Free The Last Goodbye (The Women of Independence) by Mona Ingram

silly. I’ll bring you
some.”
    Danielle was back a few moments later.
Esperanza had insisted on setting up a tray with glasses and ice. Carmen
declined ice, and Danielle handed her the bottled water and a glass, then
poured a Coke for herself before sitting back down.
    “May I ask you a personal question?” she
said, looking across at the older woman. “Do you enjoy acting?”
    Carmen didn’t seem surprised by the
question. “Funny you should ask. I was thinking about that very thing this
afternoon. I guess the honest answer is that yes, I enjoy it, but not as much
as when I was younger. For a long period of time I had to turn down anything
that involved travel. And yet now that I can accept those roles, they don’t
appeal so much.” A sad smile passed over her face. “Interesting how that works,
isn’t it?”
    “Do you wish you’d done things
differently?”
    “Not at all. I was taking care of my
mother. She needed me. End of story.” She took a drink of water. “You look like
you’re trying to figure something out.”
    “I suppose I am.” Danielle smiled
sheepishly. “I’d welcome your advice, but I need to do some more thinking.”
    Carmen spread her hands. “I’ll help if I
can.” A shadow passed over her face. “At least as long as I’m here.” She raised
her glass again and movement on the lawn caught her eye. “Oh, look who’s come
out of hiding.”
    Danielle looked to see a slender woman
walking down the sloped lawn toward the lake. She stopped about a hundred feet
away from Hayden and Tyler, and seemed disappointed when they didn’t beckon her
closer. The two women watched with interest.
    “Andrea Thomas,” said Carmen, not trying
to hide her dislike. “So far, she’s the only thing about this gig I don’t like.
I shouldn’t say that; it makes me sound bitchy, but it’s true.”
    “She’s certainly beautiful.” Danielle
tried to get a better look.
    “Beautiful... no.” Carmen eyed the
actress critically. “She’s pretty, but you’re beautiful.”
    Danielle fingered her braid. “No, I’m
not.” She watched as the actress closed the distance between herself and the
men, her hips swaying enticingly. “Do you really think so?”
    Carmen laughed, but it was a kind laugh.
“Yes, Danielle. I really think so.”
    Danielle didn’t know where to look. “No
one has ever called me beautiful before. I mean, look at me. No fashion sense
to speak of, I don’t wear makeup, and I never fuss with my hair.” She thought
for a moment. “I had a serious boyfriend when I was around twenty, and he’d
tell me I looked nice, but...” Her voice trailed off.
    “I’m sure he thought you were beautiful.
It’s been my experience that most young men simply don’t know how to express
themselves.” She tilted her head to one side and studied Danielle openly. “I
feel sorry for women these days... especially the younger ones. Our society has
convinced them to equate beauty with appearance, when we all know it goes much
deeper. You’re a natural beauty, Danielle. I can tell that you care for the
people around you by the way you speak about your grandmother, and about Jake.
You value loyalty, and I have no doubt that you’re loyal in return. Add those
things to your natural beauty, and you’ve got Andrea Thomas beat by a country
mile. I’ll bet that hair of yours would be glorious if you let it out of that
braid once in a while.” She grinned to soften her words. “Of course I see
everyone through the potential lens of a camera, and I think you’d be perfect.”
    Danielle shuddered. “No thank you.” She
looked at the distant hills. “This is where I belong.”
    “Well, if you ever change your mind,
look me up.” Carmen pulled up her feet and tucked them under her long skirt. “After
my mom died, I couldn’t wait to get out of the city and I bought a small place up
towards San Luis Obispo. In the same area as Grayson, actually.”
    Danielle didn’t try to hide her
interest.