“Yes he is.”
“I thought he was close to you.”
“Never all that close. It’s more like he didn’t turn against me,” Stuart said. Which sounded so sad to Tabby.
But while they were talking about Alan and Nora, Gheri was rushing to the kitchen where Jennifer was having a confab with her chef.
“Jennie, get out there and get out there right now!” Gheri said.
Jennifer was confused. “Why? What is the problem?”
“Stuart’s here.”
Jennifer’s eyes stretched inexcitement. “He came?”
“Yes. But not alone.”
When Gheri said those last three words, Jennifer looked at her as if she was an alien. And then she hurried into the living room to see for herself. Gheri followed behind her.
But when Jennifer saw Stuart and saw that a younger woman was by his side, a woman she didn’t invite to her party, she was pissed. But decided to hide it.
“Stuart darling!” she said happily as she hurried to him. “You made it!” They embraced, but she whispered in his ear: “Who the fuck is that?” Then they separated and Jennifer was still smiling her fake smile. “Introduce us to your friend,” she said.
“We’ve already met her,” said Logan. “Lovely lady.”
Gheri wanted to ring her husband’s neck. He knew how deeply Jennifer cared for Stuart.
“Actually you met her before as well,” Stuart said to Jennifer.
Jennifer was confused.“When?Where?”
“Two years ago. When you and Logan and Gheri and few others went with me to my hometown. She was the waitress you treated so shabbily.”
Jennifer frowned. “The waitress? And you brought her to myhome?”
“I did that, yes,” Stuart said.
“But why?”
“Because she’s my lady. She’s my girlfriend.”
When he said those words, the entire roomwent still. They were all looking at Jennifer.
But Jennifer was still confused. “What do you mean she’s your lady?I’myour lady.”
“No, you aren’t. You told yourself that, but you knew it was never true.”
“Hello Stuart.” It was Nora’s voice. “Hello Jennifer. What’s this all about?”
They all looked as Nora and Alan came over. Now Jennifer was even more perturbed. “What are you doing here, Nora? I would have never invited you.”
“Keep your shirt on, Jen,” said Alan. “She came with me.”
“And who invited you?” Jennifer asked Alan.
“Really?” Alan was offended. “That’s what we’re doing?”
“I don’t know why she continues to pretend,” Nora said. Then she looked at Jennifer. “Everybody knows you’re fucking my son.”