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“You would notbelievewhat Mrs. Snyder just said to me.” I whispered to Danielle. I quickly recapped the entire incident, using as many curse words as my vocabulary allowed.
“Are you kidding me?” Danielle scoffed.
“I know, right? I hope she trips and falls tonight.” I took another sip of my drink, rolling my eyes.
“I hope her vagina gets so dry, not even lube will work.”
I nearly spat out my beer, chuckling at Danielle’s words. I could always trust her to lighten the mood when my anger got out of control.
“Honestly, I’m surprised so many people showed up.” I sighed heavily, looking out at the crowd, everyone chatting away.
“Seriously? You and Jamie and Thatcher are the hot button topic of all the gossip. Inquiring minds need to know, and gossips are unable to stay away from drama. It’s like watching a train wreck. They just can’t look away. You gave everyone an opportunity for a front-row seat.” Danielle laughed, refilling her drink as we looked out at the crowd from the patio.
“That’s a fair point, I suppose.”
“Where is Thatcher, anyway? I haven’t seen him since I arrived.”
“He’s coming a little later.”
“Ah, trying to make a big dramatic entrance, I presume?”
“Not in the slightest. He had to deliver a commissioned piece to a buyer today, and got stuck in traffic. But he should be along shortly.”
Shortly turned out to be nearly an hour later. The sunlight had given way to the dark of night; the backyard being lit up by stringed lights, the fire-pit, and tasteful lighting we had added a few years ago. I felt myself relax as he walked over to me. Jamie was off talking with someone, and Danielle had gotten pulled away by a few of our neighbors to sign the latest copy of her book. I had been left alone, and felt like more of a social pariah than ever before.
“Hey, good looking!” He greeted me, pulling me in for a quick hug, ever mindful of the watching eyes. Not that any of that would matter here in a very short while.
“Thank God you’re here.”
“Has it been that bad?” He asked, his brow furrowing in concern.
“No. Yes. I don’t know. I’m just glad you’re here.” I grabbed him a beer, popping the top off with the opener and handing it to him.
“Yeah, now we get to make our announcement,” he said with a chuckle.
“Ugh, don’t remind me. Let me have just five minutes first. Five minutes of bliss living with everyone in denial.” I begged him.
“You mean five more minutes ofyouliving in denial, sweetheart?” He teased me gently.
“Are we ready for this?” Jamie asked, walking up to the patio to stand with us. Everyone else was gathered in the backyard while the three of us stood on the patio. It was the moment, if there had ever been one.
“Oh, alright. Let’s just get it over with.” I agreed with much chagrin and bemoaning.
To my relief, Jamie stepped forward, taking the lead. He picked up a spoon and clinked it on his wineglass, and as everyone’s eyes turned towards us, he raised a hand in greeting. An expectant hush fell over the gathered crowd as he cleared his throat, then began to speak.
“Good evening, everyone! I wanted to take a minute to thank you all for joining Sadie and I for this wonderful little… what was that word you used, Sadie? Soirée? Yes! For this little soirée!” Cheers rang out around the backyard, and I smiled at the crowd.
“I have to admit, there was another reason we wanted to gather you all here tonight,” Jamie said. I watched as people literally stepped closer, like they were getting in on some secret. I suppose, in truth, they were.
“As many of you know,” he said, continuing on, “The rumor mill here in our little community has been abuzz lately with some particularly juicy gossip. We wanted to bring you all here tonight to discuss that very topic.”
Whispers rang out among the crowd and I felt panic start to rise. My eyes found Thatcher’s, and he took a slow deep breath, guiding me in my own breathing. The fact that he could do that, even from across a room, was everything.
“From what Sadie and I have been able to gather, a rumor has started about her cheating on me. And I want to assure everyone here that it isn’t true. It’s —”
“Don’t you lie to us, James Day!” We all turned in shock as Lisa Snyder rushed to the front of the crowd, wagging her finger at the two of us, a look of utter hatred and disgust in her eyes. “I saw her with my own eyes, kissing that man right there!”
She pointed at Thatcher, who looked as shocked as the rest of us.
