**Chapter 3: The Girls' Gossip**

The kitchen was buzzing with activity as Sophia, Rose, and Blanche gathered for their weekly coffee date. Sophia was sipping on a cup of espresso, while Rose had a pot of tea in front of her. Blanche, ever the fashionista, was flipping through a magazine, looking for inspiration for her next big date. "I'm telling you, girls," Sophia said, "I've got a bone to pick with the early bird special. I went to Denny's the other day, and they were out of my favorite pancakes. Can you believe it?" Rose giggled. "Oh, Sophia, you're such a creature of habit. I'm surprised you didn't have a backup plan." Blanche rolled her eyes. "You two and your breakfast habits. I'm more concerned about my love life. Or lack thereof." The conversation flowed easily, with the girls chatting about everything from their favorite TV shows to their love lives. Dorothy and Lucas were mentioned, but only in passing. It was assumed that they were still living their happily ever after. As they sipped their coffee, Sophia started to regale the group with stories of her past. "I used to work at the city morgue, you know. I was a switchboard operator. I had to answer the phone and take messages from families of the deceased." Rose's eyes widened. "Oh, Sophia, that's fascinating! What was it like?" Sophia chuckled. "It was a real laugh riot, let me tell you. But I learned a lot about people and how they react in difficult situations." Blanche nodded thoughtfully. "I've always said that people are more interesting when they're under pressure." The conversation continued, with the girls sharing stories and jokes. It was a carefree afternoon, with no worries or concerns to weigh them down. As they finished up their coffee, Rose glanced at her watch. "I should get going. I have a meeting at the community center." Blanche stood up. "I'm going to go work on my latest project. I'm making a dress for the church social." Sophia yawned. "I'm going to take a nap. All this conversation has exhausted me." The girls hugged each other goodbye, promising to catch up again soon. As they went their separate ways, they had no idea that their lives were about to become even more interesting. Meanwhile, Dorothy was going about her day, unaware of the conversations being had about her. She was still feeling a bit off, but she couldn't quite put her finger on what it was. She brushed it off as stress or a virus, but deep down, she knew that something was different. Little did she know, her life was about to take a dramatic turn, one that would change everything she thought she knew about herself and her place in the world.