Eliza gave a deep, ugly chuckle. “Don’t get me started on blackmail. If you’d like to go there, let’s discuss a few other things. We’ll start with your fake veganism, then move on to the stores of plastic straws you stash in your purse while shouting publicly that anyone holding such a dastardly weapon is single-handedly ruining the world. From there, we can chat about the raw food trend you supposedly adhere to—”
“I’ll get you your money,” Marguerite said. “Give me a week.”
“Fine.” Eliza turned to Roman. “Honey, we’re done. Marguerite’s plan worked. This is it. I don’t want to speak to you again. We’ll let the lawyers handle our assets.”
“Eliza, don’t be rash—” Roman started.
“This”—Eliza waved her hand—“is you speaking to me.”
The doorbell rang again.
Eliza turned, jogged downstairs to greet her guest, and didn’t look back.
_______________________________
Eliza spun the steering wheel and made a sharp left, not bothering with a blinker. She barely bothered with the brakes.
“Are you sure everything is okay?” Anne sat in the passenger’s seat, her knuckles gripping the safety handle for balance. “You can tell us—”
“I’ll tell you when we get there,” Eliza said shortly. “Did you finish the phone calls?”
“I sent out texts to the guest list,” Anne said. “The attendees know book club is canceled.”
“Thank you.”
“You are aware that we have a pregnant woman in the back of the car,” Anne murmured feebly. “I’m sure she would like to make it there alive. I want to make it there alive, too, so I can hear what you have to say. Where is there by the way? Are you sure everything’s okay?”
“It’s fine.” Eliza’s voice was a thin blade—an icicle on a cold winter’s morning, reflecting a brilliant shade of sunlight. “Here is there.”
The Garbanzo’s sign flickered above the three women as they exited the car, Penny and Anne moving slowly, a bit shakily, as they tested their footing and seemed surprised to find themselves on solid ground. Eliza caught Penny glancing up and down the street as if looking for their destination.
When Eliza led them into Garbanzo’s, Penny’s eyebrow raised, but she didn’t make a peep about their dismal surroundings.
“Eliza, Annie,” Uncle Joe called from behind the bar. “You brought a friend! Pretty thing, too. How you doin’, little mama?”
Penny looked at Eliza first, then Anne. Then down at her stomach as if she couldn’t quite believe Uncle Joe was talking to her.
“He’s an old friend,” Anne muttered to Penny. “Don’t mind him.”
Eliza led the way across the room to the usual table. Penny scurried close behind. Once all three women had their backsides firmly stuck to the vinyl seats, Anne and Penny looked expectantly across the table. Eliza waited until Uncle Joe had deposited four shots of tequila in front of them.
“Can I get a glass of water?” Penny asked.
Anne raised a hand. “I’ll take a beer. Whatever you have on tap.”
Uncle Joe grunted in acknowledgment. He left the table and disappeared for a moment behind the bar. When he returned, he brought with him several glasses of water and a beer that he slid in front of Anne. He gave a nod at the women and then returned to his post, leaving the women alone in silence.
“I can’t drink.” Penny broke the silence with a longing gaze at the tequila.
“Those are for me.” Eliza extended her arms possessively around the shot glasses before hugging them greedily toward her. “I earned them.”
Anne extended a hand, plucking a shot from Eliza’s arms. “Except this one. What are we drinking to?”
“Divorce.” Eliza raised her tiny glass, noted Anne’s surprised expression, then tossed the alcohol back. She let out a satisfying hiss of disgust. “And to book club.”
Penny blinked. “I’m a little confused.”
“Marguerite Hill is currently in my bed,” Eliza said. When the other women didn’t react, she continued, “Screwing my husband.”
Penny blanched. “You mean Roman?”
“Yes, Penny, I mean Roman.” Eliza pulled another round of tequila toward her but didn’t lift it to her lips. “Don’t act surprised that he’s having an affair. I know there’s a very good chance Roman is the father of your child.”
Anne gasped. “Eliza! Don’t be ridiculous. Penny is our friend. Don’t take this out on her.”
Penny played with her water glass, running her finger absently across the rivulets of condensation dripping down the outside.
“I’m not an idiot,” Eliza said. “Don’t worry, Penny. I don’t blame you. Did Roman tell you he was separated from me, just waiting on the divorce papers?” At Penny’s blank stare, Eliza continued. “He’s used that line before. On your favorite author, as a matter of fact. Just think—if Marguerite Hill gets pregnant, your children would be related. You’re in fine company.”
Penny choked on something invisible until Anne thwacked her on the back.
Anne looked flabbergasted. “But what about the classmate you told us about? Mr. Young and Stupid?”
“That wasn’t a total lie,” Penny confessed, hanging her head. Her cheeks pinkened beneath the bar’s dim lighting. “I’m so sorry. After all you’ve both done for me, I feel awful. I owe you an explanation.”
“Uh…” Anne blinked. “Yeah, I’d say so.”
“It’s true about the classmate. I was dating him, but I broke up with him when I thought…” She cleared her throat. “When I thought things were getting serious with someone else.”
“You fell in love,” Eliza said, “with my husband.”
“I can’t possibly explain how very sorry I am.” Penny sounded miserable. “I was so stupid.”
“You weren’t the first to be blinded by Roman, and you obviously aren’t the last. I thought he loved me, so if you’re stupid, so am I.”
“It’s not the same thing.”
Eliza gave a cough as she swallowed the second shot of tequila. “I do feel bad for you, Penny. I don’t think Roman is evil, but he sure is stupid.”
“I don’t know,” Anne said, paling. “Maybe there’s more to Roman than any of us thought.”
Eliza and Penny both waited for Anne to explain.
“I mean, he cheated on you multiple times,” Anne continued, looking flustered. “That’s not an accident at that point.”
“Maybe,” Eliza agreed. “By the way, Penny, I’ll make sure Roman pays his portion of child support. Just because he’s an idiot doesn’t mean your baby should suffer.”
“I don’t want anything. I couldn’t possibly accept more of your help.” Penny turned her attention to Anne. “You have to understand, the only reason I accepted your hand-me-downs was because this child deserves it, and I will do anything for him. Anything.”
Anne took a gulp of her beer. When she set it down, her lips moved, but no sound came out. Her eyes glinted in a way that said she understood, even if a bit reluctantly. She tried again, looking to Eliza. “What does this mean for you?”