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“He was exhausted after the beach,” she said. “Lisa said she’d stay home with him.”
Matt took AJ into his arms, and she giggled and looked back at him. “He was asleep before we left.” Matt grinned at Kelli, and she smiled back. He’d always been good to AJ, and they sure did love one another.
“Oh, there’s drinks,” AJ said, and off they went in search of food and drink before the main dish.
Kelli returned to Shad’s side, a throbbing in her temples she didn’t understand. Kristen and Theo sat at the dining room table with Lena, Jean, and Clara, chatting about something.
Charlie perked up when Mandie came back into the house and sat beside him on the couch. Shad and Abe were talking about something, and Kelli eavesdropped on the teenagers.
“Sorry I yelled at you,” Mandie said.
“It’s fine,” Charlie said. Kelli finished her drink as she watched them but pretended not to. Charlie took Mandie’s hand in his. “It was kind of hot.”
Mandie smiled, her head dropping as she did. “Stop it.”
“Why won’t you go out with me?”
“Because.” She didn’t say more, and Kelli couldn’t keep staring at them. She looked away right as Charlie looked up at her, and praise the heavens, AJ waved to her. Kelli went that way, glad she could escape having to explain to the teenagers why she was so interested in their lives.
She wasn’t, not really. At the same time, she was, because they’d dated before. She knew Robin and Alice had concerns about the relationship, but in her eyes, it sure seemed like Charlie and Mandie liked each other and would be good for each other.
“What’s up?” she asked as she arrived at the counter where AJ stood.
She glanced around like they were about to do a covert mission together. Kelli’s stomach swooped and tightened. “I don’t like that look, AJ.”
AJ grinned at her. “We don’t have our baby tonight,” she said. “Do you think Robin would be upset if we left?”
“Left?” Kelli didn’t compute. “Why would you leave?” AJ and Matt went out all the time. Kelli knew, because she babysat for them sometimes. Jean did. Matt’s mother did.
“There’s a dance at the park.” AJ’s eyes held wonder, like she was sixteen again with her first boyfriend.
Kelli said, “You do what you want, AJ.” She always had. Her attention got diverted when Arthur opened the back door and yelled, “The Chief says we’re ready to eat!”
People moved then, and Robin started giving directions for where to sit, where to find plates, and where to get condiments. Kelli got joined by Shad, and she picked up a paper plate. She wanted to be here, and she went through the line, loading her plate with baked beans, macaroni salad, and watermelon. Outside, she told Aaron, who manned the grill, that she wanted a hot dog, and he gave her one right inside her bun.
She said, “It’s good to see you, Aaron,” and he looked at her. Really looked.
“You too, Kelli.” He relaxed, and Kelli wondered if he ever just got to be himself. She sometimes felt like she couldn’t just be, and all she did was run a yoga studio. Aaron had to be tired a lot of the time, and she noticed how sweet El was with the girls. She saved Aaron a place, and he joined them at the big picnic table in the backyard.
Kelli wasn’t surprised to see that AJ and Matt didn’t come outside. They really had left. She shook her head mentally, and then told herself to be present. She chatted with Eloise and the girls, then Kristen and Lena, who’d sat across from her and Shad.
Shad worked in politics, so he could talk to anyone. He did too, and she thought he got along really well with everyone there.
“I have an announcement,” Eloise said once the eating had started to wind down. It wouldn’t be dark for hours yet, but knowing Robin, she’d planned some sort of game, movie, or activity. Probably all three.
She looked to Aaron, who seemed just as surprised as everyone else. Eloise waited for all the chatter to stop, and then she beamed out a brilliant smile at everyone. “Julia Harper agreed to come work for the Cliffside Inn as our day manager. She’s coming on Monday to sign the contract, and she’ll be here no later than October first.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful,” Kristen said, her voice only the first of many which started congratulating Eloise.
Kelli got up and hugged her, then said to the girls, “That’ll be good, right? To have your mom home more?”
“Definitely,” Billie said with a smile.
Grace bounced in her seat in excitement, and Aaron put his arm around Eloise and touched his mouth to her cheek. Kelli loved watching them, and she’d be lying if she said she didn’t feel a touch of jealousy.
She had a good life too, and she loved her husband. She’d always wanted a little girl, but getting pregnant had been terribly difficult for her.
Jean raised her hand and actually got up on her chair as she said, “We have an announcement too.” She looked at Reuben, who stayed seated and smiled up at her. Her eyes filled with tears, and she looked at Kristen for a long moment. Then Robin, Alice, Laurel, and finally Kelli.
