"I'm so happy to hear it. No one deserves it more than Jenna. She's been through so much and has proven herself to be so strong and resilient. I love to see her succeeding, and with such grace. It's not easy starting up a new business, but every time I see her, she has an enormous smile on her face."
This was true. I had never seen Jenna smile more than I had in the months since her bakery opened. She had become a ray of sunshine in our group, and we'd all been so thrilled to see her hit her stride, not just with the bakery, but with everything in her life as well. She had become more active in our group, contributed more during book club, and spent more time focused on herself and her social life. She had even gone to yoga a few times with Paige.
"You know who else is killing it lately? Allison. She's doing such a great job at the cafe. Every time I talk to Cat, she has some story about how Allison went to the next level for a customer, or different ways that she's been able to find even more efficiencies at the cafe. Things Cat had never even thought of."
"Leave it to a single mom! I'm so happy to hear that things are working out so well for her. She's such a strong young lady, and considering all she's been through, she really seems to have her head screwed on straight. That's another one I'm really cheering for," said Drew.
"She's such a great mom too," I said. "That Noah is something else. Did I tell you what he said to me when he was helping me at the bookstore this week?"
"No."
"Well, let me just tell you, he's such a cutie pie. We were moving the books around and I was trying to find the best way to organize the kids' space when he asked me, 'Do you have time for a quick fact?' I turned around and couldn't believe that that had come out of a four-year-old's mouth."
"He's one smart cookie," said Drew, then swung his club and watched his ball sail down the fairway. "Can I ask what the quick fact was?" He asked as he turned back to face me.
"Oh, sure, of course. He asked me if I knew that the Chinese invented toilet paper."
Drew laughed as we climbed back into the golf cart. "Well, there's a quick fact anyone would have time for."
"I was gagged," I said.
Drew turned and looked at me, almost running off the cart path.
"Aren't I hip with my new word?" I asked him.
"No, I'm actually kind of embarrassed for you."
I swatted him with my golf glove. "I heard a teenager say itwhen a group of high schoolers came in to look at the Invincible graphic novels I just got in."
Drew chuckled. "Maybe that's a piece of their vernacular you should just let them have."
I shrugged, undeterred.
As we rounded the corner at the turn between the ninth and tenth hole, we saw Grace and Paige. Grace was, of course, dressed to the nines in Lily Pulitzer golf. Paige's golf outfit was slightly more reserved. She had on a red skirt with white polka dots and a black top. She looked a lot like Minnie Mouse, and the distinctive white stripe in the front of her hair stuck straight up from her red golf visor. They were cackling like hyenas, and Paige was bent over trying to catch her breath.
"What's going on with you two? You both look like you're up to no good."
Paige stopped laughing for a moment and looked up at me. "Grace mustache you question... or actually she mustn't."
I was confused until I saw Grace's blush.
"She went and got her mustache waxed," Paige said in her loudest stage whisper.
"Ooh la la! What does this mean, Grace?" I teased. "Is there a potential love interest on the horizon?"
Grace rolled her eyes. "My lips are sealed."
Paige and I stared at each other, dumbfounded.
"Let me clarify. I don't have anyone on the hook just yet, but it doesn't hurt to be prepared."
Before I could press her for more details, Drew came back with our burgers and drinks. He said hello to the ladies, and within a minute, we were off. I wondered why he was in such a hurry to get back out on the course, but it seemed he just couldn't bear to wait any longer for his next topic. I was hoping we could get through the round without it coming up. No such luck.
"Have you given any thought to what we talked about theother day regarding your extracurricular activities?" he asked after we'd both hit our ball.
"I have."
Drew's face looked hopeful. "And what did you decide?"
