“Your boobs look amazing in that dress.” I winked at her.
“Funny. Your brother said the same thing.” She wrinkled her nose at me and just laughed. “I got it online. You like?”
“Love it. Especially the little butterfly netting you have there hanging out of the pocket. Details are amazing.”
“Thanks. You must be Ellis. My husband East mentioned you.” Lila maneuvered us off to the side despite Ellis looking longingly at the case as if he were starving.
He dutifully stuck out his hand and gave her a polite shake. “Yep. That’s me.”
“Go on and sit down with Mags. I’ll get you a tray of snacks. I know Phiny brought you some early, but we have a little of everything tonight.”
Leaving her to it, I made my way over to Maggie and her group, feeling relieved. I wasn’t sure I had the energy to pick snacks. It would be enough for me to hang out in a corner while everyone else hunted with butterfly nets or whatever Lila had planned.
I nodded hellos and ignored their pointed ogling at my shadow. Bending to kiss the top of Maggie’s head, I let her press my hands to hers as she continued her conversation for a few minutes before I sat down.
Wade seemed to have kept the whole fiasco at the store quiet from the family, but I was sure it would spread all over town before morning, and I wouldn’t get any peace, so I decided to take it while I could. If I weren’t mistaken, Wade would be here soon, all up in my grill. He’d already texted me eighteen times to check on me.
Wedging myself next to Chloe, I let out a sigh. She looked exhausted. I knew she had been working a long shift at the hospital, so I was a little surprised she was here at all.
“Hey, Lo. What’s cooking?”
“Trying to decompress after the day, but I’ve finished my chapters. What’s not to love, right? Butterflies and murder? Iconic."
"Totally," I said, squeezing her back. "She's got that independent vibe I aspire to. Though if I had to chase villains in a corset, I'd probably trip over my own feet. Not sure how those women walked anywhere dressed in all that stuff.”
We chatted for a few minutes about the complete impracticality of Victorian fashion when East showed up.
“I’ve been sent with a collection of snacks.” East had what could only be called a platter of treats that he looked at with envy. “You have to share it with Ellis, apparently. Lila was worried he was starving. Hey, man.” He gave the ever-famous chin jerk. “Phiny said he liked the little pies, so they included a lot of those.”
“I do like the pies,” Ellis said as he slid off the wall, grabbed a handful of the little pies, and stepped back again. He gave a contented sigh, glaring at me like he was resentful he’d had to wait so long for food.
East sat down on the other side of me as Hattie and Kipp joined the table. It felt good being around my family, and I knew by the way East was looking at me, slinging an arm around my shoulders, that he’d already heard the news about Alan. He pulled me close for a moment, letting me soak up all the goodness I always felt in his presence.
“I love you, Sage-O-Rama. Anything you need, tell me, okay?” he murmured in my ear. “Anything.”
“Just this hug was what I needed, and focusing on book club.” Gesturing toward the crowd steadily making their way to their seats under Mia and Lila’s direction, he nodded at me and seemed satisfied enough with that.
Maggie and her duo settled nearby just in time for Janice to lean over with her eyes sparkling. “Did anyone else suspect the aunt from the start? Deanna Raybourn is sneaky! Sage, what about you? Everything okay after... You know?"
I forced a smile, not wanting to ruin the mood. “I’m good, really. Just processing. But hey, if Veronica can handle assassins and expeditions, I can deal with a creepy admirer."
Ellis cleared his throat beside me. "If there are assassins, you don’t need to worry. I’ve got that covered.” The group stared, then burst into laughter, and I could only give him a grateful look for drawing everyone’s attention. He even earned himself an extra pie from Phiny, who had finally emerged from the kitchen.
"See? Bodyguard perks!" Chloe teased. "Ellis, you read the book? Thoughts on Stoker? Broody protector type—sound familiar?"
“No.” He actually blushed a little.
Table talk finally moved on to the book, where Lila handed out discussion questions and bookmarks so people could cover the main chapter points with a partner.
“Ok, folks.” She clapped her hands. “Pair off.”
Hattie grabbed my arm, earning a stern look from Ellis, which she ignored. “Buzz off. I need to talk to her. Come on, Sage.”
We wandered off to a corner, where I grabbed a cookie from the platter and ducked past Earl, who was cozied up with Marge.
Hattie brushed her hair away from her face before guiding us to a more private spot. “I heard about earlier. Wade is still trying to finish things at the station, but he should be here soon.” She hesitated. “Rhodes called.”
Well, that didn’t last long. If Hattie already knew, then I guessed that they all knew about Alan except for Chloe and maybe Maggie. I must have made a face, because she was already moving ahead.
