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“Angie, shut up,” Tony said.
“Tony, this doesn’t have to be the end of it. The three of us should go to the door and announce to Kassandra how sorry we are for effectively ruining her Thanksgiving dinner.”
Tony’s head hung. “I really feel like shit. She’s looked forward to doing a family dinner, and we did ruin it. There doesn’t seem to be any way to come back from that.”
“Let’s try,” Janine said, touching his arm. “I definitely owe her a huge apology.”
“You can try. I should distance myself from this, but I might have to separate you two if she gets angry enough.”
They walked up the granite steps to the terrace, and Tony stood behind the women as Janine reached out to knock on the glass door. Craning his neck to look through the window, he saw Kassandra's exasperation as she got up from the chair where she had been sitting with a cup of tea and walked to the door.
“What on earth do you want?” she asked.
“Please let me apologize,” Janine said. “For everything from the day I called you until now. It played out badly, not at all what I normally would hope for, Kassie. I’m so sorry. I’m sorry I betrayed you. I’m sorry I showed up here on Thanksgiving Day. I’m sorry Tony attacked me and ruined the game.”
“What are you talking about?” Tony cried. “Now you’re going to blame me?”
“It is your fault, Tony,” Kassandra said. “Pam videoed the entire mess with her phone.”
“Well, what the hell,” he mumbled.
“Look, do you want to come inside? It’s getting cold. You’re welcome to join me for leftovers. I don’t have the energy for animosity right now. But Tony, I can tell you in front of Janine, we’re not getting back together. We’ll have to figure out visitation for the baby when the time comes.”
“We won’t come inside,” Angie said. “I’m sorry, too. About making a stink about our inheritance.”
Tony had walked away toward the stairs.
“Goodbye, Kassie,” Janine said. “Again, I’m so sorry.”
They left, circling the house to the front and their cars. Kassandra’s phone beeped. It was Betsy.
“Are you okay? We’ve been watching the house with the binoculars, and it looks like they’re finally leaving.”
“Are you guys hungry? Come down for leftovers. I don’t feel like being alone, but I do. Do you know what I mean?”
“Ha! Yes, the standard introvert’s cry. We’ll come down and take food to go. How’s that sound?”
“Perfect. Thank you for understanding.”
“On my way,” Betsy replied.
In ten minutes, Betsy and Ryan were at the door. Both reached out for a hug, and Kassandra hugged them back. It had occurred to her she would not have physical contact with anyone until her baby arrived, because she sure as hell wasn’t going to look for a man. She’d get what she needed by hugging her friends.
“You can stay to eat,” she said. “I can’t succumb to being a hermit, especially now. My goal was to move here and become part of the community. That was supposed to start today with the holiday dinner.”
“There’s no reason it can’t still start today,” Betsy said. “How do you feel physically, anyway? After all the work, you should be off your feet.”
“I am tired.”
“When does your office open?”
“The first. Next week. I’m ready. I’ve got an agency working on hiring a secretary and a medical assistant. Nothing like starting fresh but by the seat of your pants.”
“It’s exciting. I’m working per diem now so I can travel with Ryan. I don’t miss the twelve-hour back-to-back shifts at all.”
“No, I don’t either. I used to say I’m doing this one foot in front of the other, but it sure doesn’t take into consideration the wear and tear on the body.”
They sat in the family room with the television on, watching an old Christmas movie while they ate.
