Page 38 of Lemon Pound Cake Club

"What'd I miss?"

"Nia ordered enough fries to feed the entire neighborhood."

"They were family-sized."

"There are six of us."

"Exactly."

We laughed as we passed around trays of burgers, chicken sandwiches, loaded fries, and fresh lemonade.

Our conversation flowed from vacation plans to reality TV, and then, somehow, to which husband was the worst at loading the dishwasher.

"It's weaponized incompetence," Jade said matter-of-factly.

"I've accepted my fate," Simone sighed.

"I refuse," Tasha laughed. "If you can operate a forty-thousand-dollar riding mower, you can figure out where the forks go."

"I'll drink to that," Nia said, raising her lemonade.

Camille chuckled beside me.

"I swear, y'all make marriage sound exhausting."

"It is," Tasha answered.

"It's also worth it."

I couldn't help but smile. My Zaire really was one of a kind. The women talked over each other with the ease of people who had shared everything for years. No one tried to stand out or be the loudest. They just fit together.

For a moment, I wondered what it would have been like to have friendships like this earlier in life. The kind that last through every stage, not just out of convenience.

"You got quiet again."

Camille nudged my shoulder.

"I’m just observing."

"So I've noticed."

"It's the nurse in her," Simone said.

"No," Jade corrected with a grin. "I think that's just Maci."

Everyone laughed. I’ve always been the one who listens while others talk. It feels natural to me.

As the evening went on, families slowly headed home. The neighborhood looked even more beautiful at night.

As we walked back to our street, something caught my eye. Across the road, a black SUV pulled into a driveway.

A man got out. He wore tailored slacks and a crisp white shirt, looking expensive. His Rolex caught the light from the streetlamps.

He shut the driver’s door with more force than necessary. A moment later, a woman rushed out onto the porch.

She smiled before he reached the steps, but he didn’t smile back. He said something I couldn’t make out. Her shoulders dropped right away. She nodded twice and looked down. The whole thing was over in less than fifteen seconds.

By the time we reached the corner, they were both inside. Maybe I would have forgotten it if I hadn’t seen her flinch when he lifted his hand to point at the front door.