Chapter 34
Chapter Thirty-Four
By late afternoon, the house had grown too quiet again.
Essie tried to ignore it at first. She moved through the rooms with purpose she didn’t really feel. She tidied here, straightened there. Did a small load of laundry because that was all there was.
Anything to keep her mind from focusing on waiting for her daughter to call back and wondering what she was going to do with herself.
She checked her phone more than once, hoping to see a message from Liliana confirming their plans.
Nothing yet. Obviously, she was busy with the kids and hadn’t been able to talk to Mat yet.
Still, the silence pressed in around Essie.
She stepped into the kitchen, intending to figure out what she was going to do for dinner, but the idea of cooking for one held no appeal, even if it was just heating up some leftovers. The thought of sitting down at the table by herself held even less.
She supposed she could eat on the couch while she watched a movie. But even movies were more fun shared with someone.
Essie picked her phone up off the counter, then set it down once more before picking it up again. This was silly. The truth was, she didn’t want to be alone tonight.
She opened the Queen Bees group text.
She stared at the screen while she decided what to say. Not because she was embarrassed, but because she didn’t want to sound overly needy. Like she was a sad case. Even though she kind of was.
Finally, she typed: Is anyone free for dinner at The Bee’s Knees? I’d rather not eat alone tonight. My treat.
She hit Send and waited. But not for long. The first reply came from Paige, almost immediately.
I can go! Graham’s headed to the pub to meet a few friends for darts, so I’m on my own tonight. Dinner sounds perfect.
Essie smiled, new happiness giving way to the loneliness she’d been feeling.
Then Blaise chimed in. Count me in. I’ve been writing all day, and I need to see something besides my laptop screen.
A moment later, Maude sent her reply. I can make it. Robbie’s working late at his new flex space, so I’m free.
Then Cece. I’d love to. If I stay home, Peanut might convince me that frozen waffles count as dinner. They do not.
The tension disappeared from Essie’s shoulders as she read each message. What a wonderful group of women they were. Why had she been reluctant to reach out? They understood loneliness. They understood needing to be around other people.
Just as she was about to respond, her phone buzzed again. Althea. Essie let out a little gasp. She hadn’t expected the older woman to be interested, not when she had a husband to look after.
If you girls don’t mind an extra chair at the table, I’ll join you. Lester thinks I should get out of the house for a bit.
Gratitude filled Essie. She hadn’t expected all of them, but here they were, showing up with the same effortless loyalty they always seemed to offer one another.
She typed her reply with less urgency this time, comforted by the knowledge that these women really were there for her. Six o’clock at The Bee’s Knees work for everyone?
The yeses rolled in one by one, until all of them were accounted for.
Essie set the phone down, her smile in no danger of flagging. She walked to her closet, choosing a soft blue blouse that went so nicely with her favorite white pants. She took the time to fix her hair and put on a little makeup. She added some earrings and her new diamond bracelet.
She didn’t need a big night out. She just needed her friends. Some companionship. The kind of conversation and laughs that only women could share.
Much better than leftovers and a movie.
Essie drove her golf cart along the familiar path toward The Bee’s Knees, the Colony’s cozy little restaurant that was part of the community center buildings.
The sun would be setting soon, brushing gold across the green landscape.
By the time she parked, the warm glow spilling from the restaurant windows felt like an invitation in itself.
Inside, the dinner crowd was just gathering. The soft clatter of plates, low hum of conversation, and selection of classic tunes created a comfortable backdrop. Something delicious wafted from the kitchen.
A hostess recognized her immediately and smiled. “Good evening.”
“Good evening. I’d like a table for six, please.”
“Right this way.” The hostess led her to one of the large round tables near the windows. Essie loved a round table. It made conversation so much easier. No one got left out that way.
She took the seat with a view of the tennis courts. There was pink in the sky now. Another beautiful Colony evening.
She wasn’t alone for long.
Paige arrived first, still fixing her hair from the drive over. She seemed full of energy. Next came Cece, already apologizing for being “a whole two minutes late.”
Blaise swooped in looking pleasantly tired, Maude followed with a warm grin, and finally Althea. She moved slower than the others, but with a determination that put an end to offers of help before they started. She settled into her seat with a relieved sigh.
“This is a good table,” Althea announced, glancing around with approval. “Nice light, no draft, and no one bumping my chair every five minutes.”
“Maybe they knew you were coming,” Maude said, giving Althea a wicked little smile. “And they didn’t want to get on your bad side.”
That got them laughing.
Their server came by with waters all around, then asked for drink orders.
Essie went with a sparkling water with lime.
Paige chose an iced ginger tea. Cece asked for a cranberry spritzer.
Blaise opted for a glass of pinot grigio, saying she’d earned it.
Maude had a gin and tonic, and Althea requested scotch on the rocks, which didn’t seem to surprise anyone.
Once the drinks were taken care of, the server launched into the specials. There was roasted salmon with citrus glaze, chicken piccata over fresh pasta, a summer vegetable risotto with shrimp, and a peach cobbler for dessert, “if anyone wants to save room.”
“You should always save room for peach cobbler,” Althea said, earning nods from around the table.
They placed their orders. Salmon for Paige and Althea, piccata for Essie, a risotto for Maude, and a pair of salads for Blaise and Cece. Then the server disappeared again, leaving the women in a comfortable bubble of chatter, until another server appeared with their beverages.
“So, how was everyone’s day?” Paige asked, resting her forearms lightly onto the table.
Maude jumped in. “I was plenty busy at the hospital, although I did make time to have lunch with Ollie. And I’m happy to report that Robbie’s making amazing progress at the flex space.
I really hope he sells out of whatever he brings to the arts and crafts fair.
Fingers crossed but this could really be something for him. ”
“That’s wonderful,” Essie said genuinely. “You know I want one of those charcuterie boards.” She leaned in. “In fact, I could probably take two or three. I think they’d be wonderful Christmas gifts. Never too early to get that shopping done.”
“Thank you,” Maude said. “He’ll be thrilled to hear that.” She looked at Cece. “How about you? How was your day?”
Cece shifted in her seat, turning her spritzer slowly between her hands. “Mine was… interesting.”
Essie looked at her closely. There was a tightness around Cece’s mouth, the kind that signaled something serious.
“What happened?” Essie asked gently.
Cece exhaled through her nose in a weary sort of way. “Natalie had a scare this morning. Jim, her husband, the one she’s divorcing, showed up at the house. Unannounced. He was trying to get to Tyler, their son.”
The table stilled. Blaise lowered her wine glass. Maude’s brows bent. Even Althea’s expression sharpened with concern.
“He tried to insist he had the right to take Tyler to school,” Cece continued. “Pushed his way inside. Natalie was terrified.”
Blaise put her hand to her chest.
“Oh, my word.” Essie felt her heart pinch. “Is she all right? Is Tyler?”
“She is now,” Cece said. “And Tyler wasn’t home, thank goodness. Natalie called Joe right away. He told her exactly what to do, then went straight to the judge. He got a temporary injunction put in place immediately.”
Maude gave a small, approving nod. “Good. Jim sounds like he needs the boundaries spelled out in bold print.”
Essie reached across the table and touched Cece’s wrist. “I’m so glad she called him.”
“Me, too,” Cece said quietly. “He really came through for her today.”
There was a pause filled with understanding and what seemed like clear appreciation for Joe.
Then Cece’s face shifted, softening into something almost shy. “And Joe sent me something today,” she added.
“Flowers?” Paige suggested, brightening.
“Something even better,” Cece said.
“Don’t keep us in suspense,” Althea said. “I’m too old for that.”
They all laughed.
“It was the music for my podcast,” Cece said. A small, almost secret smile appeared on her face. “He wrote a theme song for me.”
Essie felt a surprised spark of happiness for her. “Cece, that’s lovely.”
“What does it sound like?” Blaise asked.
“It sounds perfect,” Cece said. “Welcoming, warm, full of curiosity about what’s to come. Don’t worry, you’ll all get to hear it. It was such a trip listening to it. It made the whole thing feel so real.”
Althea gave a wise little hum. “I can’t wait to hear it. And the first episode. Who’s your guest going to be?”
Cece grinned, her gaze shifting across the table. “Our very own Blaise Monroe.”
“Fabulous choice,” Paige said.
Blaise gave a little bow. “I was honored to be asked.”
Essie nodded. “You’re going to be fantastic.”
“I completely agree,” Althea added.
Essie watched Cece relax, watched the pride settle gently into her expression. Cece had been a little bit, well, maybe not angry when they’d met, but definitely closed off in a way. And now here she was, sharing her life with them and about to launch a project that clearly meant something to her.
Essie lifted her sparkling water, moved by the moment and reminded of how much of a blessing these women were. “Well,” she said, thinking about how much better this was than being home alone. “I think that calls for a toast.”
Glasses lifted all around.
“To new beginnings,” Essie said.
“To strong daughters,” Paige added.
“To good men who show up,” Maude put in.
“To music,” Blaise said, smiling at Cece. “And friends.”
“And to stories worth telling,” Althea finished.
The glasses touched gently all around the table, the soft ringing of crystal such a happy sound, and Essie felt the moment settle deep and true.
These friends were exactly who she needed to be with tonight.