Page 31 of August
“Hopefully, for the last time since Bryce is almost done with her aunt’s house, and it’s going on the market,” Sophie added.
“Yeah?” Melinda asked.
“The market’s not great for sellers right now, so I don’t expect it to sell quickly, and it’s a small house, so I’m not sure families will really want it, but we’ll see. It’smy aunt’s place, but I’m helping as much as I can. I also found her an in-home caregiver who will be there for her when I can’t be, so that’s making me feel less guilty about being gone a lot and leaving permanently.”
“And then, you’ll move here?” Myra asked, joining the conversation.
Bryce looked over at her and gave her a nod but didn’t answer. Myra didn’t know what that was about, but she and Bryce hadn’t really spent much time together, so she suspected it might have been that Bryce was wondering why Myra had joined them all for this lunch to talk about Melinda and Kyle’s wedding, which had transitioned to talking about Bridgette and Monica’s wedding and then Sophie and Bryce’s relationship.
“Okay. We’re here,” Jill said.
Myra looked up and saw Jill standing at the end of the bunch of tables they’d pushed together for this large group.
“For anyone who hasn’t met my girlfriend, this is Willa. She’s a teacher and has a half-day today, so she could join us.”
“Everyone’s met Willa,” Melinda said.
“I haven’t,” Myra replied.
“Oh, yeah. You couldn’t make the party we had,” Melinda remembered.
“Willa, this is Myra. Myra, this is my girlfriend, Willa,” Jill said.
“Nice to meet you,” Willa said and shook Myra’s hand.
“We need more chairs, I guess,” Melinda suggested.
“I’ll get a couple,” Kyle said and stood.
The group was supposed to be just Melinda and Kyle, along with Bridgette and Monica, but Sophie and Bryce had been available for lunch, so Melinda had invited them, too. Then, Myra had found out that Jill and Willa were on their way and that Asher and Linden would be a little late but were coming here as well. Rory and Enid were tending to NOLA Guides, so they wouldn’t be here, but Logan was working the bar and occasionally joined the conversation when she had a lull. Myra was still getting used to having this many friends,and she thought some of them were more acquaintances than friends, so it was often overwhelming to be around them all at once, but she was starting to find her place.
“Hey,” Bryce said when Myra walked out of the bathroom, and she was waiting there.
“Oh, hey. It’s free if you–”
“No, I’m good. I just wanted to apologize for earlier.”
“What for?” Myra asked.
“When you asked if I was moving here, I didn’t answer.”
“Oh. That’s okay. Jill showed up, and I forgot anyway.”
“It’s kind of tricky with Soph right now,” Bryce said.
“Why?”
“Part of the reason I’m moving here is because of her family. Her grandmother was her primary concern, but now her grandpa has gotten sick, too. She’s been helping to take care of them for a while, but that situation has changed recently.”
Myra didn’t know what to say, so she stayed quiet.
“They’re in assisted living. One’s in hospice now, and it’s not looking good.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Myra replied, looking over at Sophie.
“And I want to be here with her. I love New Orleans. I know Soph does, too. I’ve been going back and forth between LA, home, and here for months now, though, and I don’t know.”
“Don’t know what?”
