happen to
know of anyone?”
“Can’t
say I do. Sorry,” Avril answered.
“I
assume you are staying at the Bed and Breakfast?”
“Yes.
I had hoped to find someplace more private, but I guess that’s not going to
happen.” Wilhemina sighed.
“Mr.
Clark is a wonderful man, but he is lonely and tends to overpower his guests at
times. It’s hard to ignore the sweetie, though.” Ebony took the remaining piece
of donut from Marcus and wrapped it in the napkin Avril handed her.
“Why
don’t you stay with us?” Ebony said to Wilhemina. “We have plenty of room.
You’d have your own space and no one would bother you. You could hole up as
long as you like and write to your heart’s content.”
The quick
frown that slightly pulled at the corners of Avril’s mouth was nearly
unnoticeable, but the stern look she gave Ebony was harder to miss. Maybe Avril
didn’t want her to stay at their place, not that Wilhemina would blame her.
After all, they hadn’t seen one another for years.
“I
wouldn’t mind at all as long as Ashe is okay with it.” Ebony bounced Marcus on
her hip gently.
“Didn’t
you say you live in St. Louis?” Wilhemina had wanted to stay in Plainview, but
she definitely wouldn’t get any work done with Mr. Clark’s constant
interruptions. Bless his old soul.
“Mm
hm. The estate is huge. We have guests in and out all of the time. Besides me,
Marcus, Avril, the hubbys, and our brother-in-law live there. Right now, two
other hun—um, friends—are staying there as well. Another couple of friends are
coming next week. Even with all of them, there is still plenty of room. It’s
like a boarding house already.”
“It
sure would be nice to have more girls in the house for awhile. Break up the fog
of testosterone constantly floating around,” Avril laughed.
Wilhemina
couldn’t believe her luck was changing. The place sounded way too good to be
true. A retreat at an estate? Who in their right mind would turn down an offer
like that? She wanted to jump on the invitation, but Avril’s initial reaction
to Ebony’s invitation made her hesitate.
“Are
you positive I wouldn’t be in the way?” Wilhemina really wanted to get started
on her book, and this would provide her the opportunity to do so. Not to
mention, she could catch up with an old friend in the process.
“Honestly.
There is more than enough space for you.” Avril looked at Ebony expectantly.
“You
would not be in the way, but we definitely need to run it by Ashe.” Now Ebony
frowned.
Was
Ashe one of those controlling types? Maybe that was the issue here.
“I’d
love to stay with you, but if Ashe doesn’t end up wanting me there, no hard
feelings. The offer is generous, but I don’t want to step on anyone’s toes.”
“No.
It isn’t that he wouldn’t want you there, Wilhemina.” Ebony chewed the corner
of her lip. “There are just a few things going on right now with, um, the
family business.”
Ebony
was not a good liar in the least. Wilhemina was good at spotting fibbers, but
Ebony didn’t owe her an explanation about her life, so she let it go.
“I’m
sure he won’t mind,” Ebony said.
“We
can have another girls’ night. It’s been too long since we’ve had one,” Avril
suddenly burst out.
“Girls’
night?” Wilhemina asked.
“Yes.
We watch movies, eat pizza, drink wine, and chow on chocolate,” Ebony answered.
“Girls’
night sounds wonderful.”
“I’m
going to walk back to the bookstore. Why don’t you go with Wilhemina, Avril?
I’ll call you as soon as I talk to Ashe.”
“Sounds
great.” Wilhemena barely contained her excitement at the prospect of the
opportunity Ebony had presented her with.
* * * *
“I’m
so sorry, Ashe. I wasn’t thinking when I invited Wilhemina to stay. Neither one
of us were really thinking about the big picture until afterwards.”
Ebony
watched Ashe. She loved this man more than life itself and hated the thought of
disappointing him
know of anyone?”
“Can’t
say I do. Sorry,” Avril answered.
“I
assume you are staying at the Bed and Breakfast?”
“Yes.
I had hoped to find someplace more private, but I guess that’s not going to
happen.” Wilhemina sighed.
“Mr.
Clark is a wonderful man, but he is lonely and tends to overpower his guests at
times. It’s hard to ignore the sweetie, though.” Ebony took the remaining piece
of donut from Marcus and wrapped it in the napkin Avril handed her.
“Why
don’t you stay with us?” Ebony said to Wilhemina. “We have plenty of room.
You’d have your own space and no one would bother you. You could hole up as
long as you like and write to your heart’s content.”
The quick
frown that slightly pulled at the corners of Avril’s mouth was nearly
unnoticeable, but the stern look she gave Ebony was harder to miss. Maybe Avril
didn’t want her to stay at their place, not that Wilhemina would blame her.
After all, they hadn’t seen one another for years.
“I
wouldn’t mind at all as long as Ashe is okay with it.” Ebony bounced Marcus on
her hip gently.
“Didn’t
you say you live in St. Louis?” Wilhemina had wanted to stay in Plainview, but
she definitely wouldn’t get any work done with Mr. Clark’s constant
interruptions. Bless his old soul.
“Mm
hm. The estate is huge. We have guests in and out all of the time. Besides me,
Marcus, Avril, the hubbys, and our brother-in-law live there. Right now, two
other hun—um, friends—are staying there as well. Another couple of friends are
coming next week. Even with all of them, there is still plenty of room. It’s
like a boarding house already.”
“It
sure would be nice to have more girls in the house for awhile. Break up the fog
of testosterone constantly floating around,” Avril laughed.
Wilhemina
couldn’t believe her luck was changing. The place sounded way too good to be
true. A retreat at an estate? Who in their right mind would turn down an offer
like that? She wanted to jump on the invitation, but Avril’s initial reaction
to Ebony’s invitation made her hesitate.
“Are
you positive I wouldn’t be in the way?” Wilhemina really wanted to get started
on her book, and this would provide her the opportunity to do so. Not to
mention, she could catch up with an old friend in the process.
“Honestly.
There is more than enough space for you.” Avril looked at Ebony expectantly.
“You
would not be in the way, but we definitely need to run it by Ashe.” Now Ebony
frowned.
Was
Ashe one of those controlling types? Maybe that was the issue here.
“I’d
love to stay with you, but if Ashe doesn’t end up wanting me there, no hard
feelings. The offer is generous, but I don’t want to step on anyone’s toes.”
“No.
It isn’t that he wouldn’t want you there, Wilhemina.” Ebony chewed the corner
of her lip. “There are just a few things going on right now with, um, the
family business.”
Ebony
was not a good liar in the least. Wilhemina was good at spotting fibbers, but
Ebony didn’t owe her an explanation about her life, so she let it go.
“I’m
sure he won’t mind,” Ebony said.
“We
can have another girls’ night. It’s been too long since we’ve had one,” Avril
suddenly burst out.
“Girls’
night?” Wilhemina asked.
“Yes.
We watch movies, eat pizza, drink wine, and chow on chocolate,” Ebony answered.
“Girls’
night sounds wonderful.”
“I’m
going to walk back to the bookstore. Why don’t you go with Wilhemina, Avril?
I’ll call you as soon as I talk to Ashe.”
“Sounds
great.” Wilhemena barely contained her excitement at the prospect of the
opportunity Ebony had presented her with.
* * * *
“I’m
so sorry, Ashe. I wasn’t thinking when I invited Wilhemina to stay. Neither one
of us were really thinking about the big picture until afterwards.”
Ebony
watched Ashe. She loved this man more than life itself and hated the thought of
disappointing him
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