Stella’s mind went back to her mini ritual of burying her book. Would it ever see the light again? She shook her head. It was time to let the ghosts of the past go, to shove them under the bed, like Manny’s imaginary monster friend.
Turning the corner of her street, she saw Naomi sitting on the stone steps in front of her home, picking at the abundant weeds growing in the flowerpots on both sides of the stairs.
“What brings you here in the middle of the afternoon?” she called out when she was closer.
“Let me in and I’ll tell you! And hello to you, too.” Naomi pushed to her feet and picked up a small gift bag. She dangled it in front of Stella’s face. “I have a sur-priiiise for you.”
Stella unlocked the front door and let Naomi step inside.
Even after living here for three years, she often marveled at the beautiful townhouse. Luca and his best friend, Revan, took advantage of the low real estate prices right after the Great Recession and bought two adjacent fixer-uppers after they graduated from college. They removed most of the first-floor walls between the two homes and converted the space into an airy, open living area with dark gray tile floors and white walls with built-in bookshelves. Framed black-and-white prints of photos taken by Revan on his many travels as a documentary photographer adorned the walls.
When Stella announced her intention to leave Boston and move back home with a brand-new PhD in Library and Information Science, Luca suggested she stay with them until she made her own living arrangements. Which suited her, because living with her parents again at twenty-seven didn’t hold much appeal. Shortly after she moved in, Luca accepted a position at a news agency in New York and relocated, and she took over his two bedrooms. She paid him minimal rent and enjoyed living in a house she wouldn’t be able to afford otherwise.
She walked to the gray and white modern kitchen and held up a paper box. “I must’ve sensed you were coming, because I stopped at the deli on my way home. Would you like coffee with your raspberry turnovers?” Knowing the answer, she stuck a pod into the coffee machine and arranged the treats on a platter.
Naomi sat on one of the barstools at the long glass and steel kitchen island and reached for one of the freshly baked triangles sprinkled with coarse sugar. “Ooh, they’re still a little warm. Yummy.”
After taking her first bite, she narrowed her eyes and asked, “Why don’t you answer your cell phone? Where is it?”
“Oh, darn it! I silenced it before I went to Storytime and forgot to turn it back on.” Stella got it out of her purse. Yup, three missed calls, all from Naomi.
The decadent aroma of fresh coffee wafted in the air, and Stella set the first cup in front of her best friend before making her own.
“What’s so important that you left work and waited here for me? You know I’m at the Family Center on Wednesdays. You could’ve called me there.”
“And risk the wrath of Mighty Anna? She’s the perfect office manager for that place. I mean, she’s nice, but she’s getting bossy when it comes to the kids and her schedules. Or maybe she just doesn’t like me.” Naomi waved the thought away like a pesky fly and took a deep breath. “Anyhow, wanna know my surprise?”
“Sure, I can see you’re almost bursting.”
“You and I are going to France, missy,” Naomi swished her finger back and forth between them, then finished her raspberry turnover.
CHAPTER 5
Stella—July 2018
“W
e’re doing what?” Stella dropped the spoon she was using to stir her coffee, and it clattered to the tile floor and slid under the fridge.
“As you know, Mom and I were supposed to go on a business trip to France,” Naomi started.
“How could I forget?” Stella parodied Naomi. “Going on a four-day trip to Normandy, Brittany, and a few of the Loire Valley castles. Meals complete with delicious French wines included. Pretty much all paid for by the trip operator.” She switched back to her own voice. “Maybe you mentioned it once or twice. It sounds like a wonderful trip. I wish I could go.”
“I just told you! You’re coming with me,” Naomi said with a smirk. She opened the gift bag and handed Stella a travel guide for France. “I happen to know you have the next two weeks off with no plans.” Stella didn’t correct her. She had planned to visit Luca for a few days.
“I hope your passport is valid.”
“It is, but…”
“Here’s the thing. Well, it’s two things. Gram fell yesterday and sprained her ankle badly. Mom doesn’t feel comfortable leaving her alone for a week, especially because Aunt Mary is in New York visiting Jo. So she thought you might wanna take her place and go with me.” Naomi took another turnover and beamed at her.
Stella shook her head and closed her eyes for a moment. An unexpected trip to France was hard to top! What a wonderful surprise after her earlier emotional roller-coaster ride.
Maybe it was the result of her Bury-the-Book-in-the-Bin ceremony. Had she freed a genie? If she got one free wish, what would it be? Easy—she’d want to see David one more time.
She snorted. Yeah, fat chance.
“What’s so funny?” Naomi asked and licked sugar off her fingers.
“Ugh, I had a crappy day earlier.”
“Which brings me to the second reason why I came this afternoon. I’d be a lousy friend if I didn’t cheer you up on the blackest day of your year.” Naomi squeezed her hand, then said, “So, do you have to clear our trip with anybody? The Mighty Anna, maybe?”
“No, I know Anna will cover for me, and Luca won’t mind if I cancel our plans. He’s done it to me a few times. What do we
