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There was always drinking at book club, that was how they could keep talking for hours. And tonight, she had to tell everyone about Sam and her. And explain the wedding and the week. It was going to be a long one.
“Do you just want me to drop you off downtown?” he asked as they neared Ruth’s downtown apartment. Since it was a small town, he knew where she lived. Actually, he knew where almost everyone lived. And he knew that was where book club was always held.
When they had started, Ruth had lived alone and had a great apartment big enough for the six of them with no issues. Not that she had moved, but now she lived with her boyfriend Anderson, and she had better snacks. Anderson was far better of a cook than Ruth. Now every other weekend, he would find something else to do for the afternoon of book club, leaving the girls to his apartment.
“No, I have to grab the stuff from home first.” At this point, she was still carrying all the podcast equipment back and forth every two weeks, not wanting to bother Ruth about storing the stuff, even if Natalie knew she had room—she owned the entire building after all. But since she edited it before putting it online, she had to have most of the equipment with her anyway, so she kept it all.
“How much stuff do you need for a book club?” he questioned, not for the first time since she said she needed to drive herself.
Smiling and biting her lip, she knew she couldn’t tell him the truth about book club. Nobody in the group wanted anyone in town to know that they recorded a podcast, so kept it under wraps to almost everyone. She wasn’t ready for Sam to know yet. And she had no time even if she did, she was late. “More than you think,” was all she said as he pulled up to her dad’s house. It looked quiet today. “Looks like no one is home.”
“Looks that way.” He got out of the car also, casually looking around. Natalie wondered if he was looking for Jason to jump from the bushes or her dad.
Jumping out of the car, she gathered her things from the front seat while he grabbed her suitcase from the back. Together they walked into the empty house. A note on the table said her dad was off at Faith’s place for the evening. Sam followed her to her bedroom. She knew she should say something, but she didn’t know what to say. They were back, and things had already changed.
“When can I see you, Natalie?” He put the suitcase down on her bed.
“I don’t know,” she replied, unable to look into his eyes.
“Are you not even going to give this a chance now that we’re back?” He sounded exasperated.
“It’s not that. It’s just tonight is book club, and tomorrow I have to work,” she explained. Her life was busy, and being gone for a week had made it worse.
“Tomorrow night?” He was beginning to sound angry.
“I have to talk to my dad. A long talk. About everything. I promised him before I left.” Natalie wished she could put off her talk with him, but her dad deserved to hear about her trip. Actually, he deserved so much more, but a meal and a talk were what he was getting.
“Tuesday?” Sam folded his arms. Now he was angry.
“Yes, but I’ll call you if something happens.” She turned to grab her computer bag and the box of equipment, glad she had a box with a cover on it. There would be too many questions if he could see in the box.
“In case you get too busy?” Taking the box from her, his look dared her to take it back.
“No, Sam, in case I can get away sooner. Quit being mad at me. I don’t know how to do this.” She left the room.
Silently, he followed her to her car in the driveway. She watched him put the box in the back seat as she opened the driver’s door. Tossing the bag across the car to the passenger seat, she turned to him. He was leaning against the car, watching her. “Sam, I really want to see if what we had last week will be the same here.”
His arms went around her, and he nuzzled her neck. “Me too, Beckett.”
His lips on her neck made her laugh as she pushed him away. “I have to go, I’m already late. And I have all the equipment.” She cringed at her words since there shouldn’t be equipment for a book club. Before she climbed into the car, she pulled him to her and kissed him, but unfortunately, he kissed her back, and she was even later getting on the road. Her heart was racing, and her body was all tingly as she drove the six blocks to downtown.
As she parked her car, she saw Hazel’s Beetle and Tess’s sporty red SUV were already there. Mia and Mandy lived just across the street, so they were probably there. Natalie was last and late. Getting all her stuff together, she climbed the stairs to Ruth and Anderson’s apartment. Sometimes she wished she could live downtown with Ruth, Mandy, and Mia. Not long before, Tess lived there as well, but she had moved in with her boyfriend recently.
At the top of the stairs, she chose to knock on the door because she was tired of opening and closing doors while balancing the heavy box. Maybe she should leave the headphones and soundbox at Ruth’s. It was annoying to carry back and forth. And who knows where she’d be living in two weeks. She knew where she wanted to be, but it just seemed too soon. Then there would be so much talk.
Ruth opened the door and grabbed the box right from her arms. Following Ruth into the apartment, she saw the other four women were at the table with drinks in front of them, and nobody was talking anymore. All eyes were on her.
“Hi, everyone. Sorry I’m late. Sam would not speed no matter what I said.” She headed to the couch to unload her computer like every other week, hating being the center of attention.
“Sam, is it?” Tess smirked from the table.
“You can take your time with the computer, Nat. You have some explaining to do before we can start anything.” Mia smirked from behind her glass of whiskey.
Natalie shot her a look. Had she told everyone what she knew or kept it a secret? Just now realizing that though she didn’t want everyone to know she was adopted, she wanted to tell everyone about meeting her mom. About the new family she had found.
“I thought we would do the podcast first, then talk. Like always.” Natalie pulled out the computer, trying to stall as she opened it and turned it on.
“That was before you left us all at your wedding.” Ruth sat back in the chair at the head of the table she had left to open the door.
