lips, a pink
flush spread across her cheeks. In so many ways, Allan Meyers was the polar opposite
of Olivia’s gentle, introverted father, who had died of pancreatic cancer when she
was a teenager. A well-known ornithologist, he had fit the stereotype of the distracted
academic. In contrast, Allan, a businessman, exuded outgoing friendliness and energy.
The two men were physical opposites, as well. Olivia’s father had been tall and thin,
while Allan was beefy and only a couple inches taller than Olivia.
Jason commandeered the chicken, took the two biggest pieces, and stationed the platter
near his own plate.
“Jason, I think your mother and sister might be hungry, too,” Allan said.
“Hm?” Jason had stuffed a second roll in his mouth as he reached for the bowl of tabbouleh.
“Oh sorry,” he mumbled as he passed the chicken to Ellie.
Olivia gave up the notion that her brother had matured. She’d seen his caring side
when his girlfriend had been suspected of murder, but apparently that wouldn’t be
surfacing on a regular basis.
“So, Livie,” Allan said, “what’s this I hear about a rift between you and Del?”
Ellie gave her husband a stern look. “Allan, you know that isn’t true. Binnie Sloan
made it up, as she always does. Really, you need to spend less time starting all those
Internet businesses and more time observing your surroundings.”
Allan grinned at her. “I was teasing,” he said. “Just trying to liven up the conversation.”
“Jerk,” Ellie said. It was the strongest insult she ever used.
“Sorry, honey, couldn’t help myself. You are right, observing my surroundings is important,
and it’s also good business practice. But really, Livie, why is Binnie going after
you right now, with Maddie and Lucas’s nuptials coming up? She won’t win new readers
that way. A little gossip is fine, but Binnie needs to focus more on events that bring
people together, make them feel part of the community.”
“Who knows?” Olivia said as she helped herself to a heaping serving of tabbouleh.
She rarely feasted on such wonderful home-cooked food. “Binnie isn’t what you’d call
a savvy businesswoman.”
Jason had already cleaned his plate and begun to reload with seconds of everything.
“Binnie is weird,” he said. “Even Struts got upset about that last post, the one about
your cookies. I was in her office when she called Binnie and balled her out. Struts
can really swear. She’s the best boss ever.” Jason’s chicken-filled fork was halfway
to his mouth when he added, “But don’t worry. Binnie told Strutsthat post was already gone, that it was only up for a few minutes. So you’ve got friends,
Livie. For some reason.”
“Wait, what post? What are you talking about?” Olivia noticed her mother was pushing
her food around her plate. “Mom?” Ellie’s expression reminded Olivia of the time in
seventh grade when a jealous classmate’s mother had spread a rumor about Olivia. She’d
insisted Olivia got good grades only because her scholarly father did her homework
for her. Ellie had intervened, though Olivia had never found out how. The classmate
ceased hostilities, and her mother publicly disavowed the rumor.
Allan turned his laser gaze on his wife. “Ellie, did you…? That’s my girl!”
Ellie straightened her spine and lifted her chin. “No one messes with my family,”
she said. “I’m normally dispassionate and nonjudgmental about the unfortunate behavior
of others, even Binnie Sloan, but I’m afraid I’d missed three yoga classes in a row.
Two is clearly my limit. I must remember that in future.”
“Mom, if you managed to silence Binnie for even a few minutes, I salute you,” Olivia
said. “Only please tell me what her blog was about, okay? I’m dissolving here.”
“Just a moment,” Ellie said. She opened a cupboard and took out an unopened bottle
of cabernet sauvignon and four
flush spread across her cheeks. In so many ways, Allan Meyers was the polar opposite
of Olivia’s gentle, introverted father, who had died of pancreatic cancer when she
was a teenager. A well-known ornithologist, he had fit the stereotype of the distracted
academic. In contrast, Allan, a businessman, exuded outgoing friendliness and energy.
The two men were physical opposites, as well. Olivia’s father had been tall and thin,
while Allan was beefy and only a couple inches taller than Olivia.
Jason commandeered the chicken, took the two biggest pieces, and stationed the platter
near his own plate.
“Jason, I think your mother and sister might be hungry, too,” Allan said.
“Hm?” Jason had stuffed a second roll in his mouth as he reached for the bowl of tabbouleh.
“Oh sorry,” he mumbled as he passed the chicken to Ellie.
Olivia gave up the notion that her brother had matured. She’d seen his caring side
when his girlfriend had been suspected of murder, but apparently that wouldn’t be
surfacing on a regular basis.
“So, Livie,” Allan said, “what’s this I hear about a rift between you and Del?”
Ellie gave her husband a stern look. “Allan, you know that isn’t true. Binnie Sloan
made it up, as she always does. Really, you need to spend less time starting all those
Internet businesses and more time observing your surroundings.”
Allan grinned at her. “I was teasing,” he said. “Just trying to liven up the conversation.”
“Jerk,” Ellie said. It was the strongest insult she ever used.
“Sorry, honey, couldn’t help myself. You are right, observing my surroundings is important,
and it’s also good business practice. But really, Livie, why is Binnie going after
you right now, with Maddie and Lucas’s nuptials coming up? She won’t win new readers
that way. A little gossip is fine, but Binnie needs to focus more on events that bring
people together, make them feel part of the community.”
“Who knows?” Olivia said as she helped herself to a heaping serving of tabbouleh.
She rarely feasted on such wonderful home-cooked food. “Binnie isn’t what you’d call
a savvy businesswoman.”
Jason had already cleaned his plate and begun to reload with seconds of everything.
“Binnie is weird,” he said. “Even Struts got upset about that last post, the one about
your cookies. I was in her office when she called Binnie and balled her out. Struts
can really swear. She’s the best boss ever.” Jason’s chicken-filled fork was halfway
to his mouth when he added, “But don’t worry. Binnie told Strutsthat post was already gone, that it was only up for a few minutes. So you’ve got friends,
Livie. For some reason.”
“Wait, what post? What are you talking about?” Olivia noticed her mother was pushing
her food around her plate. “Mom?” Ellie’s expression reminded Olivia of the time in
seventh grade when a jealous classmate’s mother had spread a rumor about Olivia. She’d
insisted Olivia got good grades only because her scholarly father did her homework
for her. Ellie had intervened, though Olivia had never found out how. The classmate
ceased hostilities, and her mother publicly disavowed the rumor.
Allan turned his laser gaze on his wife. “Ellie, did you…? That’s my girl!”
Ellie straightened her spine and lifted her chin. “No one messes with my family,”
she said. “I’m normally dispassionate and nonjudgmental about the unfortunate behavior
of others, even Binnie Sloan, but I’m afraid I’d missed three yoga classes in a row.
Two is clearly my limit. I must remember that in future.”
“Mom, if you managed to silence Binnie for even a few minutes, I salute you,” Olivia
said. “Only please tell me what her blog was about, okay? I’m dissolving here.”
“Just a moment,” Ellie said. She opened a cupboard and took out an unopened bottle
of cabernet sauvignon and four
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