The Great Escape (Wynette, Texas #7)(71)

“Everybody’s different.” Lucy didn’t feel all that cheery herself, but the fireworks weren’t to blame.

“Fireworks make most people happy, but there’s something depressing about watching all that color and beauty die out so fast. Like if we’re not careful, that’s what will happen to us. One minute you’re blazing hot—on top of your game. The next minute you’re gone, and nobody remembers your name. Sometimes you have to think, what’s the point?”

The porch screen door dragged as Lucy opened it. Light from the fake Tiffany lamp hanging in the kitchen spilled out through the windows. “You’re depressed because you’re starving. And by the way … I think you look terrific.”

“We both know that’s not true.” Temple threw herself down on one of the chaises Lucy had covered with a crimson beach towel. “I’m a pig.”

“Stop talking about yourself that way.”

“I call it like I see it.”

The wind had overturned one of the herb pots, and Lucy went to the baker’s rack to right it. The scents of rosemary and lavender always reminded her of the White House East Garden, but tonight she had something else on her mind. “Being vulnerable isn’t a sin. You told me you’d met someone, and it didn’t work out. That puts a lot of woman in a tailspin.”

“You think I found solace for my broken heart at the bottom of a H?agen-Dazs carton?”

“It’s been known to happen.”

“Except I’m the one who broke it off,” she said bitterly.

Lucy picked up the watering can. “That doesn’t necessarily make it any less painful. I speak from experience.”

Temple was too wrapped up in her own tribulations to acknowledge Lucy’s troubles. “Max called me gutless. Can you believe that? Me? Gutless? Max was all—” She made quick air quotes. “‘Now, Temple, we can work this out.’” Her hands dropped. “Wrong.”

“Are you sure?”

“More than sure. Some problems can’t ever be worked out. But Max …” She hesitated. “Max is one of those people who not only see the glass as half full, but half full of a mocha caramel Frappuccino. That kind of rosy outlook isn’t realistic.”

Lucy wondered if it was geography that stood in their way—Max on the East Coast, Temple on the west. Or maybe Max was married. Lucy wouldn’t ask. Although she was dying to know.

But the old Lucy’s tactfulness only extended so far. She set aside the watering can and crossed to the chaise. “I haven’t watched much of Fat Island …” She’d hardly watched any of it. “But I seem to remember that psychological counseling is a component of the program.” She remembered, all right. The show had a female psychologist who wore a red bikini and counseled the contestants from a tiki hut—all caught on camera, of course.

“Dr. Kristi. She’s a fruitcake. Major esophageal damage from too many years of sticking her finger down her throat. All shrinks are nuts.”

“Life experience is sometimes what makes them good at their job.”

“I don’t need a shrink, Lucy. Although I do appreciate the way you keep pointing out how nuts I am. What I need is willpower and discipline.”

Lucy wasn’t playing the good girl on this one. “You also need counseling. Panda can’t stand over you forever. If you don’t figure out—”

“If I don’t figure out what’s eating me—blah, blah, blah. God, you sound just like Dr. Kristi.”

“Is she still sticking her finger down her throat?”

“No.”

“Then maybe you should listen to her.”

“Fine.” Temple crossed her arms over her chest so aggressively it was a wonder her ribs didn’t crack. “You think I need counseling? You’re some kind of social worker, aren’t you?”

“Not for years. I work as a lobbyist now.”

Temple waved away the distinction. “Go ahead and counsel me. Let’s hear it. Tell me how I can stop wanting to shove every piece of high-fat, high-sugar, carb-loaded crap down my throat.”

“I’m afraid you’ll have to figure that out for yourself.”

Temple leaped off the chaise and stormed into the house, banging the door behind her like an angry teenager. Lucy sighed. She didn’t need this tonight.

A few moments later, Panda came up the steps from the dock. She’d had enough conversation, and she slipped inside.



SHE WAS ASLEEP WHEN HER cell rang. She fumbled for the bedside light, then reached for her phone.

“Hey, Luce. I hope I didn’t wake you up.” Meg’s cheery chirp didn’t quite ring true. “So how’s it going?”

Lucy shoved the hair out of her eyes and peered at the bedside clock. “It’s one in the morning. How do you think it’s going?”

“Really? It’s only midnight here, but since I have no idea where you are, it’s a little tough to allow for time differences.”

Lucy caught the barb, but Meg didn’t have room to criticize. It was true that Lucy hadn’t told her best friend where she was—hadn’t told her much at all—but Meg was being just as evasive. Still, Lucy knew Meg was worried about her. “It won’t be much longer. I’ll tell you as soon as I can. Right now everything’s a little … too confusing to talk about.” She rolled to her side. “Is something wrong? You sound worried.”