Free The New Ever After (The New Ever After Series) by Julie Farley

in a serious relationship, she had let down her guard and she and Heather had become close. Actually, Jenny, Heather and Janie were now a frequent threesome. Jenny and Janie had even worked together to help plan Peter and Heather's wedding in Hawaii.
    Chris carried a container of chicken curry from his restaurant, Café Nouveau, for Heather . It had become a staple for her while she was pregnant with the twins. It was the only thing her stomach could tolerate for some time.
    "A present for the gracious hostess," said Chris as he handed the curry over and gave Heather a kiss.
    "Thank you," said Heather.
    Jenny and her family arrived last. Matt seemed distracted when he came in holding all the towels and scanning the backyard . But maybe Heather was just keeping an extra special eye on him since Jenny had confessed that they weren't getting along so well.
    "Hey, so glad we had this morning," said Heather as she took the beer that Jenny handed her. Heather smiled to herself knowing that Victoria sat in disapproval as she watched the exchange.
    "Me, too. I'm going to miss all you guys while you're away." Emily had sauntered over to Jenny followed by Heather's mom . Emily tugged at Jenny's leg obviously wanting to be picked up.
    "You can hold down the fort in the 2-3-1-1-3."
    "That we can do. And I’ll get to see the twins all week too."
    All the kids were in the water, except for the twins . The dads hung out at the grill even though no one was cooking. Peter had a large bar installed near the grill, and it was always the area the guys gravitated towards. Victoria, Jenny, Janie and Heather sat on the patio watching the kids. Victoria was sitting on her chair tapping her fingers on her legs like she was nervous. Heather wasn't sure if it was because the moms were having a drink and the kids were in the water or what her deal was.
    "Victoria, what are you guys doing this summer?" asked Heather.
    "Well, we're playing Allstars, so we've had to change around our vacation plans for the baseball schedule. We'll go to Corolla for two weeks in August and spend most of our weekends, when we aren't playing baseball, at the river."
    The river, or rivah as the locals called it, was where most people in Richmond went on the weekends in the summer . There were towns that lined the rivers that ran into the Chesapeake Bay. Heather never spent much time at the river, preferring the ocean. But she had gone with friends when she was in high school and they had spent most of the time on their boats.
    "Sounds great," said Jenny . "You'll be gone a lot then."
    "We'll be here enough . I have so many things I need to take care of in town."
    "You are really busy, Victoria . I'm not sure how you do it all," said Janie. Victoria was oblivious to the sarcasm she had in her voice.
    "Are you excited for your mysterious trip, Heather?" asked Janie.
    "Can't wait."
    "How long are you gone for?" asked Victoria.
    "A week. Hank's parents are taking the big kids and mom's watching the twins."
    "That's pretty decadent and even a bit selfish . I can't ever imagine leaving my kids for seven nights," said Victoria.
    Janie and Jenny rolled their eyes, and Heather sat with a guilty look on her face.
    "You're just jealous that Ken's too busy to take you away," said Janie.
    The dads got in the pool and challenged the kids to a game of apple tree. Janie, Jenny and Heather got in the hot tub, and Victoria stayed on one of the chairs with a put out look on her face.
    "I am so glad school is over," said Janie. "This was the longest week ever with 8th grade graduation and 5th grade moving up plus picnics and field day. It's a constant party with these kids."
    "We do so much for these kids that nothing is important anymore," said Jenny.
    "There’s a trophy for everything it seems like. I hate the biggest loser tournaments they have at baseball. You can essentially come in thirteenth and still get a trophy," said Heather.
    "It's important for the kids' self esteem . We need to