even enjoy working at the nursery for Jake.”
She frowned, set aside the slice of pizza she’d just picked up, then confessed, “I honestly don’t know what the dickens I’ll do once Jenny leaves for college next fall. I can’t imagine rattling around in that house by myself.”
“You could sell your place and buy one of those snazzy new townhouses being developed just outside of town,” Bree suggested. She eyed the pizza longingly, grimaced as she apparently lost the battle with her willpower and took another slice.
Connie shook her head. “Empty is empty. I’m afraid the empty-nest syndrome is going to hit me harder than most,” she said disconsolately.
“You need a hobby,” Bree said.
“I’ve already signed up for quilting classes with Heather,” Connie said.
Bree shook her head. “No offense, but that’s a hobby for women. You need one that will help you meet men.”
Connie regarded her with amusement. “Do you happen to have one of those?”
“You could volunteer at my theater,” Bree said at once. “We have lots of things you could do.”
“And how many men who aren’t married or gay?” Connie inquired reasonably.
Bree winced. “You have a point. Okay, what else are you interested in?”
When Connie remained silent, Heather prodded, “Do you like to read? Shanna has a book club at her store. She mentioned it to me the other day.”
“I don’t think so. I don’t like the pressure of having to read anything on a deadline,” Connie said. She glanced at Bree. “I did pick up some of those books on the bay that your uncle Thomas recommended when he did that talk for Shanna. I like the work he’s doing.”
“Then volunteer,” Bree said excitedly. “That’s perfect. It’s a really great cause. Kevin can fill you in, or you can drop by the house tomorrow. Uncle Thomas will be there for Easter dinner, I’m sure. He never misses a holiday. You can get some ideas directly from him. Bring Jenny along, too.”
“You can’t just add two people to Easter dinner,” Connie protested.
“Of course I can,” Bree said. “If there’s one thing we O’Briens love, it’s a jam-packed holiday table. It diverts Dad’s attention from us, so there’s less meddling. And Gram thinks having company keeps us all on our best behavior.” She shrugged. “I’m not so sure about that, but there’s always enough food for an army. Promise me you’ll be there. I don’t want to think about you and Jennyhaving lunch all alone, anyway. Heather will be there, too, right?”
Heather nodded. “Do come. It’ll be nice to see another friendly face in the crowd. I feel outnumbered by O’Briens.”
“Clear it with Megan and Nell and I’m in,” Connie said finally. “Now let’s pop this movie in. Maybe if we shed enough tears, we’ll work off a few of the calories we’ve just consumed.”
“Not much chance of that,” Bree said, patting her belly. “If I so much as look at food these days, I gain weight.”
“Of course, you did slightly more than look at the pizza,” Connie teased. “I’m pretty sure you ate a whole one all by yourself.”
“Guilty,” Bree said unrepentantly. “Could you not tell my husband that, please? He’ll just start obsessing and insist I take some awful walk with him first thing in the morning.”
“Your secret’s safe with us,” Heather promised.
They settled into their seats as she turned on the movie, then passed around a box of tissues. “We know how it ends,” she said. “We might as well be prepared.”
“What about chocolate?” Bree asked. “Do you have chocolate?”
Heather laughed as she fetched a bag of dark-chocolate candies from a drawer. “Here you go, though how you can eat them after all that pizza is beyond me,” she said as Bree took several from the bag.
“There’s always room for dessert,” Bree said.
In less than two hours, they were all sobbing openly as the movie’s closing credits rolled.
“Just what I
She frowned, set aside the slice of pizza she’d just picked up, then confessed, “I honestly don’t know what the dickens I’ll do once Jenny leaves for college next fall. I can’t imagine rattling around in that house by myself.”
“You could sell your place and buy one of those snazzy new townhouses being developed just outside of town,” Bree suggested. She eyed the pizza longingly, grimaced as she apparently lost the battle with her willpower and took another slice.
Connie shook her head. “Empty is empty. I’m afraid the empty-nest syndrome is going to hit me harder than most,” she said disconsolately.
“You need a hobby,” Bree said.
“I’ve already signed up for quilting classes with Heather,” Connie said.
Bree shook her head. “No offense, but that’s a hobby for women. You need one that will help you meet men.”
Connie regarded her with amusement. “Do you happen to have one of those?”
“You could volunteer at my theater,” Bree said at once. “We have lots of things you could do.”
“And how many men who aren’t married or gay?” Connie inquired reasonably.
Bree winced. “You have a point. Okay, what else are you interested in?”
When Connie remained silent, Heather prodded, “Do you like to read? Shanna has a book club at her store. She mentioned it to me the other day.”
“I don’t think so. I don’t like the pressure of having to read anything on a deadline,” Connie said. She glanced at Bree. “I did pick up some of those books on the bay that your uncle Thomas recommended when he did that talk for Shanna. I like the work he’s doing.”
“Then volunteer,” Bree said excitedly. “That’s perfect. It’s a really great cause. Kevin can fill you in, or you can drop by the house tomorrow. Uncle Thomas will be there for Easter dinner, I’m sure. He never misses a holiday. You can get some ideas directly from him. Bring Jenny along, too.”
“You can’t just add two people to Easter dinner,” Connie protested.
“Of course I can,” Bree said. “If there’s one thing we O’Briens love, it’s a jam-packed holiday table. It diverts Dad’s attention from us, so there’s less meddling. And Gram thinks having company keeps us all on our best behavior.” She shrugged. “I’m not so sure about that, but there’s always enough food for an army. Promise me you’ll be there. I don’t want to think about you and Jennyhaving lunch all alone, anyway. Heather will be there, too, right?”
Heather nodded. “Do come. It’ll be nice to see another friendly face in the crowd. I feel outnumbered by O’Briens.”
“Clear it with Megan and Nell and I’m in,” Connie said finally. “Now let’s pop this movie in. Maybe if we shed enough tears, we’ll work off a few of the calories we’ve just consumed.”
“Not much chance of that,” Bree said, patting her belly. “If I so much as look at food these days, I gain weight.”
“Of course, you did slightly more than look at the pizza,” Connie teased. “I’m pretty sure you ate a whole one all by yourself.”
“Guilty,” Bree said unrepentantly. “Could you not tell my husband that, please? He’ll just start obsessing and insist I take some awful walk with him first thing in the morning.”
“Your secret’s safe with us,” Heather promised.
They settled into their seats as she turned on the movie, then passed around a box of tissues. “We know how it ends,” she said. “We might as well be prepared.”
“What about chocolate?” Bree asked. “Do you have chocolate?”
Heather laughed as she fetched a bag of dark-chocolate candies from a drawer. “Here you go, though how you can eat them after all that pizza is beyond me,” she said as Bree took several from the bag.
“There’s always room for dessert,” Bree said.
In less than two hours, they were all sobbing openly as the movie’s closing credits rolled.
“Just what I
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