THE BOOK CLUB 3: THE VISITOR    (close window to return)

It was a book club afternoon. Months had passed since they had been on a cruise in the Caribbean, a holiday that proved to be an extraordinary adventure, and one which brought new people into their lives. Maisie had a new man she was living with, an ex-MI6 spy called Clive. After Melanie's husband died, she downsized to a two bedroomed cottage in Marcham, where she'd be shortly receiving a visitor, the captain of the cruise ship they were on during their holiday. She had also made good friends with an author of extremely sexually explicit books, an eccentric lady, who all the Argonauts had grown to love - Eleanor.
Hazel had discovered a new friend too, a Cuban woman of great beauty, and someone she had been intimate with, despite being married to her loving husband. Of course, the Argonauts held secrets from the others. Their lives, like most people, remained private despite the strong bond that held the women together as friends and not just as mere members of a club. They arrived one at a time, although Melanie brought Tanya as they both now lived in Marcham, a one pub, one community-run shop, village, just over a mile from Julia's house. They started with tea and victoria sponge which Julia always provided. This being one of her own creations. Winter had set in and Julia had prepared a roaring log fire despite the central heating being on low throughout the house.
"I do love a fire and warmth from a flame," Tanya said.
"It's a reminder of our childhoods, I think," Kelsey added. "Mums making up coal fires in the only heated room first thing in the winter mornings."
"Crumpets!" Maisie burst out with.
Leila smiled. Anyone new would have thought Maisie had gone off piste. But she did that a lot - sum up her thoughts into one word, shout it out, and then follow up with an explanation. She'd developed this trait quite recently, and the rest of the Argonauts had noticed and gave her time to carry through with the rest of her words.