The Avalon Ladies Scrapbooking Society by Darien Gee

home.
    Margot is ringing her up when a young woman enters the store.
    “Hannah!” Margot exclaims. “I was wondering when you were going to come by with more brochures. People have been asking about your music classes, you know.”
    Frances watches as Hannah Wang gives Margot a hug. Hannah issomewhat of a celebrity, a former cellist with a famous orchestra in New York or Chicago, Frances doesn’t quite remember. She doesn’t know Hannah personally, but remembers her from the prior year when Avalon was baking friendship bread for a neighbor town that had been devastated by floods.
    “I just added a master class,” Hannah explains as she hands Margot a stack of brochures. “And another beginner’s class, so I had to redo everything. This should last you awhile, though.” She turns and smiles at Frances. “Hi, I’m Hannah.”
    “Frances Latham.” They shake hands and Frances is struck by how graceful and refined Hannah seems to be. She looks like she’s in her mid- or late twenties. Hannah has the figure of a dancer, tall and lean, her sleek dark hair pulled back in a simple chignon. “We actually met briefly last year. At Madeline’s.”
    “The night we baked for Barrett,” Hannah remembers, nodding. “That’s right! It’s nice to see you again.”
    “You too.”
    Hannah spies Brady by the wooden train set. “Is this your son? He’s adorable.”
    “That’s Brady,” Frances says. “He’s my youngest. I have three boys, if you can believe that. Nick is eight and Noah is five. Brady here is three.”
    Margot lets out a low whistle, either impressed or from sympathy, but Hannah laughs. “I believe that your hands are full, that’s for sure,” she says. “My boyfriend is from a family of four boys so I know how crazy it can get. His mother’s always telling me stories about how much trouble they used to get into when they were growing up.”
    “Hannah dates Jamie Linde,” Margot explains. “He drives a truck for UPS.” She takes Hannah’s brochures and walks to the front of the store where a small table and community bulletin board have been set up.
    “Jamie?” Frances gasps. “Of course we know Jamie! I just put his photo in our photo album!”
    “Your photo album?”
    “He dropped off the referral letter for our daughter, Mei Ling. Well, she’s not our daughter yet, but she will be. We’re adopting from China. I got a picture with Jamie when he delivered the letter the other day.”
    “I remember that!” Hannah exclaims, then blushes. “I hope you don’t mind, but Jamie told me that there was a family in Avalon who was going through a Chinese adoption. I think that’s wonderful, Frances.”
    “Us too,” Frances says, grinning. It feels good to talk about it with someone. She’s been careful in sharing the news, not wanting to navigate the barrage of questions, not wanting to get everyone’s hopes up including her own, but now she feels almost giddy with relief. She’s thrilled that someone else knows, and Hannah looks genuinely happy for her. “We’re hoping she’ll be with us by Christmas at the latest. I know it’s only a few months away, but it feels like forever.”
    “I’m so excited for your family,” Hannah tells her. “And it’s just a matter of time—she’ll be here before you know it.”
    Frances smiles, grateful. “Thank you, Hannah.”
    Hannah returns the smile. “I hope I’ll have a chance to see you again, maybe meet your daughter when you bring her home.”
    Frances nods. “I’d like that, too.” Her eyes drift to the geometric clock on the wall and she gasps. “Oh, I’m late. The boys will be coming home from school.” Frances quickly gathers her things, wishing she could stay and talk some more. “Please tell Jamie we say hi.”
    “I will.” Hannah waves as Frances bids Margot goodbye and ushers a reluctant Brady out of the store. The minute they step outside they’re met with a blast of blazing heat, but Frances doesn’t mind, not