The Sunshine Potluck Society

Chapter 3

By the time Debbie reached Joanna’s house on Bribie Island, the rain had stopped. The sun peeked out from behind a cloud at the newly washed neighbourhood across the road from Sunshine Beach. The house squatted low and quaint behind a white picket fence. The green grass was perfectly clipped beside a garden bed filled with vibrantly coloured flowers.

Debbie climbed out of her car and glanced in the side mirror. She used her hands to smooth down her sleek grey bob. Then she pulled her skirt into place until it reached below her knees. She quickly drew a dash of red lipstick across her lips, then rubbed them together with a smack. She carried her camera bag slung over one shoulder and the baked goods balanced on her palms as she walked carefully down the wet driveway in her heels.

At the door, she knocked then pushed it open. She slipped out of her heels and left them beside the door, then padded into the kitchen in her stockinged feet.

“I’m here! Hello!”

The kitchen smelled of delicious food, spices and marinated meats. But it was otherwise empty. She made her way into the dining room and smiled at the vibrant decor. Gwen always decorated for their themed weeks even though the potluck was held at Joanna’s. This time, she’d covered the room in bright colours—orange, pink, blue, green and yellow. There was a straw hat in the centre of the table, along with some beautifully coloured flowers in vases on either side. Each chair had a striped blanket hung over the back, and there was a pi?ata strung up in one corner of the room.

Debbie laughed. “Gwen, you’ve had fun this week. It looks great.”

Gwen was busy straightening the table runner. “Hey! You made it. Debbie’s here!”

Debbie kissed Gwen on the cheek. “Where’s Joanna?”

“She and Emily are in her room cleaning up. She had a mishap earlier—took a fall in the driveway.”

“Oh, no! Is she okay?”

“I think so. A little bruised. But she said she has something she wants to tell us.”

“Colour me intrigued,” Debbie replied.

She took her camera out of the bag and got to work taking snapshots around the dining room while they waited for Joanna and Emily to finish up. It was nonsense, really. There was no point in taking so many photographs other than as keepsakes for the four of them. But she liked to keep busy, and she loved photography. Outside of her work, it was her only real passion. She sighed—especially now that Caleb had lost interest in spending time with her.

She checked her phone. He still hadn’t called. Surely he’d have finished his round of golf by now.

Joanna hobbled into the room with a walking stick in one hand. “Debbie! How lovely.” She kissed her friend on the cheek.

Debbie held her at arm’s length to look her over. “Are you hurt? Should we go to the hospital?”

Joanna brushed her off. “I’m fine. I’m only two months older than you. You can’t treat me like an old woman yet.” She laughed. “But thank you. I appreciate it anyway.”

Debbie shook her head. “We’re never getting old. Right?”

“Never!…young at heart,” Joanna replied.

“Can I get you a drink, Debbie?” Emily asked.

Debbie embraced the young woman. “That would be lovely, honey. How are you this week? Is that nasty cold gone?”

Emily’s nose wrinkled. “Mostly. I have a little cough, but nothing much. The eucalyptus oil on my hankie helped, so thanks for that.”

“You’re welcome. It does the trick every time.”

They all returned to the kitchen, where they pulled the meal together. There were burritos and tacos to be eaten with rice and salad. The street corn, or corn off the cob, looked delicious as Debbie followed Joanna’s instructions to coat it in butter, mayo, cheese, scallions and salt and pepper. Her mouth watered as she carried the bowl to the table and set it beside a massive pitcher of frozen margaritas.

As they sat around the table, Debbie was overwhelmed by the sudden urge to cry with delight. These friends had been her companions for as long as she could remember. They’d started kindergarten together so many years ago. Their mothers had been friends and had taken them to parks, beaches and swimming pools for play dates. Then they’d done all their schooling together. They’d each gone their own way after university, but they’d come back together when Joanna and Gwen had children.

Debbie and Caleb had never managed to have a family—they’d been too busy with their careers in their twenties and early thirties. By the time they tried to fall pregnant, Debbie found it difficult to conceive, and even when she did, she lost the baby. These ladies were the only family she had left, besides her ever more distant husband.

“I’m so grateful for all of you,” was all she said.

She reached out her hands, and Joanna took one, Gwen the other, and squeezed. Emily sat opposite, and she held hands with the women on either side. They bowed their heads to say grace, and then the party began.

Debbie piled her plate high with corn, tortillas, pulled pork, rice and beans, and salad. She always ate a lot at these gatherings. She’d diet tomorrow.

“So, how are things going at the best law firm in the city?” Joanna asked her.

Debbie chewed a mouthful of rice and swallowed. “It’s okay, I guess. You’ll never imagine what Caleb asked me to do.”

Gwen arched an eyebrow. “Do tell.”

“He wants me to consider retiring.”

The ladies all cried out in astonishment.

Debbie laughed. “Can you picture me in retirement?”

“Not for a moment,” Joanna replied. “You’d drive us all crazy and have us organised into committees before we could turn around.”

“We’d be fundraising and writing and goodness knows what else. I’d be exhausted, I know that,” Gwen added.

“It might not be the worst idea,” Emily piped up as she held a glass to her lips. She took a sip. “You could slow down, finally use that beautiful beach house you bought down the street. Have some time to relax…”

“Now, there’s an idea,” Debbie replied, reaching for her own margarita. “Relax… What is that?”

They all laughed.

“Come on, Deb. You could spend more time with us,” Joanna said.

“And you could help me watch the grandkids,” Gwen added with a grimace.

“Heavens!” Debbie joked. “How’s that going, by the way?”

Gwen sighed. “You all know how much I love my family. My grandchildren are the light of my life. But lately, it seems as though I’ve become the family babysitting service. I know I did it to myself. I had four children and I spoiled them rotten, and now I must pay!”

Debbie chuckled. “Oh, come on. It can’t be that bad.”

“I don’t like to complain,” Gwen continued. “But one of them leaves their children with me most days of the week. They barely even ask anymore—just call to say they’re dropping them off because someone is sick and they can’t go to daycare or school, or they’ve got a meeting to attend, or they need some space… Whatever the reason, I’ve become the person they rely on. And I love that they need me. It’s nice to be needed. But it would also be nice to be appreciated.”

“I’m sorry, honey,” Joanna said, squeezing her hand. “That’s hard. I never see my grandchildren, so I can’t relate. They’re all so busy with their own lives. I wish they’d visit occasionally.”

“That’s why I shouldn’t complain,” Gwen replied. “It’s a good problem to have, I guess. I’m certainly never lonely. And I can’t take that for granted.”

There was a knock at the front door. Joanna looked up in surprise. “Now, who could that be?”

Debbie jumped up. “Stay right there, Jo. I’ll get it. You need rest.”

“Yes. I can’t believe you threw all this together when you’re injured,” Gwen said.

Debbie bustled to the front door and flung it open, expecting to see Caleb on the other side. She was ready to be forgiving that he was late and pile his plate high with good food. The other ladies hadn’t seen him in months, and she knew they liked him. Everyone liked him. He was fun to be around, charming and with a witty sense of humour. But lately he’d been so quiet and glum. She hoped it was only a phase.

When she saw who was behind the door, she frowned. It wasn’t Caleb. It was a young man who looked to be in his mid-twenties. He was dressed in Army camouflage and had a duffle bag over one shoulder. His cap was pulled low over sparkling green eyes, and there was a dimple in one cheek when he smiled.

“Hey, Deb. How’s things?”

She studied his face. Did she know him?

He shifted his stance. “This bag is getting heavy. Do you mind if I come in?”

She frowned. “Aaron?”

He laughed. “Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten me already.”

She grinned and threw her arms around his neck. “I can’t believe you’re here. Jo is going to be so excited to see you. Come on in, soldier. What a surprise!”