“It probably sounds silly,” Emily turned to Camille, “but I smelled one of his sweatshirts and it brought a rush of memories back. So I put it on. The lingering scent of his clothes—it’s like he’s still there with me. I miss him so much, Cam.” She felt herself being pulled back into the moment and her hand fluttered to her chest as her eyes gazed out over the water. “It made me remember how I felt when he held me, when he kissed me...when he made love to me.”
“Oh my, Emily!” Camille giggled nervously, fanning herself with her napkin, as her face warmed to the tones in her red hair.
“The time just slipped away,” Emily said apologetically. Coming back to the present, she looked down at her menu, a blush of embarrassment heating her cheeks.
“You’ll never get over him if you don’t start letting go. It’s been six months, hon. Don’t you think you should start packing up his things so you can at least begin to move on with your life?” Camille asked. “Evan was a wonderful man, Em, really he was, but he’s been gone for a while now. You’re still here and you deserve to be happy.” Camille looked around the table for support. “Don’t you agree, girls?”
“Yes, Em,” Maggie agreed, “it is time you start havin’ some fun again, girl.”
“Maybe she’s not ready.” Isabel came to Emily’s defense. “Six months isn’t that long, really.”
Emily looked over at Isabel and gave her a smile of appreciation. “What I’m ready for is food.” She was also ready to change the subject. Her gaze flew around the busy patio. “Where’s our waitress?”
A young woman appeared at their table just in time to rescue her, pad and pen in hand. “Hi, I’m Katie. What can I get for you ladies?”
“I’ll have the sea bass.” Emily jumped in first.
“That sounds good,” Camille agreed, closing her menu and looking up at the young woman. “How is that prepared?”
“Uh, sautéed, I think,” she replied sheepishly. “Sorry, I’m new here.”
“Don’t pay any attention to her,” Isabel said to the waitress, frowning at her fiery-haired friend. “She’s a chef. Can you tell? I’m sure however it’s cooked will be fine.”
“I guess you’re right, Isabel,” Camille conceded. “I will have the sea bass.”
“Just a garden salad for me, please, Balsamic vinaigrette on the side,” Maggie ordered. “I have to watch my girlish figure, y’ know.” She patted her flat tummy.
At thirty-six, Maggie was obviously proud that she still possessed the slender figure she’d had when she was a twenty-two-year-old starlet in Hollywood. As a young single mother, she had moved there from Texas with her little boy, trying to get her big break. Unfortunately, her big break never materialized. So, leaving her deadbeat husband behind, she and her son moved north to Idaho, where her brother and his family lived. She’d worked hard, learned all she could about fitness and training, eventually opening her own business as a personal trainer.
“Hmmm,” Isabel tapped her finger against her lips. “I’ll have the Kobe beef burger, and I’d like the seasoned oven fries with that.”
“Isabel, that’s a ton of fat and calories,” Maggie pointed out.
“I know, but it tastes so good. Besides, I ordered it just to bug you,” Isabel teased.
Maggie grimaced. Isabel carried a few extra pounds and often promised Maggie she’d work to take them off when she had time, but she never seemed to find the time.
“You are what you eat, Isabel,” Maggie told her for the thousandth time.
“Well, maybe I should eat a skinny person, then.” Isabel flashed a mischievous smile. “But I don’t see that on the menu.”
“There’s just no point talkin’ to you about it.” Maggie rolled her eyes and shook her head.
“Exactly.”
The waitress collected the menus. “Thank you, ladies. I’ll be back shortly with your food.”
Emily took a sip of her ice water. “So, what’s new in your world, Camille?”
“Oh, I have the most exciting news!” Her face lit up and her hands flitted about. “You know that big candle business that’s expanding and building all those new warehouses and offices down by the railroad tracks?”
“You mean Heaven Scent?” Isabel offered.
“Yes, that one. They’re also expanding into a new line of bath products and they’re having a big launch party. Guess who they hired to plan and cater the event?” Camille wore a smug grin.
“Hmmm, let me think.” Isabel tapped her chin mockingly.
“Me, you silly.” Camille patted Isabel’s arm. “Oh, I’m so thrilled!”