I sighed and realized I’d almost forgotten. I made a quick detour to the store I had passed earlier, grabbed a bottle of Moscato, and drove to her condo.
Joey greeted me with an enthusiastic embrace as soon as I arrived.
“Is it just me, or are you overly excited about something?” I asked, noticing her giddiness. “Are we celebrating something I don’t know about?”
“Much better. I have news that will blow your mind,” she said, glancing at the wine bottle in my hand. “What wine did you get?”
“The first one I saw,” I replied dryly. “Can I come inside?”
“Oh, sorry. My bad. Please, come in.” She made room for me to pass through to her living room. Her condo was just as I remembered—stylish and welcoming.
She ushered me inside, her excitement palpable. I settled onto the couch, enjoying the plush comfort of Joey’s meticulously decorated space. It was one of the things I loved about her—her knack for making every space feel like home.
“I almost thought you’d never ask,” I teased.
Her laughter filled the room. “Come on, Licia. I’m not such a bad host.”
“Let me be the judge of that.”
Joey waved off my remark with a grin. “Drop the wine on the table and help me in the kitchen.”
“But I just got here,” I protested, but Joey was already heading to the kitchen.
With a resigned sigh, I followed her.
Joey had an eye for aesthetics, evident in her kitchen. The cabinets formed an L-shape around the room, with a dining table in the center and wooden stools on either side.
The glass window stretched across one wall, letting in bright light and offering a lovely view. Joey was not only a real estateexpert but also dabbled in interior décor. She had even helped set up my apartment.
The scent of spices and cooking filled the air as I donned the second apron from the kitchen hanger. “What are we making?” I asked, tying it behind me and grabbing some grapes from the fruit basket.
“We’re making gumbo and stir fry. First, chop the bell pepper, celery, green onions, and parsley. I’ll marinate the chicken and wash the rice,” she said, her focus already on preparing the chicken.
“All right. I can handle that,” I nodded, unpacking the groceries and setting up my station.
As we worked, we chatted about various topics—everything from work to recent movies we had seen. It was moments like these that I cherished—simple, carefree, and filled with laughter.
I hadn’t forgotten about the big news Joey alluded to earlier, but I had all day to spare, so I waited for her to tell me at her own time.
The gumbo turned out better than we expected for a first attempt. Joey set the table while I cleaned up the kitchen mess. The sound of clinking cutlery and murmured conversation filled the space, creating a cozy ambiance.
“I can’t believe how good this turned out,” Joey said, scooping a generous portion of gumbo onto our plates. “We should definitely try more recipes.”
“I agree,” I said, savoring the rich flavors. “We make a great team.”
Joey grinned, her eyes twinkling. “Well, I’m glad you’re enjoying it. Now, let’s see what this wine has to offer.”
As we poured the wine, I noticed Joey’s excitement about the news she had mentioned earlier. Her eagerness was almost palpable, and I couldn’t help but wonder what she had to share.
“So, what’s the big news?” I asked, unable to contain my curiosity any longer.
Joey took a deep breath, her eyes shining with excitement.
“You won’t believe it. Kevin Brown is back in Half Moon Bay… for good.”
I couldn’t suppress the hiss that followed her statement. “And? What does that have to do with me?”
Joey seemed taken aback. “Aren’t you even a little curious? To see him… talk to him… get closure maybe?”
