“I don’t know, Gen. Maybe. If that’s what she wants.”
“Let’s be really nice to her,” Gennie said around a yawn. “Maybe she’ll want to visit us more.”
God, I hope so.“I’ll see what I can do.”
chapternine
Shay
Students will be able to be the hostess with the most-est problems.
Exactly four weeksafter packing up my life, leaving the safety of Jaime’s couch, and taking up residence in Lollie’s home, I welcomed my first houseguests.
Jaime, Audrey, Emme, and Grace rolled down the gravel lane on Friday afternoon and they tumbled out of Audrey’s hybrid SUV like they’d been trapped in the car for hours. Emme charged into the house as she yelled, “Bathroom, please,” and Grace followed her, two reusable shopping bags in hand as she said, “Refrigerator, please.”
Audrey pushed her sunglasses up, surveying the house and land in that quiet, all-seeing way of hers. “So this is your dowry.”
“It’s not a dowry,” I said, rushing over to hug her.
Jaime stepped in front of her, arms outstretched. “As I live and breathe, Miss Zucconi, you are a sight for sore eyes.” She crushed me in a fierce embrace, teetering from side to side as she hummed happily. “And you look alive! At least mostly alive. And you have a farm!”
We separated enough for Jaime to wave a hand at my sundress. It was too hot for anything else.
“And you’re wearing clean clothes. It looks like your hair has been washed and—what’s this? Do I spy a bit of bronzer?”
“That’s real,” I said. “Bronzer straight from the sun.”
“You’ve been outdoors,” Jaime crowed. “Who knew country air could be so good for a girl?”
Audrey elbowed her way in for a hug. “You look good, sweetheart. I’m glad you’ve been able to get back to yourself.” She gestured to the fields and gardens beyond the house. “This is adorable.”
“Yeah, we had no idea there were such cute towns around here. Especially after driving through a living history museum of the Industrial Revolution to get here,” Emme said as she came down the front steps. “Sorry about the entrance. You know my bladder is ridiculous.”
“It really is, Em,” Grace said, joining us outside. “She was not going to make it down another bumpy old road.” She tucked her silky black hair behind her ears and glanced around. “Shay, with love, where the fuck are we right now?”
“Semirural coastal Rhode Island.” I waved toward the gardens. “And this is my step-grandmother’s tulip farm.”
“And isn’t it charming.” Emme leaned in close. “Do you want to come home yet? Because we can pack you up today and forget this ever happened.”
I laughed, shook my head. I’d missed my people. “Is this a rescue mission?”
Jaime gave an exaggerated roll of her eyes. “What ever happened to playing it cool, y’all?” She draped an arm around my shoulders. “If you want to be rescued, we’ll rescue you. If you’re still cosplaying as a small-town girl, we’ll play along with you for the weekend.” She motioned to her overall shorts. “I came dressed for my part.”
Audrey set a wide-brimmed floppy hat over her white-blonde hair. “Me too.”
Grace, dressed in slim black jeans and a black tank top, crossed her arms over her chest. “I’ll be the person who spends the next three days in search of decent coffee. Thank god I brought backup cold brew.”
“And I brought blondies,” Emme added.
“They’ll go perfectly with the margarita slushies and chicken fajitas I made.” There was no need for me to add to this by noting it was the first meal I’d prepared since moving in.
“Is that a tire swing?” Jaime asked, pointing toward one of the giant old beech trees.
“And a hammock?” Audrey asked.
“Two of each,” I said. “Two of everything. Twin sisters built this place and I don’t get the impression they liked to share.”
Jaime stamped a sandalled foot on the walkway. “Yes! That’s the folksy shit I want out of this weekend.”
