【】rtiveyoukesies”hollyexpledpagethatthebrochure.

sheusentasthegirlstriedtofigureoutgerrysouth.“ohgod”shegasped,sittingfor.

“andedandleanedforent.“didgerrybuyyouaholiday”

“no.”hollyshookherheadseriously.

“oh.”sharonanddehsatbatheirseatsent.

sheallofortablesileogatherbetbeforeshespokeagain.

“girls,”shesaidilebeginningtospreadacrossherface,“heboughtusaholiday”

thegirlsopenedabottleofwine.

“oh,thisisincredible,”denisesaidaftertheneie.”

hollynodded,feelingproudofherhusband,aosurprisethell.

“soyoudoothisbarbaraperson”sharonasked.

“yes,andsheiled.“shesatefes,tellingabouttheiontheyhadthatday.”

“thatbytheway”

“heber.”

“noveer”sharonlookedthoughtful.“thatertheseion.”

hollyhegirlsaidhetyin.”

“isntitfunnythatnoneofushadaall”sharonsaid,stillastohehing.

theyallnoddedsilently.

“lookslikeolanzarote”denisecheeredandsheheldherglassup.“togerry”

“togerry”hollyandsharonjoinedin.

“areyousuretondjohnind”hollyasked,suddenlyahatthegirlshadpartothinkof.

“ofursejohnind”sharonlaughed.“hellprobablybedelightedtoberidofforaweek”

“yeah,andandtoangoae,efine,”agreeddenise.“becausethatstucktogetherfortholidaytogether”shelaughed.

“sureyouticallylivetogetheranyway”sharonsaid,nudgingher.

denisegaveaquiedtobeafraidtotellherabouthooanaboutthebadthings.soinsteadofbeinginfordofediohatabout...nothing,really,anditotherpeopleshappinessforever,goodhatdoher

“ihavetosaythatleprereallyisdoingagreatjobonyarden,holly,”deihoughtsasshelookedoutthewindow.

hollyblushed.“ohiknosorryforbeingabitproperly.”

afterdeniseandsharonhadheadedoffhohollygrabbedabottleofuhestairsandcarrieditdoortoheeighbor.sherangthebellanded.

“hiholly,”dereksaid,openingthedoor.“ein,ein.”

hollylookedpasthindintothekitandsailysittingarouableeatingdinner.shebackedathedhtly.

“ogiveyouthis”shehandedhihebottleofythanks.”

“easking”

“oh,fortidyingupgarden,”shesaid,blushing.“iuretheeateeforruiningtheappearahestreet,”shelaughed.

“holly,yardeainlyisntasorrytosay.”

“oh.”hollybarrassed.“ithoughtyouhadbeen.”

“no,no.”heshookhishead.

“hano.

“no,ihavenoidea,”hesaid,lookingverynfused.“ithoughtitobeho.howodd.”

hollyquitesuretosay.

“soperhapsyouotakethisback,”hesaidahrustiowardher.

“ohno,thatsok,”shelaughedagain,“youhell.anybarrassnt.kindoffoolknoidyingherowngarden

sheknobarrassntnobodyseedtokohavejobsandlives,andrerkablyenoughtheydidheirdaysnithergardeuedtoherhouseevenrenfused.asshehedoorthephoneoans.

“hello”shepanted.

“arathon”

“no,ihasinglepres,”hollyexplained.

“oh,ol.”

theoddestthinghatciaradidnteveionher.

“itsbirthdayintwoweeks.”

hollyhadpletelyfotten.“yeah,iknoatteroffactly.

“anddadilydinner...”

hollygroanedloudly.

“exaethingas.”

hollygiggledassheheardherfathercursingandgrulinginthebackground.

yideaistogoaheadilyditoinvitefriendsashatitactuallybeanenjoyablenight.doyouthink”

“soundsgood,”hollyagreed.

readathephone,“dad,hollyagreesyidea.”

“thatsallverynotpayingforallthosepeopletoeat.”

“hehasapoint.”hollyadded,“tellyouentanditbesoexpensive.”

“hey,thatsaolidea”readathephoneonceagain,“dad,abouthavingabarbecue”

theree.

“heslovingthatidea,”ciaragiggled.“.superchefasses.”

hollyalsogiggledatthethought.herdadgotsoexcitedenandbarbecuesprobablyituldactuallyok,eithertha

...