In a Book Club Far Away(83)

She was sitting at one of the Burg Street benches, waiting for Jasper and Sophie, who had decided to grab an ice cream cone, when she heard her name. Turning, she saw Missy coming down the street, with an elegantly wrapped gift. She was dressed in yoga pants and a quarter zip, with soft fuzzy boots on her feet. She was glowing, cheeks pink, blond hair coming out of its ponytail. “Hey!”

“You look great!” Missy’s eyes scanned Adelaide from top to bottom. “How was your appointment?”

“It went well. You off to a party?”

“Uh, yes.” Her smile tightened, and she took a seat. “I was just thinking of you. Are you able to chat now?”

“Um, sure… I’m waiting on my friend Sophie.” Yet, with how Missy crossed one leg over the other, as if to settle in, Adelaide didn’t have much of a choice.

“So, it’s been years of planning and saving, but I’m veering from my original role as a Realtor to flipping homes.”

“I… I know.” This wasn’t news to her, but Missy plowed on and explained her life story and her newest business venture. Adelaide said nothing because it would be rude, and quite frankly, it was nice enough to be outside and chatting.

But as the minutes wore on, Adelaide glanced at her phone, at the time. Sophie and Jasper were taking forever.

“So,” Missy continued, “I need someone with an eye for both style and the bottom line to design these homes, and I want it to be you. It’s only one house to flip for now, and we would be learning together. I would pay you fairly for your time. But here’s the new news: I know that I had said that you could take your time, but I’d actually need the answer in the next couple of weeks.”

Adelaide straightened, gingerly. “You need an answer that quickly? I…” Her first instinct was to scream Yes yes yes! The mental image of her putting design and colors and textures together to create beauty sent a feeling of joy through her. “Genevieve is starting part-time preschool in the fall.”

But could she do it?

A body rushed up to them. “Hey, ladies!”

“Janie!” Adelaide waved. Janie Woo had her son, Malcolm, by the hand. She pushed her plate-sized sunglasses up to her head. The woman leaned in to give both Adelaide and Missy a kiss on the cheek. “What are you up to?”

“I was just headed into the toy store and…” Her eyes widened.

“You’re headed to a party, too?” Something didn’t sit right in Adelaide’s gut. Two of her mommy-group friends buying presents the same day, for a party that Genevieve wasn’t invited to?

“Um, no?” Janie said.

Adelaide shook her head, confused. “Did I miss an invitation while I was down for the count?”

“Oh, no!” Missy squeezed her forearm. “She and I, totally separate gift reasons. Right?”

“Right! Anyway, I have to run. Oh my God, I need to use the bathroom all of a sudden. You know how it is—mom bladder! Love you both. You look fabulous, Adelaide. I can’t wait to have you back to full swing.” As if given a boost of adrenaline, Janie kissed the both of them goodbye and hustled into the store.

“That was odd,” Adelaide said, more to herself.

“You know Janie. She’s everywhere.” Missy coughed. “So, about my proposal. I know we’re not in a boardroom or anything. But I think we’d be great together.”

“You do know I’ll be leaving, probably in a year.”

“I understand.”

“And I wanted to be a stay-at-home mom to Gen. All of the work I’ve done for you thus far has generally been when I can get literally the only sitter I trust…” Then, realizing that this part wasn’t Missy’s job to figure out but hers, she said, “But I’ll get you an answer soon.”

Two weeks. In two weeks Adelaide would have to find a more reliable sitter. And she’d need to be at 100 percent. And she’d have to talk to Matt about it.

“Awesome. Well, I’ve got to go, and so do you,” Missy said.

They both stood from the bench. Adelaide raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean I need to go?”

“Uh… because you… need to lie down.” She leaned in for a hug and patted Adelaide on the back. “I’ll see you. Okay?”

“Okay.”

But as she watched Missy hike up the road, she caught sight of Henry, with a tall box in his hands, darting down the street. Both going in the direction of her home.

She texted Sophie: Where are you guys? I’m ready to head back.

Something was definitely up.





CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE

Regina




June 2012

Regina arrived at the clinic for her thirty-six-week appointment and clutched her yoga-ball belly after her short day’s work. Her uniform was feeling tight, her pants’ elastic band cutting off her circulation. She was officially over the pregnancy—gone was the third-trimester euphoria. Her once almost manic energy that compelled her to scrub the baseboards was replaced by an all-time record exhaustion.

She was sweating just thinking of it.

Regina was given a clipboard of forms to complete, and she sat on a plastic chair in the crowded waiting room. She placed her bag on the empty chair next to her, for Logan, who was on his way, and she worked on the forms methodically.