“Really? You’re actually done with closing and everything?”
Lacey found herself grinning. “And everything.”
“That’s great. Was it that crime scene one?”
Lacey laughed. “No, that’s still in limbo. She did re-list it with me, though.”
“So what house was it?”
“A house in a gated community just south of downtown.”
“Waterfront and gated?” Vi let out a low whistle. “Bet that fetched a pretty price.”
Lacey beamed, remembering the number of zeros on the commission check. “You’d win that bet.”
“I’m proud of you, Lacey.”
Exactly what Lacey had longed to hear. “At least you are. I’ll have to remind myself of that when I call Mom and Dad. I can just hear it.” Lacey did her best imitation of her mother’s harsh tone. “‘Oh, you finally sold something? I hope it will help pull you out of that credit card debt from those real estate classes you took.’”
“Ha! Don’t feel bad. They do the same thing to me.”
Lacey stopped cold in the middle of the street. “They do?”
“Oh, sure. Dad keeps telling me that I can’t seem to decide whether I’m an economist or a journalist, and that if people really took me seriously, I wouldn’t have to wear so much makeup on TV.”
“Are you kidding? They brag about you to me all the time.”
Vi actually snorted. “News to me. So have you picked out a maid of honor dress yet?” she asked, deftly changing the topic as easily as the winds change direction on the Bay.
“Was I supposed to?” Lacey leaned against a nearby parking meter.
“Don’t tell me you’re expecting me to. I haven’t even picked my dress, and I’m the bride.”
“Shouldn’t I talk to the bridesmaids about it?”
“Oh no, it’s just you.”
“You don’t have any bridesmaids? Why not?”
“I don’t have time for friends. I have women I know through work, but I wouldn’t want any of them to stand by me on my wedding day. Too personal. That’s why I’m doing the destination wedding thing. I’m hoping he’ll keep the numbers down on his side. I can’t have just you standing up there by yourself if he has eight people standing up for him.”
Lacey didn’t know what to say. “Yeah, I can understand that, I guess.”
“This whole thing keeps giving me flashbacks to all that birthday party cash I soaked Mom and Dad for. Remember? Who would I have invited to a birthday party except you?” Vi laughed.
Resting one hand on her hip, Lacey tightened her grip on her cell phone, a flood of birthday memories crashing over her as Vi’s words sunk in. She shook her head. “Wait a minute. You didn’t just want the cash more than a party?”
“Are you kidding? With all the presents you scored at your birthday parties? I would have much rather had the party.”
“Huh,” was all Lacey could say, history as she knew it being rewritten in the span of a second.
Suddenly, and for the first time in decades, Lacey didn’t feel envious of Vi.
Lacey had two friends waiting home for her right now, fixing a special dinner to celebrate her closing. They had filets ready to be grilled and probably a bottle of champagne chilling, knowing Maeve. Lacey could even picture Bess hanging silly crepe paper or maybe a big congratulations sign above the kitchen table.
They were just that kind of friends.
Lacey had a beautiful, healthy baby at home who she got to hold whenever she wanted. She was even about to become a godparent along with Maeve.
Meanwhile, Vi had a ticket to London. Vi’s life was exciting, but Lacey felt contented right here in Annapolis, in a little house on the water that was filled with more warmth than she had experienced in eighteen years growing up in the Owens’ household.
Suddenly, Lacey wished Vi was right with her so that she could give her a hug. “You know, Vi, I’m really proud of you, too.”
“I know. You tell me all the time,” Vi answered dismissively.
“Good. I just wanted to make sure you knew that.”
“’Course. I’ve got to hang up now. I’m almost at the Queens Tunnel and I’ll lose my signal. Love you.”
“Love you too. Have a good trip.” Lacey snapped her phone shut and dropped it back into her purse.
To hell with her parents. She’d send them an email later.
***
The sun was low in the sky, just about to dip behind Maeve’s house, as Lacey pulled into the driveway. The Bay called to her from the backyard, and Lacey fingers longed to wrap themselves around a glass of wine as she watched the last of the day’s light melt into the blue horizon.