Page 110 of Champagne Nights

Once things had calmed down and we finished eating, I helped my mom, Charlotte, and Piper clean up.

“I can’t believe I’m finally going to be a grandma,” my mom said excitedly.

“Have you set a wedding date yet?” I asked Piper.

“No, but it will be after Charlotte’s baby is born. I need both my sisters in my wedding,” she said as she hooked her arm around me and laid her head on my shoulder.

“So much exciting news today!” My mom smiled.

I grabbed a cigarette and my lighter and went out to the patio. I sat there just as the sun was starting to set.

“Hey,” Keaton said as he sat down next to me.

“Hey.”

“You okay with all the news today?”

“Yeah. Why wouldn’t I be?”

“You don’t need to pretend with me, Paisley.”

I took a puff of my smoke and looked away. “What do you want me to say? Do you want me to say that it sucks that my two sisters have the most incredible news and are so deliriously happy while I’m sitting here still mourning the death of my husband after only one year of marriage at twenty-seven years old?”

“That pretty much sums it up,” he said as he grabbed my hand. “You’ll be okay. I was talking to Elena today, and she asked about you. She said a spousal support group is over at the medical center on Sunset Blvd. They meet every Friday night at eight o’clock. I think you should go.”

“You want me to go to a support group?” I asked with a shocked tone.

“Yeah. I think you need to. Humor me. Go one time, and if you don’t like it, then don’t ever go back. But at least you can say you went.”

“You’re crazy. I’m not going to a spousal support group and listening to a bunch of old people talk about how they were married for fifty-plus years.”

Keaton sat there and kept slowly shaking his head. “I love you, but you’re foolish sometimes. People are trying to help you, Paisley.”

“What’s going on out here?” my dad asked as he sat down on the other side of me, took the cigarette from my hand, and put it out.

“I thought you and Elena were taking a break?” I said as I looked at Keaton.

“We are, but we still talk.”

I rolled my eyes as my dad put his arm around me, and Keaton got up and walked away.

“What’s going on, baby?”

“Nothing, Dad.”

“How’s Dear Paisley doing?”

“The column is doing great. Better than everyone expected.”

“That’s good to hear, but I meant the person.” He smiled.

“I’m—”

“Not doing well. I already know that, and I saw your face when Piper and Charlotte shared their news.”

I sighed as I laid my head on his shoulder. “I’m happy for both of them. This family needs some good news and something else to focus on besides me.”

“You, my darling daughter, are so right. I heard Keaton say something about a support group. I think you should go.”

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