behind her napkin. “Sorry, I’m talking with my mouth full.”
“No problem. As long as you don’t choke. No fancy rules in this house. That’s it? You’ve been banned to an island? For how long?”
“I wasn’t banned. Honestly. I could have spent the winter out in the Hamptons. Instead, I told the whole fiasco to Quinn over lunch and he offered Maggie’s cabin. Isolated on a beach in a place where no one knew me as Mrs. Woodley sounded like heaven. In reality, it’s a cold, dark, wet heaven.”
“I’ve never been to the Hamptons, so I can’t give you an honest comparison, but Whidbey is heaven on earth. You chose to move here during the challenging months. Wait until summer.”
“I’d love to see the summer here, but I only have the cabin until May. Then who knows where I’ll go. Maybe back to New York, start over. Or someplace new.”
“Did you grow up in New York?” I asked.
“Not the city. I’m from Upstate, which basically means the rest of the state except Long Island. Small town. Dad was an accountant, Mom ran the PTA, and my two older brothers were track stars.”
“Sounds idyllic. Your folks still alive?”
“They are. Happily retired in Florida—my second option for a hideout.”
“You had the option to be in Florida where it’s warm and sunny, but you chose here? Are you crazy?” The incredulousness obvious in my voice.
Sipping her wine, she stared at the fire crackling and hissing. “Moving in with my parents would feel like utter failure. They invited me, but I’m not sure it was heartfelt. Having their thirty-year-old divorced daughter sleeping in the guest room would be difficult on all of us. I believe the saying ‘You can never go home’ and so do they.”
“I can’t imagine living with my parents.” I shook my head at being trapped in Arizona, driving a golf cart around a neighborhood in a planned golf community.
“We agree about that. We have our first thing in common.” She raised her glass in a toast.
“Actually, that’s about the third thing we have in common. First, jalapeños on pizza. Second, we both like Pinot.”
“Are you keeping a list?” A soft smile formed on her lips.
“I wasn’t, but I am now.” I raised my own glass to clink with hers. “To things in common.”
“To things in common,” she echoed.
“Are you looking for a job? Not to pry into your financials, but do you need a job?”
“I’m okay financially. I’d love to get a job, but have no idea what’s out there. Working again would be another nail in the coffin of my old life.”
“What do you want to do? Or what can you do?”
“Ah, therein lies the rub. I don’t know. It’s been so long since I’ve worked, I’m out of practice. I can join a committee, plan a fundraiser, host a party, but not sure if any of those things will get me a job on the island.”
“Think about it and let me know. I know a lot of people. Figure out what you want to do and I’ll get the word out.”
“Thank you. Now, I’ve told you the horrible story of the demise of my perfect marriage, your turn.” She turned the tables on me.
What could I share with her? I wasn’t going to spew my life disappointments at her. We might have a few things in common, but I wasn’t ready to go deep tonight.
“I’ve never married, so no ex-wives lurking around.”
“I’ve seen a brunette around here. Who’s she?”
Ah, who was Kelly? The easy and partially true answer would be my girlfriend. Or would have been a few weeks ago, pre-dinner revelations. How do I define her?
“The brunette is Kelly. Someone I’ve been dating.”
“Girlfriend?” she asked, apparently unashamed she might be prying.
“Not really. Things are complicated.”
“Complicated how?”
“Like you, she’s getting a divorce. Or was. Maybe still is. Pretty sure she still is.” My words tumbled out in a mess of uncertainty. Fuck, I sounded like a pussy.
“You don’t know if she is or isn’t getting a
“No problem. As long as you don’t choke. No fancy rules in this house. That’s it? You’ve been banned to an island? For how long?”
“I wasn’t banned. Honestly. I could have spent the winter out in the Hamptons. Instead, I told the whole fiasco to Quinn over lunch and he offered Maggie’s cabin. Isolated on a beach in a place where no one knew me as Mrs. Woodley sounded like heaven. In reality, it’s a cold, dark, wet heaven.”
“I’ve never been to the Hamptons, so I can’t give you an honest comparison, but Whidbey is heaven on earth. You chose to move here during the challenging months. Wait until summer.”
“I’d love to see the summer here, but I only have the cabin until May. Then who knows where I’ll go. Maybe back to New York, start over. Or someplace new.”
“Did you grow up in New York?” I asked.
“Not the city. I’m from Upstate, which basically means the rest of the state except Long Island. Small town. Dad was an accountant, Mom ran the PTA, and my two older brothers were track stars.”
“Sounds idyllic. Your folks still alive?”
“They are. Happily retired in Florida—my second option for a hideout.”
“You had the option to be in Florida where it’s warm and sunny, but you chose here? Are you crazy?” The incredulousness obvious in my voice.
Sipping her wine, she stared at the fire crackling and hissing. “Moving in with my parents would feel like utter failure. They invited me, but I’m not sure it was heartfelt. Having their thirty-year-old divorced daughter sleeping in the guest room would be difficult on all of us. I believe the saying ‘You can never go home’ and so do they.”
“I can’t imagine living with my parents.” I shook my head at being trapped in Arizona, driving a golf cart around a neighborhood in a planned golf community.
“We agree about that. We have our first thing in common.” She raised her glass in a toast.
“Actually, that’s about the third thing we have in common. First, jalapeños on pizza. Second, we both like Pinot.”
“Are you keeping a list?” A soft smile formed on her lips.
“I wasn’t, but I am now.” I raised my own glass to clink with hers. “To things in common.”
“To things in common,” she echoed.
“Are you looking for a job? Not to pry into your financials, but do you need a job?”
“I’m okay financially. I’d love to get a job, but have no idea what’s out there. Working again would be another nail in the coffin of my old life.”
“What do you want to do? Or what can you do?”
“Ah, therein lies the rub. I don’t know. It’s been so long since I’ve worked, I’m out of practice. I can join a committee, plan a fundraiser, host a party, but not sure if any of those things will get me a job on the island.”
“Think about it and let me know. I know a lot of people. Figure out what you want to do and I’ll get the word out.”
“Thank you. Now, I’ve told you the horrible story of the demise of my perfect marriage, your turn.” She turned the tables on me.
What could I share with her? I wasn’t going to spew my life disappointments at her. We might have a few things in common, but I wasn’t ready to go deep tonight.
“I’ve never married, so no ex-wives lurking around.”
“I’ve seen a brunette around here. Who’s she?”
Ah, who was Kelly? The easy and partially true answer would be my girlfriend. Or would have been a few weeks ago, pre-dinner revelations. How do I define her?
“The brunette is Kelly. Someone I’ve been dating.”
“Girlfriend?” she asked, apparently unashamed she might be prying.
“Not really. Things are complicated.”
“Complicated how?”
“Like you, she’s getting a divorce. Or was. Maybe still is. Pretty sure she still is.” My words tumbled out in a mess of uncertainty. Fuck, I sounded like a pussy.
“You don’t know if she is or isn’t getting a
Similar Books
Madhattan Mystery
John J. Bonk
Rules of Engagement
Christina Dodd
The Avenger 4 - The Devil’s Horns
Kenneth Robeson
The World According to Bertie
Alexander McCall Smith
His Angel
Samantha Cole
Raptor
Gary Jennings
Dark Blood
Christine Feehan
The German Suitcase
Greg Dinallo
Hot Blooded
authors_sort