Between Us Girls by Sally John Page B

and hauling everything over to Eleven.
    Chad laughed. “It’s nothing to be ashamed of, Sammi. Mama Liv is not exactly a bad influence on us. So what’s your assignment?”
    â€œI don’t have an a—” She pressed her lips together.
    â€œMine is to do something fun with her, like go to the zoo. It can’t look like a date, though. She’s probably old enough to be my older sister. I think I’ll ask Piper to join us.”
    â€œNo wonder you’re on board with the crazy scheme.”
    He raised his hands and shrugged. “Maybe the love of my life will say yes this time.”
    â€œRight. Fantasies come true all the time. See you.” She walked toward her cottage.
    â€œYou didn’t answer my question.” Chad was beside her again.
    â€œJasmyn runs.”
    â€œPerfect!”
    â€œI don’t have the time.”
    No time . No time and definitely no emotional space for another new project.

Eleven
    Late Tuesday night, Jasmyn sat in her borrowed rocker in her borrowed cottage and, using a borrowed cell phone, she phoned Quinn.
    No way was she going to tell her about how Liv prayed and thought she got answers or how Jasmyn felt definite mom vibes coming from the woman. But she did describe the sense of homecoming to end all homecomings.
    â€œQuinn, it feels like I’ve been away for such a long time and now I’m back. I’m back home.”
    â€œYou’re back home. In California. Jasmyn, that’s the loopiest thing you have ever said. But then again, you are loopy. I mean that in the most affectionate way.”
    It was a running joke. Jasmyn was loopy, Quinn was sassy.
    Quinn sighed. “It sounds more like heaven. No work, no humidity, no bugs. Movie stars around every corner. Not to mention you’re on vacation, loafing on the beach, and doing those number puzzles to your heart’s content.”
    â€œI haven’t seen a movie star.”
    â€œYou wouldn’t recognize one in the flesh. On the street they look just like us.”
    â€œOh, Quinn, it’s more than that kind of stuff.” How could she describe the impact of Southern California?
    She was a country girl who had never been anywhere before. She loved the Midwest and its beautiful, changing seasons. By now the cornstalks would be elephant-eye high, the soybeans beginning to yellow, the airwobbling with late summer heat. Potted mums of every color would be on everyone’s front stoop. Tree-covered hillsides would soon be masses of brilliant reds, yellows, and oranges.
    Which was why the effect of the crowded city and its ocean surprised her so much.
    â€œIt could be that California feels good simply because it’s not Valley Oaks where a tornado turned your life on its ear.”
    â€œMaybe. But still…” Still, it felt as if she had landed in a never-never land of unbelievably exquisite sights and smells. Sights they had seen on television and smells they paid for. “Quinn, you know how we buy dried eucalyptus stems at the craft store?”
    â€œYeah. So?”
    â€œSo guess what. Eucalyptus trees actually grow here. Whole entire blocks smell like our little bouquets. And the flowers. Oh my goodness. Jasmine blooms outside my cottage. Jasmine! Walking down the street is like walking past the perfume counter at Dillards. And the sky! It’s every shade of blue rolled into one and coated with a pearly glaze. And the ocean! Surfers ride on the waves, on top of the waves with seagulls and pelicans and dolphins . And people are so happy. They’re always smiling.”
    Quinn laughed. “Well, yeah they’re smiling. They’re all either on vacation or they get to live there full-time at the perfume counter with the seagulls and the pelicans and the dolphins .”
    â€œThat was mean.”
    â€œSorry. Hey, I get it. I do. After what happened here, I don’t blame you for feeling at home somewhere else. A vacation