Page 18 of Captiva Book Club

“I told Claire that when we finish with this book, we should get together and watch the movie.”

“There’s a movie?”

“Yeah, I’ve never seen it, but I heard it’s good. You know how that goes, most of the time the movie is nowhere as good as the book. We’ll see.”

Maggie examined the book and read the description on the back. “Well, it sounds good, and it’s less than two hundred pages. I’m sure I can handle that. Who knows, I might need something to read during chemo.”

Chelsea grimaced. “Stop that. You can’t think the worst, Maggie.”

Maggie shrugged. “I know, but it’s so hard after everything I’ve been through not to expect bad news. I’m glad I’ll get the biopsy tomorrow. The sooner I find out, the better. We’ve got so much to do this month, I don’t have time for cancer.”

Chelsea giggled in spite of the somber mood. “I think I’ll have a t-shirt made with that on it. We can pass them out at the hospital…No Time For Cancer.”

Just then, Millie came out onto the porch.

“Oh, you both got the book. I’m going to the bookstore after work to pick mine up. I’m so excited to dive in, aren’t you?” she asked, looking at Maggie.

“Hmm, yes, it should be fun, Millie. Chelsea got one too.”

“That’s great. You know who we should invite to the book club?” she whispered.

“No, who?”

“Oliver. He doesn’t know anyone on the island, and I’m sure he’d love to meet everyone.”

Maggie shook her head. “I doubt that. At least for now, why don’t we let him focus on working with Iris and getting up to speed on how we do things around here? Besides, the book club is only for women so far, and the first book doesn’t seem like something a man would be interested in reading.”

Millie put her hands on her hips. “That might be how things were done in the old days, but not anymore. Women and men enjoy and participate in many of the same things we didn’t years ago.”

“The old days? Millie, you’re older than we are,” Chelsea said.

“Well, you know what I mean. Anyway, maybe not for this book, but we should consider inviting him for the next one. He’ll have been working here for two months by then.”

“Well see,” Maggie said.

“Well, I’ve got to vacuum upstairs. I’ll see you all later.”

After Millie left, Maggie chuckled. “Never a dull moment around here.”

“That’s for sure,” Chelsea added. “Well, I’ve got to get home, lots of Christmas gifts to wrap,” she said, getting up from her chair.

“Thanks for the book,” Maggie said. “I need a distraction this afternoon, so your visit was perfect timing.”

“I assume Paolo is taking you to the hospital tomorrow?”

Maggie nodded.

“Well, if you need more moral support, you know I’ll go with you.”

Maggie reached for Chelsea’s hand and squeezed it. “Thank you, dear friend, but I’ll be all right. I appreciate the offer though.”

Chelsea smiled. She didn’t want Maggie to see how concerned she was, so as usual, she made a joke.

“Don’t use this latest health situation as an excuse to get out of buying me a nice Christmas present.”

Maggie laughed. “Darn, and I was about to do that very thing.”

Sarah couldn’t decide whether to call her siblings about their mother’s latest cancer scare. She had changed her mind several times in the last twenty-four hours. Ultimately, she realized she needed her brothers and sisters to help her cope with the fear of the unknown.

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