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22
By the timeshe got to Amy’s, everyone else was already there, and from the sounds of it, probably on their second round ofcocktails.
“There she is!” Karen came toward her as she entered the kitchen and deposited a kiss on Nina’s cheek. “You’relate.”
“And you’reboozy.”
Karen raised her glass. “If you hurry, you can catchup.”
“I’ll mix you a martini,” Robin said from the counter where she was pouring vodka into aglass.
“Great.” Nina smiled at the statuesque blond pouring gazpacho into a serving dish. “Hi,Moira.”
“Hey, you!” She finished pouring and set the bowl down, then came over to kiss Nina on the cheek. “It’s nice to see you.” She looked at the platter in Nina’s hand. “Let me takethat.”
“Thanks.”
It had been difficult to imagine a partner that would be Amy Han’s match until she’d met Moira for the first time. As a professional chef, Moira was every bit as successful as Amy, but where Amy was all tightly coiled energy, Amy had an air of calm even when situations seemed to be descending into chaos, a trait that must have come in handy when she was juggling her marriage to Amy, their daughter Ruth, and her job as head chef at one of the city’s most popular newrestaurants.
Together they’d built an enviable home, modern and spare made homey with intricate rugs, tons of plants, and touches of wood andwicker.
Nina bellied up to the massive kitchen island and took the drink that Robin pushed at her. “Mmmm…perfect.”
Robin beamed. “I still gotit.”
They mingled around the kitchen, catching up on bits of news while they sampled Nina’s tapas platter. Much to Karen’s chagrin, she was between men and wondering what had caused her sudden drought. Robin’s lover from India had broken off their relationship, and Robin tried to describe her mixture of relief and sadness as they piled their plates with food and moved into the livingroom.
“I don’t miss dating at all, do you babe?” Moira asked Amy as she lowered herself to the floor in front of the coffeetable.
Amy took a seat on the couch and grinned. “Is that a trickquestion?”
“Bitch!” Moirasaid.
Everyonelaughed.
“I’m just fucking with you,” Amy said. “You couldn’t pay me enough to be single again, although I do sometimes miss the freedom of not having to find a babysitter every time we goout.”
“You have a babysitter!” Robin finished chewing before continuing. “She’s upstairs with Ruth rightnow.”
“I know we’re lucky,” Amy said. “Isla is great about staying late, but it’s still something we have to think about, you know? Can she stay? Will she stay? If she won’t stay, who else do wetrust?”
“It’s the mental energy,” Moiraagreed.
Amy pointed at her. “Exactly.”
“Which isn’t to say I’d trade being a mother for anything, because I wouldn’t,” Moira said. “But it does change things. In terms of dating, I’m more than happy to live vicariously through the rest of you, minus themen.”
Karen laughed. “Perfect, because my life is entirely ‘minus the men’ rightnow.”
Robin patted her hand. “You’re just in a dry spell. Ithappens.”
“Tell that to myvagina.”
“Um, no thanks,” Robin said. “I’ll leave that particular announcement toyou.”
“What about you, Nina?” Karenasked.
Nina took a drink of her martini. “What aboutme?”
