Page 63 of No Such Thing as Serendipity

“Honey, I’m gonna have to side with Blake on this one,” Annie said. “She told you Robyn would cook you more tomorrow.”

I pointed at Annie and glared. “You’re not supposed to take her side.”

Everyone laughed. How had these people gotten inside of my heart after only a month together?

Katlynn must have read my mind. “Can you believe it’s been a little over a year since we met? And here we all are.” She put her hand on Helena’s leg.

“Even me.” Dana waved and laughed.

“No, not even. Especially you,” Helena said. “It’s a tribute to the magic of this place. Do you know how much unlikely stuff happened here?” Helena’s eyes glistened as she glanced around the firepit at the group.

“Do we qualify as unlikely?” Katlynn asked, then leaned over and kissed Helena.

“Not just unlikely but miraculous.” Helena kissed Katlynn again. “I haven’t had a major flare-up of my fibromyalgia in six months. Just a couple of minor ones.”

We all clapped. As soon as we’d arrived at the villas, I’d noticed how youthful Helena looked without pain etched on her face.

“I meant to tell you, you look incredible,” I said.

“Thanks.” Helena smiled. “Being in love with someone who doesn’t stress you is the best medicine.”

Katlynn grinned. “Now if I could just stop stressing.”

I studied Katlynn, trying to figure out her meaning.

Helena smiled. “We’ve been waiting for this get-together to tell everyone. Katlynn’s agent pitched her book to Random House last week, and they loved it. Her agent thinks they’ll offer her a contract soon.”

A cheer went up around the fire, and we all offered our congratulations.

Our easy conversation continued as Annie filled us in on the man she’d met at church, and Dana talked about her latest case and the law professor from Northwestern University she’d started dating. Whenever Dana said her name, she couldn’t stop grinning.

Vera was in her glory since she didn’t have to do the bookkeeping anymore and could focus her full attention on developing the class schedules. She’d been hard at work, making improvements to the offerings and planned to introduce new instructors to the lineup.

But it was my sister who’d grown the most. I watched her as she chatted and laughed with the others. There was no longer a deep line in her forehead or tightness in her jaw.

We’d been sharing stories, and my stomach hurt from laughing so hard. When the fire sputtered, Blake piled more wood onto it. “It looks like it’s time for s’mores.” Blake glanced at the table. “Oh, I left the ingredients in the truck.” She held her hand down to Robyn. “Would you go with me?”

Robyn took her hand and started to stand.

“I’ll go,” I said.

Robyn dropped back into her chair.

“No!” Blake said.

I gaped. What was up with her? “Okay.”

“I mean, I don’t want to take you away from everyone. You’re a guest and should stay here.”

Something strange laid behind her eyes, so I said, “Yeah, I still have questions about this man who’s caught Annie’s eye.”

Blake’s shoulders relaxed, and she held her hand out to Robyn again.

Robyn raised her eyebrows at me as she stood. “We’ll return with the goods,” she called over her shoulder as she and Blake walked down the path hand in hand.

“Are those two making out in the woods or what?” Dana patted her stomach. “I need my s’mores.”

“I wondered the same thing,” Annie said. “They’re adorable. After a year, they still can’t take their eyes off one another.”

“Robyn is the best thing that’s ever happened to Blake.” I shot an uncomfortable glance at Dana, not wanting to rub it in.

Dana laughed. “It’s okay. I’ve accepted it was never meant to be. And thank the fucking universe, nothing ever happened between us.”

“Amen,” Annie and I responded at the same time.

“Rough crowd,” Helena said with a laugh.

Katlynn pointed toward the path. It had gotten dark, but the full moon illuminated the night sky. “I think I see them.”

“About time,” Dana called out.

“Shut up, or we’ll go back to the truck.” Blake’s voice filled the air.

When they arrived back at the fire, I noticed Robyn’s red-rimmed eyes. Shit. Had they gotten into an argument? I studied Blake, but if anything, she seemed buoyant.

Blake nudged Robyn and said, “Are you gonna tell them?”

Robyn smiled and held up her hand. The firelight danced off the ring on her finger. “Blake asked me to marry her, and I said yes.”

We all leaped to our feet. Hugs and congratulations abounded. Once the revelry died down, Dana clapped her hand on Blake’s shoulder. “I thought you’d do something splashier.”

Blake grinned. “I considered asking at the dedication ceremony.” She gazed at Robyn with so much love in her eyes, it nearly took my breath away. “But I know Robyn. She’s understated, so I did it the way I knew she’d want me to.”

“In the place I knew I’d fallen in love with her,” Robyn said.

“With all the crickets and frogs as my witness.” Blake kissed Robyn’s hand. “And this time, I knew which was which.”

Robyn threw her arms around Blake and hugged her again. “Thank you. You just made me the happiest woman in the world. And thank you for asking me the way you knew I wanted to be asked.”

My heart filled. My sister had gotten it right.

I shifted my gaze to Vera and sidled up next to her. “Maybe we should wait,” I said in a low voice. “I don’t want to steal their thunder.”

“Nonsense,” Vera whispered back. “This will make it even more perfect.”

Before I could protest, Vera waved her hand. “I have an announcement, too.”

Still on their feet, everyone turned toward Vera.

“I’ve been working on the class schedule for this summer, and I’d like to tell you about our new instructor.”

Robyn glanced at Vera with a puzzled expression on her face. No doubt confused why Vera would choose this moment for an announcement.

Blake gave Vera a supportive smile, but I noticed the irritation in her eyes.

“As you know, the drill sergeant, as all of you called her, wasn’t the right fit for the program, so I’ve replaced her.”

“That’s a step in the right direction,” Helena said.

“Amen to that,” Annie added.

Blake stared at Vera, her eyes narrowed. I heard my sister’s thoughts, why in the hell is Vera doing this now?

Vera pretended to be oblivious and continued. “I’ve interviewed several replacements but settled on an instructor who’s moving to Madison from New York.”

“Really?” Blake groaned. “Wouldn’t you rather have a local?”

Vera shook her head. “Not in this case.”

Robyn still hadn’t said anything, but I noticed a smile playing on her lips. I believe she’d begun to suspect.

“Go ahead,” Vera nodded at me.

I took a step toward Blake and Robyn. “I’ve missed you. A lot. And Andrew knows it. Remember when he flew to Madison last month?”

“Yeah.” Blake’s brow furrowed. I expected her to figure it out, but by her reaction, I didn’t think she had. “I’m still mad you didn’t come with him.”

“The kids and I were still fighting COVID.” I pointed at her. “But you hush and listen because I think you’ll forgive me.”

“Okay, I’m listening.”

“He interviewed for a position at the University of Wisconsin. They called him last week, and he starts this fall semester.” I smiled. “And I start my job this summer at a little retreat called Blissful Breeze.”

Blake’s mouth dropped open, and she stared. Robyn nudged her, but Blake didn’t move.

“Did you hear what Emma said?” Robyn asked Blake.

Blake nodded.

“Are you going to respond?” Robyn said.

“No fucking way.” Tears poured down Blake’s cheeks. “You’re moving to Madison?”

“Yes. I want to be near my sister and her soon-to-be wife.” I held my hand out and took Robyn’s hand.

“Holy shit.” Blake threw her arms around me. “This is by far the best day of my life.”

We hugged for a long time as the others gathered around us.

When Blake let me go, she still had tears welling in her eyes. She smiled and pointed at her face. “Fucking airborne estrogen. I thought I told Vera to have it removed from the grounds.”

I hugged Blake again and whispered in her ear. “See, there is such a thing as serendipity.”