Lovely Girls(21)

I listened to the other three in silence. I didn’t know Mark well enough to know whether a random mercurial comment meant nothing or everything. But seeing how upset Emma was, I wanted to do or say something to help. I wanted to connect with her, with all three of them. I just wasn’t sure how. I sensed that my default position of always being superficially nice while never saying what I really thought wouldn’t work with this group.

“Have you considered marriage therapy?” Ingrid asked.

“You’ve always said marriage therapy is bullshit and never helps anyone.” Emma sniffed loudly.

“You need to stop taking everything I say so literally,” Ingrid said, which earned her a weak smile from Emma. Ingrid raised her hands, palms facing upward. “It can teach couples more effective ways to communicate.”

“Hold on,” Genevieve said. “How long has this been going on? Isn’t it possible that Mark’s just had a rough couple of weeks and you’re overthinking it?”

“I don’t know. I’ve been feeling this distance grow between us for a while now. At first, I thought I was imagining it, but now . . . I just don’t know.” Emma’s eyes filled again, and another tear trailed down her cheek.

I reached out across the poster board and cutouts of paper panther heads cluttering the table and put a hand on Emma’s arm. “Sometimes you can’t fix it on your own. Even if that’s what you want more than anything in the world.”

It was the only thing I could think to offer.

“She’s right, honey,” Ingrid said. “It takes two people to make a relationship work. Mark has to be willing to meet you halfway.”

“I have never met a man capable of meeting his wife halfway,” Genevieve said.

“Come on, Gen. Richard worships the ground you walk on,” Emma said.

“Oh, sure he does. Just as long as all of his needs are being met, preferably before he even realizes he has a need. But”—she stretched her arms out in front of her—“it’s not like I didn’t know that going into it.”

“That’s the main reason I left David,” Ingrid said. “My happiness wasn’t exactly at the top of his list of priorities.” She paused and looked thoughtful. “It certainly came after fucking one of the doctors at his medical practice.”

“Good riddance,” Genevieve said with a wave of one hand. “He was never good enough for you.”

“No, he wasn’t,” Ingrid agreed. She leaned forward and took a single almond from a small dish and popped it into her mouth. “But then, who is? I haven’t found him.”

“So, Kate,” Genevieve said. I could feel the attention of all three women shift toward me, and my pulse began to thrum. I knew what was coming. “What’s the story with Alex’s father?”

My mouth went dry. I knew the question would come eventually. I closed my eyes briefly and drew a deep breath. “My husband died,” I said, opening my eyes once the words were out.

It was blunt and had the benefit of both being true and frequently stopping further questioning. People were skittish about death, I’d learned.

“Oh, honey, I’m so sorry.” This time Emma rested her hand on my arm.

“We suspected it was something like that, since you never mention him. But how terrible for you, and for Alex,” Ingrid said.

“How did he die?” Genevieve asked.

I should have known it would be Genevieve. I’d already learned in the short time I’d known her that she never shied away from asking intrusive questions.

“A car accident,” I said quietly. “Last October.”

“Oh, my God,” Genevieve said. “That’s just . . .” Her voice trailed off. It was the first time I’d seen her speechless.

“Horrible,” Ingrid said. “It’s horrible.”

“I’ve always thought that being widowed must be so lonely,” Emma said.

“It is.” I wasn’t going to tell them the worst part, the real reason behind our move. But I felt like I owed them the partial truth. They’d been honest about their marriages with me. “But it’s all a bit more complicated. The week before the accident, Ed and I had decided to file for divorce. We hadn’t even told Alex yet. I’d just been adjusting to the idea, and then the accident happened, and everything changed so quickly. Suddenly, I was planning a funeral.” And I was free, I added silently. I knew not to say that part out loud. “It was surreal.”

“Does Alex know you were going to get divorced?” Emma asked.

“No,” I said. “I didn’t tell her. It seemed like it would just cause her additional pain at a time when she was already reeling.”

Emma rubbed my arm, and Ingrid put her hand over mine. And for the first time in months, years even, I felt like I wasn’t alone, just me against the world.

“I think Joe is perfect for you,” Genevieve said. We all looked up at her. “You need a fresh start. And I know he’s interested in you. He asked me for your number.”

“He called and asked me to dinner,” I admitted. “I said yes, but I didn’t really think it through. I should probably cancel. I don’t know if I’m up for it.”

“Absolutely not,” Genevieve said. “You have to go.”