here by the end of the month. I can reach out and see if I know anyone who’s willing to work remotely, do some of the editing so I can take on more of the stories while we’re short staffed. Speaking of which, I’m helping Sarah and some of the others with the set tonight, so I can check in with the director about an interview.”
One side of Jill’s mouth tilted upward. “Good luck with that. Magnolia Sweet is not an easy woman to pin down and even when you do, she’d rather talk about her glory days as a Hollywood starlet than answer a question directly.”
Molly sat at the table with them. “How long has she lived in Britton Bay?”
Elizabeth glanced up. “She’s fairly new. About a year and a bit? She bought several acres up near Alan’s home, but after a fall last year, she had to move into the seniors’ facility at the edge of town. She has two children, but other than checking in on her home they don’t bother much with her. Imagine being so cantankerous that even your own children don’t want to be around you.”
“She can’t be that bad,” Molly said. She’d glimpsed the woman a couple of times at the farmers’ market. Both times, she’d worn ridiculously large sunglasses, wide-brimmed hats, and clothes that looked better suited to the red carpet than the beach. Molly figured she was just eccentric.
“Did you know she went to school at Britton Bay High?” Alan set his phone down and joined the conversation.
“What are you talking about?” Elizabeth’s mouth dropped open.
He nodded, grinning. “Yup. Only for a short period of time, and then I guess she got a chance to audition for a soap opera and never looked back.”
Jill picked up her tea. “Does her family live here?”
Alan shook his head. “Not that I know of. I think her parents moved here part way through the school year. She’s a good fifteen years older than me, but I remember my uncle talking about how even back then she thought she was too good for this small town and anyone in it.”
Molly leaned her forearms on the table. “Funny that she ended up returning then.”
Life had a way of coming full circle. Molly wondered if some of the rumors she’d heard about Magnolia being a tyrant on set were exaggerated. She’d see tonight. If nothing else, the full circle angle would make for a great feature.
Chapter Two
By the time she walked home that evening, Molly had been in touch with a couple of people through friends of friends and had some leads on possible writers for The Bulletin.
As she turned onto the street where she lived, she caught sight of the sweet two-story Victorian home that housed the area’s most popular bed and breakfast. She lived in the cottage out back. The owner, Katherine Alderich, really did have a green thumb. She took great pride in presentation. The grounds were immaculately kept, and though she wasn’t participating in the Spring Flower Barrel challenge, there was an enviable number of flowers and blooms brightening up the yard.
Katherine stood on the front porch, chatting with two guests that were staying a couple more days. There weren’t many bookings this time of year. Molly usually tried to sneak past when Katherine was playing hostess, but more often than not the woman brought her into the conversation. That was how she knew the husband and wife, laughing and sipping what was most likely tea, were here from New Jersey on business. Molly waved to all three of them and took the path down to her home. Their home. Her smile widened and the sound of a saw cut through the air.
Instead of going through the front door, she went around the side of the cottage that mirrored the main house and found Sam Alderich. He was not only an adored member of the community and Katherine’s son but a magician of sorts. Somehow, he’d made Molly believe in words like “forever” and “always.” They’d moved in together not long ago and though she’d had a few sleepless nights wondering if they were rushing, she couldn’t deny that with Sam was her favorite place to be.
When the saw stopped, Sam straightened from the hunched position he’d been in and examined the cut.
“It’s looking good,” Molly called out so she wouldn’t surprise him as she came through the back gate.
He turned and the smile he gave her made her heart catch. How? How did he do that every time? Sam set down the wood and walked over to her, leaned down and pressed his lips to hers in a sweet kiss.
“It looks fantastic now,” he said with a grin.
She poked him in the admirably hard stomach and laughed. “Charmer.”
“Doesn’t mean it isn’t true. How are you?”
“I’m good. Glad to be home,” she said, not wanting to get into the day just yet. She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his waist.
He hugged her tight, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “I’m a little dusty. You’re going to get dirty.”
“Totally worth it.” She snuggled into his chest.
Her back screen door shut and footsteps clomped their way. “Break time is over. Knock off the PDA,” Chris, Sam’s best friend and the acting sheriff of Britton Bay, said.
He handed Sam a can of cola and popped the tab on his own.
Molly stepped back and gave him a mock glare. “I’ll remember that in a half hour when we go help Sarah on set.”
Chris grinned and took a long drink. When he lowered the can, he reached out and tugged a strand of Molly’s hair. She’d never had siblings but she imagined the affection and irritation she felt toward Chris was a good sample of what it would have been like.
“I’m the law around here. I have different rules,” Chris said.
Sam snorted out a laugh and took a drink of his own soda. “Nice try, man.” He hooked a finger in one of Molly’s belt loops and tugged her closer. “You’re still okay to go work on the set even after what happened today?”
Molly shook her head. “Why does this town even bother with internet? How on earth did you find out about Clay? I presume that’s what you’re talking about?”
Chris chuckled, set his pop down. “Will you always underestimate the local grapevine?” He began cleaning up the tools and wood. Sam and Chris were building a covered deck off of the back of the cottage.
“I don’t. I know how fast it is, but really, how?” She stood with both hands on her hips while the two men cleaned up.
Sam winked at her. “Chris stopped in at Bella’s to get some donuts to take to Sarah. Dean was grabbing a coffee, mentioned it to him.”
Molly rolled her eyes and headed for the back door. “I’m not sure The Bulletin is even necessary. We’ll be lucky if we can keep your mom’s party a secret.” She shook her head again. “I’m going to walk Tigger and then we’ll head over?”
“Sounds good,” Sam called after her. She heard the two men chatting and laughing through the screen door as it swung shut behind her.
Tigger, her adorable mixed-breed black and white dog, bounded out of his bed in the corner of the
