“By busy, do you mean wrapped up in cotton wool and not even allowed to put a dish in the dishwasher?”
Not wanting to get into whatever issues Iris was having with an overprotective boyfriend, she said, “Do you think you could come over?”
“Music to my ears. A get-out-of-jail free card.” She said it loud enough presumably for Geoff to hear her.
“I need your help with, um, a project.”
“If it has anything to do with glue, hot glue guns, wool, or any sort of plant material I am not your girl.”
“I know. That would be like you asking me to bake.”
“Just so we’re clear. What kind of project?”
She pictured Geoff hovering in the background. “I can’t talk about it on the phone.”
Which made her sound completely crazy. It was like the old days when the Chance home had a party line and old Enid Bailey used to listen in on everyone’s conversations. Even though Enid no longer listened to every word, somehow, she could not put the fact that she was contemplating online dating out in the airwaves or phone waves or whatever system carried her voice to some other person’s ears miles away. Then she remembered her sister’s condition. “I could come to you, if you’d like. Maybe you should be resting with your feet up.”
“Honestly, it will be great to get out of this house just so I don’t have Geoff fussing over me and telling me to put my feet up every five seconds.”
When Iris arrived, she looked suitably curious. “What’s up?” Iris asked, as she shook the rain from her jacket before hanging it up.
“You have to promise not to tell anybody.”
“Oh, I am so glad I came tonight. I need to stop obsessing about myself and the baby and think about something else for a change. Like you having a secret.” She tilted her head sideways. “Wait, I know, you’re having wild and crazy sex with that Greek food truck guy, aren’t you?”
Marguerite shook her head so hard her curls slapped her. “No. And don’t put that image in my head.”
“Okay. You don’t want to have crazy sex with the hot Adonis food truck guy? Because I have to tell you our mother sure does.”
Since Daphne had never looked at another man seriously apart from her husband Marguerite chuckled as she knew she was meant to. “Wait until you see him,everybodywants to have sex with him.”
As Iris settled on the couch, she said, “Mom seemed to think he had a bit of a crush on you.”
Marguerite sat opposite in her comfiest chair. “Come on. Mom thinks everybody loves us as much as she does.”
“She’s not that bad. Okay, moving on, what’s your secret?”
Marguerite took a deep, slow breath. “I’m thinking about online dating.”
“Wow. You’re seriously taking my advice.” She nodded briskly. “This is good. I think it’s a really smart idea, you’re tucked away out here…”
“I know. Don’t give me the Snow White routine again.” She shifted uncomfortably. “I tried to make a profile but I can’t seem to get started. I thought, you being a real writer, maybe you could help me.”
Iris flexed her fingers like a maestro warming up at a Steinway. “I am itching to get started.”
“Don’t you do anything I wouldn’t like. No boasting.”
“See, that’s why you need me to write your profile. It’s a sales pitch. You have to boast.” She picked up the laptop from the table between them and Marguerite shifted so she was sitting beside her sister. That earned her a glare. “You’re hovering. You’re as bad as Geoff! Scoot.”
“I’ll put the kettle on.” She walked into the kitchen reminding herself that she didn’t have to post a profile. She could think about it first.
She didn’t ask what kind of tea Iris wanted. She took out a few jars from her cupboard and made a special brew. When she set it in front of her sister, Iris glanced at the ruby liquid and said, “What is this? It doesn’t contain caffeine does it?”
“No. It’s a mixture of dandelion, nettle, ginger and rose hip. It’s good for you. It’s got lots of vitamins and minerals. Plus the ginger will settle any morning sickness.”
Iris opened her eyes in astonishment. “How do you know these things?”
“Because I grow them. Herbs and natural healing are an interest of mine.”
