Chapter 25
Frankie texted Ansley like she’d promised before she headed out. On the porch, she turned and checked the door twice, making sure the lock was engaged.
Sonja’s lights were on, and she hoped the woman was having a good evening. With Mr. Wiggles home, at least Sonja had someone to talk to. She knew the cat wasn’t a replacement for a human, but Mr. Wiggles seemed almost like he could carry on a conversation.
The door to Ansley’s place swung open, and Garnet stepped out. “Hey, girl,” Garnet said as she waved her in. “Get in here. We’re ready to have some fun.”
The place smelled wonderful, like Ansley had opened an Italian restaurant and was serving up the best food. She placed the dessert she’d brought with her on the counter.
“It smells wonderful in here.”
“It does, doesn’t it,” Garnet said. “Ansley is a great cook.”
“I’m passable.”
Garnet shook her head. “Oh no, she’s an excellent cook.”
Frankie patted her belly. “Well, it smells great. I’m ready to eat.”
“It will be about twenty minutes,” Ansley said.
“Awesome.”
“I brought over stuff to make drinks. There’s a new one I’m trying. It’s peach-based,” Garnet said.
Frankie turned to her. “You know whatever you make will be good. I’m down with anything you put together.”
“Awesome. I’ll make us a few drinks, and then we can wait for the food to be finished.”
Ansley washed her hands and then turned to them. “Sounds awesome.”
Frankie watched as Garnet made the drinks, muddling some fruit along with the basil in the bottom of the glass before measuring each ingredient.
It really was like sitting at the bar with an excellent bartender, but Garnet’s drinks didn’t have alcohol.
She was thankful these two women accepted her desire to not drink.
This level of support was incredibly helpful.
“How did your day go?” Garnet asked.
She shrugged. “Okay. I met Sonja.”
“Oh, that elderly lady across the street from you,” Ansley said. “I met her, but I’ve been too busy to spend any time over there. I should make time to take something to her.”
“She’s nice. Her cat, Mr. Wiggles, escaped through the front door, and she couldn’t find him. I helped her and got her cat back.”
“I didn’t know she had a cat,” Garnet said. “Is he nice?”
Frankie laughed. “He is. Once I told him I would give him a sardine, he followed me to his house and went inside without any problems.”
“Do you think cats understand us?” Ansley asked.
“I don’t know. But I’ve watched a few of those cats with buttons videos, and I don’t think they’re pressing buttons randomly.”
Garnet handed out their drinks as she spoke. “Yeah, those cats freak me out a little. Especially the ones talking in almost full sentences. It’s weird.”
Ansley picked up her glass and shivered. “I don’t know that I’d want my pet to get that detailed in a discussion with me. Like, what if they didn’t like what I told them to do? How deep would the discussion get?”
Garnet laughed. “Yeah, a cat who talks back would probably annoy me. Or maybe it would deepen our relationship so much that we would become best friends.”
Frankie chuckled. “That would be weird.” She took a sip of the drink and moaned. “Seriously, Garnet, you’re really good at mixing drinks. It’s not too sweet, but it’s not bitter. So tasty.”
Garnet’s cheeks turned a little pink, which wasn’t surprising because of her very pale skin. “Thank you. I’ve been trying to work out what works together. Poor Brady has to test everything for me. I know he gets sick of it.”
Ansley rolled her eyes. “Oh, what a terrible problem to have.”
“Yeah, it could be worse. He is supportive. Actually, the most supportive man I’ve ever known.”
Ansley sighed. “Link is so sweet. I know he’s a badass at work, but I feel like he is such a sweetheart at home.”
Frankie didn’t know Keel well enough to judge him, but so far, he was really nice. She worried that another side of him would crop up if they got serious. That was how her life usually went.
It was time to get serious about getting a therapist. She couldn’t work out everything in her journal. She needed someone outside her immediate sphere to help her figure out who she could trust.
Thoughts of money hit, and she drew in a sharp breath which caught both Ansley and Garnet’s attention. Their eyebrows raised as she took a calming breath.
“Sorry. It’s nothing.”
“Are you sure?” Garnet asked.
Frankie needed to talk to someone, but she wasn’t sure how to broach the subject.
She could let it go, or she could tell them a part of the truth.
So many people had taken advantage of her, and she’d let them.
But Garnet and Ansley were different, or she thought they were.
Maybe she was wrong, and both women would screw her over.
Navigating how to live was so tough. It was one reason she’d absolved all decision-making to Forest. She had to be strong and make her own decisions. It was the best path forward.