Chapter 2

"What in the world are you guys doing here?" Betsy asked, looking in amazement at the four women seated at the table in front of her.

"Well, you know we always do a little summer get-together every year," Katrie began, her electric blue eyes sparkling with excitement. She was decked out in grey stretch pants and a large forest green T-shirt, and her short blonde hair was pulled back with pink barrettes. Betsy thought she looked just like when they were back in college, when "Bets" was still "Elizabeth" and "Katrie" was just "Katrina." God, but that was a long time ago.

"And this year, we waited until we got your letters telling us when you'd be getting home and planned it around that week," Susanne interupted. "And believe me, it was very helpful that you asked Jess if you could stay with her in your letter. Otherwise, could you imagine the possibilities?" She dramatically flung her hands about while she talked, and they all erupted into laughter. This friend had turned out to be the biggest surprise for Betsy. Not only had she lost about 40 pounds, her long, flowing red hair was now cropped very short, almost punk-ish even. She was athletic, tanned, and colorful. In one word, gorgeous. If this was what moving to the west coast and getting married did to you, Betsy would have to try it someday.

"OK, so how long do I have to catch up before you all have to go home?" she asked.

"Two weeks," said Pam. This girl was no surprise to Betsy at all; she still had the same mousy brown shoulder-length hair, the same deep brown eyes, the same pudgy-but- definetly-not-fat figure, and most of all, the same serious, yet gentle look on her face that told everyone that she meant strict business, but only if it was convenient for everybody else.

"Isn't that a rather long time?" Bets asked, astounded. "I mean, you all have jobs and lives back home, don't you?"

"Ash can handle the restaurant for two weeks," Susuanne replied. "And if he has any trouble, he can always call or email me here, and I can tell him what to do. Hopefully he won't, though." She grinned mischeviously. "I told him that this was his chance to prove to me that he wasn't just another trophy husband like the rest of his friends."

"My kids are on summer vacation, and I don't have to start cleaning up my classroom until August," Katrie said. "That gives me at least three weeks until anyone in Chicago needs me around."

"And with Jess's computer center here, I can write up any speeches the mayor may need and send them to her without any problem," Pam added. "Although he shouldn't need anything for a while, since he's supposed to have completed all his appearances for July."

"There, now, does that satisfy you, dearie?" Jess turned to Betsy. "There is no reason why you should worry about anything for the next two weeks. We're all fine. Even me, if you guys let me escape for an exciting hour of coding every night." She paused, thinking about what she had just said, and scrinched up her nose. "Gosh, I am just the worst hostess, aren't I? Maybe you all should find yourself a nice hotel for this vacation, huh?"

"Don't think we haven't considered it," Pam replied. Jess pretended to look hurt as the others laughed and sipped their coffee. "But don't worry, hon, we'd never leave you." The hurt look was quickly replaced by one of childish delight. "Where else would we find mocha lattes as good as your's?" Jess managed to make yet another expression, and this one was of pure astonishment. To hide the smile that was making its way across her lips, she sipped out of her own mug of what she liked to call her "chocolatey life support."

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