Something Old, Something New by Beverly Jenkins Read Free Book Online

dressed in a flowing white tunic and matching capris hurried out of the front door to meet them. She had gold hanging from her ears, neck, and wrists, and jeweled sandals on her bare feet.
    â€œBernadine!” she screamed. The two embraced with affection and glee while Lily looked on with a smile.
    Bernadine introduced Lily.
    Tina said, “Lily Fontaine. I talked with you on the phone when we were dealing with that old thief Prell.”
    â€œYes. It’s nice to finally meet you.”
    â€œSame here. Love that name. Lily Fontaine. Like I said before, sounds like one of those old burlesque queens.”
    They were led through a covered brick archway that opened out onto a large outdoor room facing the ocean.
    â€œOh, my goodness,” Lily said, blown away. “Would you look at the view!”
    The water was as blue as a jewel, and the white sails of ships could be seen off in the distance. It was so quiet you could hear the breeze.
    â€œMain reason I purchased this land,” Tina confessed. “Told the architect, if she couldn’t build me a house on this bluff, then find me someone who could.” Tina then went silent for a few moments before adding, “Lots of peace here.”
    â€œIt is beautiful,” Bernadine replied.
    Lily agreed. She imagined standing arm in arm with Trent and looking out at the view while surrounded by the beauty and silence. If Bernadine could find a place like this for the honeymoon, Lily would gladly let her foot the bill.
    When Lily came back to the present, Tina was directing Bernadine over to a table that held a full-scale model of a sprawling, Vegas-style hotel and apartment complex. Curious, she strolled over to join them.
    â€œThis is nice,” Bernadine declared, slowly walking around the rendering to get a full view. “Very nice. How much are we throwing in apiece?”
    Tina quoted a number that made Lily’s eyes roll back in her head, but Bernadine didn’t even blink.
    â€œThe city has already purchased the property,” Tina told her. “Soon as all the legal beagles are done barking at each other, we just have to sign the contract and transfer our funds to the developer’s account.”
    Bernadine looked up from the model and asked quietly, “So why do I get the impression that something’s not quite right?”
    â€œYou are good, B,” Tina declared, smiling.
    Bernadine inclined her head as if acknowledging the fact. “So what’s up?”
    Before answering, Tina gestured them to take seats and then poured three glasses of ice-cold sangria from a chilled glass pitcher sitting on top of a tea cart. She passed them their drinks and sat down with her own. “Everybody knows that profit is my middle name. Always has been.”
    â€œTrue,” Bernadine replied.
    â€œBut the older I get, the more I wonder if maybe pursuing profit with a lowercase p instead of a capital P is better for my soul.” She looked Bernadine’s way and asked, “Do you know what I mean?”
    â€œI do. It’s sort of what I’m doing with Henry Adams.”
    â€œYes, exactly.”
    â€œSo what is it about this development that has you second-guessing yourself?”
    â€œOne of the places the city will be demolishing is an old church. Can’t be good karma in that,” she noted sagely before taking a sip from her glass.
    â€œIs the church closed or occupied?” Lily asked.
    â€œServices every Sunday.”
    Bernadine looked to Lily, who simply shrugged in reply, but Lily had to agree with Tina. Bulldozing a church so that a bunch of developers could put up a luxury hotel just didn’t seem right.
    â€œHave you talked to whoever the pastor is?” Bernadine wanted to know.
    â€œNo, but I did talk to the head bishop.”
    â€œHe going to fight the city over the plan?”
    Tina shook her head. “No. He said the diocese, I think he called it, thought they were