worrisome. In addition, Karen had seen signs that something was off with Frances on her last visit. The combined incidents were definitely troubling.
Besides, if something didn’t feel right to Daisy, then Karen needed to get home now.
“I’ll be right there,” she promised. “I’m sure everything’s fine, but I’m glad you called.”
“Hurry, Mom. It’s kinda freaking Mack and me out.”
Karen was about to make her excuses when she suddenly realized that she had no way to get home. Elliott had dropped her off and planned to come back to pick her up after his evening with the guys. A glance at her watch indicated that wouldn’t be for another hour at least.
As she walked back into the living room, Dana Sue regarded her worriedly. “Everything okay?”
“There could be a problem at home. I need to try to reach Elliott and see if he can come get me.”
“Don’t bother him,” Raylene said at once, already on her feet. “I’m tonight’s stone-cold sober designated driver. I’ll run you home.”
“Are you sure? I’d really appreciate it.”
“Not a problem,” Raylene said, then turned to the others. “No one budges or says anything scandalous until I’m back, okay?”
“Not a word,” Sarah teased. “We’ll just talk about you.”
Raylene made a gesture indicating what she thought of the teasing.
Once in Raylene’s car, Karen could barely concentrate on anything other than the fear in Daisy’s voice.
“Want to talk about whatever’s going on?” Raylene asked gently.
Karen shook her head. “It’s probably nothing. You know how kids’ imaginations get the better of them. Daisy was just a little concerned that something might be going on with the babysitter.”
Raylene looked startled. “Frances?”
Karen had forgotten for a moment that everyone in Serenity knew everyone’s business, or at least a good chunk of it. She nodded.
“Is she ill?” Raylene asked.
“Daisy seems to think something’s just off with her tonight. I figured if my nine-year-old is worried, I should be, too.”
“I agree,” Raylene said as she turned into the cul-de-sac where Karen lived. “Want me to come in while you check on her, just in case it’s anything serious?”
Though Karen wanted to say yes just to have the moral support, she knew it would humiliate Frances if another person showed up and there was no crisis. She shook her head.
“I’ll be okay. If there’s a real problem, I’ll call Elliott. He can be here in a few minutes. Thanks for offering, though.”
“Anytime,” Raylene said readily. “People were amazing when I was having all my problems with a crazy ex and suffering from agoraphobia. I’m eager to return the favor in whatever way I can.”
“Thanks.” Karen hesitated, then thought of what Maddie had said about her and Raylene having a few things in common. “Maybe we can grab coffee sometime in the morning before you open up your boutique. Erik makes the best in town, and I can sneak you into the kitchen at Sullivan’s. It’s a well-known secret that Annie and a few others slip in there before we open just for his coffee.”
Raylene grinned. “I’ve heard that. Count me in. I’ll try to get by one morning later this week.”
“Tell everyone I enjoyed tonight. I’m sorry I had to bail so early,” she said as she exited the car.
Raylene waved as Karen practically ran to the house. Despite Karen’s insistence that she could handle whatever she found inside, Raylene waited in the driveway. That simple gesture of support showed Karen once again the value of having the kind of solid friendships she’d been missing.
* * *
Karen had barely entered the house when Daisy materialized. The concern on her face faded at the sight of her mother. Karen gave her a hug.
“Everything okay?”
Daisy nodded, casting a surreptitious glance over her shoulder toward the living room. “She seems fine now. I probably shouldn’t have bothered you.”
“No, you did exactly the right thing. And
Besides, if something didn’t feel right to Daisy, then Karen needed to get home now.
“I’ll be right there,” she promised. “I’m sure everything’s fine, but I’m glad you called.”
“Hurry, Mom. It’s kinda freaking Mack and me out.”
Karen was about to make her excuses when she suddenly realized that she had no way to get home. Elliott had dropped her off and planned to come back to pick her up after his evening with the guys. A glance at her watch indicated that wouldn’t be for another hour at least.
As she walked back into the living room, Dana Sue regarded her worriedly. “Everything okay?”
“There could be a problem at home. I need to try to reach Elliott and see if he can come get me.”
“Don’t bother him,” Raylene said at once, already on her feet. “I’m tonight’s stone-cold sober designated driver. I’ll run you home.”
“Are you sure? I’d really appreciate it.”
“Not a problem,” Raylene said, then turned to the others. “No one budges or says anything scandalous until I’m back, okay?”
“Not a word,” Sarah teased. “We’ll just talk about you.”
Raylene made a gesture indicating what she thought of the teasing.
Once in Raylene’s car, Karen could barely concentrate on anything other than the fear in Daisy’s voice.
“Want to talk about whatever’s going on?” Raylene asked gently.
Karen shook her head. “It’s probably nothing. You know how kids’ imaginations get the better of them. Daisy was just a little concerned that something might be going on with the babysitter.”
Raylene looked startled. “Frances?”
Karen had forgotten for a moment that everyone in Serenity knew everyone’s business, or at least a good chunk of it. She nodded.
“Is she ill?” Raylene asked.
“Daisy seems to think something’s just off with her tonight. I figured if my nine-year-old is worried, I should be, too.”
“I agree,” Raylene said as she turned into the cul-de-sac where Karen lived. “Want me to come in while you check on her, just in case it’s anything serious?”
Though Karen wanted to say yes just to have the moral support, she knew it would humiliate Frances if another person showed up and there was no crisis. She shook her head.
“I’ll be okay. If there’s a real problem, I’ll call Elliott. He can be here in a few minutes. Thanks for offering, though.”
“Anytime,” Raylene said readily. “People were amazing when I was having all my problems with a crazy ex and suffering from agoraphobia. I’m eager to return the favor in whatever way I can.”
“Thanks.” Karen hesitated, then thought of what Maddie had said about her and Raylene having a few things in common. “Maybe we can grab coffee sometime in the morning before you open up your boutique. Erik makes the best in town, and I can sneak you into the kitchen at Sullivan’s. It’s a well-known secret that Annie and a few others slip in there before we open just for his coffee.”
Raylene grinned. “I’ve heard that. Count me in. I’ll try to get by one morning later this week.”
“Tell everyone I enjoyed tonight. I’m sorry I had to bail so early,” she said as she exited the car.
Raylene waved as Karen practically ran to the house. Despite Karen’s insistence that she could handle whatever she found inside, Raylene waited in the driveway. That simple gesture of support showed Karen once again the value of having the kind of solid friendships she’d been missing.
* * *
Karen had barely entered the house when Daisy materialized. The concern on her face faded at the sight of her mother. Karen gave her a hug.
“Everything okay?”
Daisy nodded, casting a surreptitious glance over her shoulder toward the living room. “She seems fine now. I probably shouldn’t have bothered you.”
“No, you did exactly the right thing. And
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