With a laugh, Anna patted her baby belly. “We just found out yesterday. Think pink!”
As easy as that, Sonya thought, they transitioned from hauntings to babies. Engaging others stood as one of Cleo’s top skills.
“Who runs the world?” Cleo sang. “Got a name?”
“The middle name’s easy. My mother-in-law’s first name and my mom’s middle is Kate. For the first name, we’ve got our list down to, oh, about a dozen. We’re hoping to tighten that up before she starts preschool. But now that we know, decorating the nursery’s top of the list.
“And since I happen to know an artist or two, I may hit them up for advice.”
“I’m there!”
Now Sonya laughed. “Cleo’s a baby magnet, or babies are a magnet for Cleo. Was helping with nursery decor what you wanted to talk to me about?”
“Oh no, that one just came to me. It was some other things. One was about work. They can wait.”
“Now’s fine. Did you want something changed on the website?”
“Not a change. Bay Arts is having their May Day open house in a few weeks, and I’m one of the featured artists. I wondered if we could do something to promote it on my site.”
“Not only could but should.” Sonya took out her phone to take notes. “Dates, times?”
“Second weekend in May, ten to eight on Saturday, noon to six on Sunday.”
“It’s annual?”
“They do a weekend every year, second weekend in May, and for the holidays, the second weekend in December. Featured artists, some demonstrations, specials, refreshments, door prizes.”
Nodding, Sonya got it all down. “They’ll do their own promotions, flyers, but we can do a flash on your social media. Do they include online sales?”
“Absolutely.”
“Okay, we’ll do a card to include in the sales off your site, hyping it up.”
“That’s good. I wouldn’t have thought of that.”
“That’s my job. I can send you some options tomorrow.”
She set her phone aside. “What else is on your mind?”
“The other was … well, it’s personal.”
“I’ll just go haul another suitcase upstairs.”
“No, don’t leave,” Anna said as Cleo started to get up. “It’s clear the two of you are close, so you’d know Sonya and Trey are seeing each other.”
Cautious, Sonya trailed a finger around the rim of her glass. “He told you.”
“No, and he wouldn’t unless I asked directly. But you’ve had dinners together at the Lobster Cage, and he’s made the turn on Manor Road several times lately.”
She smiled, shrugged. “News doesn’t travel in Poole’s Bay. It sprints.”
“Do you have a problem with Trey and me?”
“Oh God, no.” In a pushback gesture, Anna lifted her hands. “The opposite. Polar opposite. I love my brother, even when I want to kick him in the balls. He’s so damn reasonable. You can’t win a fight against his unwavering reasonable. It’s frustrating. But I love him anyway.”
“Reasonable,” Sonya agreed. “And the calm. The absolute calm. It’s both annoying and admirable. It’s annoyingly admirable.”
“There, see? You get him.”
On the table, Sonya’s phone sang out: “Whatta Man.”
Easing back, Anna crossed her arms over her baby bump. “Do you ever get used to that?”
“Somehow, you do.”
“Not sure I would, and it makes me really miss wine. But in any case, I’m happy Trey’s with someone who gets him. I caught the carefully contained sparkage between you when we all had dinner, but I’m surprised he moved on that before Christmas.”
“I might have nudged the timetable up a bit.”
“And again, there.” Reaching over, she squeezed Sonya’s hand. “It’s not as if either of you need my approval, but you’ve got it anyway. And I have to go. I didn’t intend to stay so long.
“This was really nice,” she added as she rose. “My best friend moved to Montana last summer. I miss her even more than wine, margaritas, and a second cup of coffee.”
“Is she looking for a cowboy?” Cleo wondered as they walked to the door.
“In Lena’s case that would be a cowgirl. Since she’s working on a ranch—childhood dream—I bet she finds one.”
“Come back,” Sonya told her. “You don’t need a reason.”