The Husband Hour(62)

“Ah, yes. She told you about the falling-out with my friend Henny?”

“Not in detail.”

Nora shook her head. “I made a business decision, and she took it personally. You and your husband are in sales—you understand. Sometimes you have to sell everything you’ve got. Even the four walls.”

Beth nodded, although she wasn’t sure exactly what Nora was talking about.

“Well, I really appreciate you giving Lauren a job. I know what a difference it made in her life back when she first moved here full-time.”

“Are you kidding? I’m lucky to have her. She’s a wonderful young woman. I have to say, I wish I could do more for her.”

“More?”

“You know. Helping her get on with her life in other ways. I’m sure you feel the same. It just seems, I hate to say, your daughter is frozen.” And then, seeing the stricken look on Beth’s face, she said, “Oh, I’m sorry. Did I overstep?”

“No, no. Not at all,” Beth said quickly. “It’s just…I don’t have anyone to really talk to about this. My husband thinks I need to push her more. My friends feel sorry for me, for her, and they tell me it just takes time. But I don’t see time helping one bit.”

Nora poured more sangria into both of their glasses. She’d served the drinks in cute little mason jars. “I have to agree with you on that one, Beth.”

Beth gulped her drink, looking out the window at her beautiful daughter standing surrounded by people yet alone on the deck.



Matt took a break from the grill, a glass of sangria in hand. The sudden rush of socializing overwhelmed him after the quiet, intense few weeks back in New York. First, a quick visit home for his father’s birthday. As his parents’ only remaining son, he simply couldn’t miss some things. Then a seemingly endless string of days and nights in the editing suite in Brooklyn.

The film’s narrative had developed a life of its own, branching off in directions he hadn’t expected. He’d first come to Longport to finish it, and now it was as if he were just beginning. He’d considered turning down Henny’s invite to the party, but he’d reconsidered when he realized Lauren would probably be there. He’d been wondering how to pick up the conversation in a natural way, and the party was the perfect opening.

He leaned over the wooden ledge of the deck, looking out at the bay. A boat sped by, breaking the no-wake rule. But it was a holiday, and there was a feeling of—well, if not lawlessness, something slightly edgy in the air.

Someone slipped up next to him. Stephanie.

“Oh, hey there. Happy Fourth,” he said.

“Save it,” she snapped. “What are you even doing here?”

“I was invited,” he said carefully, not sure where the hostility was coming from. “Did I do something to upset you?”

“You took advantage of me,” she said, her voice low, glancing around. “I was drunk, and you pushed me and pushed me until I said something I shouldn’t have said. And I want you to forget I said it.”

“I didn’t push you. We were having a conversation. And I can’t just forget it.”

She shifted on her feet, agitated. “Are you going to tell my sister?”

“I’m not here to get involved in your personal life, Stephanie. Not yours, not your sister’s. I’m just trying to make a movie about Rory. The truth about his life is all I care about.”

“Are you going to put what I said in the movie?”

“I can’t put it in the movie unless you or someone else says it on camera.” He almost wished Stephanie hadn’t told him. When had it happened? Why had Rory done it? Guys cheated, of course. But to sleep with Lauren’s sister? Was the transgression just another manifestation of his personality changes from the head injuries? That was the only thing he really wanted to know. “Can I ask you something? Was he married to her at the time?”

“No,” Stephanie said quickly, eager to absolve herself of at least that level of betrayal. “And I warned her not to marry him.”

“You did?”

“Yes. I mean, I didn’t tell her why I was saying not to trust him—I couldn’t.”

“Let me interview you on camera one more time,” he said.

“No fucking way.”



Lauren spotted Stephanie and Matt in heated conversation. What on earth was that all about?

“Let’s go find Gran,” she said to Ethan. She led him to the picnic table on the front lawn where her mother and Nora were busy laying out a buffet spread of dessert, and then she quickly headed back alone to the perplexing tête-à-tête by the water.

Matt and Stephanie didn’t notice her walking over, not even when she was close enough to touch Stephanie’s shoulder.

“Am I interrupting something?” Lauren said, and from the look on Stephanie’s face, she saw that she was. But what? There had been a time, not so long ago, when she would have freaked out. But she felt in a better place with her sister. She trusted her.

“No,” Stephanie said. “I’m just getting ready to leave.”

“Why? Everyone’s going to head over to the fireworks soon.”

“Where’s Ethan?”

“Out front with Mom.”