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It was, but Cass didn’t say so.
“We’re always so busy in December,” Lauren said.“We could easily take that month off.And we’ve already decided we’re all going to Hilton Head for the Fourth of July every year, so we could take June off and do our Supper Club there instead.”
“Weeks later,” Cass said.
“Yes,” Lauren said coolly.“Just like you served Three Kings cake, though the holiday is ‘weeks later.’”
Cass’s jaw clenched, but she nodded.“It’s not a bad idea.”
“I like it,” Bessie said.“Then we don’t have to try to find someone new.I did like Stacy, but she…”
Cass wouldn’t want to be Stacy either.She wouldn’t want to try to come into a solid group of five people, who’d known each other for several years, and try to fit in.She wouldn’t even know where to start, and Stacy had worn a half-panicked look for most of the evening.She’d spoken too loudly, and laughed too long, almost a desperate attempt to show she was enjoying herself and everyone at the table.
“She didn’t quite fit,” Bea supplied, setting a cup of tea in front of Cass.She looked up and met her friend’s eyes, then lifted her hand and ran her fingertips along Bea’s forearm as she stepped away.Oh, how she missed her.The ache expanded every time they were together, because then Bea always left again.
Thankfully, this time, Cass had the Muller’s cabin-slash-farmhouse on her schedule, and she wouldn’t have time to wander listlessly around the house, sighing as she ran a duster over dust-free surfaces and thought about what Bea was doing on the beach.
Over the years of raising her children, she’d worked as a secretary on and off, and the last time they’d talked about her job, Bea had mentioned that she might simply go work for her husband in his property management office.
“I don’t think anyone will fit,” Sage said, settling at the table with her cup of tea.She gave Cass a warm smile, which Cass returned.
“I think you’re right.”Cass reached for her tea.She took a sip and sighed.“So we’ll take June and December off from the Supper Club.”She didn’t phrase it as a question, and she looked around the table to find everyone nodding.
Everyone except Bea, that was.She didn’t really have a vote, and she didn’t try to pretend she did.
“All right,” Cass said.“That’s what we’ll do then.”She took another sip of her tea, ready to shake off this melancholy that had draped itself over the dining room.“So.I’ve got the floor plans done for the Mullers.Who wants to see?”
Bea gave her a smile and took a sip of her tea.“You and your plans.”
“It’s like you and your lists,” Cass shot back.
“I didn’t make a list with timelines for my life,” she said.
Cass waved her hand in dismissal.It wasn’t a crime to have plans for one’s life.She’d achieved a lot of the things she’d wanted to in her life, and whenever she felt lost, she got out her kitty cat notebook from fifth-grade and reviewed the goals and plans she’d penciled in for her life.
“I need a floor plan for my job,” she said.
“But not for Sariah’s wedding,” Lauren teased.“She’s not even engaged yet.”
“She will be in the next month or so,” Cass said with confidence.Her daughter—her oldest twin—had called to say she and her boyfriend, Robbie, were talking about marriage and for Cass to block off some dates and start making plans.She knew her mother well, as Cass thrived on having a plan.
The evening wrapped up, and Cass hugged each woman as they prepared to leave her house.Joy held her tightly, and Cass said, “Let’s go to lunch next week.”
“Absolutely,” Joy said with a smile as she stepped back.“You don’t have to twist my arm.”
Cass grinned and said, “Let me check my schedule for the meetings I have next week, and I’ll text you.”She once again stood on the porch as the women left her driveway, waving and smiling.
She returned to the house, left the dishes for morning—according to her plan, of course—and looked at Bea.“You’re okay tonight?”
“Yes,” Bea said.“Are you going to get up and see me off?”Her eyes twinkled, as she knew how much Cass hated early mornings.
“I suppose,” she said as she rolled her eyes.Bea embraced her, the two of them holding one another tightly.“Can you please book an afternoon flight next time?”
Bea giggled and ducked her head as she stepped back.But she’d cut her hair last year and she’d maintained the pixie look, so she didn’t have a veil of blonde to hide behind the way she had in the past.
Cass wore her straight brown hair clipped back, and she couldn’t wait to get everything unbuttoned, unbuckled, and unpinned.
“We have a gala tomorrow night,” she said.“Sorry.”
