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I chase Wendy. “Don’t, Wendy. You’ve been doing so well.”
“So well doing what?” Jess asks.
“She quit smoking,” I tell her. “Four days.”
Verity laughs derisively. “Four days isn’t an accomplishment.”
“We need to support her,” Jess says to Verity like she’s talking to a child.
Verity ignore Jess. To me, she says, “Who the fuck is Wendy?”
“I’m right here,” Wendy rasps as she grabs Verity’s cigarette pack out of her hands and drags a smoke out. “I’m Evanee’s office manager.”
I guess if she’s an investor, she’s allowed to promote herself.
“Thanks for the smoke,” she says to Verity.
I watch in despair as she plucks the lighter out of Verity’s hand and heads to sliding doors leading out to the back yard.
“What are you doing?” Verity growls at her.
“Smoking outside,” my new office manager replies over her shoulder. “Bad for the kids to see smoking and also bad for their lungs.”
“That’s what I was just telling Verity,” Jess says in frustration as Wendy disappears through the doors, Verity chasing after her.
I smile at Jess. “Guess you should have grabbed her lighter and ran off with it.”
“What are you and Wendy doing here anyway?”
Good question and I hadn’t really thought up a reason. I don’t need one, but I don’t usually have Wendy riding shotgun. “It’s about my horse,” I say quickly, thinking that’s the least harmless subject. “I got cited for keeping it town.”
Jess twists her lips to one side as she heads behind the bar. “It’s illegal?”
I nod. “Yes. Within city limits, you’re not allowed to keep large animals such as cows and horses.”
“Goats?” she asks. She places a tall glass on the counter. “Coke or orange juice?”
“Goats too I think.” I nod towards the glass. “Is drinking in front of the children bad for them too?”
She drops her eyes. “No.” Then she leans over the counter. “Don’t tell anyone, but I think I’m pregnant. Haven’t had time to get a test yet, but I’m late and my breasts are tender.”
I can’t quite figure out how that relates to me not having a drink, but I say, “Congratulations, if you want a baby.” In past, I’d stop at the happy wishes and throw a charming smile at the mother-to-be, but my association with this club seems to be weakening my social filters.
Jess takes no offence. “I do. Rocky’s baby,” she sighs. “Imagine how great that’ll be?” If this were a cartoon, there’d be little pink hearts floating around her head.
I try to visualize me with a baby, but nothing comes up. “I’m happy for you,” I murmur.
She barrels on. “Then when you see mine, you’ll want one of your own. They can have playdates and we can compare their progress and do birthday parties together. Haley has two and won’t be having anymore, so it’s up to you and me.”
“What about Bryce?” I ask wishing she were here to rescue me. “Or Chrissy?” She’s still young but married a few years or so I’m told. I’m surprised she doesn’t already have one.
Jess purses her lips. “I don’t think Chrissy will have any more. Her son was killed by a hit and run driver two years ago. She’s still struggling with it.”
I feel a chill at the woman’s loss. “That’s sad.”
Jess nods. “She comes to parties and stuff but mostly keeps to herself.”
I think back to the party on Saturday night. Chrissy was there, but I had the sense that she was also somewhere else. At least her mind was.
