Page 57 of Happily Ever Laughter

For once, the lighting and arrangement doesn’t matter at all. But I still like a simple video call to look nice, and since I have all of the equipment handy at a moment’s notice, why not?

I still can’t believe we have a studio in our house, as well as all of the facilities at the station. Plus, I’m still able to do the odd freelance gig on location now and then.

My heart is full as I realize that as well as a wife and mother, I’ve truly become “one of those artsy creative types”.

Just as my alarm chimes, I set up the call and make the connections. Two windows pop up immediately as I adjust the volume.

“Tanis!” Claire squeals, waving wildly at the screen.

I can see over her shoulder that Shane is on the couch, reading a book to Aiden with little Lara in the crook of his arm. He looks up and waves, and the kids follow suit.

“Hey guys,” Diana says, waving from her box. She’s sitting in her backyard, “Milo took Lila and Cory inside for a little while. Cory has just learned how fantastic it is to scream at the top of his lungs.”

“Yikes. That’s a fun stage,” Claire laughs. “Wait until he gets to the point where he finds out that screaming in public brings a lot of attention.”

Diane rolls her eyes. “Please, don’t even go there.”

A ping sounds, as Elizabeth joins the group.

“I don’t mean to alarm you, but there’s a creep behind you,” I laugh.

Dan waves into the camera, kissing Elizabeth on the cheek. “Hey guys,” he says, plopping himself in a chair right beside Elizabeth. “Hello from Greece.”

Before we have a chance to comment on their constant global travels, another window lights up, and Becca’s bright pink nails wave wildly from the screen. “Hey!” she says brightly.

“Becca, where are you?” Diana asks.

“Just outside of London, but we’re only here for a week. Oliver is researching something for his next book.”

I can sense Felix’s presence before I can even hear him. He sits beside me, bouncing our eleven-month-old daughter Jasmine on his knee.

“Tell Oliver I actually read his latest book,” Felix chuckles.

Becca swings the camera to show Oliver sitting beside her. “Hey everyone,” he says, waving almost exactly like Becca always does. “Sorry I only have a minute, but I’m in the middle of a key chapter.”

Felix and I glance at each other wide-eyed. Oliver took a break from his writing just to say hello to the group? Wonders will never cease.

“We’re all super proud of your writing, dude,” Dan says. “And we expect autographed copies for Christmas.”

“I’ll make sure it happens,” Oliver smiles, kissing Becca on the cheek. “If she’s not too busy with wedding planning, maybe my girl can remind me.”

He waves as he leaves, then Dan says, “I actually have a personal training session in twenty minutes, so I have to jet as well. Great to see you all, even if only for a minute. So glad you ladies still have these every month.”

I love watching the way his hands skim over Elizabeth’s hair as he kisses the top of her head. Such an unlikely pair on the surface, but they’re perfect together.

“I’m out too. I’ll leave you to it,” Felix says, standing up.

“Not until we see little Jasmine for a second,” Claire says, waggling her fingers at the camera. “Hey there, teeny face.”

Jasmine gurgles and coos, making sounds that nobody can understand, yet she seems convinced that she’s speaking. After a moment, Felix gives me a kiss and then goes to put the baby down for a nap. We wave goodbye to Shane as he takes their kids away.

“Wow,” Diana says slowly. “Who would’ve thought that we would still be having book club meetings all these years later?”

“It’s amazing,” Becca says. “Even though I’m sure I’m not the only one who misses Henry more than a bit.”

“Oh! He said to tell you all hello,” Claire says. “I was there yesterday. He says that if we’re all back in town for Christmas, hot chocolates are on him.”

We all laugh together. Even though our meetings have shifted to just the first Sunday of the month, and are barely about the books at all these days, our little group is as strong as ever.

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