“Just drop him off. We’ll have a guy’s night. You just enjoy yourself. You need that,” Ruston said, the edge gone.
His words made her decide to do what he wanted. To enjoy herself one last time before her life changed.
After dropping John Henry off, she was late, and nobody even asked her why. They just let her sneak in as they talked about Natalie’s new adventure. Taking her seat as they talked, she thanked Ruth for the drink she set in front of her. After eight months, everyone knew what the others drank.
Natalie was still talking to the others as she took a chair next to Hazel. But she stopped and said, “How are you, Haze? Who’s watching Beckett tonight?”
“His name is still John Henry,” Hazel argued.
“He’s cuter as a Beckett.” Natalie grinned.
“Is Natalie trying to change your child’s name, Hazel?” Tess asked.
“I’m just trying it out. She named him after me,” Natalie told the entire group.
“His middle name is Beckett. By mistake, I can tell,” Hazel said to them all.
“I’m going to keep calling him that until everyone is calling him that.” Natalie tapped on her computer.
Ruth handed out the headphones, and all talk about personal things stopped for the next two hours. Hazel was finally able to think about something other than her future for a while. So maybe it was to talk about murder, but it was not her future.
Pulling the headphones off, she ran her fingers through her short hair as Mia started to tell them about the local gossip she had learned lately. She seemed to know everything that was happening in town.
“And you …” She turned to Hazel, who hadn’t really been paying attention. “I heard in church today that you and the pastor are getting along a littletoowell.”
“You knew that, Mia,” Tess said as she filled her wine glass.
“Of course, I knew that, Tess. But the person who told me shouldn’t have known that,” Mia replied to her friend.
“Who was it?” Mandy asked since they all went to the same church.
“I do not tell my sources, but you have to be a bit more discreet,” Mia stated.
“You’re right. I have to end it. It’ll destroy his career,” Hazel said the words out loud.
“End it? No, just be discreet. There’s no need to end it,” Mia insisted.
“No, I have to end it.” She sipped her drink and added, “I have to stop coming to book club too.”
“There’s no quitting book club.” Natalie slammed her computer shut.
“I have to. I won’t have time or anyone to watch John Henry in two weeks. Grandma sold the farm, and I have to be out in a month.”
“I have a place for you,” Ruth jumped in.
“I can’t do that to you, Ruth. I have no money to pay rent. I’ll find something.”
“I will not take that as your answer, Hazel. I have a place, and you need a place. I do not need the money. Once you get on your feet, we’ll figure it out. Until then, you have a place to live, no matter what.”
Everyone around the table seemed to agree.
“And if you need a job, I’m always looking for someone,” Mia offered quickly.
“I have a teller position open at the bank if you’re interested.” Tess patted Hazel’s arm as she offered.
“I waitressed during college, but it’s been a long time.” Hazel wondered how she had found such great friends. Why were they so nice to her?
“You don’t forget how. But think about it for a few days,” Mia said.