The Book Club Rescue

The Book Club Rescue Chapter 5

5

Piper was worried.

Harriet, Mary Jane, Josie, and June didn't make it to dinner or to the Beatles show. They did hear from them. Some kind of garbled message. It sounded like they were saying they wouldn't make it but not to worry. They must've been in a bad cell area.

Blossom sent them a text, but they didn't respond. Several of the other ladies tried as well. She also sent them a dozen or so pictures. From dinner and from the show. It wasn't completely surprising that the ladies didn't respond since they weren't the most tech savvy in the group, and while they had phones, it didn't mean they were always on or that they even bothered looking at them.

She breathed a sigh of relief when their caravan of three cars pulled into the driveway of the house, and she saw Josie's car sitting there. The lights inside were on as well, which was a good sign. She couldn't possibly imagine why the four would miss dinner or waste the prepaid tickets.

Everyone was curious and hurried to unload the cars and get inside to find out what was going on with their friends. First they grabbed their shopping bags out of the trunk not bothering to sort out which bag belonged to who. They'd do that once they were inside.

When Piper stepped into the living room, she stopped right in her tracks. Her mouth gaped open, and she could feel her eyes widen.

"Hello ladies," Harriet said. "I'd like for you all to meet my new friend, Carmen."

Piper immediately recognized the young girl from the restaurant but couldn't process why or how she could be in their living room.

***

Harriet was beside herself with excitement. The last three hours had been excruciating. Waiting for the ladies to get home. She hadn't answered their texts because she wanted them to be surprised.

Boy were they!

"Everyone, this is Carmen. We rescued her."

After the ladies got over their shock, they put on their friendliest faces. Carmen was sitting on the couch, clearly nervous. This had to be a lot for her to take in. She was sitting on her hands, with a forced smile on her face.

"What are you doing here?"

"What happened?"

"How did you rescue her?"

"Is this why you didn't come to dinner?"

"Obviously."

"Please don't ask any questions right now," Harriet said. "I'll explain everything later. Carmen's had a rough go of it. Just love on her a bit."

Which everyone in the room was an expert at doing. Blossom and Edie were already sitting next to her on the couch almost before Harriet finished her sentence. They gave her big hugs. Blossom brushed the girl's hair to the side. The other ladies gathered around and greeted her.

Carmen looked a little overwhelmed.

"Step back a little. Give her a chance to breathe," June said.

"I want to say hi."

The ladies were jostling to get a better look and make sure they had a chance to greet her.

"You're so pretty."

"I love your hair."

"Where are you from?"