“That would be amazing. I’d love to see the house once it’s done.”
“She said she’ll put in a request, but since it will be the first summer season with it being done, she’s not sure how much time we’ll get because her extended family reserves time too.” I hear her sigh. “I kind of hate that we only have a little more than a week here. I don’t want it to end.”
“How’s everything been going now that it’s just the four of you?”
Her first response is a very satisfied hum. “I hate to say it because I know it’s going to make you feel bad, but…it’s been positively divine. Everyone’s getting along, and we’ve even done a lot of stuff separately. This is the vacation I thought we were going to have.”
“What kind of stuff is everyone doing? I know you’re probably working on book stuff, but what’s everyone else doing?”
“Oh, it’s not like we’ve all scattered, I just meant that we’re not moving around as a quartet. I’ve spent a couple of hours a day trying to plot this book, but nothing’s sticking yet. The girls have been wonderful talking through ideas with me, and then I go into the den and see if anything takes hold. Roxie’s been out walking along the beach with the dogs a lot and she found a yarn shop in town and decided she’d like to take up knitting. Or maybe it’s crocheting. Hmm…I know it’s one of them. She’s been going back every day to learn a little more.”
“That’s interesting.”
“Loren went for a massage the other day. She invited all of us, but we couldn’t get appointments for everyone, and she was the one who wanted to go the most.”
“And what about Vanessa?”
“She has been making a scrapbook for her family. Apparently there are tons of old pictures and photo albums all around the house and she went to a craft store and got supplies to make a scrapbook to gift to her parents when the house is finished.”
“Wow! You’ve all been busy!”
“Oh! And we started a book club!”
“A book club? Seriously?”
“Well, maybe I can’t call it that, but we picked a book that we all thought sounded good and we are reading it and discussing it. We’re all voracious readers, so I can see us getting in at least one more book before we leave and then we promised to keep it going once we all got home. How cool is that?”
“That sounds very fitting. I’m impressed!”
“We’ve also spent a lot of time together sitting out by the pool or preparing meals together—we haven’t gone out to eat since you and the guys left. And honestly, I’ve enjoyed that time together the most. We eat outside and…” She sighs happily. “I’ve missed this part of my life, Ash! I’ve missed just taking time to relax with friends and enjoy the little things.”
“Don’t you have friends in Seattle?”
“Not really. I was always so focused on writing that I didn’t put much effort into socializing. Plus, I always knew I wasn’t staying, so I didn’t want to make friends and then have to say goodbye to them.”
I want to wrap her in my arms because her life sounds so very solitary and…
Familiar.
I mean, I have friends, but…not a lot of them. And I don’t actively look to make more because I’m always traveling.
Who knew that I needed Olivia to shine a light on all that was missing in my life?
“How are things going in Dallas?” she asks. “Your hotel looks amazing!”
“It’s a Gaylord hotel and it’s massive, practically like its own city. I like it for the convenience—it’s super close to the job—but also the amenities. They have several great restaurants here and the rooms are very nice. It’s a step up from the chain hotels I usually stay in.”
“When you sent me those pictures this morning, I almost couldn’t believe it was a hotel! It looks very unique.”
“That it is. I think I’m going to have a hard time going back to my basic home away from home after this.”
She sighs again. “When do you think you’ll be back?”
“Probably Tuesday of next week. Wednesday, the latest. And then I’ll spend the rest of the week in the office before I leave on the next trip.”
“Oh,” she says miserably. “So…you won’t make it back for one last weekend here with me.”
“If I could, Liv, you know I would. I wish I could just ditch work and come back, but I’ve used up all my vacation time, and…”
