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I’m using all the money I’m making on the show to get a new roof. That’s something I should have technically done three years ago when both the warranty ran out and my bedroom ceiling sprung a leak. Unfortunately, roofs aren’t cheap, so I’ve been patching and praying it doesn’t give way before I can come up with the cash to replace it.
I hurry to get dressed before running a brush through my hair. Standing in front of the full-length mirror in my bedroom, I puton my lipstick before stepping back and taking in my reflection. I look good. Not great, not drop dead sexy, but if I had to rate myself, I’d say I was a solid seven. Maybe an eight if you’re nearsighted and the lighting is dim enough.
I’m still in my room when I hear Missy call out, “It’s time to go!” The sound of a voice when I thought I was home alone makes me jump.
“You almost scared me to death,” I call out to her as I walk downstairs.
“Why? I have a key.”
I gently remind her, “You have a key in case I need you to feed my cat.”
Missy’s eyes sparkle when she sees me enter the foyer, “Wow, girl, look at you. You’re a stunner!”
I smile at my gorgeous friend. For a redhead, she has a knack for wearing bold colors that tell the world she’s totally comfortable with who she is. Tonight, she’s in a hot pink cocktail dress with a matching satin wrap.
“You look amazing, as always,” I tell her. “No one will even notice me in my washed-out pale pink.” I shouldn’t have said the second bit out loud. Until recently, Missy was doing as poorly on the dating scene as I was. Even though I’m sometimes grumbly, I truly am delighted she’s found her match.
Missy crosses her arms and asks, “Where did that come from? That’s not my feisty girl who’s got the world by the tail. You know what an absolute snack you are in that dress.”
“You’re right,” I tell her, watching as she takes my coat off the hook by the front door. I slip my arms through before pulling it closed and tying the belt. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me lately. I’m just not feeling like myself.”
“You’re nervous about the show. But if you think about it, you’ve spent a good amount of time at the club, so you’ll have home court advantage.”
“That’s kind of a weird way to put it, but I guess you’re right.” Faith, Anna, and Missy’s boyfriend, Jamie, are all members of thecountry club and they invite me to tag along regularly—usually one couple at a time.
As we near Jamie’s SUV, he jumps out to open our doors for us. Missy gets into the passenger seat before he opens the back door for me. “You look lovely, Paige.” Which is the exact compliment I need right now.
In lieu of a proper response, I muster a wan smile and get into the backseat like the family dog. “Be gentle with her,” Missy tells him. “She’s in a mood.”
Jamie gets back into the car and slowly pulls out of my narrow driveway. “You ever hit one of these trees?” he asks. I have two giant pines, one on either side of the drive.
“Regularly,” I tell him. “Any ice whatsoever makes for an unpredictable entry and exit. You get used to it.”
“That’s got to be rough on your car.”
“I own a twelve-year-old American-made beast. It can take a licking.”
We drive to the club in silence, which is thoroughly pleasant. I’m not in the proper headspace to listen to the occupants of the front seat pledge their undying love to each other.
After we park and get out, Jamie takes Missy’s arm in his before offering me his spare. “I figure this way, if one of us hits an icy patch, we can help save each other.”
I feel the need to mention, “Or we can all go down together like a bunch of bowling pins.”
“Paige …” I hope Missy isn’t going to chastise me for my mood again. “Have you found out if there are any guys from Elk Lake that are going to be on the show?”Crisis averted.
“Not yet.” I put my foot down and skid a few inches before Jamie pulls me back to his side. “But if there is one, I can’t imagine who it could be other than the guy from the post office or the kid from the convenience store.”
Missy tells Jamie, “There aren’t a ton of single men in town this time of year. Elk Lake is jam-packed with all kinds of folks in the summertime, but in the off season, we’re primarily a bunch offamilies and retired people. It’s like singletons don’t thrive in the wild or something.”
As soon as we walk into the club we run into Faith and Teddy. Faith smiles briefly before telling us, “Anna thinks she’s having contractions, so they’re going to stay home tonight.”
“Oh, no,” Missy says worriedly. “She’s not due for another month, right?”
Faith announces, “If the contractions continue, the doctor is going to give her something to stop them. In the meantime, he’s prescribed a small glass of sherry.”
“I didn’t think you were supposed to drink when you’re pregnant,” Missy says.
Teddy joins the conversation. “That’s what I said.”
