The others lost it laughing.
“I’d be offended if she wasn’t absolutely right,” Ella said.
“The Abbotts and Colemans can be a tough crowd, but I’ve found them to be worth the effort,” Megan said.
“Same,” Cameron said.
“Yep,” Lucy said.
“Agreed,” Emma said.
“That’s certainly been my experience so far,” Dani added.
“I don’t really know what I want to do,” Amanda said, “but it might be something to do with writing and telling stories. I’m fascinated by people and what makes them tick. For instance, I could write for days about what’s gone on in this living room since I arrived.” While the others laughed, she continued. “I’ve met so many interesting people through my work, and I always want to know more about them, but there never seems to be enough time to dig into their stories the way I’d like to. That interests me.”
Lucy glanced at Cameron. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”
“I’m thinking exactly what you’re thinking.”
“Can one of you clue in the rest of us?” Hannah asked.
“We’ve been talking about how we might personalize the catalog with more stories about the people who work for the company, like Mildred Olsen and Elmer, to start with,” Cameron said. For Amanda’s benefit, she said, “As you know, Elmer’s parents started the business, and Mildred is in her nineties and is the company’s longest-tenured employee.”
“I’d love to write those stories, but I’ve never really done anything like that before, although I have written catalog copy—tons of it, actually.”
“Tell you what,” Lucy said. “How about you give it a whirl with those two, and if we don’t think they add quality to the catalog, we reserve the right to say so?”
“That’d be amazing!” Amanda said, thrilled and overwhelmed.
“Good, then you’re hired,” Cameron said.
“Thank you so much!” Amanda couldn’t recall the last time a professional challenge interested her as much as this one did.
“Thank you for offering,” Lucy said. “Since we had this brilliant idea, we’ve been trying to figure out how to implement it. We’ll get in touch with you tomorrow to coordinate times.”
“Now that you guys have concluded this staff meeting,” Ella said, “I want to know what else is on Amanda’s list of things to do with her second chance.”
“And I want to know what would be on your list if you were me,” Amanda said. “What would going wild look like to you, or what would you do if you could do anything you wanted?”
Chapter Twelve
“If I can create the minimum of my plans and desires,
there shall be no regrets.”
—Bessie Coleman
The other women appeared to give Amanda’s question some considerable thought.
“If I had everything to do over,” Hannah said, “I might’ve made a run at acting.”
“Really?” Ella asked. “I’ve never heard you say that before.”
“I used to love being in school plays and thought for a while I might do something with that, but then Caleb and I got married, and one thing led to another, and here I am at thirty-seven, remarried with a baby, another on the way, and it’s not something I think much about anymore. What about you guys? What would you do?”
“I would’ve had more sex,” Cameron said bluntly.
“Do tell,” Ella said, smiling.
“I was always somewhat timid in that regard, and I wonder now why I was like that. What would it matter if I’d had safe sex with more guys?”
“It wouldn’t have mattered,” Megan said. “I agree with you. More is more in that regard.” She glanced at Amanda. “I hope you don’t think we’re suggesting you run around and do it with every guy you meet.”
Amanda laughed. “I know what you mean, and I hear what you’re saying. It’s all about living life to the fullest, however that may be for you.”
“Exactly,” Cameron said. “And believe me, I don’t sit around pining for the old days when I woulda, coulda, shoulda with guys I used to know. I am more than satisfied in that regard with Will.”
“Ew,” Charley said. “Stop right there.”
“Me, too,” Megan said. “With Hunter.”
“Same,” Emma said. “Grayson.”
“I can’t with you people,” Charley said, making a disgusted face.
“Count me in—with Lucas,” Dani said, sticking her tongue out at Charley, who groaned and covered her ears.
“So besides all the sex,” Amanda said, smiling, “what else do you guys wish you’d done or still want to do?”
“I have no regrets about anything,” Emma said. “I have my daughter, and now we have Gray, and I love our life here. I don’t sit around wishing for anything other than exactly what I have right now.”
“That’s very sweet,” Amanda said. “It must be so comforting to feel you’re exactly where you belong.”
“It is. I went through a lot of years of uncertainty and difficulty to get where I am now, so maybe that helps me to know a good thing when I have it.”
“I agree with my sister,” Lucy said. “After I met Colton, things just seemed to fall into place for me in all aspects of my life. That’s not to say I wasn’t fine before him, but I’m so much better with him than I was by myself.”
Megan nodded in agreement. “I feel the same way, although I wasn’t as ‘fine’ before Hunter as you were before Colton. I was kind of spinning, trying to figure myself out, and Hunter definitely helped me to get to what mattered to me. He encouraged me to pursue my desire to write novels, and I’m working on my first one now.”
“I love that,” Amanda said. “That’s exactly the kind of thing I’m talking about. What is it that I’ve always wanted to do, and how do I make that happen? The lesson I’ve learned is that the future is right now. Don’t put off the things you want to do, or you might never do them.”
“I think it’s so cool that you’re reevaluating everything after the fire,” Ella said. “A lot of people would’ve curled up into a ball after something like that.”
“I did that for the first few days, but since then, I’m trying to stay focused on making some changes.”
“I can’t help but ask,” Hannah said tentatively, “how our brother fits into that.”
“He’s agreed to be my partner in crime,” Amanda replied.
“For now or… Well…” Hannah shook her head. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to pry, but I don’t get the feeling from him that he’s looking for a temporary adventure. I think he might be ready for more than that.”
“We’ve talked about it, and we’ve agreed to take it a day at a time and see what happens.”
“Fair enough,” Hannah said. “He’s my baby brother. I guess I’m a little protective.”