Free Daisy by Josi S. Kilpack Page A

love the same thing in a nice eggshell. For my part, I was in jeans and a new pink top I’d bought while shopping by myself last week. The thought made me miss Stormy’s fashion advice—I wasn’t convinced the color was a good shade for me.
    “I’m glad I could make it. Things have been a little crazy.”
    I took a seat and said hello to the group. Shannon and Athena weren’t there, but I was greeted by Livvy and Paige and met a new member, Ilana. She was quiet, but the rest of us moved seamlessly into basic small talk. I heard a little more about Paige’s job at the dental office. I hadn’t known many Mormons, but I’d heard plenty about them. Yet she looked so normal. I wondered why she didn’t move back to Utah—where she’d said she’d grown up—now that her marriage was over, but the more she talked and laughed the more I recognized a familiar streak of independence. Mormon or not, she wanted to figure out this new life of hers by herself. I cheered her on in my mind.
    Livvy was more at ease this time too. She still looked thrown together and seemed the least comfortable out of everyone there—well, maybe not Ilana, but this was her first meeting so it made sense that she’d hold back—but I was glad Livvy was making time for book group. From the things she’d said about her husband and children, I suspected she didn’t do many things for herself. As we chatted, I was anxious about them asking about Stormy. In the month since I’d introduced myself, so much had changed, and I didn’t want to tell anyone about what had happened, but I didn’t want to lie either. Luckily, the topic never came my way. Perhaps because I kept the other ladies talking about themselves instead.
    “Shannon had to work a later shift, so she’ll be here next month,” Ruby interjected after we’d been chatting for a few minutes. “And then Athena called me about an hour ago and said she couldn’t come—something came up.”
    “That’s too bad,” Livvy said, looking genuinely concerned. “I hope it’s nothing serious. Did she give any clue as to why she couldn’t make it? I feel bad she’s missing her own book suggestion.”
    “None.” Ruby shook her head and took the first of the éclairs resting on a pedestal cake plate on the coffee table. “But that’s why I ended up making these. Athena was supposed to bring the treats this time.”
    I could smell the chocolate—why could I smell the chocolate? I was hungry, but the éclairs didn’t sound very good. Still, I didn’t want to be rude as Ruby passed the cake plate around, so I picked up one of the small cocktail napkins and then chose an éclair, the smallest one with the least frosting.
    “Could be a work deadline or something else with her magazine,” I said. I’d looked up her magazine, Newport Travel, a few days ago. So many online magazines were being thrown together by anyone who had anything to say, and I had wondered how hers would compare. It was very crisp and included more than just information on traveling through Newport. I’d looked forward to talking to her about it. Too bad she hadn’t been able to make it to group.
    “I’ll give her a call later to see if she’s okay,” Ruby said. She picked up her copy of The Poisonwood Bible from the coffee table and officially began with the book talk. “Since Athena picked this month’s book, she was supposed to lead the discussion, but I suppose I’ll have to do.” She chuckled and consulted some papers she’d printed off the computer. She gave us some basic biographical information about Kingsolver and her work, then started discussing the actual book . “Okay, so my first thought was about the nature of religion and how it impacted the lives of the five female voices in the book. I believe in prayer and Jesus and all that, but I’m not much for organized religion, and books like this kind of make me glad I’m not—especially as a woman.”
    I couldn’t help but look at Paige, who