The Second Chance Supper Club

by Meier, Nicole

  “Thanks for this,” she responded. “But you’ll come over and have a glass on my new deck, won’t you? The place isn’t furnished except for the bed and some kitchen stools. But as soon as I acquire a patio set, you’ll be my first guest!”

  He gazed at her for a long second, their eyes locking. “I would be honored.” Julia’s heart did another flip as she settled into her dining chair.

  At the last minute, she’d rung Shane up and invited him to her sister’s menu-tasting party. She’d explained that the guests who attended were encouraged to vote on the best dishes as part of Ginny’s research. The restaurant wouldn’t officially be open to the public for another month, due to a list of unfinished build-outs in the back of the kitchen. Her sister, however, was moving ahead anyway. No surprise there.

  Now, skimming the long table, where a flicker of soft candlelight and enough cutlery to satisfy an army shone, Julia couldn’t help but feel a burst of pride for her sister.

  Ginny was actually doing it.

  Roger was there, with his kind-faced wife and one of their curious neighbors. Julia gestured across the table in greeting. Seated next to them were Beverly and Phil, who’d turned out to be Shane’s aunt and uncle, and also a smattering of Ginny’s other regular diners from Mesquite. It was an eclectic mix of young and old, creative and conservative. But altogether happy.

  A young woman also sat near the end of the table, appearing to take in the merriment. Julia didn’t recognize her but deduced she must be the reporter from the newspaper who’d been reaching out to Ginny. Inviting the reporter was genius, really. While Ginny hadn’t been able to convince the food blogger to delete his article, she had managed to get the local news in her corner. Ginny had shared earlier that she’d promised the reporter an exclusive interview if she’d come to the new restaurant and try the food. Julia already knew her sister would be able to put a positive spin on the story. It was a clever idea, and she wished she’d thought of it herself.

  Miraculously, there hadn’t been much more buzz around the blog. Larger stories were taking over the airwaves that week. As a result, the blog had been buried beneath the noise from other, more attention-grabbing headlines. Julia had yet to see any further mention of her in the New York papers, aside from the quickly fading Rossetti episode. The industry, and its audience, were fickle like that. One scandal would eventually be traded for the next. That’s just the way it worked.

  Julia thanked her lucky stars for that.

  Everyone was there to support Ginny’s beautiful new business, Bistro G.

  “Welcome, everyone!” Ginny emerged, dressed in her chef’s coat. She came around the back counter, which was still covered with a sheet of loose plywood, electrical cords hanging at all angles. The place still required plenty of work, but Ginny was able to cook with working appliances despite that.

  “Hello!” the group chimed back.

  “I’m so glad you could all come tonight. I can’t tell you how excited I am for this! I’ve been cooking for days, so you better have brought your appetites!”

  “Hooray!” someone called.

  Ginny tossed back her head and laughed. Julia noticed that the lines of worry around her now-glinting eyes had faded. That the tight expression from before was now gone. Her sister was basking in her dream, and they were all there to witness it.

  “But first,” Ginny continued, “please join me in raising a glass. Bistro G could not have been possible without the help of some very important people. First, my business partner, Roger. I am forever grateful to you for believing in my vision, and I couldn’t have picked a friend with a better foodie palate!”

  Roger beamed as his wife leaned over and pecked his cheek. “Hear, hear!”

  “And,” Ginny went on, her glass still lifted high in the air, “to my beautiful and talented daughter, Olive. I couldn’t have done this without her help and support. I’m so happy you’re here, honey. I love you!”

  “Thanks, Mom.” Olive’s smile took up her whole face. Julia reached over and squeezed her arm lovingly.

  “And finally”—Ginny stepped closer to the table, her eyes finding Julia’s—“to my sister, Julia. Welcome back to your home in the desert. May you find love and light and everything you’ve ever wanted. Your being here means more than you’ll ever know. I love you.”

  “Cheers!”

  “Bravo!”

  “To Bistro G!”

  The crowd clinked their glasses together in a burst of joviality. As friends and family sipped their champagne, Julia took in all the faces. This was a night she never wanted to forget. It was the start of a whole new life.

  And she couldn’t wait to see what would come next.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  This book stems from my love of sister stories. A big hug goes to my two sisters, Aimee and Heather, for all the laughter, listening, and general good support they’ve given.

  Thank you to my unfaltering literary agent, Abby Saul. You answer every call, email, and writerly plead for reassurance. I’m so grateful you’re in my corner. To the team at Lake Union Publishing, especially Danielle Marshall and Alicia Clancy, thanks for seeing the vision and guiding me along the way. Gabriella Dumpit, thanks for your marketing know-how and day of fun in Seattle! Working with Sarah Murphy during the editing stage was a dream. Thank you for “sniffing out” what I was trying to say and making the book that much better.

  To Gretchen Schaffer, my dear friend. You’ve offered a keen eye for everything from sample chapters to cover concepts, and I adore you for it. Thanks goes to Sandi Kahn Shelton for being an early reader. To my Hive of Bees: You gals are forever the best. Thank you for the years of support. A shout-out also goes to the Ladies of the Lake. I’m not sure another group of like-minded authors exists where so much is shared, championed, and promoted all under one imprint. I feel lucky to be a part of this network. Thanks to the booksellers who’ve featured my books in such lovely ways (Roundabout Books and Powell’s, to name a few!).

  Last, but never least, is my family. Greg, Natalie, Lauren, and Ben, I love you. Thanks for sitting in the front row. It means the world.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Photo © 2017 Benjamin Edwards

  Nicole Meier is the author of The Girl Made of Clay and The House of Bradbury. She is a native Southern Californian who pulled up roots and moved to the Pacific Northwest, where she lives with her husband, three children, and one very nosy Aussiedoodle. Visit her at www.nicolemeierauthor.com.