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ChapterEight
Mary Elizabeth entered Cheryl’s home without knocking.Whenever the Babes were called together for an emergency meeting, doors were unlocked, husbands made themselves scarce, and there were drinks aplenty.
And since she knew exactly what this meeting was about, Mary Elizabeth brought a tray of finger sandwiches to help soak up the alcohol.
“I just don’t understand it,” Cheryl said to Adaline as Mary Elizabeth walked into the living room.“They were theperfectcouple.And how can she already be divorced?How could she not have told us?All this time and she couldn’tmentionit?”
“Hey, sorry I’m late.Cheryl, I’m so sorry,” Mary Elizabeth said, knowing the only thing they could do for their friend at the moment was lend sympathetic ears.
“Did you know?”Cheryl asked Mary Elizabeth, her gaze zeroing on her like a laser beam.“Before I texted everyone and told you, did youknow?”
Faltering because she’d never been comfortable lying, she said, “Hadley confided in me yesterday when I stopped by, butonlybecause I caught her crying.She was terribly upset about not telling you.”
Cheryl’s fingers shredded the damp tissue in her hand.
“Well, no wonder.She should’ve told usbeforeit ever happened.To have gone all this time and keep us in the dark.And the children!Max and Abby must be devastated.Why didn’ttheytell me?”
Mary Elizabeth uncovered the tray of goodies and set about topping off everyone’s glasses to keep herself busy.
“And I don’t care if sheisdivorced, she shouldn’t be inviting strange men into her house.”
“Strange men?”Tessa asked, choosing a sandwich to nibble.“What men?”
“Some blue-collar worker from next door,” Cheryl said in a snide tone.“He was in her house and her all alone.”
“I hardly think she would’ve invited him inside if she’d felt threatened in any way,” Mary Elizabeth said.
“That’s not the point.That man used to check on Mama, pretending he cared.”
“Maybe he did actually care?”Mary Elizabeth said.
“Or maybe he was just after whatever he thought he could get.”
“Getting a little judge-y there, aren’t we?”Tessa said, sliding a glance in Mary Elizabeth’s direction before turning her attention back to Cheryl.
“Well, it’s one thing to be kind to an old woman, but Hadley is a woman alone now,withan oceanfront home.Men like that…theypreyon women like her.I’m sure he probably thinks the worst.He sees the house and no husband and… She still wears her rings.Doesn’t that meananything to people these days?”
“I think it means she didn’t want you to notice she didn’t wear them and ask before she was ready to tell you,” Mary Elizabeth said, trying and failing not to take offense at Cheryl’s comments.
Cheryl had always been a bit entitled, and that attitude of hers was coming out in spades.It was Cheryl’s greatest flaw.Not that they didn’t all have them, but…it didn’t show her friend in her best light.
Cheryl didn’t keep up with the Joneses, shewasthe Joneses.
“I was going to call Kyle and demand answers, but Jerryorderedme not to.Ordered me!”Cheryl said, downing her drink before holding up her glass for someone—anyone—to refill.
“Well, Kyle is probably with his patients,” Rayna Jo said.“And a calmer head when you do eventually talk to him wouldn’t be a bad idea, either.”
“Calm.Who can be calm?”
Certainly not Cheryl Dummit, Mary Elizabeth mused, exchanging another secret, silent look with Tessa.“I’ll get another bottle,” Mary Elizabeth said to the room when Rayna Jo poured the last of the wine into Cheryl’s upheld glass.
Mary Elizabeth left the Babes and entered the kitchen, struggling to keep her nerves in check.
“Don’t think you’re escaping that easily,” Tessa said.
Mary Elizabeth turned and watched as her friend gave her a stern look.
“Ignore her,” Tessa said.“She’s in shock.”
