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“Why not? Women are allowed to dress how they want and be proud of it.”
Clementine had gone back in her bedroom for her shoes and had glanced at the journal on her bedside table, which she hadn’t touched since the morning Lily had confronted her about Terrence. Was she worried about betraying Tyler? He’d been dead for eight years. How stupid was that?
The thought had bugged her all the way here, but now that they faced the house, so cheerful and bright, Clementine let those thoughts slip away. She could have a little fun if she wanted. Tyler would want that, especially after all this time. They didn’t bother knocking, as a sign on the door, under a big wreath of braided holly, bade them to enter. The party was in full swing, the sounds of voices and music spilling out into the night as they pressed their way inside.
“It smells so good in here,” Lily said. “Like cinnamon and pine and fresh baked bread.”
Clementine could also smell roast beef, but she kept that to herself so Lily wouldn’t gag. First to greet them was Fezziwig, Red’s three-legged pit bull, who hopped over and wagged his tail. “Hey, boy.” Clementine stroked his head, but as soon as Lily squatted down to face him, Fezzi went to her. It happened every time. Lily was an animal magnet.
“Hey, you two!” Sunny appeared from the kitchen, her smile big, her body long and lithe in a red dress that was even tighter than Clementine’s. There was nothing about it that indicated an ugly sweater, even though those had been the party attire directions. “Food’s in the dining room. Get it while it’s hot. There’ll be dancing downstairs pretty soon. Ooh, Lil, I love your pants.”
“Thanks.”
The dining room was packed, and most of the people there were Sunny’s donors for the dog rescue, as apparently this was her biggest fundraiser of the year.
“There,” Lily said, indicating the only familiar faces in the whole joint. At a table in the corner were Red, Rhett, Pete, Delaney, Hobbs, Hannah and a man who Clementine had never seen before. He was sort of set apart, his chair farther from the rest, kind of tucked in the corner, his face half in shadow. They were all sitting down, so it was hard to say, but the guy looked like he rivaled Rhett for tallest man in the room. Unlike all the others, who had on dress slacks and button-down shirts, this guy wore blue jeans and a flannel, similar to the lumberjack costume Hobbs had worn to Halloween. Everyone had plates of food in front of them and engaged in lively conversation above the Christmas music playing through hidden speakers. The lumberjack sat quietly in the corner, speaking to no one.
The only people missing were Sean and Tabitha, but Tabitha had texted an hour ago saying she probably wasn’t going to make it tonight after all. Clementine kept that to herself since Lily had spent so much time helping her pick out a party outfit today.
Red spied them and waved them over. Clementine and Lily exchanged relieved glances, made their way to the table and greeted everyone all at once. Even though there was only one seat left, Rhett stood up and offered his to Lily. “I need to get more food, anyway.” He rubbed his flat middle and grabbed his plate. He stopped next to Red, bent over and kissed the top of her head. “Need anything?”
“I’m fine, thanks.” Red smiled up at him and he stopped to kiss her on the lips this time before heading to the buffet.
Clementine sank to the seat on the other side of Red and looked her up and down. She wore leggings and a generous-sized black shirt with a golden reindeer on the front. She was pecking her way through a plateful of rib roast and Christmas pudding and had a glass of water next to her plate.
“Anything good?” Lily turned to Delaney, her fellow vegetarian.
Delaney, who wore a black sweaterdress adorned in reindeer riding motorcycles, pointed her fork at her plate, which held something that looked like a potpie, with a rich stew inside a crust. “It’s a vegetable galette.” She spoke through the bite she had in her mouth. “It’s amazing.”
“Awesome.”
“Where’s Sean?” Clementine looked around the room, even though the crowd was so thick she probably wouldn’t be able to spy the detective.
“On shift,” Delaney said.
“Bummer on Christmas Eve.”
Delaney shrugged. “He’s off tomorrow.”
“Go get some food.” Sunny, who was circulating the room, appeared at their table. “And some drinks. Then we can have a toast.”
Clementine and Lily rushed to fill their plates. Lily helped herself to the galette and a sparkling water flavored with rose and cucumber. Clementine took some of everything and grabbed one of those rose-and-cucumber waters for herself.
Once they were back at the table, they all held up their glasses while Sunny toasted friendship and the coming year. Everyone clinked glasses and took a sip or a slug of whatever beverage they had, except for the tall stranger, who didn’t participate at all. Clementine tried to study him without being noticed. She didn’t think she’d ever met him before, but it was hard to say because he was hiding in shadows. He had thick curls of honey-blond hair, a day’s worth of stubble that was significantly darker, a chiseled jaw and a full mouth. Looking at him was like seeing someone you recognized inside a bigger body with a harder personality. No one had as of yet introduced him, and Clementine was not about to ask, though she was hoping an opportunity would come up so she wouldn’t appear rude.
He turned and noticed her staring at the last second, so Clementine quickly looked away, her gaze settling on Red and that glass of water she was nursing. Things suddenly fell into place. The big clothes. The nesting. Clementine knew Rhett and Red weren’t married, but all the signs were there. She waited until Red’s bright blue eyes met her own and said, “Spill it, Red.”
Red’s hand, absentmindedly rubbing her middle, slowed. A smile worked its way over her lips. “Okay,” she said, her voice rising to climb over “Baby, It’s Cold Outside.” “I’m pregnant,” she announced. “Twelve weeks.” As the table erupted into surprised reactions, Red narrowed her eyes at Clementine, the smile still on her mouth. “How’d you know?”
“Clothes changed,” Clementine said. “You’re drinking water. Your beau is superattentive.” She nodded at Rhett. “Congrats, you two. That’s wonderful.”
“Thank God.” Sunny expelled a great breath and slugged down the rest of her champagne. “I don’t think I could keep that secret any longer.”
“I’m really proud of you.” Red nodded at her sister. “You did far better than I thought.”
“Congrats, man,” Hobbs said. He’d been largely quiet up until then. “I can’t believe you’re going to be a dad.” He chuckled a little bit over his beer.
“He’ll be amazing,” Red protested as the rest of the table joined in Hobbs’s laughter.
