“That’s right,” she said to herself. She typed out a quick text to her parents, wishing them a happy Thanksgiving and asking that they send pictures when they could.
Simi returned with a trayful of options and set it down in front of her. “Brooklyn is helping a customer, and then she’ll be right in. Can I get you anything else?”
“Just your Christmas list,” Rennie said.
She waved her off. “Don’t be silly. I have everything I want.”
“Yes, but sometimes it’s nice to get new socks or something.”
“Meh, don’t you worry about me.”
Rennie watched as Simone walked toward the kitchen. She would buy presents for her, whether she gave a list or not. It was nice, though, to have some sort of idea what people wanted when she went shopping over the weekend. Rennie thought Simi would like the perfume sampler as well, but then it occurred to her she loved the way Simone always smelled like pastries.
Rennie was midbite when her name echoed off the walls. She quickly set her fork down, stood, and launched herself into her best friend’s arms. To anyone looking in, it would seem the two hadn’t seen each other in years, not weeks.
“I can’t believe you didn’t come to the house when you got in last night.” Brooklyn sat down and poured herself a cup of coffee from the carafe.
“I didn’t want to wake you or interrupt the baby-making process.”
Brooklyn blushed. “I’m fairly certain the factory is closed. Besides, I was looking forward to a late-night gab session.”
“There’s always . . .” Rennie paused and thought about the next couple of days. They would go to bed early tonight to rise at dawn to shop on Black Friday. It was tradition and not something she would pass up. Then they would be exhausted after shopping all day and go to bed early, which left them Saturday. “Saturday night?”
“It’s a date. Wait until you see the ballroom. Bowie and his crew have been working nonstop since yesterday to get it ready for Friday. The tree is gorgeous, and all the decorations came out exactly as I wanted.”
“Were you able to get the room booked for the month of December?”
“Yes, almost every night is booked, and twice on the weekends. It’s been so crazy. I will never fully understand why Carly closed the inn. It’s taken hardly any time to bounce back. Most nights we’re at capacity on the hotel side, and we’ve started advertising for beach weddings.”
“My interior designer is becoming a party planner. I’m not sure how I feel about the career change,” Rennie deadpanned. She glared at Brooklyn for a long beat before cracking a smile. “All joking aside, we need to talk about your wedding.”
Brooklyn squeezed Rennie’s hand. “I know. I can’t wait. But first, the holidays, and then it’s all wedding talk. I want to make this one special for Brystol and Bowie—and Simone as well. I know she misses Carly.”
“Speaking of, any idea of what I can get her?”
“Bowie and I have made lists, picked up on little hints here and there. We are thinking of sending her on a cruise or somewhere tropical after the holidays. She’s working so hard and never complains.”
“Oh, I bet she would love a nice trip. I should ask my parents what they recommend.”
“Are they home?”
Rennie shook her head and took a sip of her coffee. “Hanging with the koalas right now. It’s weird. I miss them, but I don’t. I’m a horrible daughter.”
“No, you’re not. You’ve adjusted—that’s all. But yes, ask your parents what they suggest, and I’ll get it booked.”
Rennie sent another text to her parents. After she set her phone down, she returned to her breakfast. In between bites, she asked, “What are the plans for today?”
Brooklyn turned her phone toward Rennie and rattled off the list of things that had to be done to set up for Thanksgiving dinner. “The dining room needs to be set up buffet-style. All the linens changed. Plates, utensils, and all the necessities set out.”
“Well, put me to work.”
“You’re on vacation, Ren. I’m not going to make you work.”
“You didn’t ask; I offered. Besides, what else am I going to do?”
Brooklyn closed the screen on her phone and looked into her best friend’s eyes. “What’s going on? You haven’t mentioned Theo since I sat down.”
Rennie sat back in her chair. Her fingers fiddled with the handle of her mug. “Theo’s in Japan or about to land, and I don’t know. When I see him, I’m happy. I’m in love. But when I’m here, it’s like he doesn’t exist, and I’m okay with that too. I don’t know. I’m sort of weirded out by this revelation.” She picked up her mug and finished the rest of the warm coffee.
“Don’t be mad at me for what I’m about to say.”