“Cherie!” Leah’s face had turned beet-red.
“There’s no need for you to get all red in the face, Leah, because you know it happened to you whenever I caught you making googly eyes at Kayana’s brother.”
“I wasn’t the only one looking,” Leah said defensively.
“I admit that Derrick is fine as hell, and even if I was interested in him, nothing would’ve happened.”
“Because he’s not white?” Leah countered, angrily.
A beat passed as Cherie glared at Leah. Then a hint of a smile tilted the corners of her mouth. “Touché. I suppose I deserve that for some of the nasty things I’ve said to you. And no, it’s not because he’s black, but it’s his age. Derrick is old enough to be my father.” Derrick had mentioned he was looking forward to celebrating his fiftieth birthday in grand style.
“I hope we’ve settled that,” Kayana said under her breath.
“It’s settled,” Leah and Cherie said in unison.
“Now back to you marrying my brother, Lee. Are you going to have the event at Kent House?”
The redhead sat straight. “Why not? Even though I told my sons I would never live there again, they expect me to come and visit. And once Caleb and Marisa make me a grandmother, I probably will visit them more often.”
Cherie unfolded her legs and stood. “I’m going to get a pad and paper to write down some things you’d want for your big day. After that, we need to talk about what books we want to discuss for our upcoming book club meetings.”
Leah waved a hand. “We have more than ten months to plan for my wedding. Right now, I think we should concentrate on our book titles.”
“Lee’s right, Cherie. If we’re going pick up where we left off last summer, it’s time we decide what we’re going to read.”
Cherie sat down again. “Last year we only discussed my selection,The Alienist, because Leah had to go back to Richmond. But I did manage to read all three titles.”
“So did I,” Kayana said. “I really enjoyedLove in the Time of CholeraandMemoirs of a Geisha. But it wasThe Alienistthat I loved so much that I had to read it again.”
“Do you have any ideas, Leah?” Cherie asked.
A beat passed before Leah asked, “What if we select books with movie tie-ins? We read the books, then view the films to see how well they translate into film.”
“I’m in,” Kayana said.
“Me too,” added Cherie, sharing a fist bump with Kayana.
Leah drained her flute, then set it on a coaster on the glass-topped end table. “Do we all have to choose the same genre?”
“I don’t think we should,” Cherie replied. “That would make it too parochial.”
“Cherie’s right, Lee. Someone can choose a legal thriller likeThe Firm. Or one of Tom Clancy’s espionage titles.”
Cherie said, “I like Clancy’sClear and Present Danger, but y’all know I’m into period dramas, so I’m going to select Dennis Lehane’sLive by Night.”
A beat passed as Kayana appeared deep in thought. “As a foodie, I’m going to pickLike Water for Chocolateby Laura Esquivel.
Leah pulled her lower lip between her teeth. “I’ve never read that one.”
Kayana smiled. “Then you’re truly going to be in for a treat when you read it. We’ve confirmedLive by NightandLike Water for Chocolate. What’s your book and movie tie-in, Lee?”
“For me, it’s a tie betweenThe Jane Austen Book ClubandThe Thorn Birds.”
“The Jane Austen Book Club,” Cherie and Kayana chorused, then exchanged another fist bump. They’d read and analyzed Austen’sPride and Prejudicethe first year they’d met as a club.
Leah smiled. And it was obvious she was quite pleased with her choices. “It looks as if Miss Austen is up for discussion again. And this time it will be all her titles. Are we going to read the books first, and then view the movies, or the other way around?”
Cherie decided to speak up first. “I suggest reading the books, and whoever is hosting the title is responsible for showing the movie. Once the film is over, we can analyze both, keeping in mind that some books don’t translate well into film and vice versa.”
