“Oh, yeah,” Cadence added. “Izzy has been asking when we can do a make-up play date.”
“Yeah, I don’t want to say that it’s been a touch insulting,” Diana added, hiding a smile behind the rim of her wine glass, “but I believe the direct quote was, ‘Sorry, Auntie Diana, you’re not as good at playing magna-tiles as Benjamin is.’”
Diana laughed, while Cadence dropped her head heavily against her hand.
“We might have to have a quick little refresher on politeness,” Cadence mumbled. Diana brushed the concern away.
“No, she said sorry first. That counts.”
“Well, Benjamin would also love to reschedule,” June said. “He’s feeling completely fine. It was just a bug, gone as quick as it came.”
“Oh, good,” Eleanor said. “That means we can discuss somethingwaymore important and that is that our little June Caldwell here has anamazingsinging voice. Did you all know about this?”
She proceeded to tell the group, in detail that made June blush to her hairline, about the “Lollipop” dance routine she’d done for Benjamin. She even imitated a few of June’s dance moves.
When the laughter died down, Eleanor wrapped an arm around June’s shoulders. “All teasing aside, she’s amazing. So, again, I ask: did you know about this?”
“I did!” Cadence volunteered, lifting a hand.
“Well, I did not!” Miriam said, sounding affronted. “I want to hear a performance!”
“Not right now,” June protested.
“She means not ever,” Diana said in a faux-whisper to Cadence, who nodded sagely.
June feigned innocence, as she did in fact mean that she planned to put that little performance off… forever.
“No, not right now, of course,” Miriam said. That, June knew, waswaytoo easy. “There’s a new open mic night going on a couple of times per month at Anchor Bistro. You should perform there, Miss June.”
“Um, no,” June said.
“Um, yes,” Diana mimicked.
June blew out a breath. “Okay, I mean, that sounds like it could be fun, but… I ambusy, guys. Likebusy, busy. My monthly leisure dispensation is happening right here, right now.” She spread her arms to illustrate her point.
“But—” Miriam began, although she cut herself off when Cadence kicked the bottom of the older woman’s chair lightly and gave her a meaningful look. She sighed. “Okay, very well, I won’t press… for now.”
“Your forbearance is appreciated,” June said with a chuckle. Then, eager to get attention off her, she turned to Eleanor. “Regale us with tales of business ownership, will you?”
This line of conversation was usually a reliable route to get Eleanor smiling, if not because of her excitement about the bookstore then because she got to talk about her handsome beau. Today, however, Eleanor frowned and dropped her forehead against the palm of her hand.
“Uh oh,” Miriam said.
Eleanor held up a finger. “Okay, it’s only a maybe ‘uh oh,’” she clarified. “But Winnie Burnett came around earlier today?—”
“Uh oh,” Cadence said.
Everyone looked at her sharply at the interjection. Cadence shrugged.
“Winnie is a couple years younger than me, but when she moved to Magnolia Shore when we were in high school, she… took things by storm.”
“What Cadence means to say,” Diana said, feigning a whisper, “is that she is very afraid of Winnie.”
Cadence didn’t even look abashed. “It’s more like a combined fear and awe,” she said. “She’s always put together. And I have literally never seen her be wrong about something.”
“It’s the hair,” Diana said. “She has really good hair.”
June nodded. Winniedidalways look great, and she had the kind of style where that required precision.
