5. Jessica
Jessica
With a coffee in one hand and a tote bag on her shoulder, Jessica turned from the counter to make her way through the handful of tables on the other side of the room.
The bookstore had a busy hum to it that Sunday afternoon.
People filled the place, browsing shelves and grabbing beverages.
The rich scent of roasted beans danced in the air along with the sound of eighties instrumentals.
This quaint bookshop with a coffee counter was one of Oakview’s shining gems.
When she got to the back of the store, Jessica entered the little room where she quickly realized she was the last to arrive.
Kim and her boutique coworker, Aubrey, were chatting on the other side of the small circle of chairs set up in the center of the room.
Both looked as if they’d just stepped off a fashion photo shoot.
Jessica waved at them as she moved to the side to join another group of her newest friends.
“Hey,” Melanie said. “Good to see you.”
The English teacher who had started the club, Melanie, had been nothing but warm and welcoming since Jessica joined the book club. With her auburn hair in a loose bun and with little to no makeup, Melanie pulled her in for a hug, and Jessica held her coffee cup out to the side to receive it.
“Beat the rain?” asked the short blonde in the group. Danielle was another English teacher whose daughter was one of Jessica’s piano students. She had been the one to invite Jessica to the book club.
“Yeah, it’s pretty dark and windy, but I made it in before it started coming down.”
A pattering of drops and then a whoosh of rain hit the roof of the building.
“And there it is,” said Gerri, a math teacher at the high school. She was stunning as usual, her dark skin a gorgeous contrast to her crisp white T-shirt.
“Since we’re all here now, let’s get started, shall we?” Melanie said.
They made their way to the circle of chairs and each pulled a book out into their lap. Melanie then led a discussion of their book of the month, with each of them going around the room to say their favorite part.
The book had become one of Jessica‘s favorites. It had a sapphic love story, just like all the novels they read, but this one had the added treat of a mystery plot line included.
Melanie then opened up the discussion for whatever topics the group wanted to explore. After they’d each had their chance to talk about character development, relationship swooning, and twists and turns to the mystery, Melanie welcomed suggestions for their next book.
Jessica had nothing to offer, since she’d had little time to browse the bestseller lists or any recommendation lists. She trusted the taste of the other members, and they hadn’t disappointed her with a single selection over the last few months.
Kim suggested a sci-fi book with a strong romantic arc Jessica had never heard of. Not her normal genre to read, but it sounded fun. After a quick vote, they unanimously agreed to give it a shot.
The group all abandoned their seats to stretch their legs and chat. Aubrey left early, saying she needed to pick up her girlfriend from work. Everyone else grabbed their chairs to line them along the wall the way they’d been before their meeting.
Jessica took the opportunity to check her phone real quick, as did most of the others. She found only a message from Naomi.
Heard anything yet?
When Jessica had filled Naomi in the day before about her conversation with the private investigator, Naomi once again expressed her support with a side of concern.
But she’d told Jessica that at least if she was going to do this, she wanted to be kept in the loop just in case things somehow went badly.
She downed the last of her coffee, then sent back a quick reply.
Wednesday
That was the next full day Claire would have Chase. Renee had said that would give her the opportunity to watch before and after Claire went to work. Wednesday just seemed like such a long way away.
“That’s some deep conversation,” Danielle said, now standing beside her. “You okay?”
“Yeah.” Jessica quickly put her phone in her tote bag so she could focus on catching up with the rest of the women. “Yeah, yeah. No. I mean… can I ask you something?”
Danielle smiled warmly. “Of course.”
Jessica couldn’t believe she was about to say this. But Danielle and the others had been so supportive when she’d told them about her separation and pending divorce. Might as well bring them in on this part, too.
“Is it weird that I hired someone to check on Chase?”
Danielle tilted her head in confusion. “You mean like a dog-sitter?”
“No,” Jessica said. “I mean like someone to spy on Claire. You know, to make sure she’s taking care of him.”
Danielle’s eyes widened. “Oh. I mean… okay, maybe it’s a little weird, I guess. But I think it’s fitting knowing how much you care about him.”
“What’s fitting?” Gerri walked up to join their conversation.
“Jessica’s hiring someone to make sure her dog is okay with her ex.”
“Like a P.I.?” A smile played at the corner of Gerri’s mouth. “They do that?”
“Apparently,” Jessica said. “Renee agreed it was unusual, but she said she’d look into it for me.”
“Renee, huh?” Gerri’s smile widened. “You should see your face when you say her name.”
Jessica’s cheeks grew hot. Almost as hot as Renee had looked.
“I’m hiring her to do a job,” she said, trying to recover. “That’s all.”
Gerri shrugged. “I’m just saying, the job won’t last forever. No harm finding out if she dates women in the meantime.”
“And how am I supposed to casually bring that up with my private investigator?”
Danielle’s expression held almost as much amusement as Gerri’s. “I think you could do it. No, I think you should do it. It’s clear you’re attracted to her. You haven’t even tried to deny it.”
There was no point in trying to deny it. She was a terrible liar.
And Renee was attractive. Ridiculously so. Her curly red bob was the most obviously striking thing about her, but her bright green eyes had been completely captivating, and Jessica couldn’t stop staring at her perfectly curved lips while they discussed details.
But the notion was ridiculous. She couldn’t date someone she hired. Not even after the job was over. That would be too weird.
“She said she’s only in town temporarily.”
“Perfect,” Gerri said. “You’re getting over a breakup. It’s fling time.”
“Fling time?” Jessica could hear the appall in her own voice. “I can’t do a fling.”
“Hmm,” Danielle said, giving the notion serious consideration. “I don’t know if she’s built for a fling.”
Gerri shrugged again. “I think it would be good for you. Get you back out there with no messy attachments, since this woman is leaving, anyway. Everyone would know what they’re getting into.”
The idea still sounded completely impossible, but Gerri made sense. She usually did. It was the only reason Jessica was bothering to give the idea space in her brain at all.
“I’m with Gerri,” Danielle said. “Put out some feelers and see if she’s got a partner or if she’s even into women. Can’t hurt.”
Can’t hurt?
Just the idea was painful. How would she even bring that up?
“Maybe. If there’s an opportunity to ask,” she said. “But I’m not making things weird.”
“Honey,” Gerri said. “She’s spying on your ex and your dog. It’s already weird.”
Melanie and Kim walked over to the trio, and Danielle moved aside to let them into the little conversational circle.
“Not to pry,” Kim said, not a strand out of place in her perfectly straightened blonde hair, “but did I hear that right?”
“Not prying,” Jessica said. “It’s an open discussion, and I could use all the sane voices I can get.”
“My sanity is at your service,” Melanie said with a warm smile. She always radiated warmth, and there was nothing better than to be on the receiving end of one of her comforting hugs.
Jessica gave a quick recap of their conversation, then she said, “Tell them I can’t do a fling.”
Melanie and Kim exchanged a glance, and Jessica longed for someone to have that level of communication with. She and Claire had always had good conversations, but they were never great at nonverbal communication like that.
“I don’t know,” Kim said. “I think it might be a good idea. You deserve a little fun.”
A little fun?
Just the thought of something flirty and casual turned her stomach into knots.
Gosh, she really wasn’t built for a fling.
Melanie put a hand on Jessica’s back. “It’s your love life. And you don’t have to decide right here in this room. But maybe give it some thought?”
Jessica looked around their little circle and felt a warmth wash over her.
She was really lucky to have found these women.
They’d all grown closer over the past few months, even Aubrey, who was the youngest of the bunch.
Jessica could no longer imagine her life without them.
They talked each other off ledges and cheered each other on.
They were valuable companions and hadn’t steered her wrong yet.
“Fine,” she said. “I’ll consider it.”