Was she in our graduating class?”
“No … she’s a couple of years younger than us.”
“That would have made her a sophomore when we were seniors, right?”
“Right,” Abby agreed. Victoria was five years younger than Roger and a career woman in her own right. They both lived and worked in Seattle now.
“It was good to see you, Patty,” she said, ready to be on her way, back to the safety and security of the bed-and-breakfast.
“How about a cup of coffee?” Patty suggested. “Like I said, business is a bit slow right now and Pete wouldn’t mind if I took a short break.” Standing on her tiptoes, she looked toward the pharmacy in the back of the building.
Abby hesitated. “Ah …”
“Please say you will. It would be so good to catch up.”
Abby wasn’t allowed to refuse. Patty wrapped her arm around her elbow and led her toward the back of the pharmacy. The area contained a small round oak table and two matching chairs. A coffeepot sat next to the sink. Before Abby could decline, Patty filled two mugs.
“It’s fresh,” she said as she placed the cup on the table. “I made it myself … yesterday.”
Abby had been ready to take a sip but she stopped, the cup halfway to her mouth.
“I’m just kidding.”
Patty had always been something of a smart aleck, and she loved to party. Abby would never have guessed that Patty would end up as a pharmacist.
All at once Patty thrust her arms into the air. “I have an absolutely fabulously great idea.”
Abby clung to the coffee mug with both hands. She was almost afraid to ask what scheme was circling around her former schoolmate’s head.
“We should all do lunch; Marie is still in town and a couple of our other old friends live here, too. You can, can’t you? You must. It will be such fun …”
“I can’t.” Abby response was immediate.
“Why not?” Patty wasn’t taking no for an answer, at least not easily.
It simply wouldn’t work. “I’m only in town for a couple of days, Patty. I wish …”
“When do you leave?” she asked.
“Early Sunday.” She had to get to the airport and check in two hours before the flight, which meant she’d need to leave the B&B by 5:30 a.m.
“That leaves Saturday.” Patty wouldn’t be easily deterred. “And …”
“Saturday is the day of the wedding,” Abby finished for her.
“What time is the wedding?”
“Six.”
Patty’s smile lit up the room. “That’s perfect.”
“Perfect?”
“I’ll get the word out that you’re in town. Leave everything tome. I’ll make all the arrangements. All you need to do is show up for lunch.”
“Patty …”
“I’m not taking no for an answer.”
“But the wedding,” Abby insisted.
“You’ll have plenty of time to get ready. Are you in the wedding party?”
“No.”
“That’s even better. We’ll all meet up at noon at the Pancake Palace. Everyone loves the Pancake Palace.”
“Ah …”
“Your mother will be in town, won’t she?”
“Well … yes.”
“Perfect. Bring her along, too, and I’ll bring my mom, if she’s available. She’s been volunteering like crazy ever since we lost my dad. Our mothers were in PTA together, remember?”
Abby didn’t remember, but she didn’t have a chance to say so because it was difficult to get a word in edgewise.
“We like to do this, you know?” Patty continued undaunted.
“Do what?”
“High school friends. We meet for lunch on occasion. All we need is an excuse and you’re the best possible excuse. Oh Abby, everyone is going to be so happy to see you.”
Abby wondered if that could possibly be true. Angela had been their friend, too, and Abby had taken her from them all. She couldn’t believe they didn’t harbor resentment or bitterness toward her. The one reassurance she had was that Patty had included Abby’s mother. No one would ask Abby uncomfortable questions about Angela or the accident if her mother was there to run interference. She was a
“No … she’s a couple of years younger than us.”
“That would have made her a sophomore when we were seniors, right?”
“Right,” Abby agreed. Victoria was five years younger than Roger and a career woman in her own right. They both lived and worked in Seattle now.
“It was good to see you, Patty,” she said, ready to be on her way, back to the safety and security of the bed-and-breakfast.
“How about a cup of coffee?” Patty suggested. “Like I said, business is a bit slow right now and Pete wouldn’t mind if I took a short break.” Standing on her tiptoes, she looked toward the pharmacy in the back of the building.
Abby hesitated. “Ah …”
“Please say you will. It would be so good to catch up.”
Abby wasn’t allowed to refuse. Patty wrapped her arm around her elbow and led her toward the back of the pharmacy. The area contained a small round oak table and two matching chairs. A coffeepot sat next to the sink. Before Abby could decline, Patty filled two mugs.
“It’s fresh,” she said as she placed the cup on the table. “I made it myself … yesterday.”
Abby had been ready to take a sip but she stopped, the cup halfway to her mouth.
“I’m just kidding.”
Patty had always been something of a smart aleck, and she loved to party. Abby would never have guessed that Patty would end up as a pharmacist.
All at once Patty thrust her arms into the air. “I have an absolutely fabulously great idea.”
Abby clung to the coffee mug with both hands. She was almost afraid to ask what scheme was circling around her former schoolmate’s head.
“We should all do lunch; Marie is still in town and a couple of our other old friends live here, too. You can, can’t you? You must. It will be such fun …”
“I can’t.” Abby response was immediate.
“Why not?” Patty wasn’t taking no for an answer, at least not easily.
It simply wouldn’t work. “I’m only in town for a couple of days, Patty. I wish …”
“When do you leave?” she asked.
“Early Sunday.” She had to get to the airport and check in two hours before the flight, which meant she’d need to leave the B&B by 5:30 a.m.
“That leaves Saturday.” Patty wouldn’t be easily deterred. “And …”
“Saturday is the day of the wedding,” Abby finished for her.
“What time is the wedding?”
“Six.”
Patty’s smile lit up the room. “That’s perfect.”
“Perfect?”
“I’ll get the word out that you’re in town. Leave everything tome. I’ll make all the arrangements. All you need to do is show up for lunch.”
“Patty …”
“I’m not taking no for an answer.”
“But the wedding,” Abby insisted.
“You’ll have plenty of time to get ready. Are you in the wedding party?”
“No.”
“That’s even better. We’ll all meet up at noon at the Pancake Palace. Everyone loves the Pancake Palace.”
“Ah …”
“Your mother will be in town, won’t she?”
“Well … yes.”
“Perfect. Bring her along, too, and I’ll bring my mom, if she’s available. She’s been volunteering like crazy ever since we lost my dad. Our mothers were in PTA together, remember?”
Abby didn’t remember, but she didn’t have a chance to say so because it was difficult to get a word in edgewise.
“We like to do this, you know?” Patty continued undaunted.
“Do what?”
“High school friends. We meet for lunch on occasion. All we need is an excuse and you’re the best possible excuse. Oh Abby, everyone is going to be so happy to see you.”
Abby wondered if that could possibly be true. Angela had been their friend, too, and Abby had taken her from them all. She couldn’t believe they didn’t harbor resentment or bitterness toward her. The one reassurance she had was that Patty had included Abby’s mother. No one would ask Abby uncomfortable questions about Angela or the accident if her mother was there to run interference. She was a
Similar Books
