Book Clubbed by Lorna Barrett Read Free Book Online Page B

triangles—spanakopita, one of Tricia’s favorite appetizers.
    â€œOh, I heard it all right. Nikki came straight to my store to announce her happy news.”
    â€œMine, too.” Angelica retrieved a couple of plates from the cupboard and transferred several of the appetizers to them while Tricia grabbed some napkins from the holder on the shelf, taking them and her drink to the kitchen island. Meanwhile, Angelica turned for the refrigerator, withdrew a mini muffin tin, and placed it straight into the oven, closing the door once again.
    â€œIt’s just as well we’re drinking martinis,” Tricia said when Angelica joined her. “I’ve got a piece of good news to share, too, but you have to promise me you won’t say a word to anyone,” Tricia said.
    â€œDo you think I’m some kind of a blabbermouth?” Angelica asked, wounded, and set her glass down on the island.
    â€œOf course not, but . . . this was told to me in confidence—”
    â€œMost secrets are,” Angelica muttered.
    â€œâ€”and, though I’m sure it’ll be making its way around the village any day now, I think the happy couple ought to be the ones making that announcement to the world in general.”
    â€œSomeone’s getting married?” Angelica guessed, delighted.
    Tricia took another sip of her martini. “Not married, but the next best thing.”
    â€œAnother baby?” Angelica asked.
    Tricia nodded and picked up one of the triangles, taking a bite. Terrific!
    â€œBut the only ones we know who are young enough to . . . Oh, my God! Ginny and Antonio are pregnant?” Angelica squealed with delight.
    Sarge, who’d retreated to his bed, looked up, startled by her outburst.
    â€œShhh! Don’t say it so loud. But, yes, they are.”
    â€œThis is wonderful! We must start making the plans for Ginny’s baby shower. What’s she having? A boy or a girl?”
    â€œShe doesn’t even know yet. And knowing her, she won’t want to know before the birth. And you can’t give a baby shower when the baby isn’t even due for at least another six months.”
    â€œWe have to wait that long?” Angelica asked, disappointed.
    â€œI’m sure that’s just what Ginny will be saying a few months from now.”
    Angelica looked positively delighted and Tricia could almost hear her sister’s thoughts buzzing with plans for a baby shower. If there was one thing Angelica did exceptionally well, it was throw a party—any kind of party.
    â€œThat’s not all the news I have to share,” Tricia said.
    â€œTwins!” Angelica guessed.
    â€œNo! Will you calm down?”
    â€œI can’t help myself. Our Ginny having a baby.”
    â€œ
Our
Ginny? You didn’t even like her until last year.”
    â€œWell, I like her lots now. What’s behind us is behind us. And anyway, if you hadn’t used her as a living shield from my phone calls to you, I would have liked her a whole lot better right from the start.”
    â€œLet’s not bring up the past,” Tricia implored.
    â€œYou started it,” Angelica muttered crossly, taking another sip of her drink.
    â€œLet’s just be happy for her, because she’s not exactly thrilled with the news.”
    â€œWhy not?”
    â€œBecause. She’s afraid Antonio and Nigela Ricita will force her to stop working.”
    â€œWhy would they do that?”
    â€œI don’t know. Maybe out of some outdated sense of morality, or family values, or something.”
    â€œI hardly think so. I mean, Ms. Ricita is a businesswoman, and a shrewd one at that. I can’t imagine anyone with her experience and foresight would force a new mother out of a job. Not in this day and age.”
    â€œI don’t think so, either, but Ginny is terrified someone else will be hired to take over the Happy Domestic.”
    â€œWe’ve got to