her remaining lemon-wine sauce. Grace, Hope, Joy, and Lex were sitting at Grace’s table, finishing up the dinner Lex had prepared for them.
When Lex learned that the girls were meeting for dinner, she’d run out and gotten some fresh fish and went to work. With almost no notice, she’d put together one of the best meals Grace had tasted in over a month.
“You know, I never thought I’d say this but these brussels sprouts are amazing. What did you do, spell them to actually taste good?” Before dinner, Grace would’ve sworn she hated them, but whatever Lex had done to them made Grace do a one-eighty on her previous opinion of the vegetable, and she couldn’t get enough.
“It’s amazing how shallots, pine nuts, and butter can really liven a dish up,” Lex said with a wink. “Glad you like them.”
“Everything is fantastic,” Joy agreed. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Lex rose and started to clear the table.
“Oh no. Nope. Sit down,” Hope said as she took the plates in Lex’s hands. “We’ve got the dishes. She who cooks does not clean.” She turned to Grace. “Neither does the host who supplied us with the booze.”
Grace laughed and let her two friends clear the table. She knew better than to argue with them. Instead, she turned to her niece. “How are you doing? You okay after what went down with your mom earlier?”
Lex let out a breath and sat back in her chair. “I guess so? I don’t really know to be honest. Cooking helped center me a little.”
“Good.” Grace reached across the table and squeezed her hand. “Want to talk about whatever else it is you have on your mind?”
Lex frowned. “Like what?”
“Like whatever’s making you uneasy.” Grace glanced at Lex’s phone on the table next to her. “And why you keep checking your phone every few minutes?”
“Do you notice everything?” Lex asked, eyeing her aunt.
“Not everything. But when it comes to you? I’m paying attention. What’s up? It’s more than just your mom, isn’t it?”
Tears filled Lex’s eyes, but instead of answering, she unlocked her phone, tapped the screen a few times, and then handed the phone to Grace.
“What’s this?” She glanced down at the screen and noted a string of texts from Charlie. They started off benign enough, but quickly devolved into nightmare territory.
Hey, Lex. Give me a call. I have a question.
You’re not at work. I tried there. Really, I need you to call me. It’s about your mom’s cat.
Where are you? Fucking call me already.
Hey, you little bitch. If you don’t call me, don’t come crying to me if this cat suddenly goes missing.
There was a continuous string of expletives that got more and more abusive, and then the final one: Since you’re ignoring me, I’ll just have a chat with your girlfriend. She’s always been more fun than you are anyway.
“I’ve been trying to get in touch with Bron, but my calls are going straight to voice mail and she hasn’t answered my texts,” Lex said. A single tear rolled down her face. She angrily wiped it away and added, “I’ve texted Mom, too, and she isn’t answering.”
A chill radiated down Grace’s spine, and her entire body went rigid. Visions of Charlie tormenting Alyssa’s cat flashed in her mind, followed quickly by the bastard laying hands on Bronwyn. There was only one thing to do.
“Hope, Joy, get in here now,” she called.
“We’re still cleaning up,” Hope answered. “Give us a minute.”
Grace got to her feet, still clutching Lex’s phone, and strode into the kitchen. “It’s important. We have a field trip to make.” She showed them Lex’s phone, and once they read the text, they both dropped what they were doing and headed for the door.
“Aunt Grace, what are you planning?” Lex called, running after them.
“We’re paying Charlie a visit; that’s all.” Grace pulled her black boots on and grabbed her keys. “We have a cat to rescue and a giant ass to kick.”
“Don’t be going all Witches of Eastwick on me!” Lex demanded. “He’s likely all talk anyway. I’m probably overreacting.”
“What if you aren’t?” Joy asked, peering at Lex in that mom way that made it seem as if she could see straight into someone’s soul. “What if something’s happened to the cat? Or what if Bronwyn is there and he won’t let her go?”
Lex’s eyes turned dark blue with emotion. “I’m coming with you.”
“Attagirl,” Hope said, slinging her arm around the younger woman’s shoulders. “Let’s go kick some Charlie butt.”
“I think you should stay here,”