In a Book Club Far Away(66)

Her phone buzzed with a notification: another text from Jasper. Since she changed her flight, he had been nonstop with questions. Despite her attempts to calm him with logical reasoning, he was unsatisfied with any of her answers.

Sophie stuffed the phone back in her robe pocket and squashed the ire rising in her chest. She wasn’t going to get into it with him first thing in the morning, without a cup of coffee in her system. He would have to wait.

Sophie smelled the food as she descended to the first floor. Bacon. And as she neared the kitchen door, she heard music.

She peeked in into the kitchen. Regina was belting out a song by Taylor Swift while she stirred a pot before moving on to chop something into smithereens. Then she halted to send a text. Genevieve was on the floor surrounded by Tupperware and its covers emptied from one of the bottom cupboards. She lifted a blue cover in a wave.

Sophie put a finger up to her lips in a sign of shh, and Genevieve imitated her, lips pursed.

Regina broke out into a small dance.

This was so… cute. Sophie tried to contain her smile and instead crossed her arms and waited patiently for Regina to turn, which she did after a strike-a-pose move with a hair flip.

Regina started, and brought her hand to her chest. “Good God. How long have you been standing there?”

“Enough to see that someone’s happy.” Sophie approached the kitchen counter, lifted Genevieve into her arms, and kissed her cheeks until she giggled before setting her down. Then she poured herself some coffee and sat at the wooden table. Her phone buzzed in her pocket, but she ignored it, focused on this singular conversation with Regina.

Up to that point, their interactions had been transactions, save for a couple of friendly comments. Mostly, their communication revolved around the Genevieve pass-off, the Adelaide care plan. The chores they’d split up, and yes, the party on Friday. They’d even shared a bed, but they hadn’t spoken despite the close quarters. As soon as their heads had hit their pillows, slumber overcame them. But the past hung over them like a chandelier too big for a room, and Sophie craved a simple conversation.

In Sophie’s opinion, the loss of a friend was just as devastating as a romantic breakup. In the decade Sophie had missed, she never got to support Regina through her divorce. She had never sent Regina’s son those noisy presents she’d promised in her minivan on that ice cream trip, though not for lack of trying.

“It was just a song,” Regina declared.

“Mm-hmm. Right, as if I don’t know you. You have that look.”

She stopped stirring. “What look?”

“Giddiness.”

“I mean, maybe I am a little giddy.…” She stirred again.

Giddiness usually meant romance, but maybe Sophie was wrong. “You’re going to leave me hanging? Is this about last night, with your date?”

“It wasn’t a date. It was about the cake. Which reminds me. This evening, I’m going to have to sneak out again. I need to buy decor.”

“With?” Sophie waited a beat for answer, then added, “Adelaide told me that this was an internet friend.”

“Maybe you and Adelaide shouldn’t be talking about me.” She gave Sophie the side-eye.

Ouch.

Genevieve threw one of the plastic containers into the pile, as if in anger.

“Oh, Genevieve, no throwing,” Regina said.

“Yes!” Genevieve said.

Sophie’s phone buzzed again. She took it out of her pocket.

Carmela

Mama, why aren’t you home yet?

Why are you being such a cactus to daddy?

All prickly.



I love you.

I’ll be home soon.

I need to stay for Adelaide.



You’re using her as an excuse to stay away.





The phone rang in her hand. She clicked the red button to send it straight to voice mail.

“Mine! Mine!”

When Sophie looked up, Regina was kneeling next to Genevieve. “Be nice to the bowls, okay? Or else I’m going to put them away.”

“It’s like we need to take our own advice,” Sophie said.

“Uh-huh,” Regina said. “Some of us more than others.”

Sophie put the phone screen side down and frowned.

“Look, you’re hiding something, too.” Regina stood and shut off the stove and leaned back against the countertop. “Maybe you should share first. What’s the deal with ignoring Jasper’s texts the other day, and then now, sending Carmela to voice mail?” At her silence, Regina added, “C’mon! I saw that contact photo—it was her.” She crossed her arms. “That sixth sense you always talked about? I have it now, too.”

“How funny that you remembered me using that phrase.”

“I was twenty-five and pregnant, and you were the best mom I knew. I watched you so closely I was practically taking dictation. It’s why it just pissed me off so much when… when…” She pressed her lips together.

When everything happened.

“You thought I was the best mom?” Sophie asked instead, stunned.

“Yes. But you’re changing the subject.” Regina’s tone changed. It hardened into bricks. “It’s not just you. Adelaide was ignoring Matt, too, at the hospital. The bottom line is that there can be reasons why we keep things to ourselves.”