by Judith Keim
“It’s beautiful,” gushed Tiffany, stunned by its size, its simplicity, its character.
“Here, let me put it on.”
Kevin lifted the ring out of the box and slid it on her finger. It fit perfectly.
He kissed her once more and then took his seat. As soon as he did, a waiter appeared. “Congratulations, sir.” He poured more champagne into their glasses and presented each of them with a menu.
After he left, Tiffany shook her head. “You had this all planned, right down to the timing of our service, didn’t you?”
He grinned. “I don’t know what I would have done if you’d said ‘no.’ That would have messed up everything.”
Tiffany looked at the ring glittering on her finger and raised her gaze to the man she loved. “As surprised as I was, I would never have said ‘no.’”
“Good,” said Kevin, winking at her. “That’s settled. Now let’s eat.”
Tiffany chuckled. Kevin had always had a good appetite for good food. Other things as well.
CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE
LYNETTA
Lynetta waited until she was sure Lee was busy in her office and then left in a hurry, almost running in her haste to get away. With things so tense in the office, she had no desire to be chastised for taking too long a lunch break. And bubbling with good news, she wasn’t about to let anyone stop her from meeting with the Fat Fridays women.
She drove to Bea’s and, not wanting to waste a minute, dashed inside.
At the entrance, she searched for the others. At the sight of Betsy Wilson sitting with Sukie and Tiffany and Grace, Lynetta ran over to their table. “Betsy!”
Betsy stood and threw her arms around her.
“What a great surprise!” said Lynetta, returning the hug. “Are you back here for good?”
Betsy shook her head. “No, but I’ve missed you. Like I say: “There’s nothing better than friends unless it’s friends who love Fat Fridays like I do.”
Lynetta laughed with the others. She’d missed Betsy’s wacky humor.
“Sit here,” said Sukie, patting the chair next to her. “I’ve signaled the waitress. I know you don’t want to be late getting back to work.”
Lynetta couldn’t hide the smile she felt creeping across her face. “Today, I think it might not matter. When I left the office, Lee was packing up her things. The California office is calling her back. I haven’t spoken to Carol Ann to confirm it, but I understand they’ve asked Ed to come back. And rumor has it that the guy Lee replaced is returning. Guess they had enough complaints about her dealings here in Williston.”
“Great news,” said Tiffany, clapping her hands.
“Tiffany!” shrieked Lynetta. “Is that a ring on your finger?”
A pink tinge of color crept into Tiffany’s cheeks. She held out her hand so Lynetta could get a better look. “Kevin and I decided to make it official. We don’t have any wedding plans at the moment, but we didn’t want anyone, especially Beau’s parents, to think we weren’t sincere about each other.”
“That makes sense.” Lynetta nodded her approval. “I was going to wait before I said anything, but I’ll go ahead and tell y’all now. After listening to your encouragement, I’ve decided to do as James asked. I’ve talked to the boys, and they’re ready to try living in California. James is really happy about it. It’s pretty scary. I don’t have a ring and may never get one, but for now, that’s okay. I think you’re right. I need to give our relationship a chance. He’s the best man I’ve ever known.”
Amid the cheers and hugging that followed, the waitress said, “Ladies, what’ll you have?”
After they’d placed their orders, Betsy spoke up. “Do you realize that, with Lynetta gone, none of us Fat Fridays women will be working at MacTel anymore. It’s sort of sad in a way. That’s where this whole group started.”
“But we’ll always be friends,” said Grace.
“Yes, of course,” said Betsy, “but it struck me how much has changed for each of us. When will you leave for California, Lynetta?”
“I’m handing in my two-week transfer notice on Monday.”
“Okay, then, after the baby shower for Carol Ann at Sukie’s,” said Tiffany, “we’ll have a little party for you. With the baby so little, Carol Ann can’t leave Lina for long. I’ll ask her if we can have the party at her place. I’ll put it together, so all she’ll have to do is provide the space.”
“Great idea. I’m sure there will be wine and food left over from the shower. I’ll bring that,” said Sukie.
“If Carol Ann can’t do it, y’all can come to the apartment,” said Betsy.
“Any more news?” said Sukie. She turned to Grace. “How’s the new job going?”
Grace smiled. “It’s great. Bert is a nice friend and easy to work for. Best of all, Misty can drop by anytime. He and Misty get along nicely because we’re all part of the same support group.”
Betsy elbowed Grace sitting next to her. “I go away, and it seems the whole world changes. I never thought I’d hear you, Grace, talk so nicely about a man. And to have Misty living with you has been something we’ve all prayed for.”
Grace smiled good-naturedly. “I still don’t trust most men, but Bert is exceptional. And Misty and I are getting along just fine. She’s one hell of a young woman. I’m real proud of her after all she’s gone through.”
“Yes,” said Tiffany. “She’s a great gal.”
“Tiffany has given her a lot of nice clothes. She’s enjoying that and babysitting for her. I think it gives Misty an understanding of how close we all are,” said Grace.
Lynetta sat back and watched the interplay among the women. It pleased her that she’d been made a part of this unusual group. Others at the office had never been invited.
After they’d eaten and taken turns sharing desserts, Grace rose. “Time to get back to work.”
Lynetta gathered her things. “I’d better get back too. Heaven knows what’s going on now.”
After bidding everyone goodbye, she followed Grace out of the restaurant. She had a lot to do in the next two weeks to get ready to make the riskiest change in her life.
CHAPTER SIXTY-FOUR
CAROL ANN
Feeling rushed, Carol Ann hurried up the front walk of Sukie’s house. She’d done her best to schedule Lina’s feedings so that she could have time to spend at her own baby shower. She’d left a bottle with her milk for Ed to give Lina, but she hadn’t had time to fuss very much with her appearance.
Sukie greeted her at the door. “Come on in and sit down,” said Sukie. “People are just starting to arrive.”
Chloe peered around Sukie and looked up at Carol Ann with a shy little smile. “I gots a present for your baby.”
Carol Ann leaned over to speak to her. “That’s so sweet, Chloe. I can’t wait to see it.”
“It’s a stuffed elfant with a big pink ribbon.”
Carol Ann chuckled. “I’ll be sure to act surprised when I open it. Would you like to help me with the presents?”
Chloe’s big blue eyes shone with pleasure. She nodded her head so eagerly, her blond curls bounced.
Betsy came up to them. “Carol Ann, good to see you again. How’s that sweet baby of yours? I was so happy to see you both yesterday after the luncheon.”
Carol Ann smiled. She’d always thought of Betsy as the mother she should have had instead of the one who was hers. “She’s fine. For the after-party, I’m putting Lina in one of the outfits you brought.”
“Great.” Betsy moved aside as people streamed into the hallway. Mostly other women from the office, they gave Carol Ann hugs and greeted Sukie.
Carol Ann took a seat in the living room where she could watch people enter. Her mother and sister had been invited to the shower, and she wanted to keep an eye out for them.
Moments later, Becky and her mother entered the hallway looking flustered. Carol Ann rose and went over to them. “Glad you made it. I’ve saved two seats for you.”
&n
bsp; Sukie hurried up to them. “Mrs. Mobley, Becky, I’m so happy you could come.”
Carol Ann’s mother, handed Sukie a soft package tied up with yarn. “I’ve brought this.”
“And here is my gift for Carol Ann,” said Becky rather stiffly.
Carol Ann led them over to two chairs to one side of hers. Becky and her mother looked as uncertain as new kindergartners entering school for the first time. She remembered how awkward she’d first felt in this group, and her heart went out to them.
After wine, sodas, and sweet tea were served to those who wanted something, Chloe tugged on Carol Ann’s arm and turned to Sukie. “Time to open the presents. Right, Mommy?”
Sukie laughed and explained to everyone, “We have a very anxious present helper here. Is everybody ready?”
Glancing at all the presents at her feet, Carol Ann clasped her hands together. “This is better than Christmas. Thank you, everyone!”
“Okay, Chloe, hand Carol Ann a present,” coached Sukie.
Chloe proudly handed Carol Ann a gift.
Carol Ann opened one present after another, thrilled with the delicate dresses, the practical onesies, the towel sets, and other gifts Chloe presented to her. When it came time to open her mother’s gift, Carol Ann drew in a deep breath. Compared to the other gaily wrapped gifts, this plain brown paper package seemed joyless.
She tore off the paper and let out the breath she’d been holding. Inside was the yellow, crocheted blanket her mother had told her about. She stared at it through eyes that welled with tears. It might seem such an ordinary thing to some people, but she knew it must have taken her mother hours to make it.
“I’m sorry, Carol Ann, I know it’s kinda plain,” said her mother.
Carol Ann threw her arms around her. “No, you don’t understand, Mama. You made this for Lina. I love it!”
Her mother straightened. “She sure don’t look like a Mobley, but my only granddaughter is a purty little thing.”
Carol Ann blinked as fast as she could to keep from sobbing. They were some of the sweetest words she’d ever heard from her mother.
Chloe nudged her. “You gots more presents.”
Laughing, Carol Ann accepted the package from her sister. Seeing the little pink dress inside, she fought fresh tears. She knew her sister had spent extra time searching for such a precious gift.
After she’d opened the last one, Carol Ann said, “Thank you all so much.”
“That’s not all,” said Grace. “The Fat Fridays ladies have a few more things for you.”
She and Sukie left the room. Sukie returned, wheeling the same kind of stroller they’d given Tiffany at her shower. Grace brought in a car seat. Chloe dragged a little wooden chair behind her, decorated with painted elephants.
Carol Ann rose and went over to check out the stroller. “It’s perfect! And so is the car seat! And I love the little chair. Thanks so much!”
Sukie clapped her hands for attention, quieting the chatter in the room. “Everyone, please come into the dining room. We have a buffet luncheon set up.”
“And cake,” said Chloe, bringing amused looks to the faces of the guests.
People got to their feet, chatting comfortably with one another, and headed into the dining room. Carol Ann noticed her mother and Becky standing back, looking uncomfortable.
She went over to them. “Aren’t you hungry?”
Her mother nodded. “I thought I should let the other women go first.”
“Mama, you don’t need to wait for others. You’re a guest of the party too.”
“You sure have hit the jackpot, Carol Ann,” whispered her sister. “Ed, a new house, a baby girl, friends like this ...”
Carol Ann tensed and waited for what she was sure would be a nasty remark.
“I guess I’m a little jealous, but I’m happy for you.” Becky smiled at her.
“There now,” said Carol Ann’s mother. “That sounds more like the girls you used to be. C’mon. Let’s go get some of that fancy food.”
Carol Ann stayed behind to gather her emotions. Her family had come through for her. Her post-partum emotions were on a roller coaster anyway, but this remarkable conversation had her close to tears again.
###
Carol Ann arrived home to find Ed pacing the kitchen, Lina screaming in his arms.
“Thank God you’re here,” said Ed. “I didn’t know what else I could do. She wouldn’t take the bottle.”
Carol Ann took the baby from him. “Poor thing. I’ll take her upstairs and feed her. The women from Fat Fridays will be here soon. They’re bringing all the presents.”
“You say I’m supposed to escape the gathering here and meet Cam at his house?”
She nodded. “Yes, he can give you all kinds of tips on raising little girls.”
“I think I need something more than advice,” said Ed.
Carol Ann laughed. “Go and enjoy yourself. See you soon.”
She’d just finished feeding Lina when she heard the women arriving downstairs. She put a fresh diaper and clean outfit on her daughter, swaddled her, and carried her downstairs.
Betsy immediately rushed over to her. “Let me see.”
Carol Ann opened the swaddle to give them a peek at her daughter. Gazing at the perfect baby in her arms, she filled with pride. She hadn’t expected her or the other changes in her life, but Carol Ann was more grateful than she could say.
“Let me get some pictures,” Sukie said, pulling out her phone. She took several snaps of Carol Ann and the baby and then turned her camera on the others.
“Lynetta, I’m putting together a whole bunch of these pictures and others of the group in a photo album for you,” Sukie explained, making them pose for another round of photos.
“I brought a bottle of nice wine,” said Tiffany. “Who wants some?”
Five hands went up.
“I’ll have a sip, only enough to toast Lynetta. Then I’d better stick to water,” said Carol Ann.
As Tiffany poured the wine, Sukie placed some bites of treats left over from the shower on a serving plate.
“Here’s to Lynetta and James!” said Sukie. “We sure are going to miss you.”
“Hear! Hear!” cried Tiffany.
“Come on! Let’s get settled in the living room,” said Carol Ann. She waved them out of the kitchen into the living room, where they settled themselves on one of the two couches facing one another.
“Nothing like the power of women’s friendships,” said Betsy, raising her glass.
“Nothing like the Fat Fridays group,” added Grace.
Tiffany and Carol Ann exchanged smiles. They’d gone from fellow workers to friends to best friends. And the other women were just as precious to Carol Ann. She didn’t know what the future would hold for any of them, but she knew these women would be there for one another. They’d shared births, deaths, abuse, forbidden love, and new beginnings.
Feeling her heart well with love for them, she hugged her baby close. She hoped Lina and young girls everywhere would discover the strength of women and what they could accomplish together.
As if she’d heard her thoughts, Sukie raised her glass. “Here’s to us!”
Carol Ann lifted her glass of sparkling water, wanting to hug them all. “Yes! Here’s to the women of the Fat Fridays group—each and every one of us!”
Author’s Note
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading more about the women in the Fat Fridays group. If you have, please help other readers discover them by leaving a review on your favorite site. It’s the best way to say thank you!
Please enjoy an excerpt from my book Finding Me – A Salty Key Inn Book (Book 1 in the Sullivan Sisters Series).
CHAPTER ONE
SHEENA
In early January, Sheena Morelli sat with her two sisters in a conference room of the Boston law office of Lowell, Peabody and Wilson, waiting to meet with Archibald Wilson himself.
“Do either of you have any idea why we’re re
ally here?” said her youngest sister, Regan. “The letter from Mr. Wilson said something about a reading of a will. But that doesn’t make sense to me. I didn’t even know Gavin Sullivan.”
“Me, neither. He’s probably some rich uncle leaving us a lot of money,” teased Darcy, the typical middle sister, who was always kidding around.
Sheena laughed with her. The three Sullivan sisters had no rich relatives that they knew of in their modest family. They were hard workers who relied on only themselves to make it through life. Well, thought Sheena, maybe Regan wasn’t as reliable as she and Darcy. As the baby of the family, Regan had always been a bit spoiled. At twenty-two and eager to escape her old life in Boston, Regan wasn’t about to spend too much time with the family. This time, though, at the formal request of Mr. Wilson, Regan had dutifully left New York City to come to “Bean Town.”
As Sheena waited in the conference room for Mr. Wilson to show up, she studied Regan out of the corner of her eye. With her long, black hair, big, violet-blue eyes, and delicate Sullivan features, she was a knockout—a Liz Taylor look-alike.
Darcy sat on the other side of Sheena in a stiff-backed chair. Studying Darcy’s blue eyes, red hair, and freckled nose, Sheena thought of her as cute...and funny...and maybe a little annoying, though everyone seemed to love Darcy’s sassy attitude. At twenty-six, Darcy claimed she hadn’t found her true calling. Whatever that meant.
Sheena had found her calling in a hurry when she got pregnant as she was starting college, where she’d planned to take nursing courses. Ironic as it was, her wanting to become a nurse and getting caught like that, had changed many things for her. Now, at thirty-six and with a sixteen-year-old son and a fourteen-year-old daughter, she still hadn’t recovered from losing her dream.
She straightened in her chair as a tall, gray-haired man entered the room carrying a file of papers.