AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Now, let’s get some mascara and eye shadow on you,” Charlotte said, standing.
“You’re making me feel like some kind of movie star getting made up for a red-carpet entrance,” said Brooke, giving them a shy look.
“It’s only practice for tomorrow,” said Charlotte. “If Gran and her friends are setting us up to meet one another as if we’d never spent earlier years together, then the three of us are going to wow everyone. Right, you two?”
Livy laughed. “Count me in.”
“Me, too,” said Brooke, her eyes shining.
Charlotte realized then how much they needed one another to balance things out.
When they headed downstairs, they were giggling like old times.
###
Gran looked up as they descended the stairway and clapped her hands. “My! You look beautiful. Brooke, your hair looks fantastic. How did you manage that new style?”
“I didn’t,” said Brooke. “Livy did it for me.”
“Well done,” said Gran, giving Livy a quick hug. “I understand that the Ensley boys are putting on a beach party tomorrow. Won’t that be nice?”
Charlotte studied her grandmother’s satisfied smile and blurted, “Is this part of the plan you and your four friends have thought up?”
“What do you mean?” Gran said, eyes wide.
“Gran, you never could lie,” said Brooke.
Gran lifted her hands in defense. “All right. All right. Elizabeth Ensley was the first to come up with the idea. Neither of her grandsons is married, and she thinks it’s about time they found nice women to settle down with. And then, Pat Dunlap, Sarah Simon, Karen Atkins, and I all agreed it was time for most of you to follow suit.”
“Gran, that sounds so … archaic,” Charlotte said, realizing she’d recently used the same word with her mother.
“Hold on,” said Gran. “The families have been friends for years sharing this cove. As kids, you were all loved by each of us. It was nothing to feed a couple of kids from another family or to put suntan lotion on someone else’s grandchild. We shared all of you among the five of us. Now that some of us are alone and facing old age, we’d like to see you happy and content with families of your own, if that’s what you choose. Some may not. That’s why we’re leaving it up to chance by bringing you all together again. For old-time’s sake, if nothing else.”
Charlotte gazed at Livy and Brooke, unsure how she felt about the situation. It was true. Years ago, the five families had seemed like one before life interfered.
“It’s an intriguing idea,” Livy said, breaking into their shocked silence. “But I don’t think any of you grandmothers should push it or feel disappointed if it doesn’t work out. I’m not sure I ever want to marry. Especially after dealing with Wayne. What a control freak.”
“And you know my mother depends on me,” said Brooke.
Charlotte, Livy, and Gran all frowned at her.
“Okay, okay,” said Brooke, “I know it’s time to be more independent. But I’ll always be there for her.”
“Of course,” said Gran. “We all are and continue to be a support for her.” She put an arm around Brooke. “Let’s have a glass of wine with dinner. John is making a favorite for the three of you.”
Charlotte followed the others into the kitchen, where the table had been set for dinner for the five of them.
Wearing an apron, John looked up from behind the kitchen counter where he was chopping something. “Ah, my beautiful ladies. What a pleasure.”
He spoke to all of them, but Charlotte noticed his gaze remained on Gran. Someday, she hoped to share a love like that.
