It Must Be Love

“Oh! I know.” Dominique stepped forward. “What was that guy’s name?” She squinted. “Evan. That’s it. He had an edge.”

“Yeah, Jewel.” Harper tilted her head. “What happened to him? He was really sexy.”

“Oh. I remember.” Dominique nodded. “He wasn’t an Ivy League man.”

“You’re a tough one, Jewel,” Harper said.

“Hey! You ladies make it sound horrible. I know you can’t always help who you fall in love with so I just try to make sure I don’t get too serious with anyone that I wouldn’t be equally yoked with. We have to have common goals, and share similar values. I want us to enjoy certain firsts together—like our first marriage, first child, etc. I had an Ivy League education and I prefer a man who shared in that experience. What’s so wrong with that?”

“When you put it that way—nothing I guess,” Dominique noted.

“See. I’m not a witch. I just have standards.”

“Just don’t let those standards get in the way of getting a great guy. You’ve let a few gems slip through your fingers already, miss.” Harper pointed her finger at Jewel.

“And there will always be more. Humph.” Jewel put down the shoebox that she’d just picked up. “I’m too hungry to shop for shoes. Let’s do this after brunch.”

Without hesitation, Dominique stepped up and Harper pulled off the shoes she’d been trying on and returned them to the box.

“Good because I’m starving!” Dominique said.

The trio left the shoe store located on the main road in the Hamptons and entered the eatery that sparked their outing. Sundry’s served a robust brunch with a mix of southern and French cuisine. The ladies were seated moments after entering.

Harper brought the conversation right back around after they placed orders. “Explain why Dayton didn’t work again. He was an Ivy Leaguer with no kids or ex-wives.”

“That man could never be taken seriously. He’s more allergic to commitment than I could ever be accused of. We had our fun, but it would take a lot more to tame Dayton Rivers. Dating him was fun when it was forbidden. Now that our families actually get along, we both agree it’s just not the same. Now it’s like we’re the best of friends.”

“I don’t know what’s going to work for you, Jewel.” Dominique took a piece of the warm bread the waiter placed in front of them and tore it in half.

“Right now, a mimosa and a—” Jewel stopped speaking. Dominique and Harper followed her gaze. The three of them watched as four handsome men passed their table following closely behind the restaurant’s hostess. With seductive smiles, the men watched them just as closely.

“Whew!” Harper turned back toward the table. “With all that eye candy we just took in, I may not need dessert.”

The three of them laughed.

“I’m still eating mine!” Jewel declared. They laughed harder.

Their meals arrived. The girls chatted around mouthfuls of cage-free omelets with crab and roasted asparagus, lemon brioche French toast and frittatas loaded with seasonal veggies.

“Can you believe it’s already been ten years since we graduated?” Jewel sighed and sipped the mimosa the waiter placed in front of her.

“I know.” Harper nodded her head. “It doesn’t feel like that much time has passed.”

“Dominique!” Jewel sat taller. “What’s the name of that guy who had that crush on you the entire time we were in school?”

“Oh!” Harper put her hand on her forehead. “I remember him. He had a unique name.”

Dominique squinted. “I can’t recall his name, but I saw him a few years ago and he was gorgeous. He married some model and moved to Europe.”

“Yes!” Jewel snapped her finger. “Basil!” she almost shouted. “I went through my mental Rolodex of spices. I knew it couldn’t be oregano.”

Dominique’s cheeks puffed. Quickly she covered her mouth to keep the champagne and orange juice from exploding all over the table. She gulped and released her laugh. The incident elicited more laughter from Jewel and Harper. Guests at surrounding tables looked over smiling as if they wished they could be part of the fun.

Wiping a tear from her eye, Harper shook her head. “We never know what’s coming out of that mouth of yours.”

Jewel’s smile spanned wider. It took several moments for the girls to recover from another round of laughter.

“Whew!” Jewel sat back catching her breath. “I remember you refused to date Basil because he was so quiet. He was good-looking back then.”

“I know, but I was afraid he’d be boring.”

Jewel raised her flute as if to toast. “Yeah. That wouldn’t have been fun.”

“Not. At. All,” Harper added.

The women became quiet for a moment as they ate and enjoyed the atmosphere. Jewel contemplated her life since high school as she absently lifted the fork to her mouth. The reunion was just a few days away. Had she accomplished all that she wanted by this time in her life? Her younger self anticipated being married by now. The mature Jewel couldn’t see it since the opportunity hadn’t presented itself in an appropriate enough package. Of course she’d come across a few opportunities, but now many of the gentlemen that did meet her standards were already committed or having too much fun to bother committing. She wasn’t sure if she was ready for all of that anyway. She was having her share of fun as well.

“Jewel.”

“Huh?” She looked up into two quizzical faces.

“You didn’t hear Harper calling you?”

“What’s on your mind?” Dominique put her fork down and folded her arms. “Spill it.”

“I just wonder if we’re going to be the only single ladies at this reunion?” Jewel sighed. How would that look?

Chapter 2 (#ubb662c22-3c27-5e66-8fd9-8ceb0e69ba20)

“When is Kylee coming?” Charles Bishop sat back in his tall chair at the head of the table. The Sunday brunch spread before him was like a feast fit for a king’s court.

“In just a few weeks, Dad. School ends earlier there.” Sterling sank his teeth into one of his mother’s homemade biscuits and couldn’t help but moan. He looked forward to his family’s monthly brunch—a tradition his mother, Patricia Bishop, or Patti as most called her, started once life began to steer her adult children in varying directions. It was her way to keep them all connected.

Patti clapped her hands together. “I can’t wait to see my baby girl. I think I’ll take her with me to California in July. What do you think about that, Sterling? It will only be a week.” Patti continued without giving Sterling a chance to respond. “Sandra’s grandkids will be there too. We could take the girls to Disneyland. Yes.” His mom confirmed her plan right then. “Kylee will love it. When does she have to go back to Chicago?”

“Kylee would definitely love that,” Sterling’s sister Taylor interjected. “I may have to go and chaperone.”

“No need for you to chaperone. Sandra and I can handle Kylee and the girls.”

“Not for Kylee—for you and Aunt Sandra! I know how you two get when you’re together.” She reached across the table and sliced the butter with a small knife and spread it across the top of her biscuit. Patti laughed and gave her daughter a dismissive wave.

“You just want to go to Disney.” Sterling winked at his sister.

“You saw right through that, huh?” Taylor held her hand over her mouth and laughed. “You’re never too old for Disney.”

“Speaking of which. I may need to borrow Kylee a few Saturdays.” Stephan’s comment elicited questionable expressions from the rest of the family including Sterling. “I have a couple of events where she would prove to be...” Stephan stretched his eyes, seeming to search for the right word. “Helpful.”

Taylor rolled her eyes and then directed her attention to Sterling with the tip of her fork. “Sterl, you know he intends to use your daughter to catch women, right?” She turned back to Stephan with a shake of her head. “Kids are not like carrots to a rabbit. You can’t lure women with a six-year-old.”