All thoughts were leading back to Martha’s outburst. Why would she have even decided to come to the group if she didn’t want to talk to others about their shared experience, cancer? At least Rarity thought Martha might be back. She’d bought the book they’d chosen for the month, Maybe she thought she’d finish the O’Neil book sooner than next week’s meeting. Rarity wasn’t sure Martha would like the more paranormal woman’s fiction, Magical Midlife Dating by KE Greene, but she knew Holly and Malia would love it.

  Anyway, Martha seemed committed to the reading part of the group, even if she didn’t want to share more personal thoughts. Rarity pushed the worries about the book club away as she walked up the sidewalk to her new home.

  Rarity’s new home was a small sunshine-yellow cottage near the edge of town. It had cost more than she’d expected to pay, mostly because any property inside city limits was seen as having a possible commercial value. But the prior owners had taken care of the two-bedroom cottage and its outdoor area. She missed her grass yard, but the backyard deck with a hot tub and a bonus lap pool had been worth the extra money.

  Tonight, she planned to pour an extra-large glass of wine and slip on her swimsuit. She put a frozen dinner that she’d made herself a few weeks ago into the oven, poured her wine, then went to change. Cooking a few times a month, she had frozen a few weeks’ worth of meals for evenings like this when she was drained from work. Taking a towel and the wine out to the deck, she turned on the pool lights and went down the stairs to swim away the tension in her neck.

  Later, after she’d eaten and poured a second glass of wine, this one a little smaller, she opened the hot tub and set an alarm on her phone. She set the phone out of arm’s reach and slipped into the hot water, letting the jets massage away the rest of the tightness.

  As she relaxed, she thought about the women in her new group. Would they all stay? Right now, she had doubts about Kim and Martha. Kim, because she would probably become overwhelmed with the book club and the discussions. Rarity mused as she swirled the wine in the glass, letting the lights sparkle inside the liquid, considering that Martha’s exit would also stem from her being overwhelmed.

  One would be trying to learn to live while dying, the other trying to stop dying when she was living.

  Life was hard. Rarity closed her eyes as she let her body relax into the water and the night. Living after having believed you were dying was even harder.

  Chapter 3

  Rarity’s alarm went off at five the next morning. She stared, bleary eyed, at the numbers on the clock. It must be a mistake. She didn’t get up this early. Had someone come in and changed her wakeup times?

  Then she remembered. Sam’s hike. She dragged herself out of bed and went to stand under her rain-forest showerhead. She could swim before opening the store this morning. Or wait until after she got home. The one thing she wasn’t going to do was let the pool sit, unused. She’d sacrificed square footage in the cottage to get the house with the pool and still come in reasonably under budget.

  When she was ready, she grabbed a backpack and put a couple of water bottles inside as well as a few protein bars. Smoothing sunscreen over any exposed part of her body, she tucked that bottle inside the backpack, as well. She pulled on a ball cap that showed her love of a certain football team that had its home base in Dallas. She’d been a Rams fan, like most of St. Louis, until they’d moved away from the Gateway city. Then she had to change her allegiance.

  She felt like she was doing the same thing now. Finding out who and what she was now that she lived in Sedona.

  She made it to the hiking shop with ten minutes to spare. Annie’s Bakery was across the street, and Rarity wondered if she had time to grab some coffee to push away the cobwebs from that unwise second glass of wine last night.

  “Rarity, there you are.” Sam hurried toward her with two large coffees in hand. “I can’t believe you actually came.”

  She took the cup from Sam and took a sip before speaking. “I really need to figure out how to read you. I didn’t realize not showing up was an option. Thanks for the coffee, though.”

  “You’re welcome. I figured you’d stay up late after your book club thing.” Sam sat on a planter box that had been filled with gravel. No flowers in front of this shop. “Come sit and tell me what happened. Was it just you and Shirley again?”

  “No. I actually had five people show up. Six if you count me.” Rarity told her about the women who’d shown up and their stories. She left Martha for last. After she’d told her everything, she turned toward Sam. “Do you know this Martha Redding? Maybe she has a story?”

  Sam shook her head and then drained her coffee. “No, sorry. I have no idea who she is. Maybe she’ll connect with people and open up more as the weeks go by. Sometimes people don’t open up well in crowds.”

  “You can hardly call a group of six a crowd. But you might be right.” Rarity threw away her now-empty cup. She eyed the bakery. “Do you think I have time to run over there and grab a second cup? Do you want one?”

  “No, and no. You need to be here or our hiking guide will leave you behind. He’s been known to do it.”

  Rarity grinned at her friend. “You say that like it would be a bad thing.”

  “Ha-ha.” Sam pointed across the small crowd that had gathered to a bus that pulled up in front of the tour shop. It was an old school bus with Ender’s Tours painted on the side. “There’s our ride. He’s got our names on a list. Come on. We’re heading out to the Cathedral Rock area. You’re going to feel the vortex, I just know it.”

  Rarity tried not to roll her eyes, but a fellow hiker caught her. The older man laughed and pointed to the woman next to him.

  “My wife’s just the same. All this mumbo jumbo when all I want is a good hike.” He held out his hand. “Jonathon Anderson, and my wife’s name is Edith. Are you here visiting with your friend?”

  “Rarity Cole. Actually, I just moved here. My friend’s name is Sam, she runs the crystal shop in town. I’ve got the bookstore next door. I haven’t been able to do much sightseeing since I’ve been getting the store up and going.” She shook his hand.

  He stepped closer to her as they moved toward the bus entrance. “Tell me, do you carry any Tom Clancy in that store? Or is it all the new age stuff my wife buys?”

  “I’ve got a full section of mystery, thrillers, and spy novels. You should come by. I’m sure you’ll find something to read, and so will your wife. I’m curating a section of alternate healing topics.” Rarity leaned closer and whispered, “It was in my contract for the business license. I’m also required to carry at least a few books on alien visitation and Roswell.”

  He laughed, but then paused when he saw her face. “You’re joking, right?”

  Rarity smiled. “I guess you won’t know until you visit my store.”

  “That’s one way to get people in the door.” He helped his wife up the steps into the bus. “Are you open later today?”

  “Ten to six.” She paused at the driver, who had the clipboard. “I’m Rarity Cole.”

  “Thank you.” The driver made a mark by her name. “Archer Ender at your service. I understand you’re our newest business owner in town.”

  “I opened The Next Chapter downtown.” She took a step, then stopped. “If you need guidebooks of the area, I’d be glad to carry them for your customers.”

  “That’s not a bad idea.” Archer nodded to the back. “We’d better table this, or we’re going to miss our window to see the best wildlife.”

  The woman next in line took a step closer, forcing Rarity to step into the main cabin of the bus.

  “Sorry, you’re right.” Rarity scanned the bus and found Sam sitting near the back. She hurried over and sat next to her. “You left me.”

  “You snooze, you lose. Besides, I wanted to sit in the back. Archer needs new shocks on this thing so it’s bumpier back here.” Sam bounced on the seat.

  “And that’s a good thing?” Rarity caught Archer looking back at her and met his gaze. Which he quickly dropped. As she settled in next to Sam, she wondered what Archer’s story was. Single? In a relationship? She focused on Sam’s chatter and tried to keep her mind off the handsome man who was driving them out to the desert.

  Rarity had to admit, the hike was breathtaking. The heat, on the other hand, was overwhelming. She was used to St. Louis summers, but she’d dealt with the high heat and humidity by staying inside at the worst of the days. Here, she was purposely out hiking in the madness. But the view was totally worth it.

  She looked over and saw Archer standing near the edge. The overlook site was fenced off, but even with that, every tour she’d been on, some kid had to show off and put themselves in danger. She pulled out a bottle of cold water and a power bar from the bag she’d packed earlier. Archer had offered her water when she’d gotten off the bus so apparently she hadn’t needed to bring her own. Better to be prepared than thirsty, she mused. She sipped her water and sat on one of the metal benches where she could see across the valley.

  “That’s Cathedral Rock to your left.” Archer pointed to the large red rock formation as he sat on the bench next to her with his water bottle in hand. “Sensitive types swear they can feel the vortex as soon as we come into a few miles of the area. I appreciate the mythology, but really, I just enjoy the view.”

  “I have to say I agree with you.” Rarity looked over and saw Sam chatting with Jonathon and his wife. “Just don’t tell Sam. She’ll be disappointed that the vortex didn’t course through my body, healing all the dead cells and rejuvenating new ones.”

  “A physical trainer would tell you that’s the power of getting up off your butt to see the rocks in the morning, not the vortex itself.” He smiled as he leaned up against the backrest of the bench. “I should stop telling people my secret, or no one will book my tours. You’re not sick, are you? When I was having breakfast at the diner last week, I heard you opened a book club with an odd focus.”

  “Not really odd. Just a different perspective.” She smiled and decided to share a little with this complete stranger. No matter what the subject started with, as soon as someone found out that she’d survived cancer, they wanted to talk about their miraculous recovery from the disease. Or a friend who had died. It never failed. “I had cancer last year. I’m good now, but it makes you reconsider things.”

  “I bet. Sorry if I was making light of your situation.” He stood. “I guess I’d better get this hike going again. I know you have a bookstore to open.”

  And with that he was gone.

  On the bus on the way back, Rarity saw a familiar person on the street. She nudged Sam and then pointed out the window. “That’s Martha Redding. Right there in the parking lot of the grocery store.”

  Sam turned so she could see the woman. “From last night? Is she in the pink shorts and print shirt?”

  “That would be her. Look, she has dog food in her cart. Maybe I can use that to try to get her to bond next week. We can talk about our pets.”

  Sam turned and looked at her. “Except you don’t have a pet.”

  “Not yet. I wanted to get settled again. I think it’s time to hit the humane society this weekend. I suppose there’s not one in Sedona, right?”

  “Sorry, no. But I know a breeder or two. Goldendoodles are really popular, and they aren’t supposed to shed.” Sam pulled out her phone and started looking up contacts.

  “I’d rather have a rescue. I’d like to be feeling like I’m saving someone from a kill shelter.”

  Sam keyed something into her phone. “There’s a shelter in Flagstaff, and they are open at eight on weekdays. You should be able to get there and back before opening the shop.”

  “Then that’s what I’m going to do tomorrow. I’ve been thinking about this way too long. It’s time to act.” She saw the tour company’s office coming up on the right side of the road. “Time to get ready for work. Stop by tonight and I’ll make dinner.”

  “Sorry, I’ve got a thing tonight.” Sam didn’t meet her gaze.

  “Don’t tell me you’re going on another date from your online match program?” Rarity wasn’t sure if she’d ever date again, but she knew it wouldn’t be a guy some computer thought she’d be perfect for.

  Sam blushed. “Actually, that couple I was talking to at the overlook. They invited me to have dinner with them and their son. They’re here visiting him. He lives here.”

  “Are you sure? I mean, Jonathon didn’t mention a son to me when we were talking. Don’t go somewhere secluded where they can cut out your kidney to sell on the black market.” Rarity adjusted her tote and stood, waiting for Sam to stand and exit the bus.

  “Way to make me feel all warm and cozy about my night.” Sam peered at the couple through the windows as they waved at her. They took off walking down the strip, arm in arm. “They look normal, don’t they?”

  Rarity laughed. “I was just kidding, but if you feel like something’s off, call me. I’ll come rescue you.”

  “I’ll be at Café Ole at seven. I’ll call you after we’re seated. If you don’t hear from me by eight, call.” Sam stepped off the bus and started walking toward their shops. “Thanks for making me paranoid.”

  “A little paranoia is a good thing.” Rarity waved at Archer, who was watching them from the driver’s seat. “A girl can’t be too careful.”

  * * * *

  Rarity didn’t get to the dog shelter the next morning. She met Sam for breakfast at Annie’s Bakery instead.

  “How did the dinner go?”

  “I had a wonderful time talking with the Andersons. Jonathon is a retired New York City cop. They are traveling the country visiting their kids before they decide where to finally settle down. They’re here for the next few months. And their son, Drew, didn’t show up.” Sam poured sugar into her coffee and stirred. “Edith was embarrassed, but I told her that I enjoyed their company just as much as if her son had been there.”

  “At least you were able to keep your kidney.” Rarity sipped her coffee and waved at a woman leaving the shop with a box of donuts. “That’s Holly Harper. She’s one of my book club members. From what I remember, she got divorced either in treatment or just after.”

  “I can’t believe anyone would divorce someone who’s going through treatment. What about the ‘’til death do us part’ vow?”

  “Well, it’s better to figure out who a person is sooner than later.” Rarity thought about Kevin and his decision to continue playing league basketball with his friends once she’d started treatment. She could barely heat up food, let alone cook, yet he’d been out of the house two sometimes three nights a week. Sam had been her rock during that time. Even living fourteen hundred miles away. “Did I ever thank you for your help during my treatment?”

  “If I’d been really helpful, I would have come and kicked Kevin to the curb months before he actually left.” Sam squeezed Rarity’s hand. “That’s why you always need to keep your friends close. To take out the trash when needed.”

  Rarity smiled as the waitress brought them their plates of quiche. It was good to have friends.

  * * * *

  Tuesday came sooner than she’d expected, and Rarity was still reading the book when Shirley stepped into the bookstore at six thirty. Rarity held up a hand when she heard the door open. “I’m over here.”

  “And I disturbed you. I am so sorry. I’ll just sit here and work on my baby blanket. I got so involved in the book, I didn’t get much done this week. That baby will be here before I get this done.”

  “Coffee and treats are on the table.” Rarity went back to reading, knowing that Shirley would make herself at home and be perfectly content with someone reading rather than talking. That was the cool thing about readers. They got each other.

  Rarity finished the last chapter and set the book aside with a sigh. It had been a strong romance with woman’s fiction elements rather than a true women’s fiction, but for once, Rarity hadn’t minded. The hero was solid. And the heroine did the work to make herself strong. Someone whom Rarity would want to be friends with. Maybe that was the hook for the discussion tonight. The power of friendship, especially when people were going through a bad time. Like dealing with cancer.

  The rest of the group showed up right at seven. Rarity pulled over the sign near the door, then looked out the door to see if Martha was on her way. The man she’d seen last week was sitting on the bench. He waved a hand when he saw her and Rarity waved back.

  She closed the door and went in to sit by the fireplace. “Did anyone talk to Martha last week? I saw her on Wednesday doing some shopping.”

  Shirley shook her head. “I’ve seen her in town before last week, but I didn’t know her. And I didn’t see her at all last week.”

  The other women shook their heads as well. Kim raised her hand. “Did she give you her phone number?”

  Rarity laughed. “Martha barely gave us her name. I’ll can reach out to her tomorrow and see if she wants to continue with the group. I mean, you’re not required to come, but I’d like to make sure she’s okay.”

  “So maybe we should have each other’s phone numbers, just in case we can’t be here one night. That way we can call someone else, and no one will have to worry about us.” Shirley grabbed her phone from her purse. Then she looked at Kim. “Call this number, 928-555-5555. That’s me. And I’ll answer and put you in my contacts. Then everyone else call me one at a time.”

  “Or we could just put The Next Chapter’s number in everyone’s phone and you’ll all have it. Then if you’re not coming, just give me a call or leave a message. That way we won’t worry.” Rarity wrote the number to the shop on the flip chart she’d brought out for tonight’s discussion. “And we don’t have to spend a lot of time on a phone tree. There’s a lot to talk about with this book tonight. I thought we could start with friendship. What did you think of the main character’s hesitation to let her friends into her world?”