The Belle and the Beard by Kate Canterbary (good book club books .txt) 📕

"I don't disagree with you," I said.

"The heart of this plan is giving you more time to do the things you're really, really good at and giving me access to your skills," she said. "That we get to reduce our costs and—most likely—increase our profits is a very nice added bonus." She reached over, squeezed my forearm. "I think it would be really cool to work with you. Even though I've had a staff, it's always felt like it's just me. It wouldn't feel like that with you."

"I'm not saying no," I said. "I just need time to think it over. That's all."

"Okay," Magnolia said, her hands on either side of her belly. "I need to stand up because I can't take a deep breath in this position and I'm also ready for food. Why don't we give Linden some time with the documents. It's not like I'm in any rush with this."

I helped her to her feet while Ash shuffled the papers back in the file. "It would be nice to get this resolved before year-end," he said.

"That doesn't mean it's going to happen," Magnolia said. "Come on. We need to get back out there before Mom plans anything else."

16

Jasper

I didn't know if I was allowed to, but I loved Diana.

She was hysterical. Really, truly hysterical. She was all out of fucks but also a fireball, and I liked that combination. Hell, I wanted to be that combination.

"Hot plates, hot plates," she said as she carried two dishes to the dining room table.

I'd offered to help, obviously, but she banished me to the table with Zelda after we transferred some roasted vegetables to a serving plate and tucked the napkins through beaded rings. She'd made those herself, Diana informed us, offering a detailed origin story of the beads and how she crafted the rings. She could make us some, if we liked.

"We're not waiting on your father," Diana sang as she settled the dishes on trivets. "If he's late to supper, he'll eat leftovers."

"Isn't it almost dark out?" Magnolia asked. "How is he still golfing?"

"It doesn't have to make sense, dear," Diana replied.

"How about a drink?" Linden asked from the doorway, several bottles of wine and beer cradled in his arm.

"Yes, please," Rob said, holding up his glass. "Whatever you're pouring, give it to me."

"You make it seem like your life is dreadful and requires drowning in any available liquor," Magnolia said.

"That is not it at all, my love," he said. "More like I just spent half an hour talking someone out of hosting a gender reveal party."

"But everyone knows we're having boys," Magnolia said.

"I know." Rob nodded aggressively. "I know. She wants to do it anyway. At the very minimum, there will be a baby brunch."

"What the hell is a baby brunch?" Magnolia asked.

Rob stared at her. "Does it even matter?"

"Oh my god," Magnolia groaned. She elbowed Ash. "Can't you just get married and distract her?"

Ash shook his head at her belly. "You got yourself into this. Get yourself out."

Linden pulled the cork on a bottle of red wine and filled Rob's glass. "To your health, my friend."

"What do you have for beer?" Zelda asked.

"I grabbed that white ale you liked last time," Linden said, showing her the label on a growler. "Does that work for you?"

"Oh yeah." She held up the wineglass beside her plate. "Should I get a different kind of glass?"

"I'll get it," Ash said to her, dropping a kiss on the crown of her head as he stood. To Linden, he said, "I'll take a glass of red."

"Red for Ash, red for Dad," Linden said to himself, "ale for Zelda, Diet Pepsi for Mom, black cherry seltzer and a splash of ale on the side for Maggie because she's weird and needs to smell beer, stout for me. That's everyone. Good. All set."

"What about Jasper?" Magnolia asked, her brows pinched up like she was deeply offended on my behalf. "You didn't mention her."

He stepped away, grabbed a bottle off the sideboard table. "I've got Jasper covered." He dropped a hand to my shoulder and held out the bottle to me. "Is this what you want tonight? Or something else?"

It was my bottle. The same one I'd had the night he visited me on the back porch. The same one he'd pulled out of his refrigerator the night we ate stew and popovers, the night I'd assumed it was a great big coincidence.

"That's perfect," I managed. My cheeks were hot. So hot. They had to be glowing red right now. "Thank you."

"No problem, Peach."

"There you are," Diana said as an older man dressed in golf gear bustled in from the hall. "We almost sent out a search party." She gave me an aggrieved frown. "Jasper, this is Carlo. My very tardy husband."

"Sorry I'm late, sorry I'm late," he said as he settled into his chair at the head of the table.

"Where have you been?" Diana asked. "Your round was supposed to finish two hours ago."

"The group ahead of us was moving slowly. Everything got backed up." He lifted his hands and offered a sheepish shrug. "I'm glad you didn't wait for me."

"You know I don't wait around when the food is hot and ready," she replied. "Especially not when we have a guest. Carlo, say hello to Linden's friend, Jasper."

He glanced around the table as if he needed a minute to find me in the sea of faces. As soon as he did, I felt something twist inside me. Something ominous.

"Good lord, you're the woman from the television. The one with the senator from Georgia."

I'd forgotten. For the past few days, I'd put Timbrooks and my hot-mic moment out of my mind. I'd forgotten long enough to be caught off guard and now I couldn't move. I couldn't even breathe.

"Dad," Linden warned.

There was a long, pulsing moment when everyone was completely silent. It was like the quiet between dropping a glass and when it hit the floor.

Then it shattered.

"I knew you looked familiar,"