Page 22 of Secrets on Sapphire

Beer Cocktail

The book club meeting was going to be held at Edie’s house. She knew the women would recognize the furniture in the home, as it was left with Tim and Calista’s belongings. She was especially concerned about Harley. Tim told Edie how much Harley had spent over there with Calista. Edie had spent the week walking through the house multiple times making sure there was nothing left of the Cavanaugh’s, everything hidden away . . . except for the furniture. However, that was easy to explain. People rented out furnished homes all the time.

Edie walked through the home one more time. Nothing. She had spoken with Taylor who always hosted the Stephanie Plum party in the past. Taylor told Edie Cluck-in-a-Bucket fried chicken and beer was a must. Edie had bought buckets of fried chicken and a huge package of beer. She also set out cookies and put a hamster cage on the end of her kitchen counter. Inside was a stuffed hamster and hanging off the cage was a wooden sign that read “Rex”.

She picked up her phone and sent a text to all of the women reminding them to bring over their favorite snacks. She ended the message by telling them she would be ready to accept guests in half an hour. Edie walked up the stairs and put on her best Stephanie Plum outfit; a simple black t-shirt and blue jeans. She combed her hair and threw it up into a high ponytail.

Twenty minutes later, she went downstairs, pulled out a beer glass and began pouring her favorite beer out of a growler she had purchased in Atlanta. She hid the growler in the back of the fridge and took a photo of the full glass. She sent the photo to all of the ladies along with a text:

Edie:

Stephanie Plum here! I’ve got everything laid out, the movie in the DVD player, and a beer poured. I’m just waiting for the rest of my gang. Door’s unlocked.

Edie placed her phone on the counter next to Rex’s cage and took the glass in her hand. The beer was ice cold. It was a stout and it was amazing. She needed a beer. Just as she placed the glass up to her lips to gulp down another mouthful of beer, she heard her phone go off.

Brielle:

I’m so sorry Hun, but I’m not going to be able to make it tonight. I’ve had something come up and I need to place my attention on it. I hope you ladies have loads of fun. Drink lots of beer and eat a ton of Tasty Cakes.

Edie rolled her eyes and put her phone in her pocket. Brielle was the main one Tim wanted her to keep an eye on. She’d go over to her house tomorrow. Just as Edie was picking up a piece of fried chicken, the door swung wide open.

“Hey Darlin’, you mind giving me a hand?” Parker came in with snacks stacked up from her hands to her chin.

“Oh goodness! Yea, coming!” Edie threw the chicken leg back in the bucket and ran toward the door. “What can I do?” Edie reached her arms out to grab something from Parker’s hands.

“I’ve got this. Will you just grab the wagon at the end of your driveway?”

“Yeah, yeah.” Edie walked past Parker and went to fetch the wagon full of goodies.

When Edie returned back inside her home, she saw Parker unpacking the things that were in her hands. She had pizza rolls, mac’n’cheese, and a bowl of candy. Edie looked into the wagon she was rolling into the kitchen and saw a small empty mason jar, a large mason jar full of a dark liquid, and a wine cake.

“Wow. You went all out.” Edie smiled.

“Well I couldn’t help myself. I don’t eat junk food often, but when I do, I go crazy.” Parker walked over to the wagon and carefully picked up the large mason jar. “I know Stephanie Plum’s drink of choice is typically beer, but I couldn’t go without my special tea.” She winked as she placed the jar on the counter. She grabbed the small jar, lifted the tab on the large one, and the liquid filled up her glass.

The door swung open a second time and in walked Taylor, Sammy, and Harley. They walked in with beers, chips, and three different types of dip. Edie smiled as she realized the women were dressed like different characters in the book. She hadn’t even noticed Parker was dressed like Grandma Mazur as she helped her carry in all of her treats. Taylor was in a polka dotted dress and a kitchen apron, resembling Stephanie’s mom. Sammy was dressed up in clothes that immediately reminded Edie of Connie and Harley was the ever annoying, husband stealing, red-haired Joyce Barnhardt.

“Brielle was supposed to be Lula, but she called me and said she couldn’t make it.” Sammy smacked on a piece of gum, staying in character. “Oooo, Parker—I mean Grandma Mazur—is this your special tea?” The gum smacking continued.

“You know it is Sugar.” It was hard for Parker to stay in character with her Southern drawl, especially considering the characters were supposed to be from New Jersey.

Two packages of beer, half a mason jar of special tea, a whole wine cake, and only half of the Stephanie Plum movie later, the women were piled on the couch and the floor holding their stomachs. Parker was lying flat on her back when she felt her phone vibrate in her pocket.

Naughty Nick:

Hey there gorgeous.

Parker:

Hey there yourself hot stuffssssss.

Naughty Nick:

Stuffssssss? Are you drunk?

Parker:

Maybe. What ya doin?

---