Page 48 of No Place Like Home
“They went to the airport to pick up Kai’s sister. They should be on their way back. Her plane got in at eleven.”
We put up tables and chairs in different areas of the yard.
“Looks like you two have everything under control,” Tonya’s voice made me turn. The book club had arrived.
“Yeah it does. I guess we can go break into the wine and relax until the food gets here,” Kaye said as she walked into the house.
Tonya hugged Darlene. “How’s my favorite daughter-in-law?” she asked.
“She’s amazing, Tonya,” Darlene said.
“Taking care of my newest grandbaby, I hope.”
“Of course. You have nothing to worry about.”
“You and Bryson having another baby,” Tonya said and turned to Diane. “Adler and Leila are adding to their family, Jamison has Lilly, Kora has Kai. Just about everyone is happy. Now, if my Rowan would settle down . . .”
“And Lance,” Kaye added as she joined everyone with wine in one hand and a stack of clear plastic cups in another, “Of course, he needs to grow up a bit first.” She poured everyone a cup and passed them around.
“Kaye,” said Diane after she took a sip of her wine, “one day at a time. He’s been seeing that girl for a while now. What’s her name?”
“Jayla,” Ruth said as she unfolded a table cover. “She seems sweet.”
“That’s right,” Diane said as she snapped her fingers.
I blocked out the women as they continued to talk about Lance and Jayla. My mind went back to what Tonya said about Rowan settling down. I wish I could say that he was with me, but after how I treated him, I couldn’t be sure. Forcing him out the window naked, right into the path of Big Red, then me acting like nothing happened . . .What was I thinking? I acted like an immature teenager, not a grown woman.
He’s made it clear what he wants. But me? What didIwant? Or the better question, what could I really give him?
“Summer, those are a little fragile,” Tonya said.
I was plopping vases on the center of the tables harder than necessary, and Tonya took one from my hand. “What’s up with you?” she asked.
I shook my head. “Nothing. Was just thinking.”
Tonya fixed the flower arrangement that I messed up when I placed the vase on the table and looked at me through narrowed eyes. “What’s going on, Summer?”
Kaye looked at me and raised her brow.
I shrugged.
“I feel like I’m missing something here,” Kaye said as she pointed between Tonya and me.
“Oh, yeah, you’re missing something,” Tonya answered her. “We’re all missing something.”
“Why, what did you witness?” Kaye asked.
“I’m not sure,” Tonya said as she stepped back and eyed me suspiciously. “But there was something weird going on between Rowan and Summer yesterday, and if I didn’t know better, I’d think they were having a post-coital temper tantrum.”
“T!” Kaye said with a gasp of shock, as Diane about spit out her wine.
“Wouldn’t be a surprise,” Ruth said as she continued her straightening of tablecloths on the last few tables. “Honestly, I’d say it’s about time.”
I stood there and stared at the women. Tonya and Kaye spoke wordlessly through their gaze like they seemed to always do, Ruth continued to straighten things and fix tables like she didn’t just make an announcement that embarrassed me, and Diane and Darlene’s shoulders shook with laughter.
“Who’s having a temper tantrum?” Kora asked as she, Kai, and a pretty girl with dark hair like Kai’s entered the back yard. “What’s going on?”
I sent a glare in Kora’s direction. “Nothing.” I said to her, then shot daggers at the women laughing. “They’re all being bitches.”
