“Hi, Louisa,” he says cheerfully. “Lovely day.”
I peer out the windows, where a light rain tumbles lazily to the earth.
“Addison needed help hanging a picture in her room,” Brady continues. A smile curls up one side of his mouth and his eyes twinkle.
“Bah.” Grandma throws back her head. “I told you last night I know what you two have been up to.” She shakes her head. “I swear, it’s like every generation thinks they invented sex. How do you think everyone else in the world got here?”
Brady and I break into a fit of laughter and Grandma rolls her eyes at us on her way to whatever it is she’s doing.
“Wish me luck baking today?” I squeeze Brady around the middle.
“Do you need luck for a trial run?”
“I’ll take luck any day, for anything.”
Brady crosses his fingers.
“Thank you.” I rise on tiptoe to kiss his cheek. “After I’m finished, I’m going to take it all to Charlie’s book club meeting this afternoon. Do you want me to make dinner tonight?”
“I thought you were my dinner,” Brady’s whisper is more of a growl in my ear.
“I’ll be dessert.” I wink at him and take a step back. My bedroom isn’t that far away, and I need to start baking.
With a lingering look, Brady leaves the kitchen. I wait until I hear the door close, then I go to the pantry and begin assembling ingredients.
* * *
“You’re officiallythe most well-liked person in this place,” Amanda announces, leaning in and grabbing a blondie. I’ve just removed the cover from the plastic container, amid the watchful gazes of twelve women ready for a sugar onslaught.
I move away to make room for more hands to reach in. In a matter of thirty seconds, the mound of goodies has dwindled by half.
Appreciative moans surround me.
“No offense, but my thighs hope you don’t win,” says a woman I haven’t met yet. She takes another bite of the lemon cupcake.
Through a mouthful of blueberry muffin, Charlie says loudly, “I hope you win, Addison.”
“Of course, of course,” the other woman rushes to say. She looks flustered. “I didn’t mean I don’t want you to win. I only meant…”
I stop her with a hand on her arm. “It’s okay. I know what you meant.”
She smiles at me gratefully.
The book club meeting begins. I haven’t read the book, but based on the discussion I might have to. Of course, if I don’t leave soon, they’re going to ruin it for me.
“Can you even imagine losing your best friend like that?” An older woman with a chic white bob clutches her chest.
“No,” Charlie answers, shaking her head. Her eyes fill with tears. “The portrayal of grief in this book was so raw, so stark, I felt like I was the one grieving. I went through at least one box of tissues and had to open a second.”
“That’s because you’re pregnant,” I joke, helping myself to a cupcake. Quality control.
A chorus of rebuttals rings out around me. I raise my eyebrows.
“Read it and try not to cry.” Amanda tosses her copy on my lap. I pick it up and look it over. The cover shows a worn dog tag, just above the author’s name.Kate Masters. “Military?”
“Yes, and based on a true story. It’s sad, but it’s so much more than that. Just trust us.”
“Oh-kay.” I slip the book into my bag. “Ladies, I’m going to leave you to your meeting.”
