Page 107 of Happily Ever After

She headed for the refreshments. “I’m in the mood for tea. How do I do that with this machine?”

Paige went to show Althea it was the same as making coffee, just a different K-cup. By the time the tea was brewing, the doorbell rang again.

This time it was Cece.

Her cheeks were slightly flushed from the heat outside, her hair pulled back in a white headband. She looked good. Not just “made up” good, but genuinely good. Like there was a light within her. She had a cookie tin in her hands.

Paige hugged her and held on for an extra second. “How are you?”

Cece’s voice was warm against her ear. “Great.”

“I’m so glad to hear that. You look happy,” Paige murmured.

Cece pulled back and smiled. “I am.” She glanced past Paige. “Althea beat me?”

“She beat everyone,” Paige said.

Cece laughed and walked toward the living room, where Althea had taken her tea and her usual seat. “Hi, Althea.”

Althea lifted her chin in greeting. “Cece.”

Cece held up the tin she’d brought. “I have shortbread.”

“I’ll take a few of those,” Althea said.

The doorbell rang again, and this time Blaise swept in with her usual presence, soft perfume, great hair, and a smile that lit up a room. She might have been an actual celebrity, but she was one of the realest people Paige knew.

“Hey, there.” Paige hugged her and felt Blaise’s warmth as they embraced. “How are you?”

Blaise stepped back and smiled. “I’m so good.”

“You have news, don’t you?”

“I do,” Blaise said as her eyes took on a new glow. “But it can wait.”

Then Maude arrived, her hair still slightly damp like she’d showered not too long ago and looking very much like she’d gotten some sun today. She had a clear package of cookies.

“I bought snickerdoodles,” Maude announced, holding up the container. “They’re not homemade but they are from Publix, so you know they’re good.”

Essie came next. She looked relaxed in a way Paige had rarely seen since Frank had left for Italy. The diamond cross at her neck caught the light when she moved, and Paige’s eyes went to it automatically.

Essie noticed and touched it briefly. “From Frank. He came home from Italy early and—” she shook her head, smiling. “You’ll hear it all soon enough.”

Paige laughed. “It’s beautiful.”

“Thank you,” Essie said quietly.

Paige watched as Essie went toward the other women and greeted them. There was more hugging and more laughter. So much love and affection among them all.

This was what she wanted. What she’d fought for. Not the book club itself, but for the sense of sisterhood in this room. For women who showed up for each other

The doorbell rang again.

Paige’s stomach flipped.

She glanced toward her gathered friends. All of them went quiet. There was only one person who had yet to arrive. Paige took a breath, then whispered, “Here we go.”

Althea said nothing, but her brows lifted as she nibbled a shortbread square.