That was one of the reasons she’d moved to the Colony. So many of the amenities here were included, such as the fitness center and a lot of the activities.
She hadn’t said anything to the other women in the Queen Bees book club, but she was going to have to watch the prices. After seeing this week’s book was nearly fifteen dollars as an ebook, which was what most of them had gotten, Blaise had gone a different route. She’d ordered a used paperback for three bucks. It was due to arrive tomorrow, and she hoped it was in decent shape.
She’d have to start checking the library, too.
Maybe for the next book selection, Blaise could suggest a book that had a more reasonably priced ebook. Maybe one by an independent author. Those seemed to be more realistically priced. She liked ebooks a little better than print because of how convenient they were and how she could adjust the font on her reader.
Just one of the many things that having more money would change.
She carried the bucket of weeds to the yard waste bin and dumped it in, then put the bucket, her gloves, and her little digger into the attached outdoor storage closet. She left her flipflops on the mat inside the door of her screened porched and went inside.
The air-conditioning felt good, chilling the sweat that dampened her shirt. How nice of Brick to bring her that lemonade. She smiled thinking about it. He was so different from what his outward appearance would lead a person to think.
He was especially sweet with Beau, Blaise’s Maltese. She walked through her bedroom, which was the only access to the screened porch, looking for him.
She found Beau in his bed by the sliders that led out to the front porch. “Having a rough day, I see.”
He woke up enough to wag his little tail. She bent to give him a scratch, then stood up and stared out at the water and sky, the two blues meeting at the horizon.
How much could she really hope to make from a book deal? Was thinking it might be six figures pie in the sky?
The very idea made her heart flutter with the kind of hope she was afraid to feel. She couldn’t let herself get caught up in this. There was every possibility itwouldn’thappen. She needed to talk to Cece and get her take on things.
Cece was smart and savvy and exactly the kind of person who could give Blaise the counsel she needed.
Making a chunk of money would mean more independence. And it would be a great way to get Evan off her back.
She knew her son meant well, but Blaise wanted her independence. Her life. Her way. She’d spent too many years catering to the whims of others.
She exhaled. If only Jay were still alive, none of this would be happening. But she was making the best of it. She had a new life now. And new friends.
Which reminded her to text Cece. There had to be some way for Blaise to put her colorful past to good use.
Chapter Three
Cece Davenport had no desire to work out but the exercise class she’d signed up for was in two hours and she figured if she got dressed for it, she’d have one less excuse when it came time to leave.
Pulling on lycra leggings and a sports bra felt like a workout in itself. She grunted as she tugged the leggings into place, then frowned as her stomach pooched over the waistband. Well, that was why she was going to an exercise class in the first place.
Peanut, her calico cat, watched with feline judgement.
“I know I look ridiculous,” Cece said as she put an oversized T-shirt on. “We aren’t all born with your amazing metabolism, missy.”
Peanut sauntered past, hopped up on the bed, and curled into a ball.
“Sure. Nap.” Cece shook her head in mock disgust. “You don’t even pay rent.” At least she was prepared for her class now. All she needed were her socks and sneakers and she was ready to sweat.
Ugh.
Shewantedto get healthier. She knew that was important. She went out to the kitchen to fill a water bottle and put it in the fridge. Getting healthier needed to happen. She had a daughter and a grandson and she wanted to be a part of their lives for a long time to come.
Especially now that they were going to need her more than ever.
Using information that Cece had found, Natalie had confronted her husband about his infidelity. He’d denied it repeatedly, until Natalie had produced the long blond hair she’d found on his clothes when he’d returned home from his most recent conference.
That had done it. He’d angrily confessed to a nearly yearlong affair and said he had no intention of ending things. That he loved this other woman and that Natalie had been ignoring him, focusing all her attention on their son.
Natalie had been devastated, but not to the point that she’d lost her wits. She’d thrown Jim out. Then she’d had to explain to her son, Tyler, what was going on.
