Page 80 of Quietly Falling
“Oh yeah, of course. He’s Hannah’s brother.”
Bea snaps her fingers. “That’s right. Seriously, there’s so much overlap between Clementine Creek and Blackstone Falls I feel like I need a map to keep track of everyone.”
“That’s why I prefer not to talk to anyone,” Ellison sniffs, making the other girls chuckle.
“You’re not gonna be able to use that line much longer,” Lana tells her.
“She’s right. There’s seven of us in book club plus the guys and the kids…that’s getting to be a pretty big number,” Bea teases her as Ellison narrows her eyes.
“I’m not talkin’ about family.”
“Do y’all care if I bake something?” I ask, loving that they’re here but still feeling so unsettled.
“Is it chocolate?” Lana asks.
“It can be.” I smile, moving into the kitchen as they gather around the island, spreading food and drinks along one side. “Ellison, how’s Blu settling in?”
“Oh, she’s a dream!” She sighs, her hand absentmindedly resting on her stomach. “I’m hoping to get one of the other donkeys that traveled with her,”—she pauses—“and a highland cow, but that’s just because I want one.”
“And your husband is excited about all your acquisitions?” I ask skeptically even though that man has stars in his eyes every time he looks at her.
“There’s no one in this world who loves me more than Max.” She grins. “I call him Max and I’m Eddie and we’re justus.Sometimes I like to mess with him—see how far I can push him before he loses his mind.” Her sigh is wistful like she gets actual pleasure out of testing his patience, and maybe she does. “He puts up with a lot, but if I told him I adopted a whale, he’d start digging me a pool. He’s just a good man, my ride or die, and I’m lucky to be his wife.”
“Now I’m crying,” Bea grumbles, snatching a napkin from the holder and dabbing at her eyes.
“Oh, please,” Ellison hisses back. “Archer got you goats to make all your soaps,andhe writes you poetry.”
“That’s so romantic.” I sigh as I turn to Lana. “What about Mason?”
“He made my son teach him how to check the produce the way I do when he goes to the grocery store so I don’t have to second-guess it. And he took my daughter to the father- daughter dance.” I’m practically swooning and I have no doubt the things they’ve mentioned only scratch the surface.
“Where are the kids tonight?” I ask.
“With their grandparents. Arden had to work, Cal is…doing Cal things, and Nessa said Remi wasn’t feeling well. Nice diversion; now tell us about Bodhi?” Lana prods and I blush.
“He just always seems to know what I need—like when he surprises me with lunch because he knows I forget to eat, or the full body massage that had me almost purring but...” My words trail off because he’s so much more than that. “It’s a million little things and I can’t believe he’s mine.”
“That,” Ellison says, pointing her spoon at me, “is why he’s yours. You see him for what’s inside, not the version he shows the world.”
“I do.”
Bea nods. “We know. So just lean on us and relax—enjoy the best you can—because he’s gonna need you when he gets home.”
“You’re right.”
I’ve got this.
I’vetotallygot this.
38
BODHI
The parking lot is almost empty now, cars having come and gone over the last hour, but I can’t make myself move. Exhaustion sits deep in my bones as I relive Lauren’s story right along with mine.
They’d left right after we’d said goodbye, and Tom had called not long after to tell me that Lauren agreed to make a formal statement.
She’s prepared to testify.
