The Beach Babes by Judith Keim

Author:Judith Keim
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Wild Quail Publishing

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

CATE

On the train ride back to Ellenton, Cate stared out the window at the passing scenery, lost in thought. The way she saw it, Amber was caught in a horrible circumstance. Though she loved being in the city and in the fashion industry, Amber wouldn’t be able to stay at her job with that vicious boss of hers if it were ever found out about her relationship with Jesse. Amber had previously told her how competitive everyone was. Thank goodness, Amber had never been caught up in any drug scenes, like some in the business.

Cate remembered her first experience with marijuana. One Saturday night, Amber had called Cate and Brooke and asked them to meet her at the house. She and her mother had just had a fight over one of her mother’s boyfriends staying over. Now, with her mother out for the evening, Amber was more than ready to do anything to get back at her.

It was a grim group that night. Cate was appalled by the mess and the air of negativity inside the house and couldn’t wait to leave.

Brooke was depressed. A rash of pimples had broken out on her face. She tearfully announced she was ready to give up the fight of trying to look pretty to please her mother. It was an ongoing battle, one that she couldn’t win. They all knew it.

After several sessions of marijuana, Amber had brought out gin and vodka, her mother’s choices of booze. A bad decision. Amber became violent, smashing plates and glasses in the kitchen sink, railing against her life. Brooke had sobbed uncontrollably before grabbing a knife and threatening to kill herself. Cate became sick as a dog, throwing up and retching for hours.

It had been a wake-up call for Cate. She had no problem following her mother’s rules about either drugs or alcohol. Even in college, she’d been teased for being such a “goody two-shoes.” While it bothered her to be called names, Cate wasn’t about to have more than a casual drink or two. Even now, she was careful.

The train pulled into the station. Pushing the past away, Cate got out and headed to the parking lot. She’d parked her SUV there before climbing into Amber’s car to go into the city.

On her way home, she stopped at Brooke’s new house to check on the painter. She’d been doing so every day as Brooke requested. She knew from past experience with the renovations on her own house that it was best to show up unexpectedly.

She walked inside the house and stood a moment in the foyer, gazing up at the winding stairway. It seemed so right that Brooke would be living in such an elegant home.

Cate went into the master bedroom and was pleased to see the work was almost done. The yellow paint on the walls was perfect, giving the room a pleasant glow that would make wintry days seem brighter. Cate took photos of the room to send to Brooke. Paul would see it himself this evening when he came to stay at Cate’s house for the next few nights.

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