The Spinster's Club

Epilogue

"What are you doing?"

Amy slapped Seb's hand and he sheepishly withdrew from the chocolate tentacle display. "But it looks so delicious."

"Of course it does. Romy is, and I quote Chocolatier Magazine, 'a genius in her vision and creation of delectable treats'. "

"No good to look at them without tasting." Seb lit up. "Oh, there's a waiter. Be right back."

Amy shook her head in surprise and amusement. She thought she knew everything about her husband but he always did something to surprise her. This sudden chocolate splurge was a case in point. And Amy was going to need to speak with Romy about that.

Her belly rumbled and Amy cupped her hand over it. "Hold on Rosie, I'll get you something to eat."

She made her way through the crowd to the doors that led to the kitchen. The shop was bigger than Romy's first but still too small for the crowd of people that was there.

They should have thought a little harder about combining the launch of Romy's second store with the launch party of her own Book 2 in her Chocolate Tentacles series.

"Who knew women like alien sex so much?" Amy whispered to her belly.

"Well I'm not surprised," came a familiar voice. "Just add chocolate and you own women's hearts everywhere."

"Romy." Amy grinned at her blue haired friend. "Congrats."

"Double congrats to you." Romy giggled and pat Amy's protruding belly. "Although how much of that is baby and how much is my chocolate?"

"You have to stop sending care packages to me," Amy complained. "Seb keeps eating all the chocolate. He's gained almost as much as I have and I'm pregnant."

"Not that pregnant. Aren't you only past your first trimester?"

"Pregnant enough that Cass insists on face-timing me daily and making me do Kegels. I hate it. Seb seems to enjoy it though."

"And you can do them while you're mixing chocolate or while having sex," Romy said and winked.

"Oh my Lord, she's doing it to you too." Amy shook her head. "Can I sit?"

"Of course, don't mind the chaos. Wasn't expecting we'd get so many people to our party."

"No surprises." Amy sunk onto the chair Romy pulled out for her. "We deserve the accolades."

"Ha." Romy picked up a bowl and tasted its contents. "Nope." The bowl clattered to the table. "I never dreamed it. And it was all thanks to that stupid bet."

~*~*~

"That stupid bet is going to make for a great story for the kids one day. When are you planning on popping out a few? With the amount of 'practice' you and David are having I'm surprised you're not already knocked up."

Romy colored but it was more for the memory of said practice that she and David had had that morning, rather than the comment itself. Honestly, if they kept it up she was going to need a chiropractor more than a decent midwife. Still, with CeCe now being the mother to triplets and Amy well on the way with Rosie, she couldn't help but start to feel a little clucky.

"Who knows, Ames; I guess when the time's right."

"You don't still have doubts about him, do you? I thought you were over that?"

"The doubts are never about him; I love him so much it's like a physical ache. I mean the man surprised me with a trip to Vancouver just so I could meet THE Stephen Amell for my birthday, so how could I not? It's his job that makes me fret. That accident last month could have been tragic if not for some quick thinking by his mates."

Amy rested her hand on Romy's arm, giving her a sympathetic smile. "I know sweets but it's the nature of the beast in his line of work. He could just as easily be hit by a car crossing the road. I'm not saying you don't have cause to worry; we all worry with you but you can't stop living or putting off things that make you happy now for a whole bunch of what-ifs and maybes." To lighten the mood a little she added "Besides, you're not getting any younger and I don't want to wait until my baby is in college for you to give her a friend to play with."

Romy smiled and hugged her friend. The words weren't dismissed out of hand and she was grateful to have someone to confide in. She was grateful for all her friends, even the absent CeCe and Carlos. Thinking about the absent friends reminded her she still hadn't seen Cass and thought to go look for her. That's when Amy grabbed her attention.

"Don't look now but Fireman McHottie just walked in. Don't tell Séb but I think I love your man. Or it could be the hormones..."

Romy only half heard what Amy said next, instead focusing on the man who was crossing the floor. All thoughts of finding Cass were now long gone.

~*~*~

Cass told herself she was just waiting for the song on the radio to finish before she joined the festivities in the shop, but that was four songs ago. If only the radio station hadn't played YMCA just as she pulled into the parking spot.

Hearing that song had brought it all back: that stupid bet, Urs teasing her about her YMCA fantasies about bikers, fireman and construction workers, that magic week with him when he'd encouraged her to think about following her dreams, and then the sad realisation that his life was on the coast, and that at least for now, she was stuck here. They'd parted company soon after. She tried not to take it personally. After all, he was only in town to support his sister after she'd had her baby. There'd never been any talk of him moving here – and to be honest, she hadn't expected him to. So she'd taken the supervisor job she'd been applying for when she first saw him at Aroma's and tried to make the best of it.

It might have worked too, had Cece, Amy and Romy's lives not been so vastly improved by the Spinster club bet. She was glad for them, truly she was, but with two of them falling pregnant almost straight away, and Romy opening not one but two Death by Chocolate shops with the unwavering support of her David and Amy turning into a overnight literary success. Well it was almost enough to make Cass want to cry.

What had she gotten out of the challenge? A few laughs, sure, but she'd gotten herself stuck with a job loathed - except for the pay packet.
At least I can afford to get myself a decent car at last, she thought as the frayed steering wheel cover tickled her arm. Rotten heap of shit. I definitely won't be taking this with me.

Another song came on the radio and she groaned. Was this some kind of attack on her emotions tonight? She lowered her head onto her arms over the steering wheel and muttered darkly. "Damn you, Josh Groban. I know I should have done this sooner. You don't have to remind me with your inspirational crap." Still it was a nice song and she hummed a few bars before she noticed her handbag sitting on the passenger seat with the official letter half poking out, almost urging her to share her news.

She'd tried to get here before the crowds arrived, but that hadn't gone quite to plan thanks to a dodgy starter motor, and now she was having second, make that third thoughts about accepting the offer. It wasn't too late to decline.

And then what? Hadn't that been the whole point of the bet. To get out of our comfort zone and improve our lives?

Well I don't want to only do admin, and I want more for myself than simply being known Auntie Cass to Amy and Cece's children. I want more than this shitty car or even the latest model of this shitty car. This is my last chance to make something of my life, so I'm gonna do it – and I'm gonna tell them right now, whether they want to hear it or not.

Her pep talk did the trick and she scrambled out of the car and bumped the door shut with her hip. Then she had to come back and lock the door properly because the catch hadn't caught. But she refused to be discouraged. She strode over the brightly lit entrance, threw her shoulders back and pasted a smile on her face, then walked in.

Before she knew it she had a glass of champagne in one hand and her other hand was hovering over a tray of identical, perfectly glossy, hand decorated chocolate tentacles being offered to her by Seb.

"I can't believe she actually made a mould for these." Cass held up one exquisitely decorated morsel to the light. "And is that an actual sucker on there? Get out of town. That's great!" and she popped one into her mouth. Her eyes closed with pleasure as the flavour exploded on her tongue.

"Good, Non?" said Seb with a knowing grin. "Have another," and he popped another into his own mouth.

"Oh My God." She grabbed two more, then looked around. "Where's Amy?" she said through a mouthful of chocolate.

"Over there talking with Romy."

"Sorry Seb. I've got some news for them – and it won't keep." She started across the room. Seb went to follow her and Cass waited for him to catch up. "You can only come along if you bring the chocolates too."
"You drive a hard bargain, but OK" he grinned. "Shall we?" and he offered her his other arm.

"Look who I have found." Seb announced as they drew closer to the girls.

"I was starting to worry you weren't going to make it" said Amy.

Cass looked offended. "Now when Have I EVER missed any of the major milestones in your life?"

"Well there was the wedding in Vegas." Romy chimed in helpfully.

"But we made up for that with the party when we came back." agreed Amy.
"And I was there for that." said Cass. "Next?"

"What about the baby?" Amy patted her slightly protruding tummy.

"I certainly wasn't at the conception! I should hope not." Cass gasped in mock horror.

"Anyway we'll be doing the baby shower before she pops, won't we Cass?" said Romy happily.

"Uh – well funny you should say that Romy. I er might not be here."

"And where will you be?' Amy snapped - all traces of banter now gone.

"Well that's just the thing. I received this in the mail today," and she pulled out the envelope and handed it to Amy.

"What is it?" Romy craned to see so Amy moved a little closer. Together they read the letter and their jaws dropped simultaneously.

"You got the senior physio job at Westport Maternity?" Amy almost squealed.

"But what about your new job here?" asked Romy.

Cass shook her head. "You know I hated it. I only applied for it because it meant a promotion. But I miss working with my ladies and their pelvic floors."

"Tell me about it," Amy said dryly. "I'm doing my Kegels right now, you realise." And her eyes crossed just a little.

"Really?" said Seb squirming, as if not quite sure if it was the hottest thing he'd heard- or the worst.

"But why Westport? It's so far away,"wailed Romy. "And who am I .... Um going to be NOT pregnant with? You can't desert me like this!"

"We can always skype and bitch about their stretchmarks," Cass laughed and dug Romy in the ribs.

"Who's talking about stretchmarks?" David appeared behind Romy. "Oh cool. Thanks." And he took a handful of tentacles.

"No one." said Romy quickly. "Cass has some exciting news. She's been offered a job at a new maternity hospital in Westport."

"The new one in the old waterside district?" David asked.

"You know it?" Cass asked.

"Oh yeah. I think I heard about if from my cousin Pete. He's in the construction game. New state of the art hospitals doesn't come along every day in this current economic climate."

Everyone nodded in agreement. Cass felt momentarily guilty for rejecting her current job. Many had no job at all.

"Aren't you glad that people still buy chocolate in tough times then? Who knew we would be opening our second shop so soon after our first?" said David.

"I'll drink to that" said Amy and Romy.

"And I'll drink to Chocolate Tentacles Volume two and many more books by Veronica Blue" said Cass, raising her glass.

"And many more babies too," said Seb.

"And here's to an amazing professional sea change for Cass, and I mean that quite literally." said David with a chuckle. "Westport's a long way from here."

"Hear,hear," they all said.

"Thanks guys. I hate to leave you all, but I think I owe it to myself to give it a try. Besides, it's not like I can't come back and visit you all – or you can't come and visit me."

"Damn straight," said Amy, her voice becoming suspiciously thick. "I know, I've got the perfect toast. Here's to the wonderful ladies of the Spinster's club and to new directions, wherever they may lead us."

"I'll definitely drink to that." said Cass. "But not quite yet, OK? We've got books, babies and tentacles to celebrate tonight."

~*~*~