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The women worked, cleaning up the beach. “I’m ready to eat. Just an FYI, I brought cheesecake. Justin brought one home from work yesterday. My mother’s.”
“I knew you’d bring dessert,” Annie said, giggling.
They sat on a blanket and got out their offerings for the impromptu luncheon.
“Can we talk about anything that doesn’t include Chris, getting pregnant, or my kid being abused by his grandmother?”
“Is there anything else?” Katrina asked, snorting. “Just kidding. I’ll start. This is the first time in weeks that Amber Greely hasn’t poked her nose in our business. That’s noteworthy.”
“I worked on my thesis for almost three hours today. That’s news.”
“Good for you. I’ve got a new client to replace two that are finished. He’ll be keeping me busy for the next six months.”
“That’s wonderful,” Annie said, lying back on the blanket with her hands under her head. Just then, her phone beeped.
“Wow, you’ve got service out here?” Maggie asked.
They watched her check her text messages. “Chris is home with the boys. Listen to this. ‘Where are you? We stopped by the house, hoping you were available for lunch and some decorating guidance.’ Can I tell you I predicted he might want lunch?”
“It sounds like he was offering it to you,” Katrina said.
“What are you going to do?” Maggie asked.
“I’ll just tell him where I am and that I’ll talk to him when I get home later today.”
She did just that, sending him the return text.
Went for a boat ride with my girlfriends. We’re on Bonnet Island, having a picnic. I’ll call you when I get home.
“I hope he doesn’t mind that I wasn’t there waiting for him,” Annie said, frowning.
“Is he apt to want that from you?” Katrina asked gently.
“I’m not sure but maybe. Maybe because of Cindy’s death, I should be more attentive to Chris and his sons.”
“I disagree,” Katrina said. “She was his ex, not yours. There’s a limit to how much you can do in a case like that.”
“Kat’s right,” Maggie said. “If he asks something of you, you can decide whether you want to do it for him. And he didn’t ask, right?”
“No. This is the first I’m hearing about decorating advice. I think we have a communication issue. I’ll just try harder.”
“Are you going to go over there?”
“I really don’t want to, but I guess if I want to stay in a relationship with the man, I’d better make the effort.”
“We’ll go with you,” Maggie said. “Let’s head back to the marina and one of you can drive to his house.”
“I’m open to that,” Katrina said. “It’s early yet.”
“Let’s go,” Maggie replied, standing up. “Yet another afternoon cut short because of a guy.”
“We don’t have to go,” Annie protested. “Let’s stay here. As a matter of fact, I’m ready to strip naked and swim again.”
“It’s too cold,” Katrina said, getting up on her knees to pack up their picnic. “We can skinny dip in the spring.”
“Ugh, I’m not ready to head back to reality,” Annie grumbled.
“We need to see Chris’s house before they hang up any creepy artwork.”
