Page 18 of Happily Ever After

“True,” Paige breathed out.

Blaise considered what Maude had said. It made sense. And she’d seen for herself how Gigi watched Darcy as if waiting for a cue as to what to do next.

“So this is a rescue mission?” Cece asked.

“No,” Maude said quickly. “Well, maybe, in a way. I’m really talking about an invitation. I don’t want to put pressure on her. Just give her another option.”

Blaise spoke up. “We’d have to make sure she understood it was just her we were inviting. Not Darcy. Because those two seem to be everywhere together.”

“Absolutely,” Essie said.

Paige leaned back slightly, like she still didn’t know how she felt. “And you think that would change things? Including her that way?”

“I think it might,” Maude said. “If we’re honest with her, we might be able to save her from Darcy and all her nonsense.”

Blaise glanced at Essie. She hadn’t said much, but she didn’t look surprised. She and Maude had obviously talked this over already.

Essie met Blaise’s eyes briefly, then looked back at the others. “I feel sorry for Gigi,” she said. “I also don’t believe she sees the whole picture, and that’s after talking to her one on one. We ran into each other on the beach. We all know Darcy isn’t doing her any favors. Gigi’s going to end up being ostracized, just like Darcy will be eventually.”

Althea finally spoke. “I think you’re right,” she said. “As for Darcy, people like her do what suits them. At some point, Gigi won’t be useful to her anymore. Then she’ll be tossed aside.” She shook her head. “That’s a hard way to learn you were just a cog in the machine.”

Blaise nodded slowly. “I can see the logic of inviting her,” she said. “But Darcy isn’t going to like it.”

“That’s a given.” Maude’s mouth curved slightly. “Darcy doesn’t like anything she can’t control.”

“That could be reason enough to invite Gigi,” Paige said.

Cece snorted. “So long as she understands Joe is off limits.”

“I think she gets that,” Maude said, smiling.

“My thoughts are this,” Essie said. “We need to decide if we’re willing to let Gigi make up her own mind once she’s seen what Darcy is really doing.”

The table went quiet.

Blaise looked at the women she’d come to rely on, each of them cautious in her own way, each of them very loyal. This wasn’t a small ask. Inviting someone in always came with risk. The whole thing might backfire.

Then again, it might not. And second chances were something Blaise very much believed in. “She might surprise us.”

Maude looked at her, confident but restrained. “That’s what I’m hoping.”

Cece exhaled. “If we do this, it has to be done right. We explain what Darcy’s done and leave it at that. No making Gigi feel like she’s being evaluated or on trial.”

“Agreed,” Essie said. “But ultimately, this has to be Paige’s decision. She’s the one most at risk from Darcy.”

“Not anymore.” Paige shook her head, glancing at Cece. “One provisional meeting. We see how it goes.”

All eyes turned to Althea.

She smirked slyly. “Well, I’ve always believed that most women reveal themselves soon enough. Sometimes you just have to give them the room to do it.”

Maude smiled, just a little. “Then I’ll reach out to her and see what she says.”

Blaise picked up her fork. Whatever came of this, they’d done the right thing. They’d be giving Gigi a second chance.

Everyone deserved that.

Except maybe Darcy.