Sitting on the terrace overlooking the colorful plant-filled lawn and watching the sunrise was so peaceful. She loved hearing the various birds as they cawed to one another, just like back home. But the early-morning magic wasn’t working that morning. She wondered if it would ever work for her again. At that moment, all she wanted was an excuse to crawl back under the covers and forget her conversation with Chris. Never a quitter, Toots squared her shoulders as she lit her fifth cigarette, and it was only six in the morning, which meant it was nine at home, so five smokes was right on her daily schedule. She’d barely slept a wink, and she knew it showed on her face. She had showered and dressed in a bright yellow skirt and orange blouse, hoping the sunshiny colors would brighten her dull mood, but as yet, they hadn’t done a damn thing but depress her. Sophie, Mavis, and Ida, or so she hoped for the latter, were due for breakfast at seven. Toots wanted to remain cheerful and positive for her friends, who were all going through crises of their own.
