to her car in a daze, no longer hopeful that they would find Paul. Yes, they would go back to the library and look again in the morning, but she was reasonably sure it was a lost cause.
Marsha could feel the all too familiar self-pity and discouragement trying to take over, but she kept pushing it away using the mantras that usually worked. She had no time for her mood swings. She had to get ready for the Bree and Cindy surprise.
Settling into the front seat of the car and opening all the windows to let in some fresh air, Marsha checked the find-a-friends app that Judith had asked her to install. She did it because Judith asked her to, but now, looking at it and seeing all four of the Ruby Sisters’ names and their location moved her from self-pity to gratitude. They were together again. How had she let that part of her life slip away?
She could see April had arrived in Spring Falls. Judith had told her that April was coming to help them. But the catch in Judith’s voice made her think there was more to the story than that, because, as far as she knew, this was the first time April had visited without Ron. She wasn’t even sure they had ever come back after Paul and Bree’s wedding.
Part of Marsha hoped that meant Ron would stay away, but then berated herself. April loved him. She needed to accept that he was also part of their group, just as Paul was.
The realization that there were no other men took her by surprise. Why not? Out of the five Ruby Sisters, only two of them had relationships? Perhaps it was something they could explore together. But not now, maybe never. She knew why there wasn’t a man for her, but that was not something she would ever share, even with her friends, especially with these friends.
Marsha made sure she allowed all of them to find her on their find-a-friend app and then realized that meant that Bree and Cindy would know she was in Pittsfield.
Well, that surprise is ruined, Marsha thought, unless they don’t look at the app.
At that moment, her phone rang, and Cindy was shouting and sobbing.
“You’re there? How did that happen? Where are you? Why are you?”
Marsha answered the last question, since all the answers to the other questions were obvious.
“I wanted to surprise you.”
“Well, it worked! We can’t believe it. Bree is driving, so she can’t talk, but where can we meet?”
“Why not register in the same hotel as me? I’ll meet you in the lobby.”
Thirty minutes later, three women ran towards each other screaming and crying, causing everyone near to turn in alarm.
But when it was apparent that it was a joyous reunion, they smiled before turning away, feeling better about the world, if only for a moment.