Page 124 of Book Club Confidential

Hallie nodded, and Eloise’s cautious expression bloomed into a smile as she reached for Hallie’s hand. She accepted, and Eloise raised their arms and twirled her. “I had a recent personal epiphany,” she said. “We should talk about it sometime.”

“Woo-hoo!” Kate called, reaching for Mrs. Montgomery’s free hand and spinning her too.

Tessa clapped and laughed. Singing her heart out with her favorite women in the world.

They really were unstoppable. Why on earth had they been so afraid?

Chapter Thirty-Two

Tessa woke exhausted and dehydrated the next morning. She guzzled the bottle of water on her nightstand, took the two aspirins she’d thoughtfully set out for herself the night before, and smiled. She’d had the best time of her life with the women she loved most in the world, not to mention about three hundred brand-new besties. And Grant had been there at her side. He hadn’t asked her for anything. He’d only helped in every way he could. And he’d told her repeatedly how proud he was of her, for her strength and tenacity, for her ability to inspire and motivate so many others, and for loving her friends and community so unabashedly.

She was pretty proud of herself, too, for all those things and more. Like not giving up when she really wanted to.

She and Grant were the last two standing when the barn cleared and the caterers went home. Hallie’s family swept her away in a parade of riotous love. Sam danced Kate to his car, dipped her beneath the stars, then kissed her before helping her inside.

Grant had stayed. He cleaned, swept, and worked alongside Tessa until no evidence of the party remained, and they shut out the lights. Then he’d told her how much he liked dating her and suggested they make it official. They’d only date one another. They’d keep being the best humans and businesspeople they could be and help as many others as possible in the process.

Her smile widened with the memory.

She pulled the phone from her nightstand, ready to tell him she couldn’t wait to see him again, and she stiffened at the sight of a dozen missed messages from her dad.

Every horrible possibility flashed through her heart and mind, striking down her feelings of bliss. Was he ill again? A second heart attack? Or was this about her brother? Sickness welled in her gut as her mind spun. Had Devin relapsed? Had he vanished? Had her mother shown up again after decades of being gone? Was she okay?

A knock at her door set her on her feet. She opened the messages on her phone as she walked, torn between the desire to sprint and the need to prepare herself.

Her steps faltered when she saw images of her dad and brother smiling, arms raised high in victory, a television in the frame beside them. In one photo, they exchanged high fives.

Then she read the messages.

Dad: You made the news!

Dad: My little girl is a rock star!

Dad: Come over for dinner! I’ll make your favorites! Devin will build another fire! We’ll have s’mores!

Dad: This is so exciting! Wait until the guys at work hear about this

Dad: Who am I kidding? They watch the news!

She laughed as she opened additional messages from Devin.

Devin: You nearly gave Dad another heart attack. Good job.

Devin: Just kidding. We’re crazy proud of you big sis

The doorbell sounded again, and Tessa wiped away tears of laughter as she jogged the last few steps to answer. Through her peephole, she spotted a mass of women, all of whom she recognized from Hello, Marketing, each loaded down with bags, boxes, and goodies.

She opened the door and spread her arms wide. “Oh my God! What are you doing here? Come in!”

Nina blew air kisses and headed for her kitchen counter, where she deposited a tray of lidded coffees from a local café.

Millie dropped a cardboard filing box onto a stool at the island and dusted the torso of her blue lace blouse. “We quit,” she said.

Josephine and Jenny unloaded canvas tote bags from their shoulders, then looked excitedly at Tessa. “Surprise!” Josephine said.

Tessa frowned but accepted a cup of coffee. Clearly her addled mind had some catching up to do. “What is happening?”

“We quit,” Millie repeated. “We left. We’re coming with you.”