“Why do you always have to start with me, Jules? Seriously,” he said. “I was working overtime so I can afford to pay you. Isn’t that what you want? Child support?”

Julie put her hand to her heart. “Oh, yes. When I was a little girl all I dreamed of was that I would find a wonderful man and bear his three children so that maybe one day he could pay me child support!”

Brenna was watching her parents, so I went to her, scooped her up, and said, “Mommy and Daddy, I think Miss Brenna is all ready!”

They got the hint and were suddenly all smiles. “Who wants Chick-fil-A?” Houston asked with top-dad enthusiasm.

“I do! I do!” they said in unison.

I laughed as Grace visibly shuddered.

“Remember that Mommy has the girls all nice and clean, so maybe no play place tonight,” she said, smiling through gritted teeth.

Houston rolled his eyes but said nothing. He picked Audrey up and kissed her cheek. “All right, princesses. Let’s go get some dinner!”

“Can we get ice cream, Daddy?” Jamie asked as they walked out the door.

“Of course!” he said. “It wouldn’t be Daddy night without ice cream.”

Julie shut the door, leaned against it, sighed deeply, and said, “It must be so great to come pick up three clean children, do all the fun things with them, and then drop them off, exhausted, sugar-laden, and overstimulated from too much TV.”

Grace walked away from the kitchen to hug her. “No, it’s not. Because you get the real stuff, the good stuff, the pride of knowing that you are parenting three gorgeous girls to the best of your ability and helping them grow into strong, healthy, well-adjusted adults. He doesn’t get to have that.”

Julie nodded resolutely. “You know what? You’re right. You’re totally right.”

Grace looked up at the oven. “Dinner won’t be ready for another thirty-six minutes.”

Alice had already pulled a bottle of rosé out of the fridge. We followed her to the porch and sat down in the comfy chairs, looking out over the ocean. She handed me the first glass of wine. “I think you’re doing great, Charlotte,” she said.

“I think the plan is working,” Julie added.

I nodded. “I definitely think people are at least skeptical about Bill’s guilt, which is good. But I was kind of hoping something bigger would have happened by now.”

“I know, sweetie,” Alice said. “So were we.”

“But good things come to those who wait?” Grace asked skeptically.

“Worked for Alice,” I said, grinning at her, trying to change the subject.

She smiled but didn’t say anything. Juniper Shores Socialite had had a ball discussing Alice and Elliott’s potential marriage timeline this week. But I couldn’t read Alice’s take on the situation, and I didn’t want to pry.

“What about you two?” I asked. “Any loves on the horizon?”