“I told you you’re not welcome here!” Victoria shrieked as she marched down the shell-lined path toward the car, her sneakers crunching dramatically. “Get back in that car and leave, Alexandra. Right now. I’m calling the police.”
“Please do,” I replied, opening my door calmly.
The ocean air hit me like a drug—salt and damp and the faint smell of seaweed. My lungs expanded like they hadn’t in months. I stepped out, the shells grinding beneath my boots, and pulled my suitcase from the trunk.
“In fact,” I added, straightening and meeting her furious gaze coolly, “I already called them myself. They should be here any minute.”
For a second, she faltered. It was quick—just a hitch in her step, a flicker in her eyes—but I saw it. Then her face tightened, her lips pressing into a razor-thin line.
“You entitled little—”
The distant wail of sirens cut her off.
We all turned as two patrol cars emerged through the fog, lights quietly spinning. They pulled into the driveway, careful not to block anyone in, and parked.
Lily zoomed in with her phone, no doubt already thinking of captions.
One of the officers stepped out. I recognized him from the brief conversation we’d had the night before.
“Mrs. Harrison,” Officer Martinez said, addressing Victoria as he approached. His dark hair was tucked neatly beneath his cap, his posture professional but not unfriendly. “We received your complaint about a trespasser.”
Victoria thrust a hand toward me like she was presenting evidence in court. “Yes! That’s her. She doesn’t live here. She has no right—”
He didn’t look where she was pointing. Instead, he reached into his jacket and pulled out a folder. “There seems to be a misunderstanding.”
“There’s no misunderstanding,” she snapped, her cheeks flushing. “This is my house. My husband signed it over to me. I told you that on the phone.”
Officer Martinez opened the folder, glanced at the top document, and then looked at me. “Miss Alexandra Parker?” he asked.
“That’s me,” I said.
He nodded. “We reviewed the documents your lawyer sent last night. According to these,” he tapped the folder lightly, “Miss Parker is the legal owner of this property.”
Silence dropped like a stone.
Lily’s phone dipped lower. Victoria blinked once, twice, as if the words had been spoken in another language.