My name is Lucille and in this picture of my dearest friends, I am the one in red. The women in this picture have my entire heart. Since I lost my late husband, Albert, they are all I have left in this world. Albert and I were not blessed with children of our own, but we have found ways to spread our love through friends younger than us. Stephanie, the woman in stripes, lost her parents when she was still in diapers and raised by a half present grandfather. She had no one in this world, and I was more than happy to step in and play mother.

Grace and Anna, to my left and right respectively, are my very best friends. We met almost three decades ago now when I first moved to Allendale. We’ve been through absolutely everything together. Grace divorced her husband, Thomas, almost ten years ago now, Anna suffered multiple miscarriages before finally welcoming her first child, Lily, into the world, and they were both my rocks when I lost my Albert just over a year ago. They are my sisters and I am truly blessed to have them in my life. I would do absolutely anything to preserve their happiness.

Cindy, sitting next to Grace, joined our group when she and her husband, Dale, moved in next door to me about eight years ago. Dale owned a local hotel until about two years ago when he suffered a heart attack. They sold the company to their eldest son and Cindy cares for Dale at home now full time. I’ve watched the happiness slip away from her eyes the last few months, I’m assuming from the work load of running a household and caring for Dale who is almost totally dependent, though Cindy wouldn’t dare complain after watching me lose Albert.

Mary is the next in line sitting next to Cindy. Mary is an interesting character. She’s never stayed in one place for more than five years, but she’s currently on her sixth year with us. She owns the local antique store and sells very interesting artifacts inside her little shop. As much as she loves us, I suspect it’s her age that is really keeping her here. Her age is catching up with her, and having never married or had children, we’re all she’s got.

Rounding out our group is Margo, sitting between Mary and Stephanie. Margo has cancer and I can see the light fading from her eyes. She is one of the kindest souls I’ve ever met. The kind of woman to volunteer at the soup kitchen on Christmas and give you the shirt off her back. She’s pure and deserving of so much more than her fatal diagnosis.

These women are my life. Watching the hardships of their lives the last few months absolutely kills me inside. And so, being the hostess that I am, I decided to throw a lunch to celebrate our friendships and to show them all a little love. We munched on fresh fruit from my garden and snacks I picked up from the local farmers market this morning. Of course, it wouldn’t be a girls lunch if I didn’t pop a few bottles of our favorite wine. So I raise a toast, to the people I love most in this world and we drink up.

Do you think they know I poisoned the wine?