Page 165 of No Such Thing as Serendipity
“Even me.” Dana waved and laughed.
“No, not even. Especially you,” Helena said. “It’s a tribute to the magic of this place. Do you know how much unlikely stuffhappened here?” Helena’s eyes glistened as she glanced around the firepit at the group.
“Do we qualify as unlikely?” Katlynn asked, then leaned over and kissed Helena.
“Not just unlikely but miraculous.” Helena kissed Katlynn again. “I haven’t had a major flare-up of my fibromyalgia in six months. Just a couple of minor ones.”
We all clapped. As soon as we’d arrived at the villas, I’d noticed how youthful Helena looked without pain etched on her face.
“I meant to tell you, you look incredible,” I said.
“Thanks.” Helena smiled. “Being in love with someone who doesn’t stress you is the best medicine.”
Katlynn grinned. “Now if I could just stop stressing.”
I studied Katlynn, trying to figure out her meaning.
Helena smiled. “We’ve been waiting for this get-together to tell everyone. Katlynn’s agent pitched her book to Random House last week, and they loved it. Her agent thinks they’ll offer her a contract soon.”
A cheer went up around the fire, and we all offered our congratulations.
Our easy conversation continued as Annie filled us in on the man she’d met at church, and Dana talked about her latest case and the law professor from Northwestern University she’d started dating. Whenever Dana said her name, she couldn’t stop grinning.
Vera was in her glory since she didn’t have to do the bookkeeping anymore and could focus her full attention on developing the class schedules. She’d been hard at work, making improvements to the offerings and planned to introduce new instructors to the lineup.
But it was my sister who’d grown the most. I watched her as she chatted and laughed with the others. There was no longer a deep line in her forehead or tightness in her jaw.
We’d been sharing stories, and my stomach hurt from laughing so hard. When the fire sputtered, Blake piled more wood onto it. “It looks like it’s time for s’mores.” Blake glanced at the table. “Oh, I left the ingredients in the truck.” She held her hand down to Robyn. “Would you go with me?”
Robyn took her hand and started to stand.
“I’ll go,” I said.
Robyn dropped back into her chair.
“No!” Blake said.
I gaped. What was up with her? “Okay.”
“I mean, I don’t want to take you away from everyone. You’re a guest and should stay here.”
Something strange laid behind her eyes, so I said, “Yeah, I still have questions about this man who’s caught Annie’s eye.”
Blake’s shoulders relaxed, and she held her hand out to Robyn again.
Robyn raised her eyebrows at me as she stood. “We’ll return with the goods,” she called over her shoulder as she and Blake walked down the path hand in hand.
“Are those two making out in the woods or what?” Dana patted her stomach. “I need my s’mores.”
“I wondered the same thing,” Annie said. “They’re adorable. After a year, they still can’t take their eyes off one another.”
“Robyn is the best thing that’s ever happened to Blake.” I shot an uncomfortable glance at Dana, not wanting to rub it in.
Dana laughed. “It’s okay. I’ve accepted it was never meant to be. And thank the fucking universe, nothing ever happened between us.”
“Amen,” Annie and I responded at the same time.
“Rough crowd,” Helena said with a laugh.
