6 Beach Blanket Barbie (2 page)

“Yeah
. My sister’s dog passed recently, and I thought of Sophie’s pups. Your mom sure is being particular about who adopts the little guys.”

I laughed. “She
’s taken the adoption process to a whole new level.” I can be pretty picky when it comes to matching prospective animal parents with their new pets, but Mom has been almost manic about finding just the right placement for each of Sophie’s pups. “How’d your sister do?” I wondered.

“I think she’s in the running. Your mom wanted to visit her home
, which I believe she plans to do next week.”

“If your sister
attends the Memorial Day event, come find me. I’ll introduce her to Mom. I’m sure that will go a long way toward moving her to the top of the list.”

“
Speaking of Memorial Day,” Gilda responded, “did you ever hear back from the vendor with the snow-cone machine for next weekend?”

“Yeah,
but he was already booked,” I answered. “I guess I should have anticipated there might be a conflict on a holiday weekend and made the call earlier. He recommended a man who does cotton candy and lemonade. I thought about contacting him, but I’m pretty sure the hot dog vendor does lemonade, and I didn’t want to create any controversy by introducing two vendors with the same product.”

“What about smoothies?” Gilda asked.

“Smoothies would be good. Do you have a contact?”

“Actually
, I do.” Gilda made her way to the office in the back of the store. She pulled up a file on her computer and then jotted down a phone number on a piece of scratch paper. “You should call right away,” Gilda said. “He may already be booked, but it wouldn’t hurt to try.”

“Thanks
, I’ll do that,” I promised as I slipped the paper into my pocket . . . where it remained until my pants went through the washer, but don’t tell Gilda. “I’m heading over to the Beach Hut
for lunch
.
If you need me to move the truck for some reason, just call my cell.”

“Will do. It’s a beautiful day to eat outdoors.
Hopefully you’ll be able to get a table.”

“I’m sure I’ll find something.”

“I wasn’t sure that little space on the pier would make a good place for an eatery when Ellie first announced her plans,” Gilda commented, “but it seems like the place has been packed since the weather got nice. The only downside, I suppose, is that a lot of the parallel parking along Main Street is being taken up by folks going to the beach, now that the parking lot is full with diners for the restaurant.”

“Yeah, I can see how that would be a problem,” I sympathized.

“A few of the business owners are talking about initiating a petition to install parking meters along the main drag to discourage long-term parking.”

I frowned. “I suppose I understand the intent
ion, but parking meters don’t really meld with the small-town charm we work hard to sell to the tourists who visit each year. Maybe we should look at a shuttle to take people from a lot that could be set up outside of town to the beach,” I suggested.

“Most folks don’t like the inconvenience of a shuttle,” Gilda warned.

“Maybe we could offer an incentive to take the shuttle.”

“Like what?”

“I don’t know offhand, but it might be a good topic of discussion for the next events’ meeting. I should get going. Can I bring you something from Ellie’s?”

“A cold drink would be nice
, if it isn’t too much trouble.”

“No trouble at all. I should be back this way in an hour or so.”

I stopped to say hi to several locals as I made my way across the street. When I saw the crowd on the pier, I began to wonder if I’d have to wait for a table, but just as I arrived, a couple I didn’t know got up, and I slid into their place. The sun on my shoulders felt better than I can describe. I looked toward the beach, where a flock of kids chased each other, dodging to avoid a group of teens playing volleyball. There’s something about those first days of summer, when the sun is warm and the lake is blue, that brings out the happy in people.

I knew that in another month the beach would be filled with brightly colored towels and umbrellas placed so close together you
’d barely be able to find the smooth white sand. The beach situated across from the downtown section of Main Street, next to the pier, is the busiest on the lake. During the warmest summer months, the town sponsors a band on the pier that can be enjoyed from both the pier and the beach. The bands played during the late afternoon and early evening, providing a wonderful and festive setting from which to watch the always spectacular sunsets.

“Oh
, good, you found a table,” Ellie said, sitting down across from me.

“What’s
with the binoculars?” I asked the pretty brunette. Ellie had a pair hanging around her neck.

She
smiled at me with her big brown eyes as she lifted them over her head and handed them to me. “Check out the woman lying just to the left of that red and white umbrella,” she instructed.

I did as
directed. There was a very tan woman wearing a red bikini lying on her stomach. “Yeah, so?”

“Guess who it is
,” Ellie encouraged.

“I have no idea
; I can’t see her face.”

“Check out the tattoo on her right shoulder.”

I focused the lenses so I could make out a small yet brightly colored butterfly. “Barbie,” I gasped.

Barbie is our
other best friend, Levi Denton’s ex. After he broke up with her just before Valentine’s Day, she turned into a bit of a psycho, damaging hundreds of dollars’ worth of Levi’s possessions, including his television and most of his clothing. She left shortly after that, and we figured we’d seen the last of her. Apparently, we were wrong.

“What is she doing back?” I wondered.

“I have no idea,” Ellie answered. “I noticed her walking by a couple of hours ago and have been spying on her ever since.”

“Aren’t you supposed to be working?”
I reminded her.

“I have extra staff today,” Ellie explained.
“I’ve been pitching in but still had time to spy. Levi is going to flip out when he hears she’s back.”

Ellie was right. Levi
was
going to flip out.

“Let me grab you a sandwich and then I’ll fill you in.
Can Charlie have some scraps from the kitchen?”

“Yeah
, as long as it’s unseasoned meat and veggies.”

“I knew you were coming
, so I’ve been keeping the best leftovers on the side. I’ll be right back.”

Ellie left the binoculars with me while she went back inside the tiny
restaurant. Ellie’s Beach Hut only recently opened, featuring a small but cozy interior with a soup-and-sandwich counter, a small wood-burning stove, and limited tables, as well as a large outdoor deck with an industrial-size BBQ and plenty of lakefront seating. From my table next to the railing that lined the pier, I had a bird’s-eye view of Barbie as she soaked up some afternoon rays.

Barbie is
n’t just a beautiful woman, she’s a
stunningly
beautiful woman. A small and extremely fit body, perfect skin, long blond hair, and huge blue eyes combine to create a vision that men everywhere—and some women, as well—can’t help but stare at. Barbie knows her effect on men and uses it to her advantage by flirting with anyone and everyone she wants or needs something from. It wasn’t just Levi who was going to flip out when the news of Barbie’s return hit the Ashton Falls gossip network; most of the women in town were going to be less than happy as well.

“Ham and cheese sub okay?” Ellie asked as she placed a plate with the sandwich accompanied by her famous potato salad
and a diet soda on the table in front of me, along with a plate with leftovers, which she put on the ground for Charlie.

“Ham is fine,” I answered as Charlie licked Ellie’s hand in gratitude for the treat.
“So fill me in on your morning entertainment.”

“Barbie showed up at around ten
-thirty with lifeguard guy.”

“Lifeguard guy?”

“That’s what I’ve been calling the guy in the red board shorts sitting under the umbrella Barbie is lying next to.”

I used the binoculars to check out the guy Ellie was referring to. He did sort of look like a lifeguard with his
dark tan and shaggy hair. “So they’re together?” I confirmed.

“They arrived together and are sitting together
, but they don’t seem to be a couple,” Ellie clarified.

“How can you tell?”

“Because when Conan came over and kissed Barbie full on the lips, lifeguard guy didn’t seem to care.”

“Conan
?”

“Look to Barbie’s left and up a few rows. You
’ll see a huge man with dark hair and dark swim trunks who looks like Conan the Barbarian.”

I did as instructed.
“You mean the guy sitting next to the blonde in the yellow bikini?”

“Yeah, that’s him.”

“And yellow bikini didn’t care that her caveman kissed another woman?”

“She hadn’t arrived yet, although once she did
, she made Conan move his towel away from his original position, just behind Barbie.”

I laughed. “It looks like nothing has changed. Men are still falling all over our former yoga instructor and women are still busily running interference.”

“That’s not the half of it.” Ellie giggled. “Lisa and Jason Grover came by shortly after Conan and his girlfriend moved. Jason just glanced at Barbie and Lisa slapped him, turned around, and headed back toward the parking lot.”

T
he rumor mill had reported a short-lived affair between Barbie and Jason last summer, although I’m not sure anyone had proof of such a deed. “What did Jason do?” I asked.

“He took off after his wife.”

“Sounds like you’ve had quite a show.”

“I saved the best for last
.” Ellie was grinning.

“Do tell.”

“Another man stopped by to speak to the fabulous B. At first I thought maybe Barbie was in trouble, until I noticed her run one of her perfectly manicured fingernails across his chest before she stood on tiptoe to rub seductively against his body while whispering in his ear.”

“Whose ear did she whisper into?” I had to admit I was getting hooked on Ellie’s story.

“Sheriff Salinger.”

“No!” I gasped. “Salinger is a married man
and
a good twenty years older than Barbie.”

“They seemed pretty familiar with each other from where I
was sitting.”

“Was Salinger here in his uniform?”

When Ellie first mentioned that Barbie had run her finger across someone’s chest, I’d been picturing a naked chest, which is what most men sport at the beach, but once she revealed the identity of the individual on the receiving end of the gesture, I really hoped I’d misunderstood. The thought of Salinger in nothing but swim trunks left a sour taste in my mouth, and I hated to waste the lunch Ellie had prepared.

“Yeah, he was in uniform. I think he was doing parking
-lot patrol and noticed Barbie on the beach.”

“Wow. Salinger and Barbie. She must have done something pretty serious to be willing to shack up with Salinger.”

“What do you mean?” Ellie asked.

“I mean, the only reason I can comprehend why Barbie would give Salinger the time of day
would be if she’d gotten herself into big-time trouble and was using her wiles to convince him to give her a pass.”

“Yeah, I guess I see your point.”

“Uh-oh,” I gasped. “It looks like Barbie is headed our way.”

“Hide the binoculars,” Ellie
said, panicked.

I looked around
, but there was nowhere to hide them, so I tossed them into the garbage can near the table and hoped no one would toss anything really messy inside before we could retrieve them.

“Well
, if it isn’t the annoying duo,” Barbie greeted us. The woman hadn’t even bothered to slip on shorts or a wrap, and her bikini was about as small as a bikini could be.

“What brings you to town?” I asked.

“Business.”

“
Will you be staying long?” Ellie inquired.

“Long enough.” Barbie looked bored by the conversation. “I heard you have frozen drinks at your bar.”

“We do,” Ellie confirmed. “What can I get you?”

“Something with rum. Make it two.”

Ellie walked over to the outdoor bar and gave Barbie’s order to the bartender.

“So I heard your mom got knocked up,” Barbie said as she waited for her drink.

“I have a new baby sister,” I answered as politely as I could.

“A couple of people told me that
your mom moved back to town to raise the kid.”

“Yes,” I replied. “She did.”

“Doesn’t that bug you?”

Bug me?
“Why would it bug me?” I asked.

“Your old lady dumps you on your dad
’s doorstep like an unwanted kitten when you were a baby, but from what I’ve heard, she’s gone all maternal over little sis. Seems like it would sting a bit.”

Actually
, it did at times, but I’d never admit that to Barbie or anyone else. “No,” I responded. “It doesn’t bother me at all. I love Harper and am glad that my mom has decided to stay around to raise her.”

“Your drinks should be right up,” Ellie interrupted
, thank God.

“
Nice rock,” Barbie commented on Ellie’s engagement ring.

“Thank you
,” Ellie responded politely.

“So when
’s the big day?” Barbie asked.

“We haven’t set a date yet
, but Rob and I are thinking that maybe sometime over the summer would be nice.”

“You know what’
s funny?” Barbie got a distant look on her face. “A guy breaks up with a girl because he’s in love with someone else, but when the girl comes back to town, she finds out the someone else who broke the couple up is engaged to some totally random guy.”

I nodded at Ellie not to say anything. I knew Barbie was right about the reason Levi broke up with her
, and I also knew Ellie would deny it. Barbie and Ellie never had gotten along, and the last thing I needed was to have to break up a chick fight.

“Your drinks are ready,” Ellie announced without responding to Barbie’s statement. “And they’re on the house.”

“Thanks, that’s very nice.”

Barbie took the drinks and returned to the beach.
“What a witch,” Ellie commented as she walked away. “Do you think she was talking about me?”

“You know she was.”

“And do you think she’s right? Do you think Levi broke up with Barbie because of me?”

I hesitated.
Opening up that can of worms would be awkward, but I couldn’t very well lie to my best friend. “What do you think?” I asked instead of answering.

Ellie got a distant look on her face
, as if she was considering the idea. “I guess I thought Levi just got tired of Barbie, like he does every girl he goes out with. He mentioned she wanted a commitment, and he wasn’t ready for that sort of thing. I never considered the situation beyond that.”

“Look, I don’t think the reason Levi broke up with Barbie is all that important. He did break up with her
, and from what we’ve seen, it was a good thing he did. The girl is a psycho. I say we forget about Barbie, who will more than likely be gone in a few days, and get back to enjoying this fantastic weather.”

“Yeah,” Ellie agreed. “You’re right. Are we still on for tonight?”

My boyfriend Zak and I were having a party at his lakefront estate.

“We are,” I confirmed. 

“Can I bring anything?”

“Just a swimsuit if you want to swim.”

“Sounds
like fun. I bought Hannah a life vest,” Ellie informed me. “Rob thought it would be a good idea if she wanted to swim, and she loves the water. I think she’s going to be a real fish when she grows up.”

“Have you thought about swim lessons?” I asked.

“She’s only two.”

“
It’s never too early to get kids started,” I reminded Ellie. “Kids seem to have a natural comfort in the water that tends to turn to fear if you don’t introduce them early enough. I learned to swim almost before I could walk. You should talk to Rob about it.”