Authors: Traci Hohenstein
Trista twisted the handle to HOT and began to fill the Jacuzzi tub. She added a lavender bath bomb and Epsom salts to the steaming water and gently stepped in. If she was going to spend the day with Nicolette shopping, she needed to ease her achy muscles. Between driving for three days straight and her
trysts
with Riker, Trista was sore all over. Plus, she needed to think things through before she had a conversation with her sister. Nicolette needed to know about Riker. Trista wasn’t going to leave Florida without her knowing the full truth. If they were going to repair their relationship, Trista wanted to start fresh with no lies or secrets. She just needed to figure out how to approach the subject.
Trista couldn’t even remember what really had started the argument between them. She eased her head back on the edge of the tub, closed her eyes, and thought back to the beginning…how it all started.
***
When Nicolette Ricci was six years old, her father had an affair with Trista’s mother, Charlotte Carmichael. They all lived in a small beachside town called Coral Cove, which was located just outside of Tampa, Florida. Charlotte was fresh out of college and an intern at Coral Cove Real Estate and Development, which Nicolette’s father owned. Sam Ricci was a handsome man who had troubles keeping his pants zipped. He loved the ladies as much as he loved a good deal.
Sam owned one of the largest real estate companies in Florida, with several investment property all around small coastal towns in Florida. Sam toured around Florida, snatching up deals wherever he went. He was touted in his field of business as a visionary. He took his beautiful intern, Charlotte, on a business trip to Blue Mountain Beach in the late 1980’s. There he met a gentleman who had several acres of beachfront property for sale. Charlotte fell in love with the soft, white sands, sparkling waters, and unencumbered land. She knew Blue Mountain Beach wasn’t just another small coastal town. It had charm, it was quiet, and the beaches were virtually untouched. Charlotte encouraged Sam to buy the investment property.
Two months after their visit to Blue Mountain Beach, Charlotte found out she was pregnant. Sam was furious and wanted her to have an abortion. The last thing he needed was a scandal. Charlotte refused. She wanted the baby more than life itself. Sam gave Charlotte money and sent her away to have the baby. There were already rumors floating around about his indiscretions. He didn’t want his wife to find out about his bastard baby. Charlotte fled to California where her baby girl was born. She named her Trista Samantha Carmichael. Charlotte tried desperately to reach out to Sam, but he continued to push her away, although he never failed to send her a check every month to take care of her and Trista. Two thousand dollars arrived the first of the month like clockwork. When Trista was three years old, Charlotte died of an accidental drug overdose. She had never recovered from her broken heart and had used drugs to numb her pain. Before she died, she sent a letter to Sam’s wife, Marla. In the letter, she told Marla about her affair with Sam…and the baby. In the letter, she explained that the child had no other family to take care of her, if something were to ever happen to Charlotte.
When Trista was old enough to understand what had happened, she thought her mother knew she was going to die and always wondered if it was suicide that took her mother instead of an accidental overdose. An unanswered question that would always haunt her.
Marla received the letter and confronted Sam about the affair. He finally admitted he was Trista’s father. Marla convinced Sam to fly out to California, where Trista was currently in foster care, and bring his daughter home. After a paternity test and thousands of dollars in legal fees, the Riccis arranged for Trista to come live with them. By this time, Nicolette was nine years old, and Trista was almost four. Nicolette had always wanted a brother or sister, and when Trista came to live with them, Nicolette was ecstatic. Unfortunately, it didn’t last long.
Nicolette was little overweight as girl. She had gorgeous, thick, dark hair, an olive complexion, and sparkling, hazel eyes. Although she had a beautiful face, from the neck down, she had her father’s genes. Sam was Italian and chunky. Nicolette was what people termed “big-boned.” They were always telling her, “If you would just lose fifteen pounds, you could be gorgeous.” This only led to her binge eating.
Meanwhile, Trista started blossoming into a beautiful girl. She had an athletic build, like her mother Charlotte, and had long honey-colored hair, big violet blue eyes, full sensuous lips, and a perky nose. The only hint of Sam was her coloring. Where her mother was pale, Trista had a darker complexion, which only added to her natural beauty.
When high school started for Trista, Nicolette became jealous of her sister. All the boys were smitten with Trista, and all the girls wanted to be her best friend.
However, Trista wasn’t interested in cheerleading, or dancing, or any of the social activities that the popular kids were interested in. She wanted to try her hand at Drama Club. Her English teacher, who ran the Drama Club, encouraged Trista to try out for the upcoming school play. Trista tried out for a smaller role, but surprised everyone when Mrs. Clark gave her the coveted role of Hot Lips in the play
M*A*S*H
. After Nicolette graduated high school, she left for college and decided to go to University of Georgia, where her mother had attended. Trista became closer to Marla while Nicolette was at college. When Trista was a senior in high school, Marla was diagnosed with terminal cancer. She had discovered a suspicious mole on her back and the doctor took a biopsy. The diagnosis: Marla had stage four melanoma. The doctor gave her a few months to live. Trista took care of Marla during her final months, taking her to doctors’ appointments, holding her hand during chemo treatments, and fixing her meals.
When Marla passed away, it drove the girls further apart. Nicolette blamed her mother’s death on Trista, telling her that the cancer stemmed from stress that her mother endured when she found out about the affair. Sam tried to stay neutral. He hated conflict and didn’t like the girl’s arguing day and night. He threw himself into his work and tried to avoid any fights.
The night that Trista graduated high school was bittersweet. Marla had passed away the week before. Nicolette did not attend her sister’s graduation, electing to go back to school after the funeral. Only Sam was there. Trista remembered him hugging her and telling her that everything was going to be okay, that Nicolette would eventually come around.
Sam then told her he thought it would be a good idea for them to start fresh. He wanted to move his operations to Blue Mountain Beach, where he had many business interests, including a small real estate office and a restaurant and bar. He was also beginning development on the land that he’d bought while Charlotte was with him during that first visit to the area. The land that he had bought seventeen years earlier had increased ten-fold in value. New houses and condo developments were popping up left and right, and Sam was eager to cash in on his investments.
While Nicolette went back to college, Sam and Trista moved to Blue Mountain Beach. Sam bought a large gulf-front home, and Trista helped him decorate and furnish the home. She had plans to attend a local community college and major in drama. No one knew Trista in Blue Mountain Beach, and she saw this as an opportunity to start over.
Everything was going well until Nicolette came home for the holidays a couple months after they had settled in. It had been almost nine months since Marla died, and Nicolette was still sullen and mad as hell. Nicolette told Trista she was coming home from college to live with her father. They had a huge fight, with Nicolette blaming Trista once again for her mother’s death. She told Trista it was time for her to move on and get out of their lives.
Trista packed her bags that night and, early the next morning, left Blue Mountain Beach. She left a note for Sam, telling him she thought it was for the best. Nicolette needed time with her father, and having Trista around was only going to complicate things.
With a small inheritance from Marla, Trista moved to New York City. She drove all night long, only stopping once to spend the night in Virginia. Trista made it to the Big Apple and decided to stay with a friend from high school who was attending Julliard.
Immediately, Trista landed a small part on Broadway that lasted a year. That role led to another small part on a daytime soap opera, where a producer from a major network spotted her. He had a TV show that was in development—a role he thought she’d be perfect for.
A week later, Trista Carmichael was on her way to Hollywood. She read for the lead part in
You Only Live Once
and was hired on the spot. It was the stuff dreams were made of.
The show was an instant hit. The cast on the show became like family to her. Quinn Miller was her best friend on the show…and in real life. Shane Babineaux played her love interest on the show, and Cheyenne Young played her neighbor. They were all very tight and saw each other frequently off the set.
Two and a half years after leaving Blue Mountain Beach, she was finally in a good place. She missed Sam though. She also missed her sister, despite all the bad things Nicolette said about her. Sam flew out to Hollywood to see her on a few occasions. On one of those trips, he convinced her to come home for the holidays. Sam told her that Nicolette was working as a real estate agent for his company and she was miserable without her sister in her life. Trista agreed to fly home for a few nights, hoping that Nicolette would be ready to put everything behind them. This was not the case.
Trista’s visit home was a big mistake. Nicolette still harbored ill feelings toward her sister. She gave her the cold shoulder all weekend. The night before Trista left, Nicolette suggested it might be best if she never returned to Blue Mountain Beach. Trista accused Nicolette of being a jealous brat, promptly leaving Blue Mountain Beach and vowing never to return.
***
Trista used her toe to pull the drain in the tub. Just thinking about the memories of Marla’s death and her troubles with Nicolette made her nauseated. Watching the water swirl down the drain, she thought of the conversation she needed to have with Nicolette. It was time to put all their differences aside and try to repair their relationship. It had been several years since Marla died. That was enough time for Nicolette to heal. Trista thought Nicolette had done a good job of moving on with her life. She was a successful real estate agent, following in their father’s footsteps, and she had blossomed into a beautiful woman. There was no reason why she should be jealous of Trista. The only thing Trista was unsure of was how to approach Nicolette about Riker. Telling her sister that she had sex with her boyfriend would certainly be a setback.
Trista stepped out of the tub and grabbed a towel from the warming rack. It didn’t matter how Nicolette reacted to the news about Riker. She needed to be told. And today was better than any other.
“Let me buy that outfit for you,” Trista offered to Nicolette. “It looks great on you!” They had just finished lunch and were shopping in nearby Seaside. Nicolette was celebrating a big sale that had just closed, a five-million-dollar beachfront home, once owned by a famous country singer. She modeled a gorgeous navy pantsuit that complemented her curvy figure.
“I have my own money, Trista.” Nicolette picked up a gold brooch from the jewelry counter.
“I know that. I just want to do something special for you.” Trista thought maybe she was doing it to soothe her own guilt about Riker as well.
“Trista Carmichael?”
Trista turned around at the sound of her name. She spotted a woman holding a bunch of dresses in her hands. “I heard you were in town.” It was like deja vu all over again.
Word travels fast in a small town
. “Just for a while.” Trista smiled politely, waiting for the woman to ask for her autograph or a picture.
“If you don’t mind me asking, how long are you planning on staying?”
“Who knows?” Trista shrugged. She was trying to be polite, but today of all days, she just wanted some peace and quiet. She studied the woman, trying to figure out whether she knew her or not.
“She was fired from her show,” Nicolette whispered to the woman.
“Do you two know each other?” Trista asked, startled by her sister’s comment.
“This is Michelle Newhouse,” Nicolette introduced them. “I sold her a house last year. Michelle teaches drama at the local high school.”
“Nice to meet you.” Trista said turning to Michelle. “I wasn’t fired, by the way. My contract wasn’t renewed. Let’s just leave it at that.”
“Well, they’re missing out on some great talent.” Michelle handed her dresses to the sales girl. “Can you start me a dressing room please?”
“What have you been up to?” Nicolette asked Michelle. “Still teaching those teenagers with raging hormones how to act?”
“Yes, just not for the school district. I retired from teaching. I now run my own production company and also head up the Blue Mountain Beach Children’s Theatre.”
“Really?” Trista asked, sincerely interested. “I’d love to hear more about it.”
“We’re gearing up for our spring play followed by our summer acting camp. You should see the amount of great talent we have from the kids around here,” Michelle said proudly. “Why don’t you come by tonight? We’re having our first meeting for the spring play.” She reached in her purse and pulled out a business card, handing it to Trista.
Trista took the card and put in her pocket. “I just might do that.” She thought it was the perfect thing to occupy her time until she could find a job in New York.
“Nice to meet you, Trista. Hope to see you soon.” Michelle headed for her dressing room. “Bye, Nicolette!”
Trista and Nicolette gathered their shopping bags and headed out. “Let’s have a glass of wine before we head home. I know the perfect place,” Nicolette said.
“Okay,” Trista agreed. She slipped inside the passenger seat of Nicolette’s Land Rover. While Nicolette drove, Trista checked her emails on her iPhone. She received an email from her agent about a voice-over job for a new commercial. She wouldn’t have to leave Florida. A small studio in nearby Panama City Beach agreed to provide the technical equipment and studio space for her.
Trista was in the middle of replying to her agent when Nicolette said, “We’re here.” She looked up to see they were parked in front of the Liars Club.
“What are we doing at this dive bar?”
“This dive bar happens to be partly owned by Daddy, in case you forgot. And it is also where the most handsome man in Blue Mountain Beach works.”
“You know, I’m really tired. Let’s just go home. We’ve got tons of wine there.”
Nicolette shut off the car. “Come on. Just for a bit. You can visit your picture that’s still hanging on the wall by the restrooms,” she said with a laugh.
Trista grabbed her bag. “Okay.” She wasn’t too crazy about seeing Riker again. She still needed to have a conversation with Nicolette. However, putting it off another day was looking better and better.
The bar was more crowded this time. Being a little after five o’clock, most of the patrons were just getting off work. During the off-season it was a mix of blue-collar workers and business types. Come spring break the bar would be overrun by tourists. Trista and Nicolette chose seats in the middle of the bar. Riker was working with another bartender, a pretty girl who Trista didn’t recognize.
“That’s Maya,” Nicolette whispered in Trista’s ear. “I was worried at first when I found out that Riker was working with such a pretty girl. She’s part Asian, part Irish.”
“She’s pretty,” Trista observed.
“He’s assured me that I have nothing to worry about.” Nicolette lowered her voice even more. “She’s a lesbian.”
“I’d still be worried,” Trista commented. “She’s gorgeous.”
Nicolette playfully punched her sister on the arm. “Thanks for the support, sis.”
“I’m just kidding,” Trista said.
“How are my two favorite people?” Riker greeted them with drinks. “Margarita on the rocks for the blonde,” he said, referring to Trista, “and a glass of chardonnay for the brunette.”
Nicolette smiled. “We just finished up a round of therapeutic shopping.” Nicolette leaned in for a kiss on the cheek from Riker, and he obliged. Trista gave him a warning look to back off when he started to lean in to kiss her. She didn’t need any special attention from him in front of her sister.
“How’s your day been?” Nicolette asked him.
“Busy as usual.” Another patron yelled for Riker to bring him a beer. Riker held up a finger indicating that he’d be there in a minute. “Can’t talk right now. But I’ll be back to check on you in a few minutes.”
“Looks like Sam made a good investment in this place,” Trista said. “If the bar is this crowded on a weekday in late February, I can’t imagine what kind of business they do during spring break and summer.”
“Oh, it gets crazy. Double the bartenders plus a staff of bouncers and a valet. Weekends they usually have live music.” Nicolette twirled her wine glass around. “Daddy has been trying to buy the lot next door to expand the restaurant and bar and put in a huge parking lot. But the owner is being stubborn. He doesn’t want to sell.”
“Who owns the lot?”
“Carlton Hathaway.”
“Why does that name sound familiar?”
“Hathaway is Dad’s nemesis—the other big land owner and real estate guru in the area. And he hates Dad with a passion. Last I heard, he wants to put his own restaurant on the piece of land. Daddy says Hathaway doesn’t know anything about running a restaurant.”
“Well, in all fairness, neither did Dad.”
“Yeah, well, he’s smart enough to hire other people to run his businesses for him. This guy just wants to do it to piss Daddy off.”
Trista remembered when her dad bought the land to build the seafood restaurant and bar. Actually the bar came first. Her father wanted a place to hold his famous poker nights, hence the name: the Liar’s Club. The seafood restaurant was just an afterthought, a way to cash in on the tourists. The seafood restaurant, Lucky Catch, ended up being an award-winning place with a talented chef. It was packed every night from May to September.
“There are a lot of people who want to piss him off. I’m sure he’s used to it.” Trista took a long sip of her drink, relishing the sweet and tangy mixtures swirling around her mouth. “Why don’t you just find Daddy another piece of land? There are plenty of vacant lots up and down the coastal highway. He can relocate the bar and restaurant.”
“Don’t you think I’ve tried? It’s not about finding him something else. It’s about him winning. Having the upper hand.”
“Winning what?”
Nicolette laughed. “You just don’t understand the way things work around here. That’s why Daddy trusts me to handle his business.”
Another zing at me
. Nicolette would always remind Trista that she was Daddy’s little girl. Not Trista. Nicolette would never forgive her for intruding on their lives. In her twisted mind, she thought Trista was trying to take her mother and father away from her. When Trista’s own mother died, she thought she had no one. She was only three years old, for fuck’s sake. She didn’t ask to be relocated to Florida with a father who never wanted her and a sister who hated her guts. It was ironic that Marla was the only one who truly wanted Trista.
That woman was a saint.
To take in the baby of the woman who had an affair with her husband was the ultimate act of forgiveness. She had treated Trista like her own daughter since the day she moved in, loving her unconditionally.
Eventually, Trista and her dad became close. It was more of Marla pushing him to do the right thing, but in the end, Sam became the father that Trista deserved, and that’s all that mattered to her. Marla was the only mother that Trista had ever really known, and she treasured each and every moment she had spent with her. That’s what made it so hard for Trista to understand why Nicolette never wanted to pursue a better relationship with her. It really hurt.
“Sorry if I’m seeing the simple solution to this problem. If Hathaway doesn’t want to sell, then find someone else who will,” Trista said.
Nicolette laughed. “Let’s talk about something else.”
“Speaking of Daddy,” Trista took a sip of her margarita, “have you heard from him lately?” She hadn’t seen her dad since she’d arrived in town. He had been on a ’round-the-world cruise with friends. Trista had one brief phone conversation with him the week she left California. He was happy to hear that Trista was staying at the beach house for a while and promised to have dinner with ‘his girls’ when he got back next month.
“
Heyyyy
…I know you!” a male voice boomed behind Trista, interrupting their conversation. His words were slurred. “You’re that gurrrrl…from the offfther…night.”
Trista turned to come face to face with Crazy Jack. His breath was ripe with whiskey. His teeth were stained a sickening yellow that matched his eyes and the tips of his fingers.
“I’m sorry, I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Trista said. She glanced around the bar for Riker, trying to get his attention. When Riker saw Crazy Jack, he walked over to them. Trista breathed a sigh of relief. “We’ve never met,” she told Crazy Jack.
“Of course we have. I never forget a purrrty face. I gots a good memory…”
Nicolette was watching the exchange with a look of curiosity on her face. If Trista didn’t get this guy out of here, Nicolette would start asking some questions—questions Trista wasn’t ready to answer. She felt relief when Riker came around the bar and headed toward them.
“Hey, Crazy Jack. Quit bothering the ladies. The boys have a little game going on in the back room,” Riker said, grabbing Crazy Jack by the elbow. “Let’s go see how much trouble we can get into.”
“But…I was jus’ trying to talk to the purty lady…” Crazy Jack was saying as Riker led him off.
“Huh, what was that all about?” Nicolette asked, watching the whole scene unfold.
Trista tried to laugh it off. “You know how I always attract the loonies.”
“When did you meet Crazy Jack?” Nicolette asked, not willing to let it drop.
“I’ve never met that man,” Trista said. Which was technically true. Crazy Jack had been passed out almost the entire time she was at the bar that night. He only woke up for a few minutes while Riker was helping him get safely into the cab. She didn’t think he would remember her; they hadn’t even spoken to one another. “He probably saw me on the show.”
Nicolette laughed. “I don’t think Crazy Jack has ever watched
You Only Live Once
, let alone any kind of meaningful television.”
“That’s not true,” Riker said, catching the tail end of their conversation when he returned to the bar. “He’s a big fan of
Duck Dynasty
. He seems to think he’s kin to Silas.”
“Exactly my point!” Nicolette exclaimed.
“Hey, can we get going? I’m not feeling too well.” Trista pushed her drink away.
“What’s wrong?” Nicolette asked.
Riker also looked at her suspiciously, waiting for answer.
“Just a headache. I need to lie down for a bit.”
Nicolette reached in her wallet to pay the tab. Riker waved her off.
“It’s on me, ladies.” He kissed Nicolette on the cheek again. “Have a nice night. I’ll call you later.”
Trista walked out of the Liar’s Club feeling like the biggest liar of all of them.