Chapter 12
Archie was close at hand as they carried their plates and glasses outside. The day was cooling off as the sun sank toward the horizon and streaks of pale pink stretched out across the sky.
“It is so beautiful here,” Frankie said.
Harper nodded. “It really is.” It was even better sharing a view like this with her sister. “I’m so glad you came down.”
“So am I.” Frankie took a seat then lifted her glass. “Here’s to Arlington for making this possible.”
Harper joined her in the toast. “To Arlington.”
They both took a sip, then dug into their food.
“Mentioning him reminds me,” Harper said. “You know that drawing you did for me? The pen and ink of the sailboat from the movie Sojourner?”
Frankie nodded. “Sure, I remember it.”
“It’s hanging in the office here.”
“Is it really?” Frankie smiled. “That’s nice. Makes me think he knew for a while that he was going to leave you this house.”
“You think?”
“Sure,” Frankie said. “Then the art stayed in the family.”
“I never thought about it that way. You don’t mind if I keep it, do you? Or do you want it back?”
Frankie shook her head. “It belongs here.” She took another big bite of the pasta. “This is so good. I can’t believe you whipped it up like that.”
“It’s a simple dish.”
“But delicious.” Frankie wiped her mouth. “I’ve sent my portfolio out to a few more publishers to see about getting onto their lists of cover artists. Those pay really well. If it’s all right with you, I might try to get a good scan of that drawing to add to it.”
“Absolutely. Go right ahead. I think Arlington would be all about that.”
“I wish I could have met him.”
Harper tossed Archie a piece of chicken. He was being such a good boy. He gobbled it down without hesitation. “I wish you could have, too.”
“So other than the woman who invited you to the book club, you don’t know any of the other members, right?”
“Right.” Harper smiled at her sister. “Which makes me doubly glad you’re here to go with me.”
“Should we bring something? That’s what’s usually done, right?”
Harper grimaced. “That sounds right. But I don’t really have anything to bring. And it’s a little late to go get something.”
“What about a bottle of wine? You’ve got that.”
“True. Most of that wine was here when I arrived. I need to make sure I don’t take a super cheap bottle or a super expensive one.”
“Would Arlington stock super cheap wine?”
Harper laughed. “No, probably not.”
“Do you think these women are going to be nice? Or stuck up?”
“I don’t know. Nice, I hope. Prisha, the woman who invited me, was lovely.”
“Doesn’t mean her friends will be.”
Harper stabbed a piece of pasta and used it to scoop up some peas. “No, but I don’t want to make any assumptions.”
“I just think we should be…prepared.”
“So bring a better-than-average bottle of wine?”
Frankie grinned. “Probably not a bad idea. And while I clean up dinner and get a shower, you should read as much of that book as you can.”
“I will. Thanks.”
They finished their meal and, true to her word, Frankie cleaned everything up, then disappeared upstairs to shower and get ready.
Harper stayed on the deck to read, but her sister had her thinking. These were wealthy women, obviously. Women who were probably on top of current events. Who knew what was going on in the world.
If Frankie had seen the news about Harper and Ford online, wouldn’t these women have, too?
She exhaled and looked at Archie, who was lounging next to her on the couch. “This might not be such a good evening after all, pup.”
Then again, maybe they were super busy with their businesses or charity work or just working on themselves and they didn’t have time for nonsensical current events. She decided to hope for that one.
She went back to reading until Frankie returned. She was in capri jeans and a cute button-front shirt with short sleeves. “This all right? Or should I be fancier?”
“I have no idea.” Harper sat up. “You know what? I’m going to text Prisha. First to let her know we’re coming but also to ask about what to wear and what to bring.”
“Good idea.” Frankie sat on the other side of Archie, who immediately moved so he could lay his head in her lap and have his ears rubbed.
Harper found Prisha’s number and sent a text. Just wanted to let you know we are definitely coming. What’s the attire for book club? Casual or more dressy? And should we bring something? I was thinking wine. Would that be all right?
She hit Send and waited. “I need to figure out what I’m going to wear. And before we go, I need to take Archie out one more time.”
“Are we walking to Prisha’s then?”
Harper nodded. “She’s right next door.” She pointed toward the beach. “Not the other way. The other way is—” Her phone chimed. She looked at the screen. “Prisha says she’s very happy we’re coming, and that dress is casual, just be comfortable, and wine sounds perfect.”
She looked at Frankie again. “I guess we’re all set. I’ll go change. Any idea which wine we should take?”
“No, but I’ll have a look while you get dressed.” Frankie scratched Archie’s head. “Archie can help me, right?”
He sat up, immediately interested now that his name had been mentioned.
“Sounds good.” Harper got up and went in through the sliders that went directly into the master bedroom.
She looked through her clothing and decided on white jeans with a red and white striped tee, plus white sandals. She touched up her makeup, put some jewelry on, raked her fingers through her hair, and went out to the kitchen. “Did you find a wine?”
“I did.” Frankie turned the bottle she was holding so Harper could see the label. “It’s a merlot. You think that’s okay?”
“I think it’s great.”
“Good, because according to Google, this bottle is worth about forty bucks. That should be decently impressive for this crowd. I hope.” Frankie set the bottle on the counter. “Also, you look very cute. I wish I was that skinny. How do you stay in that kind of shape?”
“Sheer willpower, some serious self-denial, and more exercise than I enjoy. But it’s L.A.. There’s a whole different standard of beauty out there. You can walk down the street and be surrounded by women who you’d think were already famous just because of their looks.” Harper shook her head at the nonsense of it all. “It’ll mess with you if you let it. I’ve tried not to, but when a size six is fat—”
“Seriously? I’d kill to be a size six. No, scratch that, I’d be happy to be a size ten.” Frankie rolled her eyes. “I’m so glad I work in academia.”
“It does get to be a bit much sometimes.” Harper looked at Archie. “Let’s go potty, baby dog. Mama and Aunt Frankie are headed out.”
“Do you crate him when you’re gone?”
“I prefer not to. He’s never been destructive, so I’ve never felt the need.”
Frankie smiled at Archie. “Because he’s a good boy. Aren’t you, sweetie?”
“Yes, he is,” Harper said in the exaggerated voice she often used with Archie. He wagged his tail but looked like he wasn’t sure what he’d done. She took him out for a quick pee, which he obliged by doing, then she brough him back in. She gave him a dog cookie, which he carried into his bed to share with Mr. Brown.
“All right,” Harper said to Frankie. “Grab the wine and let’s go meet the neighbors.”