Well, that explains the lack of text.Wren was passed out—Lily was sure she’d be hurting in the morning. She tried to shake the feeling of delight in knowing that Wren was in for one hell of a hangover.Serves her right, she told herself before firing off a text to Wren.
Lily 2:37 AM
Goodnight superstar. I hope you’re having fun celebrating responsibly (or at least somewhat responsibly). See you back at home. I love you.
Okay, fine, maybe the text was a little passive-aggressive. And maybe she had been banking on the late hour goodnight subtly highlighting the fact that Wren had forgotten to text her. And perhaps the reminder to celebrate responsibly had been a small dig on her part. Yeah, Lily had perfected the art of passive aggression.
But theI love youwas sincere.
Again, that tiny feeling of a thread being pulled twinged in her chest. She knew it was wrong. She knew Wren probably didn’t mean not to text her. But knowing that didn’t make it hurt any less.
Lily turned her phone off, setting it on the bedside table before rolling onto her side and willing sleep to come.
The following morning, she woke to a text from Wren.
Wren: 9:12 AM
I’M SO SORRY! I meant to text you, I really did, I got a little caught up in celebrating. I still can’t believe we won! Breakfast date tomorrow morning when we’re back home? I think we should go back to the Green Room. I really liked that place.
Lily read and reread Wren’s text. She appreciated that Wren’s follow-up had come so quickly, but still. Something about the whole exchange left her annoyed. Her phone buzzed in her hand, another text from Wren coming through.
Wren: 9:13 AM
ilysm
Lily looked at the phrase.I love you so much. She knew Wren meant it. She could feel how much Wren loved her whenever they were together. But why, in this moment, did Wren’s love feel like an afterthought?
ELEVEN
BETH
THANKSGIVING
Beth had been standing at the bottom of the steps leading up to Sarah’s front door for five minutes, a container of smoked salmon dip in hand—her contribution to Thanksgiving dinner. It was about noon. She was right on time, but something in her was stopping her from going inside.
The gentle hum of an engine pulled her attention as Liv’s Bronco rolled down the driveway, parking behind Beth’s Landrover.
“Hey! You made it!” Liv said excitedly, grabbing a case of wine from the trunk of her car. “Sarah said you were still a maybe when I talked to her last week.”
“I made it.” Beth smiled weakly.
In all honesty, she had thought about texting Sarah that morning, making up some excuse, some reason—something to get her out of this. She wasn’t sure she had the energy today. Thanksgiving had been her and Jamie’s holiday, when they’d celebrate with Lily by jetting off to warmer climates. Last Thanksgiving, the first after Jamie died, had felt like a blur. Beth had still been wading through the thick fog of grief, vaguely recalling Sean and Pat stopping by to bring her some food.
The front door swung open and Nell greeted them with a large, wide grin, her dark hair braided over one shoulder. She wore an apron with a photo of her, Sarah, and Nate next to a burned turkey.
“Hi, come on in.” Nell, elegant even in that apron, stood on the front porch as Beth and Liv climbed the front steps. Her steel blue eyes landed curiously on Liv as she took the dish Beth was holding.
“Nell, Liv; Liv, Nell,” Beth said, making the introduction. “Nell is?—”
“Sarah’s ex-girlfriend,” Nell said cleanly.
Liv smiled, not missing a beat. “Oh, Beth, what a complicated family tree you’re building.” She nudged her with her elbow, causing Beth to roll her eyes. “Nell, ex-girlfriend of Sarah, any chance we can gain entry to this humble abode? This box of wine is heavy as shit.” Liv shifted the box’s weight to her hip.
Nell stepped aside, making space for Liv to pass, but as Beth followed, Nell stopped her with a gentle hand on her forearm. “She’s an odd one.”
Beth almost laughed at the absurdity because had Nell met herself? “Some might say the same about you.” She raised a challenging eyebrow, smiling.
Nell Stanhope was a hard woman to understand. At first glance, Beth could see how some people might find her cold, calculating, and a little controlling. Beth had thought all of those things at one point or another when Sarah first started bringing Nell around. But the more she got to know Nell—the more their walls came down around each other—the deeper Beth’s appreciation for Nell and the impact she had on Sarah’s happiness grew.
