âIâll take care of you.â
âJust for tonight,â Pia said, slumping down on a sofa. âTomorrow I take care of you.â
âTomorrow youâll be puking your guts out.â The woman smiled at Charity. âHi. Iâm Crystal.â
âNice to meet you.â
Charity was introduced to the other women and did her best to remember their names. Renee/Michelle was there and Charity was surprised to learn her name was actually Desiree. When the introductions were finished, Jo led Charity into the kitchen.
âYou can see whatâs open, whatâs in the blender and what you can create on your own.â
The kitchen had been partially updated. The counters and sink appeared new, but the stove was from the forties and the cabinets looked like they might have been original.
âGreat place,â Charity said.
âI like it. I know itâs big for just me, but I enjoy the space.â She pointed to the array of bottles on the counter. âWine, both colors, margaritas in the blender, unless Pia drank them all. Mixers, vodka, Baileyâs. You name it, we have it.â
âIâll go with a glass of wine,â Charity said.
âPlaying it safe on your first night. Probably wise. Pick a color.â
âWhite.â
Jo got a glass and poured. After she handed it to Charity, she leaned against the counter. âSo youâre our new city planner. How are you liking Foolâs Gold?â
âI love it here. All my small-town fantasies are coming true.â
Jo laughed. âI moved here about three years ago. From the east coast. It was quite a change, but a good one. The people are friendly. Pia invited me to join her and her friends. They made me feel very welcome.â
Charity glanced toward the living room. âI appreciate the invitation. I want to get to know people.â
âYou will.â
A pretty blonde walked into the kitchen and sighed. âI need more. Piaâs drunker than me and I was supposed to be the drunkest one at the party.â She smiled at Charity. âHi, Iâm Katie and please donât think badly of me.â
âI wonât.â
âI donât usually drink very much.â
âOr at all,â Jo muttered. âSpeaking as someone who owns a bar, youâre a real disappointment in that department.â
âI know.â Katie leaned against the counter. âBut tonightâs different. My sisterâs getting married.â
Charity felt confused. âAnd thatâs a bad thing?â
âThe groom and I were dating when they met. For nearly a year. Heâd bought me an engagement ring. But before he gave it to me, he met my sister and they kicked me to the curb.â
âOuch,â Charity said. âIâm sorry.â
âDonât be. He was a jerk,â Katie told her.
Charity had a feeling that was the alcohol talking more than her heart.
âThe worst part is that the wedding is a four-day party up at the Lodge,â Jo added.
âI need a date and I donât have one.â Katie hiccupped softly.
âThereâs always Josh,â Jo offered.
Katie rolled her eyes. âI need a date with a guy people will believe Iâm actually seeing. Thereâs no one. And now my mother is offering to set me up with her best friendâs son. Howie.â
Charity tried to muffle a laugh. âOkay, itâs not a traditionally romantic name, but he could be great.â
âI met him back when we were kids. Heâs a total nerd, and not in a good way. We hated each other, and I get to spend four days with him. Someone just shoot me now.â
âHow about another margarita?â Jo asked.
âThat works, too.â Katie looked at Charity. âAre you happily married or dating? Because Iâll warn youâin this crowd, youâd be the only one.â
âSorry, no. I have a string of bad breakups, as
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