Chapter 2
Chapter Two
The beach was quiet in the early morning, the way Blaise liked it best. Beneath her feet, the sand had yet to warm up. The waves were slow and gentle and the air still held a trace of coolness from the evening. The day would warm up fast, but that was to be expected.
Cece walked beside her, arms swinging easily, the steady rhythm of their steps corresponding with the soft rush of waves.
“This is exactly what I needed,” Cece said after a few moments. “Fresh air and a reason not to stare at my phone.”
Blaise smiled sympathetically, feeling for her friend. “Same here, although your reason for staring at your phone makes mine seem silly.”
“Not true,” Cece said with a shrug. “It’s just different.”
They walked in companionable silence for a bit, Beau trotting happily ahead of them, occasionally glancing back as if to make sure they were still behind him.
“So,” Cece said casually, though Blaise caught the edge beneath the word. “Last night was interesting. To say the least.”
Blaise huffed out a quiet laugh. “You can say that again.”
“Gigi DeLuca,” Cece said. “Boy, is she a trip.”
“Who just welcomes themselves into a book club like that?” Blaise asked. “I’d never do something like that, but obviously she had no problem with it.”
“Yep,” Cece said. “You want my take?”
“More than anything.”
Cece took a breath. “She wasn’t interested in the group. She was interested in the room. In making a big entrance. I think she heard that Paige was the woman to know in the Colony and Gigi decided she was going to become part of Paige’s circle. Get in with the in crowd.”
Blaise laughed. “Is that who we are now? The in crowd?”
Cece smiled. “I bet you’ve been part of the in crowd more than you haven’t.”
“Maybe,” Blaise admitted. “But poor Paige. That was rough.”
“Oh, I know,” Cece said. “I knew right away she didn’t want to say anything to offend Gigi. You can tell Gigi’s the type to blast someone publicly if things don’t go her way. She’d pass it off as just a cute little story, but it would be her way of getting back.”
“Yep, for sure. I thought that same thing.” Blaise glanced out over the water. “I’ll say this—Paige handled it better than I would have.”
“She did.” Cece smiled a little. “But you could tell she didn’t like the intrusion. None of us did.”
“Bless Essie for trying to keep the peace.”
“She’s a saint, for sure.”
With Beau leading them, they walked on. Gulls cried overhead, the sun climbed higher, and the temperature inched up along with it.
“I keep thinking about how deliberately Paige worked to build that group,” Blaise said. “It wasn’t like it just happened. And Gigi just…assumed she had a right to it.”
Cece exhaled. “People like her always do. I bet she thinks that about everything.”
“No doubt.” Blaise’s phone buzzed in her pocket. Her pulse jumped before she even checked it then fell when she saw the screen.
“Nothing,” she said quietly. “Just spam.”
Cece didn’t comment, but Blaise knew she understood.
“I know the waiting is hard,” Cece said gently. “It’s the hardest.”
“It is,” Blaise confirmed. Of course, what she was waiting on was nothing like what Cece was going through, which was enough to make Blaise feel guilty for even talking about it.
But maybe Cece needed the distraction. “I keep telling myself no news isn’t bad news.
But some days it feels like the silence means something. ”
“Even if all the publishers say no, you can still put your book out there,” Cece said. “Keep that in mind. And I can always do more research and come up with another list of publishers to try.”
“You could?”
“Sure.” Cece shrugged. “I’m as invested in this as you are now.”
Blaise smiled. “You’ve helped me so much. Not just with the list of publishers but with the notes you gave me on the pages. That was huge. English was never my best subject.”
“I could tell,” Cece teased.
Blaise chuckled, then bit her lip. “If I actually get a book deal, I might be in trouble. How am I going to keep producing pages at that level? They’re going to expect them to be that good or better.
Hey. Could I hire you to help me? To keep reading through what I write and giving me notes and all that?
I would absolutely pay you out of whatever advance I get. ”
“Blaise, you’re doing this because you need the money.”
“I didn’t say I was going to give you half.” But paying Cece something only seemed fair.
Cece grinned. “I would be honored to be your developmental editor.”
“Is that what that’s called? What does a developmental editor make?”
“I have no idea, but I’m sure we can work something out. Honestly, I think after a few more passes of me giving you notes, you’ll get the hang of it.”
“Maybe, but thank you all the same.” Blaise exhaled. “I know it’s still a long shot that I’ll get a deal, but it’s good to know you’ll be there for me.”
“Always.”
Blaise looked at her. “The same goes for me, you know. I will always be there for you. So tell me the truth—how are you really doing?”
Cece swallowed. “I’m all right. I hate the waiting, too.
It might be worse than knowing. At least then you can make a plan.
Move forward toward something. This is like being stuck in limbo.
” She shook her head with a rueful smile.
“Every buzz of my phone feels like this could be it. Then it’s a Facebook notification or a group text. ”
“Have you told Joe yet?”
“Yes,” Cece said quietly. “I actually told him before I texted you guys. He’s been wonderful.
He listens, he stays calm, and he’s great at talking me off a ledge.
All while making sure Natalie gets the best possible deal in this divorce.
Not having to worry about her during all of this is exactly what I need. He’s really amazing.”
Blaise reached over and squeezed her arm. “Good. You deserve that. Does Natalie know what’s going on with you?”
“Nope. And I’m going to keep it that way. I’m hoping there won’t be anything for her to know.”
“That would be the best.” Blaise understood. Cece didn’t want to worry her daughter, just like Blaise never wanted to worry her son. Mothers always wanted to protect their children.
They slowed, watching Beau chase a wave and dance back from the water, which caught his paws anyway.
“You know,” Cece said. “Last year my biggest worry was whether or not the community newsletter could handle an extra page of copy. Now it’s medical tests, my daughter’s divorce, and a surprise guest at book club named Gigi.”
Blaise smiled wryly. “Life really keeps you on your toes, doesn’t it?”
“I thought by this age, we’d be past most of the landmines.” Cece glanced back toward the Colony with a protective gleam in her eyes. “Whatever Gigi thinks she’s doing, she’s not worming her way into our group.”
“No,” Blaise said firmly. “You can’t just wander in like that and think you get to stay.”
“That wasn’t wandering, that was straight-up intrusion.”
They walked a bit farther before Cece gave Blaise a nudge with her elbow. “So,” Cece said, stretching the word out. “How are things with Brick?”
Blaise smiled faintly. “Good. He’s coming out of his shell slowly, but at least it’s happening.”
Cece nodded. “And nothing further from his son?”
“If Holland’s said anything more about me to his dad, Brick hasn’t told me about it. Then again, maybe he wouldn’t.”
There was a pause, then Cece added, “And how’s Brick feeling about tomorrow?”
Blaise let out a quiet laugh. “Nervous. Which is saying something for a man who’s been in active war zones. Not that he’s actually said he was nervous. He wouldn’t do that. But I can see it in his eyes when we talk about it.”
Cece smiled at that. “I imagine the bake-off could do that to a person.”
“Totally. I’m nervous for him. He hides it well,” Blaise said. “But I know him a little better now. He’ll say he’s fine and then stare out at the water like he’s trying to come up with an escape plan.”
Cece grinned. “And he’s entered the coconut cake, right?”
“Yep,” Blaise said, her tone softening. “It means a lot to him. It seems like one of his core memories of his wife. I think it would be a real tribute to her if he won.”
Cece’s brows went up. “I agree. It would be.”
“When he made it for me that first time, I was so surprised that he’d actually baked,” Blaise said.
“When he told me afterward that it was his wife’s recipe, I could see he was bracing himself for how I’d react.
I’m not sure what he thought I’d do but makes me wonder if he’d done that before and gotten a bad reaction. ”
“I can’t imagine someone doing that.”
“Me either,” Blaise said quietly. “I told him it was one of the nicest gestures anyone had done for me in a long time.”
Cece smiled. “And that’s when you talked him into the bake-off?”
“Not that night,” Blaise said. “That came later. After I saw it in the newsletter. He’d already told me that cake had won awards, so it seemed like a natural fit.”
Cece let out a gentle laugh. “Understatement of the year. When you brought that cake to book club, I remember thinking it was the best coconut cake I’d ever had. I’m still surprised you got him to enter.”
“I might have pushed a little. He says I’m stubborn,” Blaise said. “I just asked if he wanted to do it. He thought about it for a while before saying yes.”
“He’s not going to back out on you tomorrow, is he?” Cece asked.
“He wouldn’t do that.” Blaise stared out at the water, the sunlight catching the waves.
“I think making the cake for one person felt like no big deal. I can imagine that making it to be publicly judged might feel a little different. Might bring up some hard memories.” She shrugged.
“But I also think he’s proud. Of the cake.
Of her. Of himself for being able to hold onto that part of her. ”
Cece reached over and squeezed Blaise’s arm. “Whatever happens tomorrow, I think it’s awesome you got him to do it.”
Blaise nodded. “So do I.” She knew it was a lot for Brick to put himself out there that way. He was a very private person, but slowly, she was breaking down the incredibly high wall he’d constructed around himself.
“I’ll be there tomorrow. I’m covering the event for the newsletter. Unfortunately, I’m not judging, but I’m still available if you need taste-testers.”
“Excellent.” Blaise smiled. “If there are slices to hand out, I’ll make sure you get one.”
“Good deal. If there was ever a reason to indulge in carbs, it’s that cake.”
“You know that’s right.”
Beau barked at a seagull, which squawked back at him, making them laugh. They turned toward home, the sun warming their shoulders, the path ahead full of uncertainties.
Blaise hoped Cece got her answer soon, and that it was a good one, but if it wasn’t, she wouldn’t be facing it alone.