Seeing Us by Audrey Wick

Author:Audrey Wick [Wick, Audrey]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Christian Fiction, inspirational fiction, Clean and Wholesome Novels, Religion and Spirituality
ISBN: 9781522304135
Publisher: Pelican Book Group
Published: 2023-04-20T00:00:00+00:00

Thirteen

Paige, Katrina, and Esmee were as excited to receive Danica’s text as she was to send it. They each replied with their own version of “We’re in!” one by one.

Paige and Esmee had young kids at home, but their respective husbands were happy to take the reins for an evening. Esmee, a stay-at-home mom, was especially glad to get out of the house. “An excuse to put on a dress!”

Esmee’s newborn was the latest reminder to Danica that some of her friends were in committed relationships and starting families of their own. But all of them kept having to remind Esmee not to lose herself to her child.

“We don’t have to be your excuse for a dress.” Danica made sure to reply to Esmee’s text with a winking emoji. Even so, she was glad for her friend’s excitement.

Danica was ready to relax over drinks, snacks, and conversation. Decompressing from the stress of the work week with her girlfriends was time well spent. But as much as relaxation was at the forefront, Danica also wanted to debrief from Grady’s call. Esmee may not see through her mommy fog enough to offer much in the way of explanation, but perhaps Paige and Katrina could weigh-in with an analysis in a way that perhaps Danica had overlooked.

Whatever the outcome, they would need sustenance to help them. First, Danica checked her stash of beverages for soda and seltzer. Then, she checked the fridge. There was a fresh lemon she could slice along with a jar of olives she recovered from the back shelf. All the ingredients for mocktail drinks!

She lowered her set of four martini glasses from a high shelf along with the stainless-steel cocktail shaker. Bending to the cabinet below, she slid a slate cheese plate and a bamboo cutting board from their slots. A Texas-shaped serving bowl rounded out the containers she needed.

Danica’s foodie fetish for artisan cheeses resulted in her always having a tasty selection on hand. She grabbed a triangle of Gorgonzola, her favorite soft Camembert, aged Cheddar yet to be opened, and a nub of firm Manchego. She angled the cheeses around the board before searching her pantry for something to fill in the gaps and provide extra visual and taste bud appeal.

“Bingo!” She grabbed a jar of roasted almonds, two snack-sized boxes of dried cranberries, and a baking bag of dark chocolate chips. Sprinkling the chocolate first, she arranged the rest of the snacks in small mounds, creating an attractive presentation.

“All this needs is a couple of spreaders.” She murmured directions to herself as she procured two from the back of her utensil drawer. She cut a cucumber into rounded circles and added what was left of a half bag of baby carrots on the bamboo tray. She slid a container of hummus next to it, pleased with that impromptu appetizer as well. Crispy tortilla chips poured into the heart of Texas completed the spread.

Danica dusted her hands on a dishtowel, admiring how everything came together on such short notice.

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