It took a mighty feat of self-restraint for Kelly not to launch herself across the table and wrap her hands around Colette’s neck.

“Who wants coffee?” Grace asked, bolting for the kitchen before anyone had a chance to reply.

“I’ll help,” Ashleigh scrambled out of her chair and followed on Grace’s heels.

Then, like a knight in shining armour saving the day, or a Dame saving the night, Lucy breezed through the door. “Hey, kids. What’d I miss?”

With her gaze locked on the floor, Nicole mumbled a reply. “We were just discussing what our parents do for a living.”

“Oh, how exciting.” Lucy rubbed her hands together. “My dad’s an undertaker.”

“Really?” Kelly asked, taken aback and smiling at the amused look on Lucy’s face.

“Nah, but right about now I’m wondering if we need one. Who died?”

Smiling, Paula shook her head. “Come on ladies, let’s call a truce. If I wanted to watch a pissing match, I’d hang out with men.”

It was a ridiculous comment but when Lucy jumped off the stool and held her hands in front of her jeans, swinging her hips as if she was peeing all over the floor, Kelly couldn’t help but chuckle.

Retrieving their cooler bag, Nicole pulled her cell phone out of the side pocket. “I’m going to call a cab, you coming or staying?”

“Coming.”

Neither of them smiled at the word that normally evoked all kinds of innuendos, and Paula didn’t attempt to stop either of them as they exited the house.

Chapter 7

After a good night’s sleep, sprawled out diagonally in the comfort of her own bed, Kelly was finally able to smile when she thought about everything that had transpired at Paula’s potluck dinner. While the various dishes people had contributed hadn’t revealed any surprises, the conversation certainly had. The look on Colette’s face when Nicole put her in her place had been priceless.

Dressed in pink shorty pyjama’s, Nicole stumbled into the kitchen, looking more like a child who’d just stumbled out of bed than an adult.

“Morning.” She shielded her eyes from the mid-morning sun streaming in through the window.

“Speak of the devil.” Kelly handed Nicole a steaming cup of coffee.

Nicole glanced around as if someone else was in the room. “Who?”

“You, you clown. I was just thinking about last night; the look on Colette’s face, then Paula’s.”

“Oh, don’t remind me. Sorry if I embarrassed you.”

“You didn’t. If anything, you did me a favour.” Kelly took a sip of coffee; murmuring in delight as the rich flavour washed over her taste buds.

“How so?” Nicole asked around a yawn.

Eager to make the most of the warm day, Kelly cracked open the back door. “Come on, let’s sit in the sun and talk.”