Page 94 of Call It Serendipity

“No,” I gasp. “When did this happen?”

“This is the first I’ve seen of it. But what is Susie doing with them?”

I shake my head. “I don’t know, I thought you had to be like eighty to join the club.”

We lean together, giggling as quietly as possible, just as we’re spotted.

“Ladies, what a lovely surprise!” my mom calls to us, waving furiously as if we aren’t only steps away. “Look Alice, it’s our girls.”

“Isn’t this such a happy accident?” Alice chirps. “We almost went to Jitters instead this afternoon, but something told us Dina’s was the place to be.”

“It was the fact that I wanted wine with lunch,” Faye cuts in with a wink.

“Well, you have to join us, we haven’t gotten a good catch up with you in such a long time,” Alice tells us, tugging Claire off the barstool. Then turning to Meg at the hostess station she announces, “It will be six rather than four, dear.”

Meg grabs two more menus and smiles. “Not a problem, right this way.”

Before I know what’s happening, Claire and I are getting ushered into a booth, her tucked in the back corner beside Agatha and Alice, me sandwiched between Faye and my mother.

“What do we have to catch up on?” Claire asks carefully, knowing I haven’t really spoken to my mother about my news that Jake was associated with the Carpenter Collection. I’m sure she didn’t tell her new club, but my chest feels tight all the same.

“Probably the same thing everyone is talking about,” Agatha replies, leaning in for drama. “The second proposal.”

I feel far too hot, and far too cramped stuck between these knitters. “Everyone’s talking about that?” I ask.

Beneath the table, my mom pats my knee gently. It becomes a fraction easier to breathe. “It is quite the mystery,” she reminds me.

“Well it worries me,” Faye announces. “At least with the hotel we know what we’re getting. This secret bid could be anything. Anyone.”

A server arrives with a pitcher of water, filling the glasses before us. I immediately reach for mine and down half of it in one gulp.

“It has to be an intriguing offer,” Alice offers, “in order to delay the village heads’ closing on the Carpenter contract.”

“Which is what worries me.” Faye waggles her finger in warning. “Mark my words.”

The tightness in my chest doubles down. Who knew a bunch of knitters could be so fearsome?

53

It’s funny how rooms always look smaller when they’re empty. You would expect it to be the other way around, but no. Sitting on the floor of Claire’s empty bedroom with her, it feels like a massive, gaping wound in my otherwise warm, cozy home.

“This is really it,” she whispers. “I can’t believe I’m actually moving out.”

“Me either. You’ve been right here during every big moment for as long as I can remember.”

Claire hugs her knees to her chest. “Like the time Whitcombe first reached out to you.”

“And the day you met Levi.” I giggle as a smile fills her face.

“So embarrassing. I can’t believe a ski lesson with a floundering boy on the mountain got us here.”

“He’s gotten much better at skiing.”

“That was a requirement to live with me.” She laughs.

I lean back on my hands, palms down against the pale green carpet. “Just please, always let him make the coffee. Okay?”

“Lucy Hart, are you saying my coffee is bad?” She feigns indignation before a laugh escapes her. “Yeah, deal.”