“I can’t wait to get back there. It’s been ten years, but I still remember the weekend I spent at The Whitley for Candace’s wedding. I checked with work and I can’t take two weeks, but I can do a week, two weeks from now, if that works for you.”

“Of course, anytime. Will Jim come with you?” Bella was a big fan of Julia’s husband. He was easy-going, and fun.

“No, he can’t get the time off. So, it will just be me. We’ll have a girls’ week.”

“That will be fun. We haven’t done that in forever.” It had been over a year since Bella had seen her sister. She was supposed to spend the holidays with them, but then the film she’d been shooting in Ireland ran into delays and she had to go right from that film set to another in Italy that had already started filming. It was a whirlwind and it was exhausting. She couldn’t wait to see her sister and just play tourists, like normal people.

“How are you feeling?” Julia asked.

“I’m good. It’s very calm here, and quiet. But then Jean called.”

“What did she want?” Julia was not a fan of Bella’s agent. She thought she was pushy. And she wasn’t wrong about that.

Bella told her about the conversation. And Julia was not happy about it.

“She couldn’t even give you a day. One day before she started bothering you.”

Bella sighed. “I know. But she is the best and it is what I pay her for. I told her that’s it though. I’ll read the book, but no promises and I’m not leaving here early. If anything, I might want to stay longer.”

Julia laughed. “You should. You’re not going to want to leave.”

They chatted for a few more minutes until there was a knock on the door.

“That must be room service.”

“I’ll let you go. I’ll book my flights and touch base with you tomorrow.”

Bella opened the door and let the room service attendant wheel in a tray with her dinner. She’d ordered a house special, day-boat fresh haddock, broiled with a lemon butter sauce, grilled asparagus and mashed potatoes. Pure comfort food. She ate on her deck, staring out at the ocean and felt the tension ease away. By the time she finished eating, she was already yawning. The bed was calling her name again.