They ate dinner in front of the telly while watchingCoronation Street. The house filled with the chocolaty aroma of the baking brownies. The timer went off. Joyce paused the show, hopped up, and took the brownies out and set them on a rack to cool. They looked as good as they smelled. She’d be proud to take these to Willa.
“Those smell divine,” Beryl said from her spot on the couch. “I wish you’d made some for us now.”
“We might have one anyway when we take them over. If they invite us in.” Joyce thought the girls would. Especially if she and Beryl showed up together.
Was that being forward? Joyce didn’t want to seem pushy. They were still getting to know the girls.
“You think it’s too much, don’t you?” Beryl asked. “The both of us going over there?”
“I don’t know.” Joyce shook her head. “Maybe. I don’t want to be a bother.”
“No, neither do I. You could text, couldn’t you? Ask Harper or Frankie if they’d mind us stopping in for a minute or two? Just to be neighborly?”
“I could, but how are they going to say no to that?”
Beryl shrugged. “Willa did ask for the brownies.”
“True.” Joyce had never said the words out loud, but she’d come to realize how much she’d missed female companionship since Jeanie had died, bless her.
Taking care of Mitch in that house that had become like a mausoleum had taken its toll on her. So much sadness. Jeanie’s memory had haunted that place like the ghost of happiness past. Harper, Frankie, and Willa were a much-needed breath of fresh air. They’d ushered in a new era in Mitch’s life.
And Joyce’s.
They’d brought laughter and happiness and optimism. They’d brought Archie and Lucas. Light and joy had returned to that house. Of course, Kyle and Ruthie had been an unexpected blessing, but Mitch had also adopted adog.
There was no way that would have happened if not for Harper.
Joyce didn’t want to do anything to lose their friendship or all the incredible gifts they’d brought with them. Not only were they lovely people, but they didn’t treat Joyce like the help. Not that Mitch did, either. But there were a few in this neighborhood who did.
Oh, they didn’t come right out and say it, but she understood what certain looks meant. Some of these women thought themselves too posh for politeness. Like they’d been friends with the late Queen, bless her.
Joyce sighed. “I hate to show up unannounced. I’ll text the three of them together. Then it won’t be a surprise to any of them.”
She got her phone from her purse on the counter and started a new text message, adding in all three phone numbers.Willa’s brownies are made and ready to deliver. Is now a good time to pop round?
She decided to leave it at that for now. See what the response was like before going any further. “I’ve texted. Now we just have to wait and—”
Her phone chimed. Twice. Harper had responded first, with Willa right behind her.
Now is great! I didn’t know you baked to order. LOL
Joyce smiled, then read Willa’s response.
Yes, please! Are you bringing Beryl? Come hang out.
Joyce’s smile widened. She looked up at Beryl. “Get the stepstool out. We need to find that bottle of wine.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Harper opened the door and smiled at Joyce and Beryl. “Hello, you two. Come on in.”
“Thank you,” Joyce said, brownies in hand. She and her sister entered.
Beryl’s head seemed to be on a swivel. “Isn’t this place lovely.”
“You haven’t seen anything yet,” Harper said.
Beryl held out a bottle of wine. “A little something for you.”
