Chapter 37
When Joy called and asked Mia if she had any plans Saturday night, she could honestly say no.
Her event had been canceled, and Caleb was away for the night on Brotherhood business.
Sure, she could stay home with her dad. But he usually watched TV and went to bed early.
That would leave the night stretching longer than she liked.
“Well, we’ll pick you up at eight.”
“What?”
“Eight, don’t be late,” Joy teased. “And wear something snappy.”
Snappy? What the heck did that mean?
“Why?”
“Karaoke,” Joy said. “We’re letting our hair down. Forgetting about the world for an evening. You in?”
Mia hesitated. Was she? The week had been a series of highs and lows. Mostly lows. What she really wanted was to feel normal again. Connected. A night out with the girls sounded like fun. Something she’d been missing.
“Yeah,” she said finally. “I’m in.”
Not long after she hung up, a car pulled into the driveway. Mia peeked out. Autumn, with her camera bag slung over her shoulder and a smile on her face.
“I couldn’t wait,” she said, stepping inside. “The podcast shots came out amazing.”
“Can’t wait to see them,” Mia said. “Coffee?”
“Love some. I’ve been up for a while.”
She poured two cups and brought them to the table. Autumn pulled out her tablet and scrolled through the images of Mia mid-laugh, hands in motion, completely absorbed in what she was doing. She barely recognized herself. She looked confident, relaxed, like someone who knew what they were doing.
“These are really good,” Mia said quietly.
“They are,” Autumn agreed. “This is how people see you.”
Mia swallowed. Autumn had captured exactly how she saw herself when things were going right. Professional. Creating something beautiful to eat. “These will look great on the website.”
“Perfect,” Autumn said. “I’ll send them over, and you can upload what you like.”
They talked for a few minutes before Autumn finished her coffee and stood. “Need to go. I’m photographing Bree Gallagher’s new menu at Sugar Crush.”
“Oh, I love that place,” Mia said. “We’ll have to go some night.”
“I’m holding you to that,” Autumn said halfway to the door.
When she was gone, Mia stood for a moment in the quiet kitchen, the images still in her mind. For the first time all week, she felt like herself again.
The phone rang.
“Hello?”
“Mia, this is Lainey,” came the familiar voice, sounding a little rushed. “Do you have any time this morning for Elena and me to stop by and discuss the fundraiser?”
Mia glanced at the clock. She had nowhere else to be until later. “Sure, come on over now.”
She hustled around the kitchen, pulling out a cherry almond coffee cake with crumb topping she’d baked the night before and putting on a fresh pot of coffee.
About half an hour later, a car pulled into the drive. Voices followed.
“Knock, knock,” Lainey called as she opened the door.
“Hi, come in.” Hugs were exchanged as laughter filled the room.
Elena paused just inside, taking in the kitchen setup. “This is very nice,” she said. “And after we’re done here, if you have time, I’d love to see the new event barn?”
“Absolutely.”
They settled at the table with coffee and cake.
“This fundraiser promises to be bigger than last year,” said Lainey. “More sponsors, more attendees.”
“And more help,” Elena added. “I was hoping we could have some of the women from the shelter assist with serving. Shifts will be paid from some of the advertising. Nothing overwhelming. Just enough to give them experience and a little confidence.”
Mia didn’t hesitate. “I’d love that. We’ll keep it simple and structured. And if they work out, I’m always looking for extra help.”
Elena’s shoulders eased. “That would mean a lot.”
As they talked logistics, menus, flow, timing, Mia felt the pieces slide back into place. This was what she did. Feed people. Bring them together. Create something that mattered.
For now, that was what she needed.
The Redfish Lounge was downtown off a side street, and when the girls got out of the car, they could hear the music thumping a block away.
Mia had settled on black ankle boots, dark jeans and a soft emerald-green blouse, hoping that it was snappy enough for Joy.
Joy had on a red wrap dress that hit mid-thigh, while Mallory and Naomi had also kept it simple.
“I’m so excited,” exclaimed Joy. “I haven’t been here in a while.”
“Thank God,” Naomi muttered under her breath.
Joy rolled her eyes. “No wonder Chase loves you. You’re a party pooper just like him.”
The women laughed. “Who’s meeting us here?” asked Mallory.
“Nicki, Isabelle, Autumn and Tessa,” Joy replied. She looked at her phone. “They already got a table.”
The music got louder as they approached the double red doors, where a bouncer stood. A line was already forming, but Joy finger-waved to him, and he motioned them forward.
“Hi, Bruce. How’s the family?” asked Joy.
He nodded. “Good.” He opened the door and told them to have a good time.
“Wow. You must come here a lot,” said Mia.
“Not really. Bruce works part-time for Will,” Joy said and added, “Nice guy, married with a couple of kids.”
Inside, the air smelled of citrus cleaner, perfume and something fried drifting out from the kitchen.
Low amber lights lined the walls. White-tablecloth-draped tables with candles in the middle were spread around, leaving a small area for dancing.
Large potted palms provided some privacy between tables.
“Usually, they have a small band playing on nights they don’t have karaoke,” Naomi said.
They spotted their friends at a table near the back and made their way over.
After kisses and hugs all around, they settled down.
A server appeared almost immediately, already smiling.
“Drinks?”
“Vodka soda with lime,” Joy said without hesitation.
“Gin and tonic,” Naomi added. “Heavy on the lime.”
Mia glanced at the menu. “Tequila and grapefruit,” she said. “With salt.”
The other women gave their drink orders as the server nodded and scribbled. “I’ll be back with these and then take your order.”
When the drinks arrived, Mia’s first sip hit cold and sharp, loosening the tension in her shoulders.
Then, an order of truffle fries and a charcuterie board were placed in the center of the table.
Music pulsed through the room as the lights dimmed slightly and the karaoke screen flickered to life. A cheer went up when the first singer took the mic. He was actually really good, but she couldn’t wait to hear Joy sing after all the good-natured trash talk her friends had been throwing her way.
Mia wondered if the other women would get up to sing. She’d never done karaoke herself and actually had no interest in doing it. She was perfectly content to sit and watch. Just being at a table with friends and shared plates was enough. For the moment.
They’d made their way through snacks and several singers when Joy suddenly pushed back her chair. “All right, ladies,” she announced. “Let’s show them how to do it.”
The women got up. Mia stayed seated.
Joy shot her a look and made a sharp little motion with her finger.
Crap.
There was no way out of this. Mia groaned but stood and followed them toward the stage.
Joy scrolled through the song list and laughed. “Perfect.”
The women lined up behind her. Mia stood at the end, already regretting every life choice that led her here. The music kicked in.
Joy grabbed the mic and launched into an off-key version of “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.”
The crowd whooped. Her friends cheered. Naomi rolled her eyes but sang anyway. Mallory swayed. Mia shook her head, laughing despite herself, but joined the chorus.
For a few minutes, nothing else mattered.
Then they were back in their seats while another singer took over. Finally, there was a break. The unexpected quiet was welcome. Glasses clinked. A few people laughed loudly before jazzy background music was turned on.
Mia took a sip of her drink. Joy leaned close to her.
“Did you ever find out what happened to your crackers?” she asked. “I felt so bad for you.”
“I remade them the next day. Somehow, I must have mixed too much salt with the flour because they came out the same.”
“That sucks,” Joy said.
“Yeah.” Mia blew out a breath. “It seems to be the story of my life right now. One big step forward, two gigantic steps back. I don’t know what’s going on.
Just weird stuff. An event canceled that I didn’t cancel.
Deliveries canceled. Food tastes wrong when it shouldn’t.
Clients going quiet.” She shrugged, trying to make it sound smaller than it felt. “Probably stress. Or bad timing.”
Lainey leaned over. “Okay, but at what point does weird stop being random?”
Mia hesitated.
“Just know you can always talk to us,” Lainey added more gently.
“Thanks.”
The music kicked back on, people cheering as the next singer took the mic.
Joy lifted her glass. “To friends.”
They lingered a little longer, laughing through one last round and a final, truly terrible eighties ballad, one she secretly loved, before the crowd started to thin. When Joy finally checked the time, she groaned.
“Liam’s going to be calling in an APB if we don’t leave,” she said.
Mia grabbed her purse and followed the others outside. The night air was cooler, the music fading once the doors closed behind them.
For tonight, the quiet would do.