Daughters Of The Bride(123)

While Josh unfastened his seat belt and bolted out to find his friends, she took a second to breathe in the salt air. The afternoon would be fun. She hadn’t been to one of the firefighter family picnics in a couple of years. Not since before the divorce. She was looking forward to catching up with people she’d known from before. Sure, there would be questions, but she could live with that.

She pushed the button to open the rear hatch, then leaned in to grab the first of several tote bags. Her back instantly protested, especially on the right side. She breathed through the pain and admitted that maybe it was time to see her chiropractor.

“Rachel.”

She saw Greg jogging toward her. He was casually dressed in jeans and a T-shirt. Both were worn and soft-looking. His arms were muscled, his chest broad. She found herself fighting a slightly fluttery feeling in her stomach. One that made her think how very long it had been since she’d made love to this man.

“Hi. I brought potato salad,” she told him. “And that cucumber-pineapple salad you like.”

“Thanks.” He gave her a quick kiss on the mouth, then reached for the bags. “Let me carry these. Is your back bothering you?”

She heard the words and in a second or two, when the kiss-induced fog cleared from her brain, she would respond.

“Ah, kind of,” she admitted. “It’s telling me it’s not happy.”

“You be careful. You know what it’s like when your back goes out.”

She did. It froze up and then spasmed. She was a mess for at least three days, existing on muscle relaxers.

“I’m calling the chiropractor first thing in the morning.”

“Good.” He closed the hatch. “Come on. Everyone’s excited that you’re here.”

“You told them?”

“Sure. They all like you.” They walked toward the picnic tables under the trees. “There are a few new wives and girlfriends. The guys would appreciate it if you’d talk to them. You know, be the calm voice of reason. You’re always good at that.”

“You mean be the old lady who’s seen it all?” she asked, her voice teasing.

He put his arm around her. “Never that. You’re hot and you know it.”

She was? She did?

Before she could continue that intriguing line of questioning, they’d reached the group.

There were about twenty families along with a dozen or so couples. Kids ran around everywhere, darting around trees and racing across the picnic area. They’d set up portable barbecues on the north end, by the fire pit. When the cooking started, several of the firefighters would stand guard, making sure no kids wandered too close.

The families with infants were clustered together. Babies lay on blankets in the shade, while toddlers explored on unsteady legs. The teenagers were huddled together as far away from the babies as they could get—no doubt discussing how hideous this all was. Josh ran with a couple other boys his age. He would be tired when they got home, she thought happily.

She’d missed this. Missed her friends. While she’d stayed in touch with several of the wives, it had been different. She was on the outside. For at least this afternoon, she was back in the circle.

“Rachel!”

A couple of the wives spotted her and hurried over. Cate and Dawn hugged her.

“You’re here,” Cate said. “Mike said you were coming, but I didn’t believe him. You look great. How are things? How’s Josh?” She lowered her voice. “Are you and Greg getting back together? It would be so cool if you did.”

Dawn nodded. “It would. We miss you.”

Rachel looked at her ex, who was taking her salads over to the food tables. How to answer that question? Four months ago she would have said that of course they weren’t getting back together, but now she was less sure. They were hanging out more and she liked being with him. The problems they’d had before had been worked out, but she wasn’t sure that meant anything more than they’d figured out how to be happily divorced. And sadly, she didn’t seem to be able to directly ask what was going on or tell him what she wanted.

“We’re doing right by Josh,” she told her friends. “That’s the most important thing.”

“Too bad,” Dawn said with a sigh. “Come on. Sit with us. We hardly see you anymore.”

Rachel allowed herself to be led away. She was soon in the company of several of the wives, catching up with what was new with everyone. Some things hadn’t changed, she thought a couple of hours later. The group always separated by sex, with the guys hanging out and the women clustered some distance away. But all that would shift when it was time to eat. Then the families would come back together. Fathers would feed babies and help out with diaper changes. Memories would be made.