Sunny

Chapter 26

The next morning Rhea took her walk on the beach as usual and when she heard the ferry's horn she rushed towards the dock. She knew Eli was on board and she wanted to be near him because she felt as if their time was running out. Now that she had given herself permission to call him hers, she only wanted to be with him for as long as she could and it felt like more than twenty-four hours since she had seen him last.

He was helping Otto dock the boat and he barely had time to drop the rope in order to catch her as she hurled herself towards him. He did catch her and he give her a long kiss before he held her away from him with a grin. "I missed you too!" he greeted, then he pulled her close to him once more.

He saw Mason approaching him with a smile and he jumped out to greet his friend with a hug and a back slap.

"How is everything?" Mason asked. The question was seemingly innocent and Rhea seemed oblivious that there was more to it than a simple question as Eli surreptitiously passed off the latest paper to Mason before turning to help Rhea out of the boat.

Rainer joined them greeting the camera crew who had watched the scene with interested gazes. He and Eli started to help them unload as Mason tucked the paper out of sight before Rhea noticed it. They were so close to having everything the way they wanted it, it would be a shame to lose the momentum because of one tabloid story.

"How does the place look?" Eli asked. "I hope the decorating team was worth it." There was an edge to his voice that both Mason and Rhea caught.

Rhea looked at him and he forced a smile. "What's for breakfast, I'm starved. How about you Otto?"

"Sure am!" he agreed.

"Oh, I'll go get it started!" Rhea smiled kissing Eli once more before she started up the path towards the house. Her simple and easy kiss reminding him of how close he was to having his dreams come true.

Rainer and Otto led the camera crew towards the house, leaving Eli alone with Mason.

Once they were alone Mason reached into his back pocket and pulled out the paper looking at the headlines.

It was a photo of Rhea and Victoria passing on the boat, the headline read, 'The Battle of the Stars, Who Will He Choose?'

It was the most fictitious lines of slander he had ever read. The story recounted the two women passing and saying things that were never said, most of it about Eli.

"It could only have been taken by one of the decorating crew," Eli said as he watched his friends face grow angry.

"I'll take care of it," Mason assured him. "All that Sunny said by the way was, 'I hope you enjoyed your stay' and 'Have a safe journey'.

Eli smiled. "She wouldn't say anything else."

"How did it go in town?"

"Fine, I took care of some business. I don't suppose you could recommend a new agent?"

"Sure, and I know just the lawyer to look over the contract before you sign it, as well as help you out of your current contract."

"It's all about who you know."

"Did you get the benefit concert set-up?"

"Yes, your friend Dr. Evers was most agreeable to us helping the children's wing at the local hospital. His wife Penny and his sister Reagan were very eager to help and are getting things rolling as we speak. I told them Lizzy and Grace would join them on Sunday and with the four of them a week to set it all up should be no problem."