“First off, I need to tell you about Texas.” And so she did, starting from the beginning, telling them about the house Ethan had grown up in. She skimmed over the family stuff; that was Ethan’s story to tell if he chose to, not hers. Annabelle was honest and told her friends that she’d slept with Ethan.
“And you care about him, don’t you, Belle?” Macy said.
“Yes…God, yes,” she answered on a sigh. “More than I’ve cared for anyone before.”
“I think that’s called love, sweetie.”
“I know, Bran, I know.” Annabelle didn’t deny it. “But it’s all pretty hopeless, with what’s going on with Cooper and me owing Ethan all that money and then me attacking him about his brother.”
“Yeah, Jake said Ethan was pretty upset when he got back from seeing you. They talked and he left in a better mood,” Branna added.
“What does the money and Ethan’s brother have to do with anything?” Macy’s brow wrinkled.
“It’s complicated, Macy,” Annabelle said, and then she looked at the car coming up her driveway.
“Is that your dad, Bran?”
“Yup, he’s going to watch over Cooper and Billy for us while we go for a walk down to the lake and drink more wine and eat the picnic I made.”
“He can’t watch them both…can he?” Annabelle felt ridiculously excited about the prospect of a break from the house and her brother.
“Billy will sleep for another few hours now, and Cooper told me he likes Branna’s dad.” Macy stood as she spoke and lifted the sleeping baby from Annabelle and put him in his stroller. “And we’re only going to be a few minutes away, Belle. I can run back if I need to. God willing it’s not, since running’s not my thing,” she added, laughing.
“Well, now, here’s three of the most beautiful women in Howling, and all in one place,” Declan O’Donnell said as he arrived on the porch.
“When was this organized?” Annabelle looked at her friends.
“This morning,” Declan said. “Now you get whatever you need from inside and I’ll just check in with Cooper and tell him I’m here until you get back, and you ladies head out when you’re ready.”
She didn’t hesitate. There was guilt, but she stomped on it and hurried to her room. After pulling off her old sweater, Annabelle buttoned herself into a bright blue shirt and slipped into a pair of tidy jeans and flat-heeled slip-ons. She brushed her hair, added some makeup and pink lipstick, then grabbed her leather jacket and went out to join her friends.
“Wow, and there’s me without my lipstick.” Branna smiled when she saw Annabelle.
“I haven’t worn makeup, nice clothes or left this house in days. If we were going to clean your house I’d still be dressed like this.”
“You want to clean my house?” Branna asked.
“It was a throwaway comment, Bran, and just for the record, your house is clean enough already to eat off the floors.”
“Still,” her friend said. “Good to know it’s an option should I need it.”
“I have your number, Macy. If Billy wakes or needs you I’ll call, but I have his bottle so I don’t expect any problem. Plus I have Cooper to help me,” Declan O’Donnell said to Macy as he began to herd them out the door.
“I should go check on him before—” Annabelle began.
“Your brother’s asleep,” Declan added, placing a hand against Annabelle’s back as she tried to turn. “No point in waking him now.”
So she didn’t. Instead, she followed her friends out of the house. Branna pulled a basket out of her car and then they were walking down the driveway.
The lake wasn’t far and she felt her head clearing with every step she took away from the house. The weather was definitely getting colder, and she was glad of the jacket, as a breeze was coming off the water. Early afternoon had a few camper vans driving along the road, but for the most part, it was just the three women enjoying the day, happy to be together.
Macy started singing first, belting out a version of an old classic that soon had Bran and Annabelle joining her. They let go, singing as loudly as they could, and arrived at the park singing the chorus just one more time.
There was a camper van there, and just one man, seated at one of the benches. He’d heard them coming and had a smile on his face as they approached. He clapped loudly when they stopped and they all bowed. Middle-aged with a belly that was starting to hang over his belt, the man wore a Lakers cap and a wide smile.
“It saddens me to say that I’m leaving, ladies, but thank you for the memory.” He stuck out a hand. “Rex Martin.”
“Annabelle Smith.” She took it first.
