AllFreeNovel
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Amanda laughed. “Easy.Farewell to Armsby Ernest Hemingway.”
“Very good.”
“Literary fiancé,” Christine teased.
Amanda beamed, remembering the long nights she and Sam had spent side-by-side, their thighs touching as they dove through books, both together and separately.
“Next question,” Audrey said. “This one’s a toughie.”
“Shoot.”
“I asked Sam what his last meal would be if he could choose,” Audrey said. “What did he say?”
“Steak? I think. With macaroni and cheese.”
“And…” Audrey’s eyes widened.
“Something else?” Amanda asked.
“He added a dessert,” Audrey hinted.
“Wow. Um. Tiramisu?”
“Ding, ding, ding! Ladies, Amanda knows Sam through and through. We’re going to be very tipsy by the end of this game,” Audrey said.
When they returned to the Sheridan House later that afternoon, Amanda’s two best friends from Newark were out on the back porch, along with Claire, Charlotte, Rachel, Gail, Abby, and Lexi. Amanda dove through the porch, hugging everyone and thanking them for throwing her such a beautiful party. When she reached her best friends from Newark, she shrieked with joy at seeing them, demanding that they spend some time catching up. “I barely know anything that’s going on in your lives,” Amanda said, wincing at all the time they’d allowed to pass between calls.
Inside the house, Christine’s husband, Zach, finished up their delectable lunch of goat cheese salads, salmon, potatoes cooked with rosemary, and lemon cake. As he finished plating the last of the salmon, he waved at Amanda and said, “I think this is the first bachelorette party I’ve ever been invited to.”
Christine hurried over to Zach to kiss him, then said, “And it’s just about time you left, don’t you think?”
Zach laughed and wrapped his arms around Christine. “She loves me so much. Isn’t it clear?” he asked Amanda.
“I think Mia needs you,” Amanda said.
“Super dad, at your service,” Zach said. “I’ll see you later. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
Amanda and her friends and family gathered on the back porch, indulging in a delightful spread of nourishing and vibrant dishes. They savored the flavors, replenished their glasses with wine, and enjoyed the tranquil spectacle of three sailboats gracefully dancing on the horizon, seemingly engaged in a playful pursuit under the radiant sun. The atmosphere was filled with warmth and contentment as they shared this picturesque moment together.
“Kelli just texted to ask how we’re doing,” Charlotte said across the table, her rosé lifted. “She wishes she could be here for you, Amanda.”
“I’m sure she’s so stressed,” Amanda said, remembering how panicked Kelli had looked last night at the hotel.
“I wonder if she bit off more than she can chew?” Claire suggested, grimacing.
“I think she wants to prove to herself that she can do this,” Charlotte said. “Especially after everything that happened with Mike.”
“A divorce definitely makes you second-guess yourself,” Susan agreed. “I wanted to come here and start my own law office and ‘prove’ to myself that I didn’t need Richard in the first place.”
“And you did that,” Christine pointed out.
“Yes, but there were times when I nearly fell over with exhaustion,” Susan said. “I’m so glad that difficult time of my life is over. I’m sure Kelli will look back at this time in the same way.” Susan sipped her wine, then added, “But the hotel is absolutely stunning, isn’t it? Scott told me that Kelli picked out almost all the furniture and the art. I think it’s the perfect location for Amanda’s wedding.”
“Everything is going to be perfect,” Lola agreed, her eyes dancing.
“Better than perfect,” Charlotte said. “I’m the wedding planner, after all. It’s up to me to make it so.”
ChapterSix
