“I’ve almost got the fall book order done.” Abby knew it wasn’t what Madeline was asking, but she’d keep to safe topics.
“Have you changed your mind about this weekend?” Madeline had been trying to convince Abby to join her and two other women for a girls’ weekend in St. Louis. “I can wait for you to get off work. We’d only be a couple hours behind the others.”
Abby shook her head. “Go. Get out of here. I’ll be fine.”
“Are you sure?” Madeline gave her a concerned look. “You’re still not yourself.”
Abby let out a half-laugh. “It’s been a week. Don’t you think I deserve a little more grace?”
Madeline sighed. “You’re right. I just don’t like seeing you this way.”
It had become Madeline’s go-to line, and it was wearing on Abby. It was never clear whatthis waywas. “Which way is that?”
“Defeated. Lifeless.”
“Defeated?” Abby sat up taller. “Didn’t I put that woman from Heartland Family Alliance in her place at the board meeting on Tuesday?”
Madeline smiled. “Granted, it’s the one positive about the breakup. The rage had to come out somehow.”
Abby frowned. “I wasn’t raging. I was—”
“You’re right.” Madeline held up her hand as if shielding herself. “You commanded the stage. Still, you’re so sad when you’ve always been so upbeat and positive.”
“Sure. Didn’t you say I was unadventurous and boring?” Abby wasn’t being fair to Madeline, but she just wanted Madeline to go. Go away for the weekend and leave Abby to nurse her wounds. Madeline kept pushing her to talk about it, but there was nothing to say.
Madeline crossed her arms over her chest. “I said no such thing. I told you that you needed to take more chances and live a little.”
“Aka boring and unadventurous.”
“Since you’re grieving, I’m gonna give you a pass.”
“Sorry.” Abby’s shoulders slumped. “You’re right. It’s not fair to take it out on you. It’s just the first time I stepped out of my comfort zone, I got walloped across the face.”
“And you’ll step outside of it again.”
“Then what?”
“You may not get walloped, or you might, but by god, you will have lived.”
Abby laughed. One of the few genuine laughs she’d had all week. “Do you think I’m boring?” It wasn’t a fair question, but after Blythe had broken up, she feared she’d go back to being the boring person she’d been before.
“Girl, I’ve never thought you were boring. That’s always been in your head. You’re creative and quirky. Smart and well-read. That house of yours, the one you created, is far from boring. Just because you don’t have a jet setter lifestyle doesn’t mean you’re boring.”
“Hmm. That’s what Winnie said.” When Abby noticed Madeline’s questioning expression, she added, “Winnie. X-Marks the Spot. The Gen X creator.”
“Ah, Roberta’s sister. The one who Blythe—uh, sorry.”
“You can say her name,” Abby said. “But yes, the one who did the series of videos with Blythe. When I first started talking to her, she cautioned me not to let others define what an exciting life was. Often, a quiet life well lived is the best.”
“Smart woman.”
“That’s exactly what she said.” Abby chuckled. “Then she added, the world would be better if everyone listened to Gen Xers.”
Madeline laughed. “Always on brand.”
“She is a content creator.” Abby’s smile faded. “Just like Blythe.”
“Oh.” Anger flashed across Madeline’s face. “You’ve seen?”
