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“Grilled chicken or steak?” Shelby cuddled up closer to Reed as they sat on her sofa, a movie paused on the TV in front of them.
“Why not both? I own a restaurant, Shelby,” he said, laughing.
“I know, but having both just seems… excessive.”
“Let’s do both, honey. Some people may not like chicken. Or steak.”
She looked up at him. “Who doesn’t like either chicken or steak?”
Reed paused for a moment. “Vegans?”
Shelby laughed loudly. Reed made her laugh all the time. Sometimes, he didn’t mean to. Everything about him made her heart swell. She never imagined love could be like this, and marrying him would be the happiest day of her life.
“You’re a goof,” Shelby said, playfully slapping his chest.
They’d spent a lazy Sunday curled up in each other’s arms on the screened porch while the rain fell outside, hitting the tin roof above them. Those were her favorite kinds of days - where nothing had to be done, and
they could enjoy each other’s company.
So much had changed in the last year since getting engaged to the man of her dreams. Reed’s restaurant had won Restaurant of the Year in Charleston, garnering national attention in a magazine. Business was up over thirty percent, and he was excited about that. He had even been contacted by a producer at HGTV interested in setting up a new reality show in the restaurant. Reed wasn’t so sure about that idea.
Shelby still worked at the bookstore because it made her happy and filled her soul. And, of course, the book club was still in full swing. She’d grown to love those women, even Willadeene. Well, most of the time. She was Willadeene, after all.
“What about music?” Reed asked.
“How about an eighties punk rock band?”
“Don’t tempt me. You know, I was in a punk band at one time.”
Shelby turned and looked at him. “Really?”
“Yep. For about a week. Then my dad saw that I’d cut my hair into a mohawk with pink tips, and I got grounded for an entire summer.”
Shelby laughed. “I need to see a picture of that.”
He shook his head. “Trust me, nobody took a picture of that.”
“In all seriousness, I think a DJ would be fine.”
“You don’t want a fancy band?”
“I don’t think we’re those people.”
“DJ, it is.”
“Are you excited about Thanksgiving?”
“Excited about everyone we know coming here to fill their faces with food? Of course.”
Shelby smiled and looked back at the rain falling outside. “I think it’s going to be lovely. I wish my mom could come, of course, but it’s more important for her to get better. I hate that she’ll watch my wedding on video, but at least she’ll be here in some way.”
Shelby’s mom suffered from an autoimmune condition. Although she’d started a new medication three months ago and felt better most days, her doctor wanted her to minimize travel as much as possible for now.
“I wish my sister could come.”
She reached over and squeezed his knee. “I know you do, honey.” Reed had reconnected with his sister a little over a year ago, but she was
traveling for her job during the holidays this year. She would be spending Christmas finalizing a hotel acquisition deal in Switzerland.
“Oh well,” he said, pulling her closer. “The most important thing is I have the love of my life with me this holiday season, and there is no better gift than that.”
“Ditto,” she said, pressing her cheek to his chest as they watched the rain fall. Shelby couldn’t think of a holiday season where she’d been more grateful. Life could always take a turn for the better, and that usually started with taking big chances and making big changes.
Moving to Charleston and starting a neighborhood book club had done so much more for her than she could’ve imagined. Her “family” consisted of people with no blood relation to her, but they held her heart just the same.
Book club days were her favorite. Shelby finished stirring the hot chocolate on her stove and turned it off. As long as everyone was on time, it would stay plenty hot enough. She poured mini marshmallows into a clear glass bowl and placed it on the kitchen island next to a smattering of mugs collected from various places she had traveled over the years. She supposed a professional would call her decor “eclectic,” but Shelby loved to collect things that gave her joy. She didn’t care if they matched all that well. They made her smile when she looked at them.
“Hello?” Lacy called out from the front foyer. She was always early. Nobody got there before Lacy. She made sure of it. It was funny, really, because Lacy was beautiful and always dressed to the nines. Most women like her would probably prefer to be a little late and make an entrance, but she was way too anal for that. She needed to be early to set up her food and help Shelby welcome everyone.
“Hey there!” Shelby said, wiping her damp hands on her apron. Her grandmother had taught her to wear an apron when working in the kitchen. Today, she wore a new one with little Christmas trees embroidered on it. She had purchased it from one of the many summer festivals she attended in the small towns around Charleston.
“I brought my famous apple pie,” Lacy said, walking past her toward the kitchen. As usual, Lacy looked like she just stepped out of a magazine. Her white blonde hair was slicked back and pulled into a tight ponytail at the base of her head. She wore a pink cashmere sweater, perfectly fitted black slacks, and a simple string of pearls around her petite neck. If someone saw her in public, they would have no idea she wrote steamy romance novels. The thought always made Shelby smile.
“Can’t wait to dig into that. Wedding planning is making me emotionally eat. I may not fit into my dress next month!”
Lacy giggled. “Wouldn’t that be a hoot?”
Shelby’s face fell serious. “Um, no. That would not be funny in the slightest.”
“Sorry. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone. I think you look great anyway. I’ll be sure to watch you closely tonight. Only one piece of pie for you, my friend."
“Only one piece? Where’s the fun in that?” Cami said, walking into the kitchen. “Where should I put the casserole?”
“Right over here,” Shelby said, clearing a spot on the island. “Is that your cheesy chicken casserole?” she asked, leaning over and sniffing.
“Of course!” Shelby loved Cami’s casseroles, and this one was her favorite. It was warm, gooey, and the perfect dish for a cool November evening.
Lacy pulled on Shelby’s arm. “Imagine you’re sliding into your wedding dress next month and, oh no! Your rear end causes the fabric to explode with a loud pop…”
Shelby slapped her on the arm playfully. “Point taken.”
Lacy walked away, and Cami leaned into Shelby’s ear. “Eat the casserole. I’ll give you some yoga poses to stay nice and lean for your big day.”
Shelby adored her friends. She loved her neighbors. She was grateful for her job, her fiancé, and the holiday feeling permeating the air right now. There was nothing like the holiday spirit surrounding her to put a smile on her face.
“What is that God-awful smell?”
Ah, Willadeene. The ender of all fun.
“There’s no awful smell,” Shelby said, rolling her eyes. “Cami made her cheesy chicken casserole. You like that.”
Willadeene set a pitcher of sweet tea on the counter and leaned down to smell the casserole. “Maybe the cheese was bad. I wouldn’t touch that with a ten-foot pole.”
“The cheese wasn’t bad!” Cami said, leaning over to smell the casserole. “Willadeene, you need to get your nose checked.”
Willadeene grunted, shrugged her shoulders, and walked into the living room, plopping down onto the sofa with a thud. She made herself at home at Shelby's house. Actually, she made herself at home anywhere she went. Willadeene wasn't exactly shy.
"Sorry, I'm late, everybody." Joan came breezing into the kitchen, holding a bowl of fruit. She wasn't somebody who enjoyed cooking all that much, so she usually brought something simple. They hadn't seen her around a whole lot recently. Shelby had noticed it and texted her a few times just to make sure she was okay.
Since getting over her problem with hoarding and reconnecting with her son, Joan
seemed like a totally different person. She also had a boyfriend that kept her busy, so Shelby tried not to interfere too much. She was happy to continue seeing her at the book club meetings and occasionally watering her flowers in her yard. Her boyfriend Randy helped her do all new landscaping, which looked beautiful.
"You're not late. We haven't even started yet," Shelby said, giving her a quick hug as she took the fruit bowl. "How are you doing these days? I feel like I never see you."
Joan smiled. "Well, Randy keeps me busy. What can I say?" Her face turned slightly red.
"It seems like things are getting pretty serious," Cami said, smiling as she squeezed Joan's arm.
"I guess you could say so. As serious as you can get at my age, anyway."
"You're younger than me!" Willadeene called out from the sofa. Shelby wasn't sure what the point of that comment was, so she just let it go.
"Well, I guess we're about ready to start,” Shelby said, pointing to the living room. Everybody followed her in there. They did as they usually did at the beginning of every meeting—chatted about upcoming events or scheduling conflicts, and then they discussed which book they would be reading next.
After chatting about their current book, they went around the room updating each other on what was going on in their lives. Shelby talked a lot about wedding planning and how nervous she was to make sure that everything went off without a hitch.
"One thing I had always dreamed of was having a snowy wedding, but I don't think I'm going to get that here in Charleston," she said, laughing.
"Yeah, I don't like your odds of that," Lacy said, taking a sip of her wine.
"Well, it's going to be dreamy no matter what," Cami said, reaching over and patting Shelby on the knee. "You're marrying the man of your dreams and have such a beautiful venue in that old church."
"Yes, I can't wait to get married there," Shelby said. "It's going to be beautiful. I love weddings in old churches or other old buildings. So much history."
They continued chatting and then got around to Cami, who looked a little nervous.
"What's going on with you?" Shelby asked.
"Well, I have some exciting news. I'm going out on a limb, and I’m a little bit
anxious about it."
"What kind of news?" Lacy asked.
"You all know I've been teaching yoga on the side down at the fitness center."
"Yes, of course. It's all you ever talk about," Willadeene said, waving her hand at Cami. Everybody ignored her and went back to listening.
"Anyway, I've decided to venture out on my own. I'm opening a yoga studio."
All of the women cheered for their friend. Even Willadeene said “yay” in an underwhelming tone, but at least it was something.
"That's wonderful. Congratulations," Joan said. "It's always good to make big changes in your life."
"You know that better than anyone," Cami said. "I hope it's going to be successful. I mean, I think we all know that new businesses fail pretty frequently. But I feel like I have to try."
"You do need to try," Shelby said, "and you’ll do great. People love coming to your classes."
"Well, everybody except you," Cami said, poking Shelby in the arm.
"I've been to your classes, and I feel like I'm not physically capable of doing that ever again." Everybody laughed.
"I have something I’d like to discuss,” Joan said. She, too, looked nervous.
"Why does everybody look like they're about to have a panic attack?" Willadeene asked. "You ladies always have these big dramatic announcements. Can't we have one book club where nothing is going on?"
"Apparently not," Joan said, "because my big news is that I'm leaving Waverly Lane."
The gasps in the room almost put out the fake fire in the fireplace.
"What? What do you mean?" Shelby asked.
"I feel like I need to
be closer to my son and his family, so I am selling my house and moving to be with him in Utah.”
Everyone gasped.
"But you can't leave us. You can't do that," Lacy said.
"I'm sorry, ladies. I'm getting older and would like to spend my later years close to my family. But it doesn't mean I will stop being friends with all of you. I was hoping I could video chat into our book club meetings."
"Video chat? What in the heck is that?" Willadeene asked.
"I'll explain it later," Shelby said under her breath. She turned her attention back to Joan. "We will be so sorry to lose you, but I completely understand. You've got a whole new life ahead of you, and all we want is the best for you."
“What about Randy?” Cami asked, referring to Joan’s boyfriend of a little less than a year. They were inseparable. Randy owned an antique store near Charleston, and they spent all of their free time traveling together, looking for antiques to sell.
“Well, I also need to share some other news…”
“You’re pregnant?” Willadeene said, laughing loudly at her own joke.
“Anyway…” Shelby said. “Go ahead, Joan. What’s your news?”
She smiled, her face turning red. “Randy proposed last weekend.” She held up her hand, which she’d been hiding, to reveal a simple solitaire ring.
“Oh my goodness! That’s so wonderful!” Lacy said, immediately running to look at the ring. Shelby was surprised she didn’t pull a jeweler’s loupe out of her pocket. ...
