Gabrielle shook her head. “I’m so sorry.”
“I know. Let’s talk about other things tonight. You cut your hair again!” Clara said, taking in Gabrielle’s angled bob. “I always loved that look on you.”
“Thanks. I had it cut this morning. I used to keep it this way because it was in style. Now it’s just easier because I’m so tired all the time,” she admitted, flushing as she spoke.
Clara smiled. “You fought hard for this pregnancy, so enjoy every moment.”
“I can’t wait to be Aunt Amber!” Amber said.
Gabrielle leaned her elbows on the table. “How about becoming mommy? I need someone to go through this with and the baby will need a playmate! You, too, Sharon.”
Clara studied Amber and Sharon intently, sensing their answers before they replied.
“What’s that knowing look?” Amber asked, her focus on Clara.
Folding her hands in her lap, Clara replied, “I have my feelings, that’s all.”
Sharon, cheeks pink, asked, “Care to share them?”
Clara was happy to oblige. “You’ll be giving Gabrielle’s daughter a playmate soon,” she said, pointing to Sharon. “And you, not for a while.” Clara inclined her head toward Amber.
Clara didn’t know if she had second sight or just the deep intuition that ran in her family, but Sharon had a glow about her that told Clara the other woman would be pregnant soon, while Amber was too busy enjoying her new husband, her move east from Vegas and her recent job as a concierge in a hotel chain new to downtown Boston.
“Am I right?” Clara asked.
Both women glanced away, neither eager to reveal their personal feelings.
Clara merely smiled. “Time will tell,” she mused.
“Drinks on the house,” the waitress said, stopping by with a tray full of their usual orders. They’d been having these Ladies’ Nights for the past four months and their choices were pretty standard.
“Thank Seth and George for us,” Gabrielle said, referring to the father and son owners.
“Yes, and also remind them that if they don’t stop doing this soon, they won’t have any profits,” Amber said in full business mode.
But they all knew that after nearly losing their business, George and Seth Saybrook were doing all they could to repay people for their kindness during the rebuilding.
“Will do,” the brunette said, laughing. “Let me know if you need anything else.”
Another half hour passed as they filled one another in on their lives, then the subject turned to Jason. Clara was surprised they hadn’t focused on him earlier. These women were so happily settled down they wanted everyone around them to be the same way.
Two Corwin cousins down. One more to go.
“Sharon, you’re the one who found Jason with Lauren Perkins at the festival, and we all know Uncle Edward heard he’s working on restoring her grandmother’s house,” Gabrielle said, eyes gleaming. “So do you know what’s going on?”
“Wait, how does Sharon know Lauren?” Amber asked.
“Lauren used to spend summers with her grandmother and we were friends,” Sharon said.
“Then didn’t you know her, too, Gabrielle?” Clara asked. Sharon and Gabrielle had been childhood pals.
Gabrielle shook her head. “Most summers my family visited relatives in Paris. I really never met Lauren until right before the fire.”
“This is getting complicated,” Amber said, laughing. “But back to Jason and Lauren. What’s going on with them?”
“I know there’s mutual interest,” Sharon replied with her usual caution. “But I also know Lauren’s fixing up the house so she can sell it to waiting buyers. So if you’re aiming to matchmake, I think you’re out of luck. She’s leaving for Paris at the end of the year.”
“Paris? What’s in Paris?” Gabrielle asked.