“A fortuitous choice, my dear,” Birdie whispered to Cass. “All right, then,” Nell said, breaking the silence. “First things first. Please let’s all sit down and be comfortable.” She touched Jules lightly on the shoulder and pointed to one of the sofas near the fireplace. It was a cozy area, with a wooden coffee table anchoring it and light sisal rugs covering the polished cherry floor. Slipcovered chairs and sofas in greens and blues and golden tones reflected the colors of nature outside the wall of windows. It was a spot that had harbored more than a few traumas—and many triumphs as well. Ben had opened the French doors to bring in a breeze, and Sam was already setting out wineglasses, filling each one with cabernet. Birdie placed the cheese board on the coffee table and the group gathered around, with a snoozing Abby adding a comforting note to the tense scene. Jules took a sip of the wine, then plunged in.
