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“Is he leaving already?”

“Not for good. We still don’t know when or if that will happen.” He said it casually, but she saw the tension around his eyes. Was she getting better at reading people?

“Anyway, how about you come over on Saturday after your book club ends? We can work for a couple of hours and then head out to stargaze.”

“That sounds perfect,” Alice said. “And Beau?”

“Yes, darlin’?”

Her tummy flopped. Why did it do that every time the man said darlin’? He called everyone darlin’. It didn’t mean anything, and in fact, the women in her self-partnered group would probably object—

Oh no! She’d forgotten, but she already had plans for Saturday night after book club. The self-partnered group was meeting at a Chili’s in San Marcos at seven.

“Something wrong?” Beau asked.

Alice looked into those blue eyes. Screw Chili’s. It wasn’t on her bucket list. “No,” she said. “I was just wondering if maybe it would be helpful to let Ford, and probably Gerome, know about your dyslexia. That way, they could simply leave you a voice mail instead of a text message—”

His cheeks had turned pink again. “Maybe. But I think I’ve got a handle on it.”

Alice just nodded. She hoped that was true.

Chapter

Sixteen

The book club members would be here any minute. Alice straightened the stack of napkins next to the tray of cheese and crackers on the coffee table. The teakettle whistled, and she rushed into the kitchen to make iced tea. Maggie was bringing wine, but Miss Mills didn’t drink alcohol.

She turned off the burner and poured the boiling water over the tea bags she’d dropped into her pewter pitcher. In another few minutes, she’d add sugar, ice, and cold water.

She walked back into the living room just in time to see Gaston finish off the cheese. “Gaston!”

The big doofus wagged his tail and barked.

Dang it. Luckily, the other women typically brought snacks. Nobody would starve. “You,” she said to the guilty cheese thief. “To the guest room.”

As soon as Gaston was settled in the guest room with his chew toy and a bowl of water, the doorbell rang. Alice peeked out the window to see Claire and Maggie. They were almost always the first ones to arrive.

She opened the door. Maggie held up a box of wine. “Let the festivities begin.”

Claire held a plastic container with a blue lid. “Lemon bars. I know I said I’d bring something healthy, but . . .”

“They have vitamin C,” Alice said with a grin. “Come on in.”

Just as Claire and Maggie were about to step through the door, a minivan pulled into the driveway and parked. The door opened and two juice boxes and a sippy cup fell out, followed by Trista Larson. She tossed the trash and cup back in the van just as the sliding door opened.

“Goodness,” Miss Mills said, holding the sippy cup. “Are you trying to kill me?”

“Sorry,” Trista said. “I forgot you were back there. Why didn’t you just sit in the front seat?”

“I don’t trust the air bags in foreign-made vehicles,” Miss Mills said, huffing to get a leg out of the van.

Just as she’d finally extricated herself from the van, a stack of papers fluttered out on the wind.

“Oh no!” Trista said. “Grab those, Miss Mills. They’re Sammie’s homework!”

“Dear Lord,” Miss Mills said, grabbing for a sheet of paper and missing it.

Alice, Maggie, and Claire ran to help. Alice managed to step on a sheet of paper, while Maggie jumped after the airborne ones. Claire chased a page across the yard and then pounced, triumphantly impaling it with her stiletto heel.

“Woo-hoo! Teamwork!” Maggie said, carrying four sheets of paper to Trista.

Alice handed hers over, as did Claire. “Sorry about the hole.”

Beep! Beep! A bright red Porsche pulled up.

“Yay! I didn’t know Carmen was coming,” Maggie said.

“She’s in town for another couple of weeks,” Alice said. “I thought it would be nice to include her.”

Claire clapped her hands. “Great idea. She’s so fun.”

A silver Lexus pulled up and parked behind the Porsche. “And there’s Anna,” Alice said.

Nobody cheered, but Alice plastered on a smile. It was true that Anna was Big Verde’s version of Nellie Oleson. She was snooty, entitled, and generally unpleasant to be around. But she’d chaired the successful Boots and Ball Gowns gala that had allowed the library to be rebuilt after the flood. Alice would be forever grateful.

Carmen, decked out in peacock harem pants and a silky turquoise tank, held up a platter. “Fried brie!”

Everyone cheered, because it wasn’t every day that a celebrity chef brought her restaurant’s signature appetizer to book club.

Anna cut in front of Carmen and held a plastic container over her head. “Cheese puffs. My grandmother’s recipe.”

The Lexus’s passenger door opened, and a sparkly orthopedic boot popped out. “Oh, dear!” Alice said. “Anna, you left Brittany in the car!”

“I had my hands full. And anyway, she cried the whole way here. I needed a break.”

Alice and Maggie rushed over to help Brittany. Her face was red and her eyes were swollen. “What on earth is wrong?” Maggie asked. “Other than your stress fracture right before your wedding, I mean.”

“The caterer’s food truck blew up,” Brittany said. “My wedding is in two weeks, and I don’t have a caterer.”

“Oh, dear,” Alice said, helping Brittany limp to the front door. “I’m sure you can find another one.”

“No!” Brittany wailed. “Not at this late date!”

Everyone filed into the house, murmuring and fawning over Brittany.

“The wedding is in two weeks?” Carmen asked.

“Yes. Everything is ruined.”

“I’ll do it,” Carmen said. “I’ll cater the wedding.”

“Really?” Brittany asked.

Carmen nodded, and Brittany took a flying leap at her, dropping her crutches with a loud clatter. “Thank you! You’ve saved my wedding.”

Alice was confused. “I didn’t know you’d still be here two weeks from now. Jessica and Casey will be back from their honeymoon. Won’t you be heading out to film the next season of Funky Fusions?”

“I didn’t want to say anything until I knew for sure,”