“No wonder Greg doesn’t want to let go,” Susan said.
“I guess I fell into bad habits,” Maggie said. “Thanks so much to all of you. I wouldn’t have done this without your prompting. I’d like to propose a toast. To Christina for making the initial suggestion, and to friends for helping me to carry it through.”
“You don’t need to toast me,” Christina protested. “You’ll be my walking advertisement.” She raised her glass, making her golden bracelets jingle. “To friends.”
“To friends!” they chorused. Their wine glasses tinkled as they clicked together.
The ring of a cell phone broke in on their chatter and laughter. Susan, Christina and Julia dived for their handbags and Maggie chuckled. She knew it wasn’t her phone because it sat on the kitchen countertop and wasn’t making a sound.
“It’s mine,” Julia said. “Hi, I’m not in at the moment. Leave a message after the—” She broke off and listened, her smile reaching her eyes. She looked beautiful in that moment. Happy. Maggie realized Julia had smiled little lately. Standing abruptly, she walked from the kitchen, leaving them staring after her.
“What was that?” Susan whispered.
“Shush, I can’t hear,” Christina muttered.
“You can’t eavesdrop on a private conversation,” Maggie said. “It’s not nice. How would you feel if it were you? Let Julia have her privacy.”
Christina frowned. “But I want to know what’s going on. She isn’t secretive like this.”
A loud sigh sounded from Susan. “Maggie is right. Julia will tell us when she’s ready.”
“I tell you, we need a margarita session soon. All this suspense is killing me. How is your spanking blog going, Maggie?”
Maggie laughed. “Oh, no. You can’t turn this on me. Besides, you read my blog and don’t deny it. You know I’m heavy into research, and that’s as close as I’m getting to my spanking.”
Julia returned to the lounge, her eyes bright and cheeks glowing. “I have to go.”
“Where?” Susan asked.
“I’m meeting up with a…a friend,” Julia said. “I’ll see you at work on Monday.” Quickly, she gathered her handbag and gave a wave. The rapid tap of her high heel sandals signaled her retreat.
No one spoke until the click of the door closing told them she’d gone.
“What was that about?” Susan demanded.
“No idea,” Maggie said. “No doubt we’ll find out eventually.”
“She looked so different,” Christina said. “It’s made me realize how quiet she’s been lately. Do you think it’s a man?”
“Yes,” Susan said. “Do you think Connor will know anything?”
“If he does, the man won’t tell,” Maggie said. “He’s as tight as a clam with secrets.”
“I’ve noticed a real swagger in his step recently,” Susan said. “They’re close. You don’t think…”
“Julia and Connor?” Christina laughed and then looked thoughtful. “I don’t think so. Surely we’d pick up on it if there were something romantic between them.”
Guilt roared through Maggie, and she bit down on her bottom lip to stop herself from saying something. Anything. Good grief, if the girls found out about her and Connor…
“Besides,” Christina added. “We made a pact about Connor. I like having a male friend. I don’t want that to change because stupid feelings or hurt creates a roadblock.”
“None of us do,” Susan said. “I like the way he’s honest when we ask him tricky questions.”
And he was that way with her, Maggie thought, guilt almost overwhelming her. He was honest and truthful, yet she couldn’t offer the same frankness when it came to her needs. Everything she read said candid communication was the most important thing between partners. She would have said the same even if spanking wasn’t in the equation. The couples who stayed together were the ones with excellent communication.
“I don’t think Julia and Connor are together,” Maggie said, knowing she was floundering in dangerous territory. “I think it’s someone else.”
“Do you know something?” Susan asked.
