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of lipstick from her purse and spread it across her lips, satisfied with the bright pink color. She reached across the seat to lock the passenger door. The minute the engine was cut and the air-conditioner went off, she almost melted. She estimated the temperature at ninety with enough muggy Georgia heat added in to wilt the most stalwart hairdo plastered with a thick layer of hair spray.
    She gave a long sigh as she shut and locked the door to the driver’s side and placed her keys carefully in the side pocket of her purse. She closed her eyes briefly and recalled walking into this same beautiful old sandstone building sixteen years ago for her wedding reception. The limousine had driven them from the church and let them off at the front door. Hamilton had looked perfect in his black tux with the white shirt, the gray bow tie, and the red rosebud boutonnière.
    “You are absolutely exquisite,” he had whispered as he helped her out of the limousine and paused to give her a long kiss. “Let’s get this over with so the fireworks can really begin.”
    She blushed even now with the memory. Then she cleared her throat and walked determinedly to the same front door, the heels of her low pumps making a click click click on the smooth pavement. When she reached the door, a black man in a blue suit opened it for her, tipping his hat.
    “How ya doin’ today, Miz Pendleton?”
    “Okay, Tom. Hot enough for you?”
    “Yes, ma’am.” He smiled his wide smile, the same one that had greeted her on that wedding night. For only one second their eyes met, and for that second she wished she could throw herself into his arms and sob on his shoulder. Instead, she kept her head up, played the part.
    But as she stepped into the building, Tom called out softly behind her, “You gonna make it, Miz Pendleton. You’re a strong woman. You gonna make it.”
    Katy Lynn felt the prickle of sweat on her brow even though the dining room was almost chilly from the air-conditioning. She surveyed the other women and felt both at home and as if she were from a different universe. They had so much in common, and yet, nothing at all. Or perhaps they were all pretending too.
    She thought of Tom’s reassuring words, “You gonna make it, Miz Pendleton.” Well, Tom should know. He had seen it all during his forty-one years of service at the Capital City Country Club. Nothing caused him to raise his bushy black eyebrows anymore. “Human nature’s all the same, Miz Pendleton. Rotten at the core.”
    Of that she was sure. So why the heck was she dressed in her creamy yellow suit, preparing to have lunch with her five friends, eating perfectly arranged chicken salad on a plate of porcelain? Why didn’t she just tell them all the truth, spit it out in between a bite of chicken salad and a sip of vichyssoise?
    If she could just keep going, she’d survive . She had survived many things, and this was simply another test of her resolve.
    “Katy Lynn, you look just so pencil-thin in that outfit. Where did you find it? Saks? Or Lord & Taylor? They had the most divine sales at Saks last week!”
    “Has everyone seen the article in the Journal this morning? That poor woman—having her whole life displayed on the front page. I always thought her husband was a crook. Nothing but a crook.”
    “Well, we’ve just booked a flight to Hawaii for spring break. The kids are thrilled. Their first time. This will be my fifth, but you get such a nice feeling every time you fly over the islands.”
    “We’re thinking of Greece. A cruise.”
    Katy Lynn nodded with each tidbit of news, chewed slowly, forcing every bite down in spite of the large ball of fear that almost completely blocked her throat. “Delicious,” she murmured at just the right time.
    Her friends, her dear, dear childhood friends, did not notice the paleness of her cheeks beneath the painted pink blush. Thank heavens they enjoy talking so much about themselves. They won’t guess.
    “Katy Lynn,