BooksBarbecue
Back The Neighbor
Chapters (56)
  1. Synopsis
  2. Other Bella Books by Gerri Hill
  3. About the Author
  4. Chapter One
  5. Chapter Two
  6. Chapter Three
  7. Chapter Four
  8. Chapter Five
  9. Chapter Six
  10. Chapter Seven
  11. Chapter Eight
  12. Chapter Nine
  13. Chapter Ten
  14. Chapter Eleven
  15. Chapter Twelve
  16. Chapter Thirteen
  17. Chapter Fourteen
  18. Chapter Fifteen
  19. Chapter Sixteen
  20. Chapter Seventeen
  21. Chapter Eighteen
  22. Chapter Nineteen
  23. Chapter Twenty
  24. Chapter Twenty-One
  25. Chapter Twenty-Two
  26. Chapter Twenty-Three
  27. Chapter Twenty-Four
  28. Chapter Twenty-Five
  29. Chapter Twenty-Six
  30. Chapter Twenty-Seven
  31. Chapter Twenty-Eight
  32. Chapter Twenty-Nine
  33. Chapter Thirty
  34. Chapter Thirty-One
  35. Chapter Thirty-Two
  36. Chapter Thirty-Three
  37. Chapter Thirty-Four
  38. Chapter Thirty-Five
  39. Chapter Thirty-Six
  40. Chapter Thirty-Seven
  41. Chapter Thirty-Eight
  42. Chapter Thirty-Nine
  43. Chapter Forty
  44. Chapter Forty-One
  45. Chapter Forty-Two
  46. Chapter Forty-Three
  47. Chapter Forty-Four
  48. Chapter Forty-Five
  49. Chapter Forty-Six
  50. Chapter Forty-Seven
  51. Chapter Forty-Eight
  52. Chapter Forty-Nine
  53. Chapter Fifty
  54. Chapter Fifty-One
  55. Chapter Fifty-Two
  56. Chapter Fifty-Three

Cassidy laughed loudly but said nothing.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Cassidy stood back, looking at the activity around the pool. Judging by the laughter and splashing, she’d say the party was a success. She lost count of how many pitchers of margaritas she’d made and several empty wine bottles lined the bar. The table with appetizers and dips had been mostly ravished and it was still another hour before the caterers would come with the fajitas. Everyone seemed to be having a good time. Everyone but her.

Her gaze was drawn to the upstairs windows of Laura’s house. Was she up there? Or was it too noisy? Was the music too loud? She’d hoped that Laura would make an appearance, even though last night she’d politely declined the invitation once again.

“There you are! Thought you’d disappeared.”

Cassidy turned, automatically smiling at the woman who stood before her. What was her name again? Patty? Patsy? Pam?

“No, just checking on things. Are you having a good time?”

“Wonderful party. Randi was looking for you. I told her I’d help in the search.”

Ah…Randi’s girlfriend. Paula?

“They’re trying to get a volleyball game going in the pool. She thought you had a net.”

“I do.” Cassidy watched as a beach ball was being bounced around by laughing women. “And a ball.”

She forced a smile to her face as she attached the net, much to the delight of the splashing crowd.

“Come join us,” someone beckoned.

“Maybe later. I’ve got to get set up for the caterers,” she lied.

She walked back to the outdoor kitchen, then turned again, watching the party from afar.

* * *

“What’s wrong?” Laura murmured as she watched Cassidy.

She had told herself she wasn’t going to spy on the party. For one thing, she wasn’t really interested in it and she didn’t care how many skinny, blond women were in the pool. But the incessant laughter could be heard up in her bedroom even with the oscillating fan going for extra noise. Curiosity got the best of her and she went to the window and parted the blinds. Unfortunately, she could only catch a glimpse of the pool so—without too much thought—she went into her writing room and peeked out of the window there.

And sure enough, the pool was full of bikini-clad, skinny blondes. The party was mostly women, maybe six men out of the twenty-five or thirty that she counted. She couldn’t find Cassidy so she picked up the binoculars, scanning the crowd, looking for her. She finally spotted her back by the outdoor kitchen. She had a rather indifferent look on her face…distant, as if she wasn’t really there.

Laura frowned. “What’s wrong with you?” she murmured again as she saw Cassidy sigh and head into the house.