A Good Marriage(83)

Maude’s back was to Amanda as she approached, but she could see Sarah—big sunglasses on, her mouth a flat line. Amanda waited for her to look up, to smile broadly and wave theatrically as she usually did. But Sarah stayed fixated on Maude.

“I’m so sorry I’m late,” Amanda murmured when she’d finally rushed through the café and out onto the patio.

She hadn’t decided yet whether she would mention the emails about Case. She was so ashamed that she’d somehow missed them. But then hadn’t Sarah said something about getting similar emails and ignoring them?

“That’s okay,” Sarah said, her voice grave. “Maude and I were just talking.”

Once Amanda sat down, she could see that Maude’s eyes were puffy from crying.

“What happened?” Amanda asked. “Is Sophia okay?”

Maude shook her head. “I don’t know. I got another letter. It didn’t say anything different exactly—but I have such a bad feeling. I finally reached somebody at the camp, and they said she seems absolutely fine, but she’s gone on some stupid backpacking excursion, so I can’t actually talk to her directly until Thursday. I don’t think I’m going to feel better until I hear her voice.”

“Maude, honey,” Sarah said more forcefully. “What happened to Sophia? There is obviously something going on. Tell us so that we can help.”

“All Sebe wants me to do is stay calm,” Maude said. “And I just—he’s wrong. She’s not okay. I can feel it.”

“That’s because husbands are useless,” Sarah said. “Even the gorgeous ones. Maude, tell us what happened.”

“But I promised Sophia I wouldn’t.” Maude looked pained.

“Please,” Sarah huffed. “Parent promises are kept at the discretion of the parent. Everybody knows that.”

Maude stared out into the distance for a moment, chewing on her lip.

“Sophia took some naked pictures of herself,” she finally blurted out, and then her body sank. “For this boy she’s seeing.”

“Oh, Maude, they all do that!” Sarah exclaimed. “I’ve done that, which, by the way, I do not recommend—no matter how high your self-esteem, naked at forty-eight years old is much better in your head than in a selfie—but you wouldn’t believe the pictures my son and his friends get sent to them. All the time. And I am not blaming the girls, either. No, no, no. I know the boys ask. Even my boys, I’m sure. Like it’s nothing. And for that I blame porn. And not regular old Playboy either. That was healthy curiosity. This online garbage?” Sarah closed her eyes and shuddered. “Anyway, my point is, it’s a bottomless cauldron of twisted depravity out there. There are apparently whole websites devoted to things like ‘peeper porn.’”

“Peeper porn?” Amanda asked.

“Oh, just people videotaping up women’s skirts or setting up cameras in public bathrooms, that kind of thing.” Sarah blushed uncharacteristically. “No big deal, right?”

Maude’s eyes filled with tears.

“Oh, Maude, I’m so sorry!” Sarah cupped a hand over her mouth. “That peeper bullshit has nothing to do with Sophia! Really, it has nothing to do with anything. So Sophia took the pictures, and I’m assuming she gave them to the boy? It’s not a big deal. Seriously. We just need to make sure Sophia knows that.”

“Think of how amazing it is that Sophia told you about any of it, Maude,” Amanda pointed out. “It shows how much she trusts you.”

“Exactly. It’s a testament to what a good mother you are,” Sarah added. “I like to ride you about hovering, but, you know, my boys don’t tell me a damn thing.”

Maude blinked, sending the tears rushing down her cheeks.

“There’s more,” she said.

“What?” Sarah asked.

“Our computer was one of the ones hacked into,” Maude said. “And the pictures Sophia took of herself, they’re provocative, really provocative. They’ve threatened to post them.”

“Those motherfuckers,” Sarah growled.

Maude’s tears were coming even faster now. Her cheeks were glistening. “The worst part is, some of Sophia’s letters from camp have made it seem like there’s even more than that. Something I don’t know.” Maude looked from Sarah to Amanda and back again, like surely they must have some answers. “What else could there be?”

Sarah shook her head. “She’s going to be fine. You just need to talk to her. All that time away from home without her phone? She’s had too much time to think.”

But Maude continued to look so worried. And Amanda felt worried for her.

“You can talk to her on Thursday, you said?” Amanda asked.

Maude nodded. “Yes. But they can’t even tell me what time. What if it’s in the middle of the stupid party? I should cancel.”

“Oh, don’t cancel!” Sarah cried, then recovered with a wave of her hand. “I mean, getting ready will keep you distracted. There’s nothing you can do right now anyway. What’s happened has happened.” Then she smiled playfully, like she was trying to lighten the mood. “Besides, you cannot have this be my last sex party and then cancel. I’ll have no closure.”