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Maggie sniffed.
Sophsniffed.
Frankie saved the day. “And we want the secret of that glowing skin,” she teased. “If you’re hoarding spa secrets and not sharing the wealth with us, I’ll have to take you to task.” A mock frown. “You know I’m always looking to sell something new—as long as it’s healthy.”
Frankie owned a health store in town that carried everything from vitamins and supplements to beauty products to healthy snacks. It was a varietal smorgasbord of living clean.
“It’s not a spa secret,” she said. “So much as it’s an Aunt Pat secret.”
Frankie tilted her head. “Who’s Aunt Pat?”
Nowthatwas a question and a half.
“She was my next-door neighbor.” Raven bit her bottom lip. “At the house I rented down in Bear Harbor.” A beat, her guilty eyes sliding to each of her friends in turn. “Because that’s where I went.”
Silence—or well, not silence because the noise of the waves breaking, the seagulls cawing overhead, the wind whipping around was ever-present, but her friends had fallen silent.
“We know, honey,” Kim murmured.
Frankie winced. “The guys were worried, so they did their thing.”
“Just so we knew you were safe,” Misty said. “We just…didn’t invade since you asked for space.”
Maggie glared. “Though, just to say, we were going to invade if you hadn’t gotten your cute little butt home.”
“Little.” Raven huffed out a laugh. “Right.”
“Don’t change the subject,” Maggie chastised.
“I’m not,” she lied.
Maggie shot her a look that told her precisely what she thought of her lie, but Frankie beat her to further comment. “I want to hear more about Aunt Pat.”
“How about I tell you all about her at my place tomorrow?” She smiled. “Now that I actually have a house again, I think I’m due to host.”
“But will you have margaritas?” Frankie asked.
She grinned. “If you bring the organic tequila.”
A salute. “I’m on it.”
Soph touched her arm. “While I’m definitely down for a margarita night, I just…I need to know if you’re really okay.”
The temptation to blow off her friend’s concern and pretend she was fine was strong.
But these were her friends.
Herfamily.
She covered Soph’s hand, squeezed lightly. “I’m getting there.”
A kiss to her cheek. “Okay, babe,” Soph whispered. “That’s a start.”
It was.
Soph sniffed.
Maggie followed suit.
