Erma placed a bottle of water in front of Bea, who had just uttered this statement, and sat down on the only empty chair in the back room of Knots and Tangles. Everyone had settled in for the weekly Thursday-night Bosom Buddies meeting. She glanced at the rest of the BBs seated in a circle on the lime-green couch and a variety of other chairs. Myrtle, her second closest friend, perched next to Bea. Peg, Viola, Gwen, and Madge rounded out the group. The only one missing was Rosa, who was visiting her youngest sonat college this week. BFFs for years, the BBs were always there for one another whenever one of them was struggling. Last year it had been Madge, who had nearly divorced her husband. They’d reconciled and were happier than ever. Before that, Erma and Riley had gone through a family crisis, and now their bond was eternally strong. If Bea was worried about Olivia enough to mention it to the BBs, they would rally around her.
“What’s going on?” Madge dipped a tea bag into her white mug.
Bea looked down at her ample lap. “She’s lonely.”
Several women collectively nodded. “We suspected so.”
Bea looked up. “You did? How?”
“Her three best friends are married,” Peg said.
Viola nodded. “I was the last one of my friends to get married. I felt so left out.”
Gwen patted her on the hand. “That had to have been hard.”
“Wait a minute.” Myrtle straightened in her chair. “Times were different for us back then. We were all expected to get married. Many of us had to. Olivia doesn’t.”
“But it would be nice if she did, wouldn’t it?” Bea said softly. “She needs companionship. Someone to share life with.” She picked up a peanut butter cluster and took a huge bite.
“She could get a dog,” Myrtle said. “Or a cat. Pets are good companions.”
Bea pointed her half-eaten cluster at Myrtle. “You know that’s not what I’m talking about.”
Erma agreed with Myrtle, but she wasn’t about to voiceher opinion out loud, not when Bea was inhaling the rest of the cluster and already reaching for another one, a sure sign she was upset. “Have you talked to her about it?”
“Mff mnn mnff.” Bea held up one finger and swallowed. “Sorry. Not in so many words.” She picked up her water and took a gulp before continuing. “I pointed out a while back that she was spinnin’ her wheels, so to speak. She’s stuck doing the same things every day. Work, school, church, meeting with her friends here on Tuesdays. She never goes out on the weekends anymore.”
“Are you sure about that?” Myrtle asked. “She doesn’t live with you and Bill. How do you know everything she’s doing?”
“Because we’re very close. She’s more than my niece.” Bea’s lower lip trembled. “She’s like a granddaughter.”
Erma couldn’t argue with that. Bea and Bill didn’t have any kids of their own, and therefore no grandkids. Bea had practically raised the girl. Olivia’s parents were two of the oddest ducks Erma had ever encountered, not that she would ever tell Bea that. But Olivia was also a grown woman, and Erma was positive that, just like any adult, Olivia didn’t share everything about her life. Still, if Bea was this bothered, there had to be some merit to it.
Or maybe her friend was just eager for her niece to get married. Erma could relate to that. She’d tried to force Riley and Hayden together, and thank the good Lord she hadn’t messed things up between them, although it had been touch and go for a while. She’d learned her lesson, though. No meddling. Never again.
“I’ve been praying for years that Olivia would find a niceyoung man,” Bea said. “But I think she needs a little help. We need to find her a husband.”
Madge grinned. “I know Harper would be eager to assist, like she did with Riley and Anita.”
“How did she help them with their relationships?” Peg asked.
“Fashion tips. And moral support. She’s so devoted to her friends.”
True. The Chick Clique—they really needed to come up with a new name—was turning into the younger version of the BBs, and she couldn’t be happier about that.
“Oh, this is going to be fun,” Viola said while Gwen giggled and Peg grinned.
Myrtle frowned. “I’m not too sure about this.”
“Me either.” Erma turned to Bea. “Remember what happened with Riley and Hayden?”
Bea beamed. “They got married!”
“Yes, but that was despite my interference, not because of it.”
But the rest of the BBs, save Myrtle, were already buzzing among themselves.
“How many single men are in Maple Falls?” Viola asked.
