Family Pictures by Jane Green Read Free Book Online Page B

work.” He grins, leaning down to kiss Sylvie.
    “Beans!” Donald calls from the other side of the room.
    “Wieners!” adds Jon as they both crack up.
    “Right.” Angie sits forward. “I agree. Horses. Cowboys. Cowboys. Cowboys. Hey, did I mention the cowboys? And chaps … mmm God, I find those things sexy.…”
    “Really?” Simon’s face lights up. “I never knew that.”
    She gives him a withering look. “Not on you, babe. No offense. But the point is, horses and all the good stuff, plus massages, facials, hot tubs, and I’m sorry, but no beans and wieners. There has to be great food, right, Sylvie?” She looks at Sylvie for support, but Sylvie winces.
    “I’m sorry.” She grimaces. “I want to agree with you, but I kind of think a dude ranch should be basic. I think it would do us all good to get back to nature and spend all day on a horse. I like the idea of pushing ourselves in that way.”
    “I knew there was a reason I married you!” Mark nods approvingly. “Low maintenance,” he mutters to Simon out of the corner of his mouth. “It’s all about low maintenance.”
    “Sweetie.” Angie lays a beautifully manicured hand on Simon’s arm. “I can be low maintenance. I can do hippie skirts and Birkenstocks. I can even do no makeup and frizzy hair. Would you like that, sweetie? You know how I look first thing in the morning? I can look like that all the time if it would make you happy.”
    “God no!” Simon shouts in horror as everyone laughs.
    “Don’t say I didn’t try.” Angie turns to Mark with a shrug. “Simon, can you just go and do your manly stuff. We have more important things to take care of,” and she reaches for the package closest to her as the men disappear.
    *   *   *
    “You can always return it,” Ginny Meyer, an old friend of Angie’s whom she hasn’t seen in years, winces as Angie turns the box in her hands, trying to figure out what it is. “In fact”—she reaches over to try to take it—“it’s completely wrong for you. I want to take it back and change it for something you’ll really love.”
    “Don’t worry,” Angie laughs. “Whatever you’ve got, I know I’m going to love. The fact that you and Harold actually live here is gift enough.
    Sylvie snorts. “Your e-mail had the words, ‘all gifts welcome’ printed at the bottom. I suppose Simon snuck in to write that?”
    “How awful! He must have.” Angie’s hand flies up to her mouth in shock. “I would never do anything so rude.” She winks, pulling the paper off to reveal a box, which she first lifts and shakes slightly.
    “Careful,” warns Ginny. “It’s fragile.”
    “Ooh. I love guessing. Is it shoes?”
    Ginny smiles. “No, as much as we both love shoes, it’s not. It’s something else you used to like, and the only clue is you can’t wear it.”
    Angie opens the box, pushing the tissue paper aside to draw out a huge white porcelain mushroom.
    Silence descends as everyone stares at the mushroom.
    “It’s a mushroom!” Angie bursts out.
    “A mushroom?” questions Laura.
    “No, you don’t understand!” Angie is wide-eyed with excitement. “I’m obsessed! I’m seriously totally obsessed with mushrooms! This is amazing! You remembered!”
    “As if I could forget!” Ginny laughs. “She came out sailing with us one time—”
    “You should see their boat,” Angie bursts in. “ Sole Power. It’s beautiful.”
    “Thank you, but Angie spent the whole time engrossed in some book about mushrooms.”
    Angie shrugs. “It’s my secret shame. I find the whole underside of the mushroom, the gills, fascinating, but, Ginny! I can’t believe you remembered!” She stands up and flings her arms around Ginny, who is now flushed with joy. “I’m putting this with my collection.”
    “Are you kidding me?” Sylvie’s mouth is open. “How do I not know you have a mushroom collection?”
    “I told you. It’s my secret shame. Secret’s out now. Come with me.” She