California Dreaming: Four Contemporary Romances by Casey Dawes Page A

here.”
    “R-i-i-ght.” Sarah looked around. “Where’s Bobby?”
    “He couldn’t make it this morning.” Elizabeth glanced at Annie.
    “This is Ray,” Sarah announced, kissing the young man on his cheek. He immediately reddened, raising his hand in a brief wave, mumbling something that sounded like, “Hi.”
    Elizabeth held out her hands to Sarah and Annie. When the circle was completed, she bowed her head and began the well-worn prayer, “Bless us, O Lord … .” The chorused “Amen” gave the signal to dig in.
    Elizabeth dished the eggy custard onto passed plates as the biscuits made their appointed rounds. The clatter of serving spoons and dishes served as the counterpoint to Sarah’s recounting of her latest lab failure. She was getting a degree in environmental science — if she could ever pass organic chemistry.
    Elizabeth turned to Ray. “So how are your classes going?”
    “Ray’s a political science major,” Sarah said. “He’s a member of the Young Republicans, too.”
    “They allow Republicans in at Berkeley?” Annie asked.
    “I wanted to understand their point of view,” Ray said. “Last year I was a member of College Democrats of America. So far, I haven’t seen much difference. Everyone’s talking and no one’s listening.”
    Out of the mouths of babes, Annie thought.
    Tension at the table eased as Ray enthusiastically described his classes. In spite of his tendency to blurt everything that came into his mind, he was entertaining.
    “Why do you want to move out of California, Annie?” Sarah interrupted Ray. “They’ve got snow for months in New Jersey. I think it even snows on the beach.” Sarah looked at David. “Are you moving too? Or are you staying here until you graduate from high school?”
    David glanced over at his mother and mumbled, “I told Mom I’m not going.” He shoveled eggs into his mouth.
    “Of course you’re going,” Annie said. “They’ve got good schools in Princeton. Soccer, too. It’ll be tough in the beginning, but you’ll be fine. Nothing to worry about.” She sounded like she was trying to convince herself.
    After brunch, Sarah and Ray drove off to see some of Sarah’s friends, taking David to drop him off at soccer practice, while Annie and Elizabeth cleaned up. When the last pot was dried, Elizabeth said, “I have two more cups of coffee and a Sunday Chronicle . Want to sit in the garden?”
    “Sounds heavenly. Need help with the coffee?”
    “No, go on out. I’ll be right there.” She handed Annie the paper.
    Annie settled into the blue-cushioned wicker chair with the entertainment section on her lap. Iris and gladiola stalks were intermingled with bright daffodils while pink and red cyclamens and silver-leaved Dusty Millers edged the jade green lawn.
    Elizabeth placed a painted metal toleware tray on the glass-topped garden table.
    “How do you make the garden look so beautiful all the time?” Annie asked.
    “Hard work and lots of water,” Elizabeth settled down into her own chair with the financial section.
    “How come Bobby wasn’t here for brunch?”
    Elizabeth folded her paper down. “I left him a message. I’ve been leaving him messages all week and he hasn’t answered one of them yet.”
    “You guys have a fight?”
    “Not really.”
    “What happened?”
    “It’s the same old thing, Annie. He wants to get married and I don’t.”
    “I’ve never understood that. You had a good marriage with Joe. Bobby’s perfect for you — you’re great friends and everyone can see the electric sparks between you. He’s stable financially. Love, money, and sex — what more can you want?”
    “Freedom. Annie, I went from my crazy Italian household to marriage with Joe. Everyone was always telling me what to do — my parents, my brothers, tons of Italian relatives who came every Sunday for dinner — even Joe. We had a great marriage, but I never really knew what it was like to live on my own, be my own person. I love