for Justin, and when he’d texted later in the night, sending pictures of the dogs he’d rescued, she’d felt all those good feelings again. But when he’d called this morning and said he was doing a sunshine dance for her, hoping her book club meeting wouldn’t get rained out, she’d embraced that newfound freedom wholeheartedly.
Her phone vibrated with a message, and Justin’s name flashed on the screen. She’d been so lost in thoughts of him, she hadn’t sent him the picture she’d just taken.
She read his text on the way into the living room. Hey, sweet thing. Sorry my sunshine dance didn’t work and your luau got rained out.
How could she ever have thought he wasn’t the right guy for her? He was always thinking of others. She added the picture she’d just taken to a text, then added two pictures he’d taken with her phone the other night at the bar and sent them to him with the message I’d like to see that sunshine dance in person, and added a heart eyes emoji. After sending the text, she queued up Spotify and turned on the tropical music playlist she’d created.
When the doorbell rang, she took one last look around and answered it.
Steph’s eyes widened as she set her umbrella on the porch. “Wow! Look at you, hula girl. You look amazing.”
“Thanks.” Chloe wiggled her hips, making her grass skirt swish. “I borrowed the outfit from Serena.” Although Steph never seemed bothered by Chloe mentioning Serena, Chloe always felt a little uneasy because Steph’s younger sister, Bethany, had been Ashley’s best friend. After Ashley died, Bethany had lost herself in drugs. She’d been in and out of Steph’s life ever since.
“I hope you washed it. You know if Drake saw her in that thing, they got down and dirty.”
They both laughed, but Chloe was pretty sure the outfit wouldn’t have stayed on for more than a few seconds before Drake stripped it off.
She saw headlights coming down the road. Her cottage was tucked away from the rest of the world at the end of a narrow, wooded road. Her home wasn’t very big, but it had a beautiful screened-in porch out back, and she loved not having to worry about neighbors.
Two cars pulled up to the curb, and Steph said, “Looks like Starr and Daphne are here.”
“You know Starr?”
“Yeah, from the Salty Hog. But I had no idea she was in the book club. Mads told me when she came by my shop earlier today.”
Chloe stepped onto the porch and saw Daphne and Starr standing under umbrellas by Starr’s car. Daphne took Starr’s umbrella and held it over Starr as she leaned into the back seat to pick up Gracie.
“Tag-team mothering,” Chloe said as they came up the walk.
Steph called out, “Do you need any help?”
“We’re good. I’ve got Starr’s bag,” Daphne said. When they stepped onto the porch, she said, “It’s nice to have another mom in our group. I was just telling Starr that my mom has Hadley tonight.”
“She’s lucky to have family nearby.” Starr looked at Chloe and said, “Hi. You must be ChapterChick.”
“Yes, I’m Chloe. I’m so glad you could make it. And this must be Gracie.”
Gracie buried her face in Starr’s neck, clutching a stuffed monkey in the crook of her arm. Her wispy blond hair fell over her face.
“She can be shy at first, but she’ll warm up. Right, Gracie?” Starr kissed her daughter’s cheek and brushed her hair from her face.
Gracie nodded, her tiny brows knitting. Starr set her down, and Gracie rested her cheek on Starr’s leg, blinking up at them with the biggest brown eyes Chloe had ever seen.
“Isn’t Gracie adorable? She’s the same age as Hadley,” Daphne said. “We should have a playdate for the girls sometime.”
“I would love that,” Starr said, pushing her long curly hair over her shoulder.
Chloe crouched so she was eye to eye with Gracie and said, “Hi, Gracie. I’m Chloe, and I’m really glad you and your mommy came to visit tonight.”
Gracie buried her face in the side of Starr’s leg.
“You and I were on the same wavelength tonight, Chloe,” Starr said as she unzipped her daughter’s raincoat. Gracie was wearing a grass skirt with flowers around the waist and a cute pink shirt.
Gracie patted her skirt with the monkey in her hand and said, “Kirt!”
“I love your pretty skirt,” Chloe said. “She is precious. Do you mind if I take pictures tonight for the girls who couldn’t make it?”