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She’d joined the Supper Club two months after Jonathan had filed for divorce, so the ladies she loved dearly hadn’t had many opinions on her love life.Bea, however, had taken a lot of texts, talks, and questions over the past several months.
“Yes, he did like popping the balloons with his walker,” Bea said, a touch of fondness in her tone.“I’m glad Tori and Dallin could come.Even Curtis came for a few days.”
“Mm.”Bessie finished with the filling and reached for the first circle.She folded one side over the meat mixture and pinched the edges together.Gran had taught her how to create lovely scallops, and Bessie’s fingers knew the exact movements to make from decades of practice.
When half the sheet tray held ready-to-bake beef pies, and Bea had just poured the pudding into the individual mason jars, Bessie worked up her courage and asked, “What about you and Grant?”
Bea hissed—actually hissed—and bobbled the pot as she moved to put it in the sink.She faced Bessie, pure shock on her face.“They’re all going to ask you about him tonight,” Bessie said, speaking faster now.“I know you don’t want to talk about him.I’ve told them that over and over.Cass—she has her own agenda and things she wants to say.”
Bea blinked, resignation coloring her expression.“I know,” she said.“I don’t know what to tell them.”She glanced toward the windows when Fresco barked.Bessie’s stomach swooped, but she kept her mouth shut.
She’d made a promise, and she would keep it.In fact, out of all of the ladies in the Supper Club, Bessie could be counted on to keep secrets the best.Everyone told her things, and she kept their confidence.
She could do this too.It was only a couple of more hours.
“I don’t know either,” Bessie asked.“I know you said you weren’t going to go back, but Bea, your daddy isn’t going to be hurt forever.Things have settled a little, haven’t they?”It had been only eight days since her daddy’s fall.She’d had a few hairy days in the middle there, where she’d sent miserable texts and begged for prayers.
But yesterday had been a good day, and today, she’d said her daddy seemed to be on the upswing.Bessie suspected there would be ups and downs, but overall, his trajectory should be looking up and up from here on out.
“A little,” Bea conceded.She turned to put the jars of pudding in the fridge.Once they’d cooled, they’d slice bananas and tuck them into the custard, and Bessie would whip cream and poke vanilla wafers into the tops of the jars once dessert-eating time arrived.
“What would you tell him if he called?”Bessie asked.
“He hasn’t called.”
“But what if he did?”she pressed.“After Jonathan left, I kept thinking about what I’d do if he came back.If he said he was sorry, and he wanted to try again.”
Bea faced her again, but Bessie rolled out the dough again and worked to cut more circles.“What did you come up with?”
“Nothing,” Bessie said, glancing up.“I don’t know what I would’ve done.”
“I don’t know either.”
She nodded and continued making the beef pies.The filling ran out on the second roll, but Bessie still ended up with two sheet trays full of pies, which would be enough for about five for each of them.There was no way they’d eat that many each, and Bessie should have enough leftovers for lunch for a couple of days.
“How’s Fresco doing with the potty training?”she asked next, knowing Bea would get asked all these same questions once the other ladies arrived.
“He’s doing great,” Bea said, a familiar smile touching her lips.“Did you have a chance to print the park planners?”
“Oh, yes,” Bessie closed the oven and reached to untie her apron.“Let me go grab them.They’re on the printer.”She hung her apron on a hook just inside her pantry and headed out of the kitchen and down the hall.A small office sat inside the first door on the right, and she quickly entered and then closed the door.
Her heart pounded like she had contraband items in here.Drugs or something else illegal.She didn’t, but she did have a suitcase that didn’t belong to her, and she didn’t want anyone to see it.
Bessie whipped the planners from the printer tray and turned to leave the bedroom.She admired Bea for her love list, and she wondered if she should do something similar.She’d been thinking about it since the last Supper Club, when they’d discovered Bea’s list and forced her to take action on some of the items.
Cass had told Bea to bring it again tonight, and they’d go over her progress.
Bessie never had started her own list, because she couldn’t think of a single thing to put on it.Her life felt very vanilla and simple, and she wasn’t sure if she should want it to be different or not.
She pulled the door closed behind her once she’d stepped out into the hall, and she put the park planning printouts next to Cass’s plate.Bessie made nameplates for everyone when she hosted the Supper Club, and tonight, their décor consisted of Texas-themed paper plates, napkins, and a tablecloth covered in horseshoes and Texas Sheriff stars.
She’d made an array of Texas-famous items, and while it wouldn’t be as lively as a Mexican fiesta—complete with a piñata—Bessie was sure they’d all eat well that night.
When the doorbell rang, she turned to Bea and said, “Get out the cowboy caviar,” and went to answer it.Cass opened the door before Bessie could get there, and in walked the tall, power-brunette, two bottles in her hands.
“I got the coyote cilantro ranch,” she said, beaming.
Bessie smiled on back at her.“Thank you, Cass.”She embraced the other woman and told her to take the dip into the kitchen.
