Summer Beach Reads 5-Book Bundle: Beachcombers, Heat Wave, Moon Shell Beach, Summer House, Summer Breeze by Nancy Thayer Read Free Book Online Page A

“What’s going on?”
    Their heads snapped toward her in identical rhythm.
    “Marina. You’re awake.” Dara stood up, poured a cup of coffee, and put it on the table.
    Marina sat down. She took a sip of coffee—it was strong and rich. Dara was a good cook.
    She looked at Gerry, whose mouth was pulled tight the way it always got during an argument, especially when he was in the wrong.
    Slowly, Marina said, “I’m not going to like this, am I?”
    “I don’t know,” Gerry countered. “You might like it a lot, if you stop to think about it. I want a divorce, Marina.”
    She stared at him. They’d been married for ten years. They must have made love a million times. She knew everything about him, how stupid he looked when he was flapping around the office in a tantrum because of something at work, how tender he could be when they were alone together. He was handsome, and he worked hard at it, exercising at a gym, spending lots of time buying clothes and moussing his hair, he was even considering having a face-lift because he needed to keep his image young and fresh. She knew how his older brother’s success as a physician overshadowed Gerry, how his parents scarcely
saw
their younger son because of the blinding light of their older son’s brilliance. She’d held Gerry in her arms ashe wept bitterly after they spent Christmas with his parents. Her love for him had been the motivation, really, for the fury with which she attacked her own part in their business. She had wanted to protect him.
    True, they weren’t getting along very well recently. Their time and conversations together revolved around work. He was probably sick of her relentless failures to get pregnant, and for her own part, Marina had to admit she hadn’t felt close to him for a long time. Still. To bring up divorce like this, in front of Dara—what was he thinking?
    “Gee,” she said snidely, “nice of you to wait till I had my birthday party to tell me.”
    From the other side of the table, Dara spoke up. “Marina. There’s something else.”
    Marina turned toward her friend. Christie and Dara had been the first to know when she’d gotten her period, the first to know when she’d lost her virginity, the first to know when she’d fallen in love with Gerry. Marina had been Dara’s go-to person during her two marriages and grisly divorces. Dara was a beauty, apple-cheeked and bosomy, sensual and seductive.
    Oh.
    Gerry had found comfort with Dara. Which was why Gerry was talking in front of Dara.
    “You and Gerry,” Marina said flatly.
    Dara nodded. “Yes.” She raised her chin defiantly. “And Marina, I’m not going to apologize. You’re not in love with Gerry anymore. I know that.”
    “Really. Did I ever say that?” Marina demanded.
    Dara blushed. “Marina. There’s something else.”
    “Good God,” Marina cursed. “What more could there possibly be?”
    Dara’s eyes flew to meet Gerry’s. Her face became radiant. Her smile was absolutely Mona Lisa.
    It felt like a knife slicing through her entire torso. The pain made her breathless. “You’re pregnant.”
    “With my child,” Gerry added, unable to keep the pride from his voice.
    It was almost dazzling, how quickly Marina’s life changed after that. Of course, Gerry and Dara, in their eager selfish joy, hadalready plotted the path. With Dara’s money, Gerry bought out Marina’s half of the business. Gerry had already spoken to an agent who had a buyer lined up for Marina and Gerry’s condo. With no children or financial issues, the legalities of the divorce were dealt with in a flash.
    Suddenly, within a matter of weeks, Marina lost her husband, her work, her home, and one of her very best friends. Most of her current friends were Gerry and Dara’s friends, too. They strained to be supportive to Marina without insulting Gerry or Dara, and that just made it difficult for everyone. Marina had to let them go.
    Her parents had retired to sunny Arizona. Over the