Page 14 of Captiva Book Club

“Great. My sister Kristin will be there and my daughter Katie as well. She’s friends with your granddaughter, Sarah. Sarah’s going to join and said she’d talk to her mother and Chelsea. I’m hoping they’ll join us.”

“Sarah’s my namesake, you know.”

“I guessed that was the case. She’s a lovely young woman.”

“Yes, she takes after me. A book club is how my daughter, Maggie, met Chelsea Marsden. They both were in the same book club, but they didn’t like it so they left. That was years ago. I’ll talk to Maggie and see if I can’t convince her and Chelsea to join. What about Linda St. James and Millie?”

“Yes, well, Linda is out of town, but I was just about to call Millie. What about Ciara Powell? Do you think she’d join?” Claire asked.

“I’m sure she will. I can look into that too. Maybe Jacqui Hutchins might join us. She’s more Katie and Sarah’s age, but I think having young people in the group is a good idea. It’s good for people my age to mingle with the young kids. They learn stuff from me and I learn a few things from them. It’ll be good to get different perspectives, don’t you think?”

Claire didn’t know Sarah Garrison well at all, but the woman was infamous for having fun.

“I do. You have some good ideas, Mrs. Garrison.”

“You can call me Grandma Sarah, everyone does. Besides, it will keep us from getting confused when we’re in the book club.”

“That’s a great idea,” Claire said.

“So, what’s the plan? Where and when do we meet?”

“I haven’t decided that. I thought we’d first talk to the others and get an idea of how many will join. My plan is everyone takes a turn hosting the meetings. We’ll meet once a month, so that will give everyone a chance to read the book.”

“What kind of books are we going to read? I don’t want any with swears in them.”

Claire wondered if Grandma Sarah was like this all the time. She knew how important a friend she was to her sister, Kristin, so she invited the woman. However, now she wasn’t so sure it was a good idea.

“I think we should wait and hear what everyone wants to read,” she said, trying to remain calm.

“Well, I’ll talk to Maggie and see who else will join. I’ll get back to you.”

“Thank you, Mrs. G…I mean, Grandma Sarah.”

Claire sighed as she ended the call, wondering what she’d gotten herself into.

CHAPTER 5

The dark clouds gathering overhead signaled an approaching storm, and Maggie felt a deep, unsettling foreboding within her bones, sensing trouble ahead in more ways than one.

The air was warm, but not enough to chase away the chill from her body. Pulling her sweater close, she curled up in her chair and watched the dark clouds swirl in the sky. Soon, rain would hit her window and obscure her view.

Paolo came inside from the garden, bringing with him a gust of wind that made it difficult to close the door.

“I tied up several plants and covered some for protection. I hope it’s enough to keep them safe.”

Maggie continued to stare out the window, not responding.

“I thought I’d make a pot of tea. Would you like some?” he asked.

Maggie shook her head. “No, thanks.”

As Paolo went into the kitchen, Maggie reached for a blanket draped over the back of her chair. Although it was only six o’clock in the evening, the darkness outside made it look like the middle of the night. She glanced at the clock on the mantel and sighed.

It’s too late now for the doctor to call.

She stared at the painting above her, remembering how it had hung on the wall of her family home when she was a child. Whenever she was sick, her mother would let her sleep on the sofa near her parents’ bedroom, which made her feel safe.

The painting, depicting a farm with four white sheep grazing in front of an old farmhouse, was at the foot of the sofa. Maggie had decided early on that it belonged to her. She’d never understood why that painting comforted her, but it was such an important part of her childhood that she had kept it all these years.

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