Open for Business, Chapters 10 & 11
Lessons: never take someone's Pendleton blanket & don't have the same crush as your husband
What happens when someone doesn’t behave…
What happens when someone’s in a hot tub too long after a period of physical and emotional strain…
What happens when someone finds out someone is actually someone else…
A lot of “someone-ing” in these two chapters. As we hit the halfway point of our story and discover new quandaries, let’s try to get some answers…or make assumptions.
Where are we? Let’s go back:
Let’s go waaay back:
Chapter 10
Elise walked home, at least that was the plan until the rain picked up and she realized the trek home was longer than she realized. Doable when the weather was dry, but a huge pain when wet. Going a few blocks to the west, she ended up at Abby’s condo. She was hoping Abby wasn’t home. She had given Elise a key for watering her houseplants when she was out of town or to use the hot tub just because.
She ignored Ethan’s texts and unlocked the door. She breathed in the air of self-sufficiency and lavender. Standing with no purpose in Abby’s granite and stainless steel kitchen, Elise forced herself to decide between chamomile tea or a glass of Riesling. She would have both. Filling the kettle with water and turning on the burner, Elise poured a glass of wine and headed to the back patio to turn on the hot tub jets.
She sipped her wine, picking up on scents of pear as she was mesmerized by the bubbling water. The rain, hot tub hum, and warmth of the wine lulled her until the kettle whistled.
In the kitchen, she poured her cup. The two minute brew time was just enough to remove her clothes, fold them, and place the pile on Abby’s salmon-colored accent chair. She became slightly giddy knowing she was entering a gifted time of solitude.