Free Exclusive by Fern Michaels

you’re going to tell me how stupid I am.”
    “You’re not stupid, Ida, just…” Sophie shrugged. “Toots wants this to be your room. You decide what you want. Not some fancy-ass decorator. Right, Toots?”
    “Yes, that’s right. So as long as it’s not purple or pink, I think you might actually enjoy designing a room of your own. With your eye for detail, I think you will surprise yourself. After all, you’re a photographer. You know about light and color, that sort of thing.”
    Ida surveyed the room. “Well, you’re right about that. I do know a thing or two about photography.” She smiled. Ida so wanted to tell them about her possible new assignment, but she would wait. “I suppose I would paint the walls a soft buttery yellow. Since the sun doesn’t rise or set on this side of the house, that would add some warmth to the room.” Perusing the room, Ida shook her head. “Yes, I would like to do this, Toots. Thank you for trusting me. This is your home. I do believe I might actually enjoy this little project.”
    Smiling, Mavis said, “This is wonderful! Toots, you certainly know how to make people happy. Would it be too brazen of me to ask if you will allow me to do the same in my room?”
    “No, it would not, and for Pete’s sake, stop acting so frigging formal, both of you! I bought this house for all of us. Now, when any of us wants to spend time with Abby, we’ll all have a place to stay. I’ll probably be here more than the rest of you since I’ve purchased The Informer. Just for the record, let’s say this house belongs to a mother and a few godmothers. It’ll be our own chick hangout.”
    They all laughed.
    “Chicks,” Mavis clucked. “I like the sound of that. I don’t think I’ve ever thought of myself as a chick, but with all the new beginnings in my life, I might as well add one more. I’m a hot, sexy chick!” Mavis laughed, blushing at her own silliness.
    “You are, and you always have been. You just didn’t see it through all that…those layers,” Sophie said with a smile, knowing Mavis knew she was referring to the overweight version of her former self. “I don’t see how you’ve stuck to that vegan diet. I would’ve gagged, but for the record we’re all very pleased with you. Right, chicks?” Sophie looked to Toots and Ida for confirmation.
    Both women agreed.
    Toots spoke first. “Ida and Mavis have both come a long way in these past few months. I am very proud of you both.”
    “And me?” Sophie questioned.
    “You’re still full of shit, but you already know that. I think we’ve all grown, or rather made some positive changes in our lives. Losing Walter was your positive change, Sophie. Now let’s get this mess cleaned up.” Toots nodded toward the pile of glass squares in the corner. “If no one has anything on their agenda this afternoon, I say we all go out for a late lunch. Plus I’m dying for a cigarette.”
    “I do wish you and Sophie would stop that nasty habit, Toots. Sorry, but I promised Coco a run on the beach, then a bath. I plan to spend the rest of the afternoon redesigning some of those outfits you bought me at Catherine’s, but I’ll take a rain check,” Mavis said sweetly.
    “I’m going to be on the phone with my financial advisor. The time factor makes it hard to stay in touch. I promised him I would free up my afternoon for him,” Ida lied with a straight face. What she planned was a long soak in the tub, even if she did have to stare at all of those Elvis figures. And then a nice long nap. She might just sleep the afternoon away.
    “Then I guess that leaves just you and me,” Toots said to Sophie. “Unless you have something planned.”
    “No, but remember you wanted to switch bedrooms? The mattress? Your back?”
    “Yes, of course, but that won’t take all afternoon. We’ll do that first, then reward ourselves with a long, leisurely lunch at the Polo Lounge. We haven’t been there lately.”
    “Then what are we waiting