“You won’t get into trouble with your boss?”
“Not for looking at an ankle. But just to be safe, let’s keep it between us.”
“Of course. Let me give you her address.” She told it to him, and he nodded.
“I know where that is. I just need to lock up here.” He walked her to the door. “See you in a few... friend.”
She grinned. “See you there.”
***
Erma opened her eyes to a buzzing sound. She blinked, then let her eyes flutter shut. When the buzzing continued, they flew open again. She sat up and reached for her phone. It was past eleven o’clock. Who was calling her this late at night? A spark of panic lit in her chest. Was Riley in trouble? Hayden? Both?
She picked up the phone and glanced at the screen. Bea? The woman was never up this late. She slid her finger across the bottom of the screen. “Are you okay?” she said as she turned on the small lamp next to her bed.
“I’m sorry I’m calling so late, but this can’t wait until morning. We need another emergency meeting of the BBs.”
Erma blinked again, pushing the last remnants of sleep out of her eyes. “Bea, did you hit your head when you fellthe other day? Because that totally could have waited until the morning. I’m not going to call everyone at this ungodly hour—”
“You’re right.” The excitement in Bea’s voice wavered. “I shouldn’t have disturbed you, but they didn’t leave until five minutes ago, and I had to talk to someone.”
“Who left?”
“Olivia and Kingston,” she gushed. “Oh, Erma, I think he’s theonefor my sweet niece.”
Erma pushed herself up until her back was resting against the headboard of her bed. “Bea, we talked about this. You said yourself that you were giving up on finding someone for Olivia.”
“I know, I know. But that was before tonight.” Bea sighed. “They’re so perfect together.”
After seeing Olivia and Kingston spar with each other at Sunny’s dance lesson, that was the last thing she’d expected to hear. And now she had to tell Bea to curb her enthusiasm. “Sweetie, I know how much you love Olivia—”
“You should have seen them tonight. I invited her over for peach pie, and she turned me down, and then half an hour later she arrived with Kingston by her side. Talk about surprised. They’re really a striking couple—he’s so tall and blond; she’s petite and dark. Their children will be beautiful, mark my words.”
“Bea, slow your roll. Just because they came over for pie doesn’t mean it’s time to send them on a honeymoon.”
“But you didn’t see them—”
“Yes, I did. They were at the dance lesson last night. And they weren’t chummy, if you get my drift.”
“Well, whatever that was, they made up for it tonight. I couldn’t get a word in edgewise, they were talking so much. About their jobs, books, movies, things that happened during their childhoods. Olivia spent a lot of time with the Bedfords when they were all growing up.”
“It sounds like old friends reminiscing.” Erma shifted position on her bed to accommodate her leg. It still flared up sometimes, even though two years had passed since she injured it sliding into third base at a church softball game. “I am glad to hear they’re not at odds anymore.” She’d never tell Bea this, but it had been uncomfortable watching their kerfuffle. Erma had no idea Olivia could be so belligerent, and Kingston had looked more than guilty about whatever it was he’d done.
“Oh, they’re more than friends,” Bea continued, “and they’re definitely not at odds.”
“Bea—”
“You didn’t see the way they looked at each other.” Bea paused, and Erma was sure her friend was going to let out another sigh. “They had the moonandstars in their eyes. Which is why we need to nudge them along. They might not realize it now, but they’re completely smitten. Oh, who’d have thought I’d have a doctor for a nephew-in-law? Erma, I’m simply giddy over this.”
“No kidding,” Erma mumbled. But she should at least hear Bea out. “Do you have a plan of some sort?”
“The dance lessons. Kingston’s an assistant teacher, and Olivia said she wants to continue taking them. We need to make sure they always dance together. That’s step one.”
“There are steps to this?”
“Step two is getting Karen involved.”
Oh no.Erma grimaced. “Karen Bedford?”
