“I was worried dinner meant something else in your world.”
I rolled my eyes. “Would I be wearing apolo to an orgy? What do you take me for? A charlatan? Besides, Lucy’s going to be here.”
“Oh, good. Not a complete sausage fest.”
“These sausages aren’t for you.” I knocked. I gave her the side-eye. She had opted for a fancy dress for this meal. I had to admit, the Olsen siblings cleaned up pretty well. “Wait. Didn’t you have a crush on a gay guy in college?”
“We’re not talking about that.”
“Dylan?” Who she thought just had an affinity for rainbows. “You talked about him non-stop. Whatever happened to him?”
“He’s a big-shot lawyer now.” I raised an eyebrow at her. “Not that I’m keeping tabs on him.”
The door opened while I snickered. “You made it! Jon and Evelyn are here,” Simon boomed. He gave me a hug and then turned to Evie. She held out her hand, but he kept his arms hanging in the air. She leaned in while he gave her a quick squeeze.
“I’m in the kitchen trying to show Chris how to cook. Bobby’s in the living room with Lucy and Tyler. I think Jason… Where’d Jason go?”
“He’s putting Lucas to bed.” Lucy squeezed past Simon before he ran back to the kitchen. Lucy showed us in. “Have a seat. We’ve got snacks. You know Simon, he makes enough food for an army.”
“Cause you all eat like starved troops,” he said from the kitchen.
When I informed Evie about Lucy being there, she had questions. I explained about her living with her ex-husbandand his boyfriend between stints abroad, and she just nodded. When she added, “Sounds like something I’d expect from Firefly,” it made me smile. It made sense. Everybody here found a way to get along. She even commented it made sense to have three people raising Lucas. I appreciated her pragmatic open-mindedness.
“Finally, another woman.” Lucy led us into the living room before taking a seat on the floor, stealing crackers off the charcuterie. “I love the boys. But I’m feeling like Goldilocks.”
“I was thinking you’re one dwarf shy of being Snow White,” Evie said without missing a beat.
Lucy howled. “Sorry, Tyler, she’s my new favorite.”
Bobby sat in a recliner, a plate of finger sandwiches resting on his belly. I walked over and leaned in for a hug when he slid the plate out of the way. He gave me a kiss on the cheek.
“I’m glad you made it.”
“I wasn’t really given a choice in the matter.”
“That checks out.” He nodded, offering me a small sandwich. “They’re delicious.” I snatched one, popping it in my mouth. My eyes went wide. There was egg salad, and then… I swallowed, spoiled for eternity.
“Lucy,” Tyler said, stealing the cracker out of her hand before sitting next to me on the couch. “Evelyn’s been working at a hotel in Salem.”
When I caught a whiff of Tyler’s cologne, a blend of firewood and citrus, I imagined leaning in to give it a smell before kissing him. We had a date, asuccessfuldate, but Ididn’t want to make it weird. Not sure of social protocols, I gave his hand a light squeeze. “Lucy, didn’t you live in Boston?” I appreciated his determination to bring Evie into the fold.
“I did my residency there. What hotel?”
Evie let out a long sigh. “Hex and Hearth, it’s a?—”
“Across the street from the House of the Seven Gables? I’ve been by there a thousand times.” Lucy shook her head. “I should have stayed. The hotel I always book has the tiniest rooms.”
“You’re glad you didn’t. That place… how it’s still standing is beyond me. They call me the manager, but the staff refer to me as Duct Tape Olsen. I’m the only one who holds it together.”
“Firefly isn’t much different from Salem,” Bobby said. “They have Halloween. We have Leaf Peeper season. Both bring thousands of tourists who don’t know how to drive.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle. “You know what they call us, Evie?”
“Flatlanders.” The word echoed from everywhere in the house.
“When are you guys going to stop calling me a flatlander?” Chris asked from the kitchen.
Tyler held his hands up in surrender. “You’ll have to go before the?—”
