“Who is Brick Collins?”
“My friend.” Maggie poured a cup. “And Jo’s.”
“And mine,” Jo Ellen chirped. “We’re friends.”
Nothing about this made sense. “Maggie. I’m sorry,” Kate pressed, “you wentoutwith a man last night?”
“I had dinner with my friend, who is a man. You don’t have to make it sound like we reenactedLove Story.”
“On a motorcycle?”
“In my car. The motorcycle was his transport here. He had no intention of putting me on it. I mean, Kate, please.” Maggie set her mug down and pinned her gaze—precisely the blue of Eli’s—on Kate. “It was a lovely dinner at a place called Crabby’s. The chef-owner is named Picks, and he’s a friend of Brick’s. We had alovely time with delightful conversation. You know, what you do with friends.”
“How did you meet…Brick?” she asked, waiting for something horrifying like…on the apps.
“Oh, a while ago when Jo Ellen and I were…on one of our trips. He and his friends helped repair the Cavallaris’ truck and then…”
“Then?” Kate asked.
Maggie and Jo Ellen shared a look, a glimmer of mirth in their eyes. They were definitely hiding something.
“Does it really matter, Kate?” Maggie asked.
“Aren’t we allowed to have friends?” Jo Ellen added.
“Of course.” Kate drew the words out. “Well, that’s nice.”
“It was,” Maggie confirmed. “In fact, your mother and I are spending the storm at a…a roadhouse in Crawfordville, which will help Eli with logistics, I’m sure. Fewer folks to evacuate.”
Kate opened her mouth and shut it again, digesting this new piece of unfathomable information.
“A roadhouse?” What exactly was that? She kind of knew, but wasn’t sure Maggie did.
“It’s called Gator Jack’s. Very…lively.”
“There’s a pink-haired bartender named Charlene,” her mother added. “And a jukebox that plays oldies. We’ll dance for sure.”
Kate drew back in horror. “What…when…where isCrawfordville?” It was all she could manage.
“Inland enough to be safe,” Maggie said. “We will be surrounded by good people, mediocre food, and shutters on every window. We’ll spend the night there.”
“Wouldn’t be the first time,” Jo Ellen said under her breath.
“You’ve been there before?” Her voice rose with each shocking revelation.
“Honey.” Her mother put a light hand on Kate’s arm. “I do have a life. And friends. And now, for the first time in nearly eight decades, I’m going to a hurricane party! Isn’t it exciting?”
“It’sinsane!”
“Says who?” Maggie shot back.
“It’s not an experience, Mom. It’s a natural disaster.” Kate pushed up. “Eli won’t hear of it.”
Maggie leaned over the counter. “Eli’s my son, Kate. He knows his boundaries. Jo and I have our plan and we’re looking forward to it. We’ll stay in touch by phone and I promise you, we will not be on a motorcycle in the storm.”
Kate put both hands flat on the counter and made herself take a slow breath.
Maggie came around the peninsula and stood next to Jo Ellen. “We will be perfectly safe. I have not lost my mind. Your mother has not lost hers. We are two grown women who have decided where we would like to be when a storm passes through, and we would very much appreciate it if our children would…back off and let us.”
