Stella
How’d that go?
Exactly how you’d imagine
0 out of 10
Do not recommend
Stella
I’m sorry
Tonight was nothing compared to how the memorial is gonna go
Maybe I shouldn’t have brought Charlie with me
Stella
You gotta rip the Band-Aid off at some point, sweetie
Yeah I know
Stella arranges for Charlie to come to her place and stay with her two-year-old son, Max, and his grandma so I can go out with her and her husband, Jack. In her words: “the quiet before the storm will do you some good.”
I don’t argue. A night out with two of my oldest friends is exactly what I need. Jack ran around in our same friend group until he and Stella finally admitted their feelings for one another after graduation and got married a few years after.
Stella is fun, optimistic, and soft when it comes to this world. Everyone needs a friend like her. I only wish she and I didn’t live so far apart.
Charlie and I have a rideshare driver drop us off at Stella’s, who assures me Jack won’t be drinking more than a beer or twoand will take both Charlie and me back to Dottie’s tonight. Their yard is small, but the landscaping is immaculate with topiaries in large gray planters on both sides of the front door.
Charlie lets me hold her hand as we walk up the steps and onto Stella’s porch. But after I knock and Jack opens the door, she lets go. She puts on a brave smile even as she twirls the string from her hoodie around her finger.
“Hey, Rosie.” Jack joins me on the porch and wraps me up in a hug. “It’s been a long time.”
“It has. Too long.” In Jack’s embrace, warmth washes over me. It’s another reminder that Golden Harbor wasn’t just Dottie’s home. It was mine too.
“Sorry I missed you last night when you came by. I got caught up at the office.” He steps aside, waving an arm for me and Charlie to enter their house.
“No apology needed. I’m way too familiar with that.”
“I heard your boyfriend is quite the big shot in Seattle, huh?” There’s teasing in his tone.
I waggle my fingers in front of his face to show off my engagement ring. “Fiancé.”
“Wow.” He rubs the back of his neck. “Is this news?”
I breathe out a laugh. “For you, yes. But don’t worry. The secret is already out.”
“Yeah? For Stella, or Beck too?” He purses his lips and shifts his footing from side to side uncomfortably.
“This is Charlotte.” I clutch Charlie’s shoulders, using her as a scapegoat to block his question.
Jack smiles and bends. “It’s nice to meet you, Charlotte.”
She extends her small hand to shake Jack’s like she’s a grownup and it throws him for a second. West and his manners have been rubbing off on Charlie.
Max zooms down the hallway toward us and runs right into Jack’s arms. He’s a perfect combination of both parents. Jack’sblack hair and Stella’s big smile. I try not to think about which of Charlie’s features resemble Beck. The truth is, there’re too many to count.
