In a Book Club Far Away(51)
“Yes, we should actually know before we leave the hospital tomorrow.” Sophie took a bite of the roll, and its taste distracted her for a moment.
“Good?” Regina asked.
“It’s perfect.” Sophie licked her lips. Then she shook her head as the conversation caught up to her. “I’ve still got to update Jasper with everything and change my flight. But hold the phone. You’ve scheduled a p-a-r-t-y for the child of a mother who just had surgery, a mother who should be recovering the rest of the week, and then made it a surprise not only for the child but for the mother?”
“You make it sound so horrible.” She shrugged. “Birthdays are such a special time. And you know that Adelaide hates the fact that she’s not throwing one for her own baby. The woman loves parties. So yes, the party is for her, too.”
“I don’t know, Regina. Why would you think that she wouldn’t want to plan this, at a later time? On her own?”
“Because! Like you said, she’ll be in recovery. By the time she’s up and about, it may be weeks. Adelaide loves birthdays as much as I do.”
Sophie’s taste buds were having a party in her mouth after another bite of the roll, but she frowned at Regina’s implication. “And I don’t?”
“I’m just saying that you’re not one for parties.”
“We like our birthdays low-key.”
“But that’s not our friend, is it?” Regina heaved a breath. “And honestly, this will give me something to do, to give back. I feel helpless. I want to show her how much I care about her. I want to make Ad happy.”
Sophie paused for a beat. “I think that us being here alone shows how much we both love her, and I’ve no doubt she’s happy that we’re here. And I also think that this party will stress her out.”
Regina tipped her head back as if in exasperation. “Sure, maybe a little at first. But in the end you know she’ll love that we got a cake and some decor and sang the ‘Happy Birthday’ song. Depending on how Missy can swing it, maybe we can fill up Adelaide’s house like how it used to be when we got together. Adelaide thrives having folks around. She’s an extrovert.”
“Only when planned,” Sophie emphasized.
“Small detail. And this is a special circumstance.”
Adelaide was an extrovert, this was true. While Sophie wasn’t social like the two of them were, she could respect it. A memory rushed back, and Sophie smiled. “I remember the time when she wanted a karaoke night, and you brought your karaoke machine to her house. And the apartment HOA came and asked us to turn it down.”
“The nineties tunes were what brought us to the dark side. Those ballads. They were like battle cries of freedom.”
Sophie could hear it now: the loud feedback from the karaoke machine in Adelaide’s house, the television speaker all the way up to high. Neighbors filtering in to check on the commotion. Everyone singing along in their different pitches.
Sophie giggled, and it felt good. To let go of what was in her chest. Her worry for her friend, her worry for her and Jasper’s relationship.
“So you’ll help me?” Regina prodded. “We’ve got less than a week, and I’ve got a list to go through.”
Sophie pressed her lips together. “I swear, you and Adelaide and your plans.”
“It that a yes, then? Adelaide will be so much better by the weekend, and what better time to celebrate than with both godmothers present?”
“I guess…” Sophie hedged. All said, it was a good idea. It was thoughtful. And a part of her liked this teamwork, at being addressed as “both godmothers,” as if their friendship had turned around. And yet, she also wanted to play hard to get—it was so complicated, this push and pull. “I’ll help, willingly and without argument, if you actually finish our book club book.”
“Ugh. I was hoping you wouldn’t say that. I was perfectly happy putting the book away before something bad happened to the characters.”
“What can I say? I like to be consistent. But if we’re talking about supporting Adelaide—then having our little book club would make her happy. And she might be a little less pissed off when she sees you’ve invited people without telling her.”
Regina grunted.
“I’ll fill goody bags and can blow up balloons and make a big fuss even when I don’t think we should,” Sophie said, sweetening the pot.
Regina bit her lower lip. “Fine. Let’s do it.”
“Great.” Sophie turned to Genevieve. “Ready to see your mama, Genevieve? She’s going to love a hug from you.” She stood and plucked her out of the chair. “And I can’t wait to go home and go to bed. It’s been a day. And by the way, Reggie?”
“Yeah?”
“You’re not helpless. Look at how happy this kid is.” As Sophie gestured toward Genevieve, the little girl smiled with all of her teeth. “And that cinnamon roll really hit the spot. It might have been the best thing I’ve eaten that you’ve made.”
“Thanks.” A second later, Regina’s eyes narrowed. “Is this a prank?”
Sophie threw her head back and laughed. “No. No, it’s not.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE