By Virtue Fall (The Shakespeare Sisters 4)

‘I know.’ Another eye roll. Goodness only knew what she’d be like when she was a teenager. Juliet squeezed out of the narrow opening of her door, watching Poppy carefully doing the same. They followed the painted walkway around the edge of the parking lot, walking to the tall, brownstone buildings set in wooded parkland. This was what $8000 a term got you; the best education in the best surroundings.

Seeing her friends filing into the classroom, Poppy gave Juliet a quick hug then ran towards them, her braid flying out behind her. This time Juliet let her smile shine through – she was so happy to see her daughter’s high spirits.

‘Oh Juliet, I was going to call you. We’re looking for volunteers to help decorate the classroom next weekend,’ Susan Stanhope called out. She was standing in a circle with three other class moms. Juliet recognised Emily and Marsha – she’d known them for three years after all – but the third woman was new to her. Beautiful, too, even with her hair pulled back into a messy bun and no make-up on. The woman turned to look at her, a curious expression on her face.

‘I have to work on Saturday,’ Juliet said, standing five feet away from the women. ‘What time were you planning on getting here?’

‘Oh, I forgot.’ Susan wrinkled her nose. ‘That must be such a pain, having to give up your weekends.’

‘It keeps a roof over our heads.’ Juliet tried to keep her voice even. ‘Anyway, I can donate some floral arrangements if that helps? I’ll get my assistant to deliver them.’

‘You work in a flower shop?’ the woman beside Susan asked. ‘That’s cool.’

‘I own it,’ Juliet said. ‘It’s only small, but it’s mine.’

Unlike the others, the brunette didn’t seem at all fazed by Juliet’s admission that she actually had to earn her own living. ‘I’m Sheridan, by the way. Charlie Sutherland’s mom.’ She offered a slim hand to Juliet. Stepping forward, Juliet took it, shaking briefly, trying not to look too curious.

‘I’m Juliet Marshall. Poppy’s mom.’

Sheridan’s eyebrows shot up. ‘Poppy from next door?’

She nodded. ‘That’s us. If we make too much noise feel free to yell across.’

‘I love your place, the garden is so pretty. You guys must have so much fun there.’

Sheridan clearly hadn’t received the mean girls’ memo of being rude to Juliet. And as much as she’d wanted to resent this woman, the one who had an unbreakable connection with Ryan, Juliet found herself warming to her.

‘Isn’t Sheridan lovely?’ Susan interjected in her high voice. ‘Ryan’s a lucky man, right? I told her how so many moms have been hanging on his every word. But she’s the one who gets to live with him.’ She gave Juliet a knowing look.

‘Oh, we don’t live together,’ Sheridan replied. ‘We’re not together at all. The two of us are co-parents, though Ryan has primary custody.’

Susan couldn’t have looked any more appalled if Sheridan had just told her she practised satanic worship. She wrinkled her nose, looking the new arrival up and down, her eyes shifting from left to right as she tried to think up something to say.

‘Anyway, I don’t think Ryan’s on the market right now. From what I can tell he’s fallen for somebody.’ Sheridan grinned, catching Juliet’s eye. ‘But he’s like all men, kind of stubborn, if you see what I mean.’

‘Well, I should get going. I have a pedicure booked in for nine-thirty.’ Susan turned to look at Marsha and Emily. ‘Coffee at my place later, ladies?’

‘Sure thing. See you there.’

The three of them walked away without bothering to say goodbye, leaving Juliet and Sheridan standing there. ‘I guess I should go, too. I need to open the shop,’ Juliet said.

‘That’s a shame, I was going to ask you over for coffee,’ Sheridan said. ‘I don’t know anybody here, and I was hoping you could give me the inside track.’

‘Didn’t Ryan give it to you?’

Sheridan laughed. ‘You know Ryan, he wouldn’t see the inside track if you waved it right in front of his eyes. Take those women, he’d think they were just being friendly. But you know and I know they’re bitches, and they were trying to put you down. He’s so blind to that kind of thing.’

‘Aren’t all men?’

‘Damn right they are!’ Sheridan nodded. ‘Are you sure you can’t come over for a coffee?’

Juliet glanced at her watch. ‘I guess I could come over at lunchtime. My assistant gets in at eleven, she can watch the shop for a couple of hours.’ Juliet reminded herself to give Lily a huge Christmas bonus. She’d earned it this year.

Sheridan’s face lit up. ‘That would be great.’

‘Are you sure Ryan won’t mind?’ Juliet rolled her lip between her teeth. ‘You could always come to mine if he does.’

‘He’ll be at the airport by then, his plane leaves this afternoon. So it’ll be just us girls.’