“Congratulations!”Margie said, pulling her into a hug.
A jingle rang out, and the front door opened, letting a gust of cold air disturb the pleasantly warm space.
Margie lowered her eyes.“Not a peep about you know who.”
Patty’s placid smile shined back at her.“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Hello!”Annie called out.
Margie stood from her seat, popping her head out of the tearoom.“Hi, Annie!”
Annie pulled off her coat, her cheeks rosy with exertion.“Sorry I’m late.Bella came to watch the kids, and they were so happy to see her that I tidied up some last-minute things that I’ve been trying to get to all week.”
Margie beamed.Introducing Bella and Annie might’ve been the best thing she’d done all year.The two of them got on like peas in a pod.Bella was thrilled about her new skills in babysitting, and Annie had help without a side of guilt.
On Margie’s suggestion, Annie had asked her ex-husband to cover the cost of babysitting.Annie was surprised when he agreed without hesitation, the relief evident on her face when she broke the news.
Margie stayed silent.She knew Roy would agree to it.He wasn’t a total monster, and he knew he was shirking his responsibilities.If an inexpensive teenage babysitter let him put off examining that for a bit longer, all the better.
“You don’t have to explain yourself to us,” Margie said, waving a hand.“We haven’t really started.Just pouring the tea now.”
“Great!”Annie said brightly.
She wasn’t going to make Annie play the same game she had.Margie grabbed Sheila’s hand and thrust it forward.“Look at this!”
Annie squealed, and after offering congratulations and exchanging some wedding planning talk, they all took their seats.
Margie sat back and watched Patty and Sheila’s faces.There was no sign of them pushing topics they weren’t supposed to push.
Could she trust them?Couldn’t they see how much Annie had improved?Her hair was done, all shiny and bouncy.There was color in her face again, her complexion recovered from the ashen shade she’d sported in the summer.She was even wearing a stylish pair of wide-legged jeans everyone was doing now, and a flattering striped top.
“Is that new?”Margie asked, brushing a hand against her arm.
Annie nodded.“Yes, the whole outfit is new!I took a chance and bought a few things from an online clearance sale.”
“You look adorable,” Patty said.
“You seem energized,” Sheila said with a smile.
Margie poured a cup of tea and pushed it toward Annie.
“Thank you.”She accepted it with a smile.“I feel energized.I’ve been thinking a lot about this fundraiser.I’ve reached out to some local vendors, and they’re willing to donate their services for a silent auction.”
“That is a wonderful idea,” Margie said.
She couldn’t keep the smile off her face.Thiswas the Annie she’d wanted to bring back—a woman full of life, full of joy.Yes, still a little tired around the eyes, but not the self-questioning, unmoored woman she had been when she’d gone through her divorce.
Annie didn’t like to talk about it, but Margie knew that pain all too well.When her own husband had left her, her children were grown.But she knew the shock of it—losing not just an identity, but a future.Questioning everything.
It meant the world to Margie that Annie wasn’t going through it alone.She deserved to know she belonged, that she was valued.That she mattered.
Annie pulled out a printed spreadsheet with yellow and pink highlights dashed all over.“Here are some of the companies donating and the values of their donation.”
Margie snapped herself to attention, and they spent the next two hours planning the fundraiser and laughing over the endless treats Patty carried out from the kitchen.
She hadn’t seen Annie relax like this in ages.She was laughing—reallylaughing.Thankfully, no one brought up Miles, just as Margie had asked.
Until Annie did.
