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Sabrina watched as her sister danced with Sean. The couple was perfectly happy despite the family drama. Family would never be perfect but the right person made life’s rough patches easier.
That was fine; she’d enjoy her European tour on her own. She had friends and places she’d always wanted to see.
When Meredith left the table quietly and quickly walked out to the courtyard, Sabrina knew it was a Veronica 911.
Sabrina headed out behind her cousin and spotted Chris carrying Veronica out of the ocean. Jason covered her with his jacket.
“I hate both of you!” Veronica shouted.
“What are you doing?” Sabrina demanded as she ran to her brother.
“She went skinny dipping,” Chris said.
“Very drunk,” Jason added.
Sabrina cinched the coat around her sister. “You need to get to rehab before the wedding. That’s it.”
“No, after the wedding. I’ll be fine. Then Jason is going to take me around and let me do my photography.” Veronica struggled.
Sabrina locked eyes with Jason.
“Like an internship or something. I know some photographers,” Jason explained.
Sab ignored him and looked at her sister. “You need to get your life together before you worry about trips and career. I’m sick of everyone running after you and taking care of your messes!” she yelled.
Veronica cried and struggled. “You’re yelling at me but you’re mad at him.”
“No, I’m mad at you. You are pulling this family apart. I’ve been nice as long as I can and you need to know I won’t bail you out or babysit you anymore. I won’t let Mom or Meredith do it. either. Tabitha will be gone for her honeymoon but I’ll make sure she’s on board. You think you’re a force of nature? You just watch me make your life miserable until you get sober.” Sabrina looked her sister in the eye, forcing herself to calm. “I’m not kidding. I’m not mad. I’m done.”
“Then I’ll just run away,” Veronica said.
“Poor little rich girl syndrome. You’ve got no money. You’ve only got friends and men who want you for your family’s money. Get real, Veronica,” Sabrina said.
Trey pulled up and got out of the car with a sheet over his arm.
“What are you doing?” Sabrina asked Jason.
“I asked him to come. I’m trying to help,” he said.
“Mind your own business,” she snapped.
Part of her deep down was touched that he cared but she hated that Veronica was rushing to him for help. To take her away from all of this when that’s what Sabrina really wanted. To see the world with Jason and paint.
Meredith took the sheet from Trey and wrapped it around Veronica. “Let’s go get some junk food and milkshakes.”
“I’m supposed to be at the party,” Veronica mocked.
“They’ll understand. Come on. we’ll sort this out tomorrow,” Meredith said.
Sabrina watched her cousin lead Veronica to the car.
Trey looked expectantly at Jason.
“Wherever Meredith says, it’s fine. She’s in charge,” Jason said.
“Got it.” Trey got back behind the wheel.
Chris put his clothes back on. “Never seen you blow like that,” he grinned at Sabrina.
“Milkshakes?” Jason asked.
Sabrina tried to smile but it wasn’t quite working. “Sugar crash will hit her and she’ll sleep it off. What were you thinking offering her an internship? You’re going to run off with my little sister?”
“That’s not what I meant. Not at all.” Jason couldn’t win. He’d screwed up so much that he’d never redeem himself.
“Sab, it might work. She’s going to college but the non-photography classes are what she flunks. Veronica needs rehab but she also needs to follow her passion, like you. If she gets serious about it, she might succeed,” Chris said.
Jason hated the tension crackling in the air. “I’ll go. Engagement party is over, I’ll be back for the wedding. Chris can handle the bachelor party or we can do that in Boston, whatever. I wanted to help but I’m not good at this sort of thing.”
“Who is?” Chris asked.
“Chris,” Sabrina said with a sigh.
“Fine, I’ll go dry off.” He walked inside.
“I’m sorry, Sabrina. I’m not good at family stuff. I didn’t have much of one. I’m doing the best I can. I know those photos will be awful. I should’ve just left.”
“This isn’t a movie. You’re not going to be the hero and it’s all wrapped up in a big intervention,” she said.
“Maybe that’s what your sister needs? Everyone saying they won’t enable her anymore. Cut her off from money. No following her or protecting her,” Jason said.
“She’d end up dead or...I can’t imagine that,” Sabrina replied.
Jason sighed. “I made it very clear she had to be clean and sober to get any sort of internship or connections from me. That’s all I can do. Your family needs to stand up to her. I’m sorry if I made a spectacle. I’ll go.”
“No, she said, staring at the reporters still snapping away and shouting questions.
“No?” he asked.
“You got Veronica’s interest. She paid attention to your idea. She might just want the celebrity but if she’s serious about photography, great. The intervention suggestion is good, too. If you can help her, will you?” she asked.
“Of course. I’d do anything you want,” he said.
Sabrina shook her head. “This isn’t for me. It’s for Veronica. You made it clear that you don’t think I fit into your world,” she said plainly.
“I’m a jerk for wanting to protect you?” He couldn’t win.
Sabrina held up a hand. “I didn’t say that. You never let me fully see your world. You didn’t invite me to the set. You never took me to a Hollywood party. You think you know what’s best but you don’t know what I want for my life. You never asked. So let’s not pretend like you tried. If you want to help Veronica, you stay. Odds are she’ll take help easier from you. Sean will be family soon and she always resists harder when it’s family. Once Veronica is in rehab, you can leave.”
He nodded. “Fine. When do you want to do the intervention?”
“Tomorrow. The sooner the better. Mrs. Drake is looking into the right rehab,” Sabrina said.
“Great. Sabrina, I think of her as a sister. No matter what the celebrity gossip crap makes out of this,” Jason said.
“I’m sure that’s true. You should call Barb and warn her.” Sabrina turned on her heel.
“I’m not with her. I never was. Why would I do that?” Jason couldn’t believe Sabrina thought he was lying.
She walked back into the party.
Jason couldn’t sleep after the party. He went back to the B&B until the press got bored, then went for a walk. The night breeze soothed him as he strolled the streets. Finding himself in front of the gallery, he had an idea.
He texted Sabrina to see if she was around and awake.
Instead of a reply, he saw the lights go on in the gallery. She opened the door.
“Really about Veronica?” she asked.
He leaned in. “You know she’s going to resist actually going to rehab. Your dad isn’t going to let her be homeless or broke. We have to get her to go.”
“How?” Sabrina asked.
“I wasn’t joking about the photographers. I’ve been in enough magazine photoshoots. I can make some calls. But most won’t even think about it unless they see a portfolio of her work. I thought you might have some stuff,” he explained
“Come on in.” She locked the door behind him. “It’s upstairs.”
He followed her up and into her apartment.
“Coffee?” she offered.
“If it’s not any trouble,” he said.
She started the coffee and headed to her bedroom.
“Need help?” he offered.
“No, stay out there,” she said.
He sat on the couch and looked around. It was neat with little feminine touches that made it homey.
Sabrina carried out a box of pictures. “This is from Veronica’s high school. She was big into pictures then. She tried to throw it away a few years back, so I hid it from her and took it from Mom’s house.”
“All hers?” he asked.
She sat own next to Jason. “Yes. She drove us nuts. I’m sure there are unflattering ones of me in there.”
“Not possible,” he teased.
“How many do we need?” she asked.
He shrugged. “You’re an artist. How many pieces make a portfolio?”
“Depends. Let’s find a dozen good ones and see. Some will be practice or goofs.” Sabrina began sorting.
“A lot of these are good,” he said.
They sorted in silence for awhile until Sabrina spoke up.
“Why are you helping?” she asked.
“I upset her. She told me I broke your heart. I don’t want to bring up things that upset you. I never meant to hurt you or stay away. It was too hard to be away and hear your voice,” he confessed.
She looked at him. “I believe you. But that doesn’t mean I can’t handle your career or life. You never asked. You never gave me a chance to talk about it.”
Jason couldn’t argue with that. “I’m sorry, I assumed you wanted to stay here with your sisters. Your family is so close, I’m jealous.”
Nodding, she kept sorting. “I’m guilty of that, too. I love my family, but I’ve settled in here and not taken care of my artistic side the way I should.”
“You said you were painting all winter. That’s not enough?” he asked.
She shrugged. “I might go visit Johnno in Ireland. Travel a bit.”
Jason smiled. “And I’ve been thinking about settling down. Blocking off time to stay in one place and enjoy life. Maybe Boston or here.”
“Not New York? Broadway?” she asked.
He shook his head. “The plays weren’t that compelling. I want to see what your local theater troupe puts on.”
“Please, they’re very amateur and lost their director,” she replied.
“Doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy it. You need to travel more and I need to travel less.” He flipped through the pile of photos that she handed him. “These are great!”
“So you’re going to take a picture of the pictures and send them to your friend?” Sabrina asked.
“Can’t hurt. If I get someone to offer an internship or to mentor her, it might be the push she needs to get clean.” He set them out on the coffee table and began taking pictures with his phone. “I’m not good at this.”
She laughed. “It’ll be great if you have something to show her. There isn’t much leverage with an heiress.”
She watched him for a moment as he tapped out an email and her smile faded.
“Tabitha, Meredith, Sean and I agreed we won’t enable her. Mom and Dad will be harder,” Sabrina admitted.
“Okay, sent to one friend. Now a second. Hopefully one of them gets back to me,” Jason said.
“Thank you. We’re going to have the intervention tomorrow at ten so you better get some sleep.” She smiled.
He wanted to kiss her but thought that might just ruin the pleasant time they’d had. They were talking about the future in a way that finally lined up.
“I’ll get out of your way. Where is it going to be?” he asked.
“The B&B. I told her we’re having a meeting about the bachelorette party tomorrow in Franny’s hotel room. Hopefully that’ll keep the press from being an issue.” Sabrina walked him out.
As she opened the door she grimaced. “Darn it.”
“What?” he asked.
“I forgot the coffee. There’s a whole pot gone to waste.” She shrugged.
“It’d just keep us up anyway. We’d be talking all night. Not that I wouldn’t love it,” he grinned.
“But we have to get up and be awake for Veronica.” She kissed his cheek. “Thanks.”
He exited the gallery and watched her lock up. Once the lights were out, he walked down the street toward the B&B. He finally had a glimmer of hope.