Isabel tossed her menu on the table. “I’m walking.”
“I’m gestating,” Felicia said. “Jo has agreed to make me a nutritious smoothie that will aid fetal development.”
“We drove,” Larissa said, glancing at Taryn. “It’s her shoes.”
Taryn reached for her bag and dug out a pair of flats she kept tucked away for emergencies. “I can stagger back to the office if you can.”
Larissa’s eyes lit up. “I say we go for margaritas.”
Consuelo rested her head on her hand. “Me, too. Getting drunk sounds like fun.”
Isabel waved at Jo. “A pitcher of margaritas for the table. And nachos.”
Jo studied them. “You girls are getting wild. Everyone walking?”
They all nodded.
“Margaritas it is. And a smoothie for Felicia.”
Less than five minutes later Taryn was sipping the cold sweet-tart drink and waiting for the tequila to work its magic. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d sat around with girlfriends over drinks and just had a good time. Probably because she’d never been very good at finding girlfriends. After her mom had left, she’d emotionally shut down. She’d been too scared of her dad to invite anyone over. What if he’d shown up drunk?
After running away, she’d spent all her time trying to keep herself fed and safe. She hadn’t had time for wasted afternoons. Eventually whatever small girl-talk skills she’d managed to acquire had atrophied. Until she’d moved here.
Not that she was going to tell the boys she was really settling in to life in Fool’s Gold.
“I am very close to the unveiling of the newly remodeled Paper Moon,” Isabel said, reaching for her drink. “I’m really happy with how everything has turned out.” She looked at Taryn. “Madeline is working out well. She’s come into her own with the bridal half of the business.”
“Better for you.” Taryn knew that Isabel preferred working with the designers and buying inventory than dealing with the emotional ups and downs of brides-to-be.
“It is. She’s really patient with them. She can handle the mothers and mothers-in-law, which is an art.” She paused. “I really want to keep her in the store. Right now a monetary bonus isn’t going to happen, but I was thinking maybe a small percentage of ownership.”
Dellina glanced between them. “That sounded like a question, not a statement. Are you looking for advice?” She turned to Taryn. “I didn’t know you’d been in retail.”
Taryn could already feel the tequila going to work—probably because she was starving. No doubt Isabel was reacting to the same. Otherwise, this was a conversation they would have had in private.
“I haven’t,” Taryn said, deciding there was no point in hiding the truth. Not that it had ever been a secret. More like something she hadn’t shared with a bunch of people. “I’m an investor in Isabel’s business.”
“More than that,” Isabel told them. “She basically paid for the remodeling. I used my savings to put a large down payment on buying the business.”
Consuelo raised her eyebrows. “Buying local?”
Larissa stared at her. “That’s so nice. I’m surprised.”
Dellina chuckled. “You’re saying she’s not nice?”
“What?” Larissa shook her head. “No. Of course she’s nice. It’s just not always obvious. Like this.” She clapped her hands together. “You have to let Madeline be a part owner. It’s so perfect.”
Which was just like Larissa, Taryn thought affectionately. Leaping in without knowing all the facts but with the idea the world should be saved.
Taryn could have mentioned the venomous snake incident, but Larissa had finally stopped apologizing. She didn’t want to start that up again.
Jo arrived with two plates of nachos. Taryn stared at the steaming meat, the melted cheese and the piles of guacamole on top, and knew she was in for an extra session on the elliptical tomorrow. Still, she had a feeling it was going to be worth it.
She took her first bite and nearly groaned as she tasted the spices on the tender pork, along with the subtle heat of the salsa.
Felicia turned to Consuelo. “What’s wrong?” she asked.
“Nothing. Why do you ask? Why does something have to be wrong?”
That sounded tense even for the petite firecracker, Taryn thought. She saw everyone was staring at Consuelo, who glared at them.
Felicia poured her friend a second margarita. “You’re extremely tense. You keep shifting in your seat and you’re twisting your engagement ring so quickly I’m concerned you’ll injure yourself. You’re showing classic psychological signs of tension and anxiety.”
Taryn found herself grateful she was sitting across from the other two because Consuelo wasn’t the type to take that kind of criticism well. Taryn half expected to see her go on the attack. But Consuelo only slumped down in her seat and sighed heavily.
“It’s Kent,” she mumbled. “He wants us to set a date for the wedding.”