After we ate, Vance and Alex wandered off to watch sports, leaving me at the table with my four best girlfriends. Gillian opened another bottle of wine and a seltzer for herself. She was a dancer and Pilates instructor. Her baby bump had only just started showing on her slender frame.
“I have a date tomorrow,” I said, picking up my wine glass.
“No way,” Delphine said. “With who?”
“A match from Second Chance,” I said, flushing, suddenly embarrassed. “Robbie says we’re ninety-seven percent compatible.”
“He was right about Vance and me,” Lila said. “At ninety-eight percent. So he knows what he’s talking about.”
“Tell us about your match,” Gillian said.
“I don’t know much, other than he’s a doctor specializing in kids with cancer and seems to like a lot of the same things as me,” I said. “I’m meeting him for a drink at The Pelican tomorrow night. I’m sure nothing will come of it.”
“Pull up the app,” Seraphina said. “I want to see him.”
I got up to grab my phone. Seconds later, I had @KidDoc’s profile up. The ladies passed it around, nodding appreciatively when they saw his photos.
“He seems like a dream,” Lila said in her gentle voice.
“Almost too good to be true,” Delphine said. She was often the most skeptical of the five of us. Who could blame her? She’d been through hell after losing her husband. Not to mention the years she’d tried to support him through his serious bouts of depression. In the end, the mental illness won, stealing a husband and father from Delphine and Annie. She was tough, though. Never complained. Never felt sorry for herself. Just carried on like women do.
“Robbie looked into him,” I said. “And seems convinced he’s real. Not some serial killer pretending to be a doctor.”
“I saw a documentary about doctors who were, in fact, serial killers,” Delphine said.
“God forbid,” Lila said, shuddering. “But I do remember feeling nervous about meeting Vance the first time. I mean, we don’t really know much about someone from their profile. It could be completely made up.”
“Which is why it’s good to have Robbie around,” Gillian said.
“Have you told Grady you have a date?” Seraphina asked, tucking her thick red hair behind her ears, watching me with those observant green eyes of hers. She was a writer for a reason. The woman noticed everything, especially when it came to people.
“Not yet,” I said. “But he won’t care.”
No one said anything for a moment or two. They all knew I was in love with Grady. They also knew how wildly impractical a real relationship with Grady Nash would be. We loved him—everyone did—but no one believed he was husband material. He was perfect for a party or a backyard barbecue, the kind of man who lit up a room. Just not the kind you trusted with mortgages, grocery lists or the important details of everyday life.
“I think it’s great you’re giving it a try,” Lila said. “It’s been long enough.”
“What has?” Delphine asked.
“Since her divorce,” Lila said.
“And spending too many evenings with Grady,” Seraphina said, gently enough, but her meaning was clear. The more time I spent with him, the less likely it was I would meet someone appropriate. She was right, of course. But I couldn’t seem to stay away from Grady.
“I can’t wait to hear all about it,” Gillian said. “You have to text us the minute you get home.”
“Oh, I will. Trust me on that,” I said. “But don’t hold your breath that this will turn into anything.”
“But you never know,” Lila said. “Look at me and Vance.”
“You won the lottery with that one,” I said. “Same with you, Gillian. You’ve both given me hope.”
Seraphina raised her glass. “To hope.”
We all clinked glasses just as the kids filed into the house asking about dessert. Whatever happened tomorrow, I would have these beautiful people to call family. I must remember to be grateful. Even if the man I love was stuck in Neverland.
2
GRADY
