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“That’s whatshesaid,” Flip joked and, probably due to the previous glasses of not-Blue- Nun, it got awaybigger laugh than it deserved. From everyone but Chelsea who did not so much as crack a smile.

Ellery studied her with renewed curiosity.

Chelsea had changed into navy leggings and a baby-blue oversized Fair Isle sweater that looked very similar to the black leggings and oatmeal-and-black oversized Fair Isle sweater Tosh wore. Which Ellery probably wouldn’t have noticed—he didn’t pay a lot of attention to women’s fashion—if he hadn’t caught Tosh’s expression once she got a clear view of Chelsea.

It was a fleeting reaction—Tosh recovered instantly—but just for a second she looked shocked and a little hurt.

But Chelsea really had undergone an amazing makeover. Her hair, her makeup... The change was dramatic but it was also a little baffling. True, if she’d set her sights on Hollywood, well,the movie business most certainly favored young, attractive actors over young maybe-not-so attractive actors. That was the nature of the business.

But Tosh knew all that, and her reaction—though quickly covered—had been revealing. Hopefully they were not about to have aSingle White Femalemoment in their little clique? It seemed like if that had been going to happen, it would have been during their formative college years.

“There was no hot water.None.” Chelsea was saying. “I’m pretty sure I have hypothermia.”

Ellery winced. The plumbing had a tendency to blast out Arctic-cold water at inopportune times. “Sorry. A new hot water tank is on the list.”

Tosh gave Chelsea an exasperated look. “Ellery, what can we do to help?”

Ellery considered. “Would someone want to peel potatoes?”

Flip raised his hand. “Manual labor. That’s me.”

Tosh said, “You need me to chop veggies?”

“Thanks. That would help.” It had been a very long time since he’d cooked for a crowd.

“I’ll take over the mashed potatoes when Flip’s finished peeling,” Lenny took possession of Watson, who was basking in this abundance of attention.

“Great. The potatoes are in the larder. And if someone—”

Chelsea said quickly, “I’ll find some music and open another bottle of wine, shall I?”

Tosh made a sound, not quite of derision, and now it was Chelsea’s turn to look surprised and hurt.

“Uh, yeah, that would be great.”

Yep, there were new, new to him anyway, tensions in their small circle. But maybe a good meal, good wine, and goodcompany would patch some of the fraying of those old school ties.

And it did feel just like old times as everyone set about their appointed tasks in helping to prepare the meal.

So much so, that when Lenny observed, “Is anyone else gettingThe Big ChillmeetsI Married an Axe Murderervibe?” they all laughed.

“I really don’t think we have anything to worry about,” Ellery said.

“Oh my God,” Flip protested. “Don’tsaythat!”

“Thanks a lot. You’ve just sealed our fate!” Lenny told Ellery.

Tosh, swaying to “In the End” as she chopped veggies, winked at Ellery.

Ellery was turning down the heat on the gravy, when Chelsea, sitting at the table with Flip, said suddenly, “Tosh, are those your photos from Tisch?”

Tosh, chopping at Godspeed, glanced over her shoulder. “Not just school photos, but yes.”

Chelsea drew the large box over and removed the lid. She lifted out a stack of pictures.

“Oh, wow. I haven’t seen these in years.” She began to slowly shuffle through the stack, raising her brows now and then, before shuffling on.

Flip, scrolling through his phone, said, “Okay, I just got a text from Oscar. He says he and Freddie think they’ll be docking around 10:00 tomorrow morning, depending on the weather. Belle hasn’t confirmed yet.”