Page 148 of The Me I Left Behind

“Take it, Lilly,” Carol said. “Please?”

After a moment, Lilly gave them both a smile, and dipped her head in a nod. “Alright. Thank you.”

Carol reached for her mother’s hand, meeting her gaze. “Thanks, Mom,” she whispered.

Twenty-Five

August, Tuckaway Bay

Beach Week

“Oh.My. God.I can’t believe how much I missed this beach house!”

Alice hustled through the back door of Tequila Sunrise, carrying a cooler and set it down beside the refrigerator. “I have ice and…” She popped open the cooler lid and plucked out a bottle. “I have tequila on ice!”

“Yay! Margaritas!” Lia said.

“And Tequila Sunrises!” Maggie added.

Lia frowned. “Alice, you know the refrigerator works now, right? We really don’t need the cooler.”

“I like to plan for backup. Remember last time?” Alice popped open a bag of potato chips.

“But that was two years ago, and we got a new one.”

Alice touched the hem of Lia’s beach wrap. “I really like this. Is it new? The colors look good on you.”

Maggie recognized Alice’s M.O. of changing the subject. “Itisa great wrap,” she said to Lia. “But you look good in everything.”She poked at her own bathing suit shoulder strap. “This feels tight. Have I gained weight? Am I fatter?”

Lia rolled her eyes and gave her a hug. “You are beautiful, my friend. Even if you’ve gained weight.”

“Oh shit. So Ihavegained weight. Damn it!”

“I didn’t say that, Maggie.”

“But….”

“Ladies. Stop.” Julia moved closer to the cooler and looked inside. “Great. We have margarita mix and grenadine and orange juice. Cool beans, Alice. I’ll make my virgin versions of anything tequila.”

“Well,” said Maggie, “that will be the only thing virgin around here.” She snorted.

“Good God, Maggie.” Julia picked up the mix and wiped the water off with a paper towel. “We’ve had no virgins around here for a couple of decades.”

“With the exceptions of our girls,” Alice said. “I’m sure they are all still virgins.” She opened the fridge and pulled out a cheese platter. “I guess we’re doing snacks and drinks now?”

Lia coughed. “Excuse me? My daughter just had a baby out of wedlock. Virginity theory smashed on that one.”

They all laughed.

“True.” Alice dipped a chip.

“Wedlock,” Julia said. “Is that even a word anymore?”

“No clue,” Lia admitted. “Just came out of my mouth.”

“Besides…” Maggie dug into a bowl of guacamole on the kitchen bar with a tortilla chip. “I’m betting Ella isn’t still a virgin either, Alice.”

Alice whipped around, giving Maggie a firm stare. “What? I’m sure she is.”