watch. “It’s .…ten forty.” She took one bite of donut, swallowed it whole, and grabbed the cup of coffee. “How far away did you park?” She moved toward the bathroom very glad the cottage was so tiny. “Hmmm?” “You didn’t park here at the Sunshine, right? I told you I didn’t want anyone to know that we’re…you know…” She nodded toward the bed, which looked like it had been struck by a hurricane. Or lifted by a tornado and tossed around for a night or two. “Everybody knows, Avery. There’s no reason to keep it a secret that we’re back together.” “But we’re not back together.” She raced into the bathroom, turned on the shower, raced back to retrieve the donut. “Having sex doesn’t mean we’re back together. It just means we’re still attracted to each other and spent a couple of days in bed to celebrate the New Year.” Their relationship had foundered during his youngest son Jason’s meltdown and rebellion. Jason was doing better now and repeating his senior year of high school, but Avery could still remember exactly how it felt to be pushed away when things got rough. Other than Maddie, Nikki, and Kyra, the Hardins were the closest thing to family she had yet Chase had completely shut her out when Jason had gone off the rails. Out of the family and out of Hardin Morgan Construction. That they were dating again was due to his abject apologies and powers of persuasion. She enjoyed his company and the sex was spectacular, but she didn’t intend to open herself up to that kind of hurt again any time in this millennium. And she was not prepared to tie her career to his. She devoured the donut in a few hungry bites then stepped into the now hot shower. Ten minutes later she was running a comb through her short blond hair and pulling on a pair of jeans and a Do Over T-shirt. She could almost hear her mother’s ghost hovering above her and sighing over her lack of makeup, but she was a wash and wear kind of girl. And though she no longer hid the Dolly Parton sized bust that was too large for her height in oversized clothes, she had not yet reconciled to the big blue eyes and Kewpie Doll features that caused strangers to deduct IQ points before she even opened her mouth. “Are you staying here or coming with me?” “Where are we going?” He grabbed the bag of donuts. “Out.” “Out where?” She grabbed the keys to the mini-Cooper and headed for the front door. # Nikki and Joe sat at their favorite picnic table at the Paradise Grille overlooking the white sand beach and the gulf that it bounded. A stream of beachgoers passed in both directions. A jovial game of corn hole played out in the soft sand nearby. Sofia and Gemma snoozed happily in the stroller, their faces smeared with the remnants of a scrambled egg breakfast. Seagulls eyed the crumbs left on their plates but so far no dive-bombing had occurred. “God they’re adorable when they’re asleep,” Nikki said looking at the girls’ angelic faces. “Not that they aren’t adorable when they’re awake, but…” “… you’re too busy trying to keep them happy to notice.” Nikki looked at Joe. “You don’t even bat an eyelash when Gemma goes on a screaming jag. Or one of them projectile vomits all over you.” “I may have ended up in the financial crimes unit, but I do have hostage negotiation training,” he said wryly. “I know how to look like I’m not panicking even when I’m scared shitless.” “So when do you think you’ll be able to actually start negotiating with them?” “Well, we know from personal experience that it doesn’t work on pregnant women,” he said. “I can’t remember convincing you of a single thing while you were carrying them. So while I don’t know that there’s a lower age limit, it’s clear rational thought is necessary. And probably the ability to speak or at least understand and process language are too.” “Great.” Nikki slumped. Every morning she vowed this would be the day that she’d become competent and un-harried. The kind of mother who loved her children so much that she never resented the endless demands that created the near constant state of exhaustion. “I’ve got another ten days or so and then I’m going to have to start traveling again.” Her heart sunk further. “Oh?” “Yeah. Which is why I really think we ought to hire someone to help you.” “No. I’m their mother. Taking care of them is my job.” Not a job she’d ever imagined for herself. But it wasn’t one you could resign from. “Nik, they’re too much for the two of us a lot of the time. I can’t leave you alone.” “I won’t be alone,” she said trying to keep the panic out of her eyes and her voice. “Maddie will help. And…Avery and Bitsy will be nearby.” Neither of them mentioned that Bitsy had fallen down on the job the night Nikki had gone into labor. “Kyra and Dustin will be leaving for Orlando in two weeks. And Maddie won’t have a reason to stay here. She’ll be free to travel. Or spend time with Will. Or whatever she feels like. And Avery and Bitsy have no experience with children and aren’t looking to acquire it. Plus they’ll both be working. “I can do it,” she said. “End of conversation.” “But, Nikki. I…” His face smoothed out. She saw him relax his features, his shoulders. Hostage negotiation training her ass. “Ready to head back?” She’d barely made it this far. In fact, about halfway there she’d been doing more of a brisk walk than a slow jog. “I was thinking maybe I could run back to the cottage and come pick you all up in the car.” He looked at her face. “You know, in case you’d like to just chill here for a while.” “Don’t think I can make it back?” she challenged though she wasn’t totally sure she could. She only knew she was not going to appear too tired or too overwhelmed or too anything in front of him. “No, of course not. I just thought you might want to get back more quickly. It’s getting close to eleven.” “Eleven?” She sat up. “Yes.” “I wouldn’t mind walking a little further. There’s really no rush to get back is there?” “No.” “The girls love the jetty. And the fishermen on the dock.” He gave her a long look. “Sure. Why not?” He busied himself gathering the paper plates and cups and was gentleman enough not to say anything when she took her time getting to her feet. # “That was one of your best egg soufflés ever, Mom. Right Dustin?” Freshly showered and dressed, Kyra strode back into the living room/kitchen where Dustin stood on a stool ‘helping’ his grandmother wash the dishes. “D’licious,” he agreed waving his hands, which were encased in a pair of too-large rubber gloves. Max was under the table licking up the bits of egg that surrounded Dustin’s chair. “What do we say to Grandma?” Kyra asked Dustin as she stole a glance at the clock on the wall then turned her gaze to the coffee table where the car keys typically ended up. “Thank you Geema!” Dustin crowed. “You’re both very welcome,” Maddie said hiding her smile at the speed with which Kyra located and pocketed the car keys. “If you don’t mind keeping an eye on Dustin, I… I have a couple of things I need to take care of.” Kyra didn’t quite meet her eye as she laid a kiss on Dustin’s head and moved toward the door. “Things?” Maddie asked. “Umm-hmmm.” “Dustin wanna do things too!” Dustin clambered down from the step and held out his arms. Maddie peeled the large yellow gloves from beneath his armpits and down his arms. Kyra checked the clock again. “It’s ten-fifty,” Maddie said. “Where exactly are you going?” “Oh, you know. Here and there. Not far,” Kyra babbled. “I won’t be gone long.” “Kyra…” Her daughter looked up as if she’d been caught with her hand in the cookie jar. “I really don’t think this is a good idea.” “I … don’t know what you’re talking about,” Kyra protested. “It would be better to just stay away,” Maddie said gently. “Stay away from what?” Kyra adopted an expression of surprised confusion, but any mother worth her salt could read a daughter’s face like a roadmap. It would take more than feigned indignation to make Maddie believe she was headed out to run errands. “Kyra.” “Fine.” Kyra sighed. “It’s not like there’s any chance of keeping a secret when we’re living on top of each other like this anyway.” “If you’re going, we’re going with you.” She picked up the leash and attached it to Max’s collar then handed Dustin his sweatshirt. “Where we going Geema?” Dustin asked as his mother pulled open the cottage door. “If I’m not mistaken, I think we’re going to Bella Flora to get a look at the person who’s going to live there.” TWO Kyra breathed deeply as she drove south on the narrow two lane road, but each breath carried its own little dart of panic that sent her fear of who and what she’d find at Bella Flora shooting through her. She turned on to Gulf Way, her thoughts jumbled and her gaze slightly unfocused. The familiar scenery rippled and shimmered before her eyes giving the mom and pop hotels and expensive new homes on her left and the low wall and crossovers that bordered the beach on her right, a fun house vibe. The blocks were short and the avenues that stretched from the bay to the gulf were even shorter. At The Hurricane Restaurant her foot eased further off the gas pedal so that the minivan passed Eighth Avenue, Pass-a-Grille’s ‘main street,’ at what could only be called a crawl. The closer they got to Bella Flora the slower she drove and the sharper and more pointed the panic became. What if the tenant was Daniel Deranian or Tonja Kay or one of their emissaries? What if he/she/they were trust fund babies with no respect for other people’s property? What if they looked unstable or had a herd of children who would abuse Dustin’s mini-Bella Flora playhouse? The number of things the new tenant would be free to do in/and/or to her home bombarded her. How could she let some stranger sleep in her bed? Hang their clothes in her closet? Lie on their couch? Mix drinks in the Casbah Lounge? How on earth could she have let this happen? “We can still turn around,” Maddie said. “It’s not too late.” She hesitated. “No one will ever know we even thought about doing this.” But though she was driving as slowly as any newly arrived retiree, Bella Flora’s gravitational pull was simply too strong to resist. So was Kyra’s urge to protect her even though it was far too late for that. They passed a couple pushing a jogging stroller. That couple was Nikki and Joe. So much for a lack of witnesses. And then she came face to face with Bella Flora. Rising out of the low walled garden. A pale pink wedding cake of a house with banks of windows framed in white icing trim and bell towers that topped a multi-angled barrel-tile roof and jutted up into the brilliant blue sky. “We going home?” Dustin asked uncertainly. God, she wished they were only coming home from a trip to the grocery store or some other mundane errand and not about to watch some stranger move in. Eyes blurred with tears, Kyra pulled into a parking space. The blue Mini-Cooper in the next spot belonged to Avery Lawford. Max gave a happy woof as they joined Avery and Chase on the sidewalk. A minute later Nikki and Joe arrived, the twins sound asleep in the stroller. Kyra was trying to decide who looked the most embarrassed when a lone figure walked up the path from the jetty. Gatsby style pants fluttering lightly in the breeze, a mint green vest buttoned over an oxford shirt, Ray Flamingo, former designer to the stars, walked up to them. “Beautiful day isn’t it?” “Don’t even try to pretend you were just out for a stroll,” Avery said. “Who me?” Hands in pockets Ray turned to face Bella Flora. “I didn’t realize a house could send a distress signal until today.” “You know that whoever is renting Bella Flora has spent a lot of money to live in her,” Joe said gently. “There’s every reason to expect that person will treat her well.” John Franklin’s Cadillac pulled up in front of Bella Flora at exactly 11:00AM. The car was a classic, like its octogenarian owner and driver. Kyra’s father, Steve, who now worked at Franklin Realty and had been responsible for finding Bella Flora’s mystery tenant, was with him. With Max straining against his leash they trundled over to meet them. “You all look a little more like a lynch mob than a welcoming committee.” John Franklin had a ruff of white hair around an otherwise bald scalp and a long face dominated by the droopy brown eyes of a basset hound. Those eyes looked worried as his hands tightened on the handle of his cane. “Is there a problem?” “That depends,” Kyra said. “On what?” her father asked. “On whether the tenants look as if they can fully appreciate their luck in getting to walk through Bella Flora’s front doors. If they don’t, I might need help stringing them up from the Reclinata Palm out back.” Chase and Joe laughed. Maddie, Avery, and Nikki exchanged worried glances. “We don’t necessarily have to deliver a welcome basket,” Ray said in a conciliatory tone. “But I don’t think we need to be contemplating violence, either.” “Neither do I,” Maddie said. “In fact, I’m not altogether sure we should be here.” As usual her mother seemed intent on keeping the peace. And preventing Kyra from committing a stupid act. If only that had happened before Kyra took the loan out against Bella Flora. “But clearly we’re all curious to see who’s moving in. So I think we should at least act like a welcoming committee. Plus we can let them know that we’re nearby if they have any questions about the workings or idiosyncrasies of the house.” They milled relatively quietly until a car turned off of Pass-a-Grille Way onto Beach Road, passed the Cottage Inn and pulled into Bella Flora’s brick driveway. The car was low, sleek and silver with tinted windows that revealed little. They inched closer, stopping just short of the garden wall as John and her father walked up the driveway. Kyra wasn’t the only one holding her breath as the driver got out of the car. Through the palms and tall bushes she could see only slices at a time; a lone male head of blond hair atop a body that seemed tall and well formed. There was a flash of blue jean and some kind of dark jacket or blazer. He moved with a confident stride that Kyra chalked up to arrogance. Did that mean he would be careless with other people’s possessions? Or did it mean that he was used to nice things and would take care of theirs? She moved in an attempt to get a better look, but everyone was jockeying for position. Between the bushes and trees John and her father’s backs were the only things clearly visible. Her father froze briefly. John Franklin’s normally hunched shoulders went stiff. Murmurs of what sounded like surprise reached them. Heart pounding, knees pressed against the concrete, she leaned over the garden wall in an attempt to see more. The tenant cocked his head and she sensed him peering between John and her father as if looking for something or someone. Dustin dropped her hand and moved toward the driveway. A prickle of unease raised the hair on the back of her neck, but she knew from the blond head and build that it wasn’t Daniel Deranian. Was it another movie star? A famous athlete or musician? “Lookit Mommy. Lookit who’s here!” Dustin shouted as he ran up the driveway. Kyra detached herself from the wall and the group to race after him. The breath caught in her throat as the tenant stepped around the two Realtors and reached down to pick up Dustin. She blinked rapidly trying to make sense of what she was seeing. Read the full article

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