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“You saved the conversation,” Alison said. “We were just talking about Ginger Harrow.”
Julie gave an abbreviated version of the baby skeleton story.
“Oh, God, stop,” Sandra cried. “Remember, my husband was married to her. Kassie knew her.”
“I did. She was the sweetest girl,” Kassandra said wistfully.
“We didn’t see that side of her,” Julie said, frowning. “Of course, she was just a teenager then.”
“But she’s gone, and I always think it’s better to leave the past in the past,” Kassandra said. “She never held her baby, from what I’m hearing.”
“Wisdom has spoken,” Lisa said. “Thank God. Sandra, I apologize because I forgot Andy was married to Ginger.”
“I did, too,” Julie said. “I’m so sorry.”
Sandra accepted the apologies. They chatted for the next half hour until Marcus came to the door.
“Mom, we’re hungry,” he called out.
“Let’s eat!” Laura said.
Bedlam reigned over lunchtime. Hocus and the women helped get everyone served and the mess cleaned up. Lisa put a movie on, and within half an hour, most of the children who had played on the beach and some of the male adults had fallen asleep.
By three o’clock, Lisa was exhausted and ready for a nap herself.
“I’ll take the boys home,” Sandra said. “Thank you for keeping them last night.”
“Me, too,” Alison said. “The girls can come with me unless you need them to stay to help with the little ones.”
“No, they can go,” Lisa said. “I’ll be fine. Thank you, everyone, for chipping in. This was such a fun day.”
When no one was looking, Sandra and Laura gave each other an eye roll.
“Great fun,” Sandra whispered.
“Thank you for inviting me,” Julie said. “I forgot what it was like to be around other mothers. This was really great. I apologize for the rough beginning, even though Lisa started it.”
“We do it every weekend, Julie, and we always say we wish you were here,” Laura said. “We need to give Lisa a break, though.”
“It’s easier for me to do it here than have to drag this herd to another house,” Lisa said. “It’s fine to keep having it here.”
The exodus continued. Sierra had fallen asleep on the daybed. Madelyn rubbed her eyes, yawning. After everyone was finally gone, Lisa lay on the couch. “Come on, girly. You entertained as much as I did today.”
“I’m tired, Momma. That was a lot of girls.”
“Get in the nest, and let’s nap before Sierra wakes up.”
In minutes, mother and daughter were sound asleep.
Chapter 10
That night, morbid curiosity made it hard for Kassandra not to pester Tony for details about his relationship with Janine. They ate the dinner he had prepared in front of the television. Out of the corner of her eye, she watched him and tried to picture him naked with another woman. He had been so shy in front of her, never sleeping in the nude, or if they showered together, he insisted that the lights be low.
“I don’t want you to see how fat I am,” he’d say, trying to tease, but she’d heard fear.
“Did you shower with Janine?” Kassandra asked.
Frowning, he placed the tray with his dinner on the coffee table. “Why do you want to know? Curiosity killed the cat.”
