“Are we gonna do fingernails now, Mommy?” Layla asks Tillie.
“Well, I thought that it’s such a beautiful evening, maybe instead we should offer our guests seats outside to enjoy the weather and have girl talk.”
Layla’s face falls for a second, but then she tilts her head and smiles. “Yes, I think that’s a good idea. Then they can see all the things on our farm. They can do their nails anytime.”
With that, over the next few minutes, we all stand and help carry the snacks outside to a lovely patio with a beautiful cedarwood table, where we set the food and drinks. There’s plenty of comfortable-looking patio furniture, so everyone picks a seat. I end up next to Georgie and Lizzie. Layla is across from us, conspiring with Ruthie, and Tillie is basically in between all of us.
“So, Delaney, you’re new to Aron Falls fairly recently, right?” Georgie asks.
“Yes, just a few months. I’m looking for a new place, and I’m hoping I can find something in the area.”
“Oh, talk to Ruthie and Sally. I’m pretty sure they’ll know if anything’s vacant. Lester has a small apartment on his property that Tillie lived in for a short time. It’s at the far end of Aron Falls, close to Elladine. Everyone there is nice too, if you don’t mind driving a bit to get here for work.”
“That’s where I live,” Lizzie adds.
Georgie looks over at her. “But not for long, because I’m trying to convince her to move to Aron Falls.”
“You know I hate moving,” Lizzie says. “Plus, it’s… complicated.”
“Yeah, I know, but—” A concerned frown on Georgie’s face for a few seconds, but then, she glances down at the table for a second. “I’m sorry. I said I wouldn’t push, and tonight is about fun things only.”
“God knows I could use some fun,” Lizzie says. Her words come out lighter, but they sound forced. I suspect she’s trying to turn the vibe of the conversation around.
Desperate to help her achieve that, I change the subject.
“How do you know each other?”
Georgie looks at Lizzie and grins. “Lizzie is my proofreader.”
“Georgie is a novelist.” A gentle smile that reaches her eyes unfolds as Lizzie looks at her friend with pride.
Georgie rolls her eyes. “I write books—romances with a little steam. The wordnovelistsounds, I don’t know, but it doesn’t fit me.”
“Wow, color me impressed,” I say. “How many books have you written?”
Georgie’s cheeks turn pink. “Um…” She pauses and turns her gaze upward, moving her mouth like she’s silently counting. Her eyes go wide for a second, then she peers at me. “I think thirty-eight.”
“Oh, my God! You’re definitely a novelist. And if you don’t like that word, you have to at least acknowledge you’re an author.” I grin at the woman, impressed as hell.
“I’m indie published,” Georgie adds. She says it like that changes that she’s written and published thirty-eight freaking books.
Lizzie huffs. “I don’t know how many times I have to tell you, but that just means you’re a publisher, a businesswoman,anda novelist.” Lizzie turns her head to peer at me. “As an indie, she’s responsible for finding and setting up proofreaders, editors, cover artists, uploading the books to seller sites, monitoring them… The list goes on, and she never gives herself credit.”
Georgie sighs dramatically. “Okay, okay. Yes, I work hard. But I love it. Plus, I met Lizzie through my books—I was looking for a proofreader?—”
“And I was looking for some extra work,” Lizzie says.
“And we’ve been friends for… what, five years now?” Georgie asks.
“I think so,” Lizzie says.
Watching them volley back and forth so naturally with their words, the strength and warmth of their friendship is enviable. I hope to have that one day.
I lean toward Georgie, still intrigued, and dying to know more. “How did you become an author? Did you always want to write?”
“Well, I was always an avid reader, and I was getting to where I was having trouble finding books I could relate to. So, I tried it and wrote one. I didn’t do anything with it for a long time. But eventually, my best friend Heath—he’s the youngest of the Aron men—found it and nagged me relentlessly until I published it. Then, I just kept doing it.”
I know I’m staring at her like a weirdo, but I’m in awe.
