The Friends We Keep. Susan Mallery
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Pam said as she stroked Lulu. “Maybe a beach. Hmm, I’ll get back to you on that.”
Shannon patted her lap and the little dog jumped gracefully over. “You’re going to stay with me, sweet girl. Aren’t you?”
“Char and Oliver must love that,” Gabby said. “The twins adore her.” Lulu had quite the wardrobe and was happy to play dress up.
“How long will you be gone?” Gabby asked Pam.
“Nearly two weeks. The cruise is a week, then I’m staying with friends.”
“Has anyone talked to Hayley?” Nicole asked. “I left her a message a couple of days ago and haven’t heard back from her.”
“I haven’t, either,” Gabby said. “I’ll text her when I get home.”
There was a moment of awkward silence. The women looked at each other. Gabby would guess they were each trying to figure out what to say.
“If something had happened, we would have heard,” Gabby said. “Rob would call one of us.”
“Even if he didn’t, Steven would know,” Pam added. “He would have said something. He knows better than to keep something like that from me.”
Despite being part of the Los Angeles metropolitan area, Mischief Bay was, at heart, a small town. Hayley worked for Steven Eiland who owned a plumbing company. Steven was Pam’s son.
“Poor Hayley,” Nicole murmured. “I worry about her.”
“Me, too.” Gabby knew her friend desperately wanted to have a baby, but she’d been through so much.
“Everybody has their own path.” Pam stretched her legs out in front of her.
“You got that right. The baby thing is complicated.” Shannon hugged Lulu. “Maybe I should get a dog.”
“You work too many hours,” Pam pointed out.
Gabby watched Shannon and wondered if her sister-in-law ever felt regrets. Shannon had an amazing career. She was CFO for a successful software company. But she was forty-one and hadn’t married until the previous year. She and Adam, Gabby’s older brother, didn’t have any kids of their own. Adam had two from a previous marriage. He and Shannon had just finished up the paperwork and approval process to be foster parents. Talk about changing their lives. They were going to make a difference, but Gabby wasn’t sure that was enough for a woman who really wanted kids. While she envied her sister-in-law her career, she wouldn’t have given up the twins for anything. She’d always wanted both.
But that decision left her wondering if having it all meant doing a lot of it badly.
Nicole enjoyed the company of her friends. This was when her job didn’t feel like work. To be honest, except for the paperwork and payroll, which she hated, none of it did. She’d been blessed, she told herself. Owning Mischief in Motion was a dream.
She shifted so she and Pam sat facing each other, legs outstretched, feet touching. They reached out and grabbed hands, then Pam pulled Nicole toward her into a forward bend. The hamstring stretch was perfect, Nicole thought, letting her body relax. She sat up and pulled her friend forward. Pam leaned into the motion.
“You’re exhausting me,” Gabby grumbled. “Can’t you two let it be? Class is over. I still have to crawl to my car.”
Nicole grinned at her. “You should stretch or you’re going to hurt tomorrow.”
“I’ll hurt tomorrow anyway.”
Pam released Nicole and patted Gabby’s thigh. “Don’t join the beginner’s class. Stay with us. We’re more fun.”
“This class will kill me.”
“You say that now,” Nicole told her. “But trust me. In a few weeks, you’ll be able to keep up.”
Gabby groaned. “You’re so lying.”
The other women laughed.
Nicole knew she was telling the truth. Gabby was out of shape and needed to lose a few pounds—Nicole guessed close to thirty to be in fighting shape. But not everyone wanted to work out. That made no sense to her. She’d been active her whole life. But then when Hayley had tricked her into signing up for a knitting class, Nicole had hated everything about it. She’d quit rather than risk doing someone in with a knitting needle.
“It’s whatever you want,” she told her friend. “You are welcome at any of my classes. This one is more advanced, but you know everyone. My beginner’s class is definitely easier, but less social.”
“You can try the other one,” Shannon suggested. “Then figure out what you want to do.”
“Always with the reason,” Pam said as she stood. “You continue to impress me, missy.” She stretched up her arms, then shook out her shoulders. “I have to go. Lulu and I have a busy afternoon planned. See you all on Friday.”
Pam collected her tote, picked up Lulu. Gabby limped after her.
“Take a hot shower,” Nicole told her. “And an anti-inflammatory.”
Gabby groaned, waved and walked out of the studio. Shannon went to get her things and Nicole headed for her office. She had a couple of hours until her next class. As she passed by the front door of the studio, she saw someone approaching. A man. A familiar man with dark hair and beautiful brown eyes.
She came to a stop, not sure what to do. There was nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide. Okay, she could hole up in the bathroom, but for how long?
She pressed a hand to her suddenly fluttering stomach. Well, crap.
“Nicole, are you okay?” Shannon asked.
Nicole twisted her fingers together and motioned to the door. Before she could speak, Jairus walked inside.
“Hey,” he said. “You do work here. I wasn’t sure the counselor at Tyler’s camp was giving me right information.”
Shannon walked briskly toward him. Despite wearing capri-length leggings and a tank top, she radiated control and power.
“Hello,” she said, holding out her hand. “I’m Shannon. Who are you?”
“Jairus Sterenberg.”
Shannon’s eyes widened. “The Brad the Dragon guy. That was this week? Huh. I thought you’d have horns.” She looked at Nicole. “Do we like him?”
“Horns?” Jairus repeated.
Nicole shrugged. “I don’t know. I don’t think so. He’s not evil.”
“You know I’m standing here, right?”
Shannon ignored him. “Was he good with the kids?”
“Yes, but it could have been an act.”
Jairus frowned. “It wasn’t an act. I like kids. That’s why I write kids’ books. And I’m still right here.”
Shannon sighed as she looked at him. “We obviously don’t care about that.” She turned back to Nicole. “I’m going to make a phone call. I’ll be by my car.” She pointed. “Right there. Where I can see everything.”
Nicole nodded, grateful for the not very subtle message that she wasn’t going to be alone with Jairus. Because being alone with him was confusing. Or uncomfortable. Tingle-worthy but weird.
Nicole forced herself to face Jairus. “You’re here,” she said unnecessarily. Still, the obvious observation seemed to be the safest.
“I am.” He smiled. “Hi.”
He had a good smile. Easy. Friendly. Appealing. She found herself wanting to