“That sounds good to me,” Leah replied. “What about you, Kayana?”
“I’m on board with it. The next thing we need to resolve is when and how often we should meet. Cherie?”
She felt two pairs of eyes on her, and knew Leah and Kayana expected her to come up with a schedule that would prove workable for everyone. “We can keep last year’s schedule of meeting one Sunday afternoon each month.”
“Which Sunday?” Leah asked.
“The last Sunday.” It was the first thing that popped into her head.
“That’s doable,” Kayana agreed. “When do you want to hold the first meeting, Cherie?”
Cherie hid a smug grin. It was the first time Leah and Kayana had given her the lead when making determinations about the club book. “March.” It was now the end of January, and she predicted she would be able to read all three books in the eight weeks.
“March it is,” Leah confirmed.
“If it’s all right with everyone, I would like to host the first meeting,” Kayana volunteered. “And I’m going to attempt to make some of the Mexican-inspired recipes in the book.”
Cherie applauded. “You definitely won’t get an argument from me.”
The highlight of their get-togethers was the food and drinks that accompanied their discussions. And she knew she had at least eight weeks to up her game when it came to cooking for her to officially host her first meeting. In the past, she’d been responsible for supplying the beverages and, occasionally, dessert.Live by Nightwas set during Prohibition; alcohol was the focus during that era, and she wanted to come up with drinks that mirrored that period in history. Cherie had never been much of a drinker because she’d witnessed firsthand how drinking too much had affected her mother, so there were months and years when she would never have anything alcoholic. She much preferred a mocktail.
“That makes two of us,” Leah said in agreement. “If y’all don’t mind, I’d like to claim April. After watchingBridgertonthree times, I’m obsessed with desserts, so be prepared for a sugar high when it comes my turn to host.”
Kayana lowered her eyes. “I have to confess that I binged on all the episodes the first time and then waited a couple of weeks before watching one episode every other day. What about you, Cherie?”
Her eyebrows lifted slightly. “What about me?”
“Did you watchBridgerton?”
Averting her gaze, she stared at the decorative fireplace screen. “No comment.”
Leah wagged her finger at her. “How many times, Cherie?”
Biting back a smile, she said, “No comment.”
“Dam-yum!” Kayana said, drawing out the word in two syllables. “It had to be more than three times if she’s not willing to fess up, Lee. And it means she’s got you beat.”
Her gaze swung back to the two women. “Okay. I admit watching it whenever I was in a funk.”
“And how often was that?” Leah asked.
“Too often. After a while, I knew I had to do something or end up old and angry. I’d quit my job because it was no longer fulfilling, and then when I drove down here last year, I felt like I’d been reborn. That’s when I knew relocating and starting over was what I needed for my emotional stability.”
“How long has it been since you were in a relationship?” Kayana asked her.
“Too long.”
“I need a time frame, Cherie.”
“Almost five years.”
Leah moved off the chaise to sit next to her. “That’s much too long for a woman your age.”
She met the bright-blue topaz eyes. “Didn’t you say that you and your husband hadn’t shared a bed or bedroom in over ten years?”
“Yes, I did, but that was by choice. I could’ve slipped into bed with him, and he would’ve welcomed me with open arms, because it would blow up his ego knowing that his wife still desired him. But it didn’t happen because I’d had enough of his tomcatting, and I was afraid he’d give me an STD.”
“And it’s by choice that I’m currently unencumbered. I—” The chime of the doorbell preempted what she wanted to say. “Excuse me, but I must get that.”
