Page 44 of Coastal Reflections

“Hey, incoming!” Penelope said, pulling back the sheer white curtains of Elaine’s bedroom. “I see Shep walking up the sidewalk.”

“Oh my goodness.” Elaine flapped her hands in the air, her voice rising two octaves. “I need to—ahh! My shoes!”

Everyone laughed, including Elaine, as she fumbled to put on her shoes and Audrey helped her.

“Here’s your coat and your scarf and mittens,” Michelle said, helping Elaine put them all on quickly. “Just breathe. You’ve still got plenty of time to get downstairs.”

Elaine had just finished putting on her scarf when the front doorbell rang. She let out a little squeal and darted for the hallway. The other women followed her, laughing.

She’s acting just like a teenager on her first date, Michelle thought with a smile. I guess love does that to everybody.

As they descended the staircase, everyone began to give Elaine a pep talk.

“You’re going to have an amazing time,” Harper said. “If you can’t think of anything to say, ask him to pick out something that he sees that he thinks is wonderful.”

“Oh, great idea,” Audrey said. “Chances are, he’s going to pick you, Mom. Just keep taking deep breaths and remember that he might be feeling nervous too. No, scratch that. I’m positive he’s going to be feeling nervous too.”

Penelope laughed. “I’m sure that after a little while, you’ll stop being nervous. You two obviously enjoy each other’s company, and I’m sure it’ll only be a little while before you’re just totally enjoying yourselves tonight.”

They reached the entryway downstairs, and before Elaine hurried forward to open the front door, Michelle pulled her into a quick hug.

“Just be yourself,” she told Elaine warmly.

Elaine smiled at her and then at the rest of the women. “Oh, you’re all darling. Thank you so much.”

“Tell us how it goes!” Audrey said, kissing Elaine on the cheek and pushing her toward the front door.

“I will!” Elaine turned toward the front door and the other women scattered, darting into the parlor so that Shep wouldn’t see them standing there when Elaine opened the door.

They piled onto the couch and crouched down, peering through the picture window to get a good view of the porch and the sidewalk that bordered the mansion.

“Look, there they go!” Harper whispered as Elaine and Shep walked down the porch steps together. “How much do you all want to bet they hold hands later?”

Michelle laughed softly, a light and airy feeling filling her chest. She felt happy for her grandmother and it was also incredibly fun to be spending time with Audrey, Harper, and Penelope. Although the other women were older than her, Michelle always loved their times together and she considered all of them to be true friends—especially her mother.

They all watched Elaine and Shep until they’d turned the corner and were out of sight.

“Oh man,” Harper said, adjusting the way she was sitting so that she could lean her head back and gaze up at the ceiling. “I can’t wait to hear all about their date.”

“Me either.” Penelope grinned. “Look, I know we’d said we were going to order some takeout and then play board games, but I kind of feel like having an adventure. Does anyone feel like going out instead?”

“I do!” Audrey said. “I know just what you mean. I feel all excited and restless. And I wouldn’t be totally opposed to heading downtown to see if we can catch a Shep and Elaine sighting.”

“Oh my gosh.” Michelle threw a pillow at her mother. “But yeah, I feel like going out too.”

“Same,” Harper said. “We can always play board games later if we want to. Where should we go—oh! Theo’s band is playing at The Brick Oven again tonight. Do you guys want to go to that?”

“I’d love to!” Audrey said. “I really want to hear Theo’s band.”

“But you don’t want to go to that, right, Michelle?” Penelope teased. “Theo is your archnemesis, so you’ll only go to his concert if it’s for some other reason other than actually hearing him play, right?”

Michelle’s mouth opened, and she was about to say something sassy, agreeing with Penelope. It was such a fixed habit—pretending she didn’t really like Theo—that she hardly ever thought about it. But this time she stopped herself.

I do want to hear Theo play, she thought. I really do. I want to hear that original song he wrote.

“No, actually.” She smiled, even though it made her feel nervous to admit that she was interested in hearing Theo play. “I do want to go.”

Audrey gave her a radiant smile that implied that she knew everything that Michelle was feeling.