Five Women Read Online Free PDF Page A

salads. Billie kept a few simple items on the menu in addition to her regional dishes, for people who, like them, were always on diets. Aretha was singing on the sound system, in her gutsy voice, clear as a bell.
“Chain, chain, chain, chain of fools . . .”
That’s us, Gara thought, and when do we learn? She thought that with the exception of Billie, and maybe Felicity, she was the only person who really listened to the music. Everyone else considered it merely background. The restaurant was full now, and so was the bar. People were still drifting in. Little Billie had finished his homework and was playing a computer game. Soft pops and pings of cartoon mayhem floated over from his corner.
    Eve visibly stiffened. “Look who’s here,” she said, nodding at the door. She had a little smile on her face, but Gara could see she was upset.
    â€œIsn’t that Harvey?” Felicity said.
    He was a successful manufacturer, middle-aged and big and sexy and handsome and blooming with heat and blood, a kind of male Eve. The two of them had dated briefly, and the other women had thought they were a perfect match, but it hadn’t worked out. Looking back, it had turned out to be a flirtation and a two-night stand.
    â€œHello, ladies,” Harvey said. He looked at all of them but Eve.
    â€œHello, Harvey,” Eve said.
    â€œMs. Bader.” And he was gone to a table in the back where some people were waiting for him.
    Eve craned around. “Does he have a date?”
    â€œWhat do you care?” Kathryn said.
    â€œI don’t care,” Eve said, but she sounded hurt and angry.
    Gara remembered their courtship. Eve had been in awe. His body is so warm, like a stove, she had marveled. I’ve never seen heat like that coming out of another human being. I think he’s dangerous. Eve had liked that, the sense of danger. But then it had turned out he was the one who was afraid of her, and he had avoided her like the plague.
    â€œI don’t know why it never worked out with him,” Eve said.
    â€œYou do so,” Gara said. “You shouldn’t have tried to tie him up in bed.”
    Felicity giggled. Whenever Gara was up front about something, which she often was, Felicity considered it outrageous, but she loved it.
    â€œWhat was wrong with that?” Eve snapped.
    Eve liked to tie men up in bed. Most of them wouldn’t let her, but she tried all the same. When Eve had approached Harvey with her red silk scarves, he had said if there was going to be any tying up done he would do it to her, so there was none done, and after that he stopped calling.
    â€œIt’s the power struggle,” Gara said. “You can’t try to dominate a man like him.”
    â€œMaybe he would have liked it,” Eve said. “You know what’s wrong with him? He can’t have a relationship. Another one of those men who don’t know what they want.”
    â€œHe knew what he didn’t want,” Kathryn said cheerfully.
    â€œNo, no, he has problems.”
    How nice it would be, Gara thought, to be able to blame anyone else but yourself. Most of her patients blamed themselves for everything, especially the women. They came into their sessions asking, What did I do? What you did, she often had to tell them, was you picked him. That’s what you did. Or you let him pick you.
    The salads came and they ate hungrily. “I’m so upset,” Felicity murmured. “I haven’t heard from my friend all week.”
    She referred to her lover as her “friend,” but they all knew what she meant. She had never told any of them but Gara his last name, but they had the feeling he was someone well known. He was married too, and they had secret lunches in a pied à terre he had sublet.
    â€œHe’ll call,” Gara reassured her. “He always does.”
    â€œNo, this time it’s been longer than it ever was before.”
    â€œNo, it