Page 17 of Happily Ever After

“Gang’s all here,” Althea announced.

Wasn’t long before they each had coffee and found seats. All but Essie and Maude, who had suddenly become quite the hosting duo.

Essie moved between the stove and the counter, setting out serving plates. Maude was right beside her, taking things to the table without being asked. A plate of toast. Two different pots of jam. A big bowl of cut fruit.

Then Essie carried the frittata from the oven to the table, setting it down on a large trivet Maude had placed in the center. She and Maude took the seats at the end, sitting next to each other.

Cece sat, stirring cream into her coffee, while Althea occupied the chair closest to the window, hands folded neatly, her expression alert and mildly amused, as if she’d already guessed what this was about. Paige looked curious, but no one else seemed to share Blaise’s suspicion that this wasn’t going to be good news.

“I’m so glad you’re all here,” Essie said, nodding at the spread laid out before them. “Go ahead and fill your plates so we can eat. Whatever this turns into will go better on a full stomach.”

Paige sliced up the frittata. Blaise had the seat across from Maude. She topped off her coffee, added a splash of cream, then reached for the plate of toast, passing it on to Althea after she’d taken a piece.

For a few minutes, there was only the low hum of polite conversation as they all passed plates and helped themselves. Blaise noticed Maude seemed the most distracted. And Essie kept glancing her way.

When everyone had settled down to eat, Essie took a breath and looked at Maude.

Who looked right back. Not nervously. Not exactly. More like signaling she was ready. But what would Maude have to do with Essie moving to Italy?

Maude cleared her throat.

“Thank you all for coming,” she said, looking around the table. “I know this was last-minute.”

“No one complained,” Althea said as she stabbed a strawberry with her fork. “Which should tell you something.”

Maude smiled. “It does.”

She rested her hands on the table, palms flat. “I want to propose something,” she said. “And before anyone reacts, just hear me out first.”

Blaise straightened. Okay, this couldn’t be about Italy. Across the table, Paige had gone still. Cece set her mug down. Althea’s brows went up, but she kept on chewing.

Maude continued. “This is probably going to throw you for a loop. And I’ll admit, it might not be the best idea I’ve ever had. Or maybe it is. Who knows.”

Essie didn’t say anything. She just nodded.

Blaise looked from one face to the next, taking them in. Whatever Maude was about to suggest, it wasn’t small. Otherwise, she would have handled it over text.

Blaise folded her hands in front of her and waited. So did everyone else.

Maude drew in a breath and let it out slowly. “I think we should invite Gigi to book club.”

No one spoke right away.

Blaise watched the idea travel around the table, saw it register in small ways. Paige blinked a few times, Cece’s head tilted like she was trying to process it, while Althea pursed her lips and simply waited.

Blaise wasn’t sure what to think initially, but she was thrilled Essie wasn’t leaving the Colony.

“To be clear,” Maude said, “I’m not talking about Darcy. At all. Just Gigi.”

“That is not what I expected,” Paige said softly.

“That’s fair,” Maude replied. “The idea was pretty unexpected to me, too.”

Essie shifted in her chair. “Tell them why.”

“Right.” Maude nodded. “I don’t think Gigi really understands who Darcy is. I think she likes feeling included, and Darcy has taken advantage of that. It doesn’t mean Gigi agrees with everything Darcy says or does. I don’t think she has a clue what Darcy’s up to. She just doesn’t want to be on the outside.”

“And,” Essie added. “We didn’t exactly make her feel welcome.”