Chapter 11 #3
Erin felt uncomfortable as she shifted on the plush cushion on the wicker settee and answered, “I started working for Moira after Mrs. Joanie retired. I’m her housekeeper.
” Erin searched for judgment in their demeanor; perhaps that was part of her defensive nature.
However, they both seemed indifferent to the fact that she was a maid.
“Wait. What happened to Mrs. Joanie? She worked for Moira for years, didn’t she?” Gemma asked, glancing at CK for confirmation.
CK bobbed her shoulders and replied, “Oh yeah. I’d forgotten that Mo told me she retired. Do you know what she’s up to, Erin?”
“Yes, she moved down to Fort Lauderdale to be closer to her children and grandchildren. That’s when I started working for
Moira,” Erin explained while rolling the stem of the empty wineglass between her fingers.
“CK talks to Moira more than I do. I only get random texts now and then. The last time we were here was the weekend she harassed
us with a Pat Benatar tribute,” Gemma reminisced again with a smile creeping across her face. She set her now-empty glass
down on the matching wicker table beside the settee, and her expression turned serious. “Since you spend so much time with
her, tell us. Is Mo doing okay, Erin?”
Erin wasn’t sure how to respond to that question. She didn’t want to gossip about her boss, but she felt that Moira’s closest
friends should know she was quite reclusive. Maybe they should know she polished off a bottle of wine, sometimes vodka, every
day. Her heart pattered as she contemplated how to respond, and she felt relieved when Moira and a slender redhead in a flattering
and casual emerald maxi dress appeared at the French doors and stepped outside.
Moira walked with the woman toward Gemma and CK. “Girls, you remember my friend Nell.”
“Of course,” they replied in unison, and Gemma reached out to grab Nell’s delicate hand adorned with long burgundy nails.
“It’s so good to see you again, ladies,” Nell softly said to them both while squeezing Gemma’s hand. “You look lovely as always.”
“And this”—Moira gestured toward Erin—“is my friend Erin Pepperell.”
“Hello there,” Nell said, greeting Erin cordially before sitting in the crook of the L-shaped couch. She noticed the empty
glasses sitting before her on the table but made sure not to stare at them for too long.
CK jumped in to make Nell feel welcomed. “So how are your kids doing, Nell? If I remember correctly, you have twins, is that
right?”
Nell settled onto the sofa and smiled at the question. “You have a great memory. Yes, I do. Tate and Taylor. My daughter,
Taylor, is a sophomore at UGA this year.”
“Just like my Bradford,” Moira interjected. “Taylor is a beautiful girl. Strawberry-blonde hair and big green eyes. I told
Bradford to keep an eye out for her.”
Nell thought to herself, Heavens, no. Bradford Allyson is one of the wildest bulldogs on campus! Then she continued, “As for my son, Tate, he’s currently working with his dad at our family-owned drugstore. He’s still trying
to figure things out.”
“Who isn’t?” Gemma chuckled while jogging her shoulders up and down.
Nell sighed in discontent and continued, “He’s considering joining the military.”
“Well, isn’t that wonderful?” Moira added while holding up a hand to shield the sun that was slowly setting in her line of sight.
“Yeah, but how do you feel about that, Nell?” asked CK. “I come from a long line of military men. My mother was a nervous
wreck when my brother joined the National Guard. I couldn’t imagine my child being on the front lines.”
“You can’t imagine your child being on the sidelines,” Gemma remarked as she looked to Celia Kate. “That’s why you didn’t
let Silas play football.”
“It’s not that I didn’t let him,” CK replied. “I just didn’t push him. By the time middle school rolled around, all my kids had lost interest in sports,
and I accepted that. You know I was an athlete in high school, Gemma. I understand the dangers of sports. I had two concussions,
a torn ACL, and knee surgery before my senior year, remember? Still, I would have loved nothing more than to watch my kids
play basketball.”
“Tate broke his leg in middle school football and never played again. I wish he’d never set foot on a field. He wasn’t even
that passionate about it, but Chip was insistent that he play. Would have saved him a lot of pain and us a lot of medical
bills if we’d let him sit that season out like he wanted to.” Nell tossed her long auburn hair over her freckled shoulder.
“And, yes, CK, I’m honestly a nervous wreck about him joining the army. I know I’m supposed to trust the Lord with him, but
it’s proving hard. Every time he mentions being all he can be, I feel sick to my stomach.”
“My son thought about the military for a while too,” Erin offered as she pulled her black hair behind her ear. “But he decided
kind of last minute to go to trade school. He’s interested in auto mechanics.”
Nell smiled while running her hands across the wrinkles that had formed on the lap of her green dress.
“Well, pass his number along. I’d like a good, honest mechanic.
The last guy I went to really ripped me off.
He ran one of those diagnostic checks and said my car was going to blow up before I pulled it out of the parking lot if I didn’t pay to have this and that replaced.
It was quite the swindle. The world would benefit from some honest mechanics. ”
CK said, “We need trade workers. If you ask me, the entire education system is a scam. From kindergarten to—” CK began, but
Gemma interrupted.
“CK homeschools.”
Celia Kate’s dark eyes narrowed at Gemma, and she said in a sure voice, “I most certainly do, and I’m proud of it.”
Gemma held up her hand in a calming gesture. “Oh dear, don’t get yourself riled up. Have another glass of wine,” she suggested
while nodding to the empty glass dangling from CK’s hand.
“Don’t take those two seriously. They will bicker all weekend, but it’s the foundation of their friendship. I’ve only ever
seen them throw punches once,” Moira said to Nell and Erin.
“Yeah, and I won.” Gemma pounded her fist into her palm.
“I can get on board with another glass of wine!” Moira jumped from the wicker chair in her black woven sandals. “Nell, it
was rude of me not to ask if you want some water or ginger ale or something.”
“Water will be just fine,” Nell answered with a nod.
“I think I’ll have water as well, Moira.” CK rubbed her temple. “This is the first drink I’ve had in months, and I already
have a headache.”
“A headache after only one glass of wine?” Moira teased while walking toward the French doors. “Goodness, you’ve turned into a lightweight.”
Celia Kate called after her, “I’m not a lightweight, Moira. I’m forty-nine, just like you, in case you didn’t notice. Except
you’ll be fifty on Sunday.”
Mo playfully stuck out her tongue at CK. “Age is just a number. Mick Jagger is eighty and he still has a good time.”
“If you want to look like Mick Jagger at eighty, then be my guest.” CK winked while the others chuckled.
“Ladies.” Antonio appeared at the French doors leading into the house. “Dinner is served.”
“Oh, right on time, Antonio!” Gemma exclaimed.