Nookietown by V.C. Chickering

Author:V.C. Chickering
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781466871151
Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Chapter 20

Everyone arrived seven minutes late to the next married-ladies luncheon at the new restaurant in town. The raspberry brocade drapes and deep-plum carpeting did little to soothe Lucy’s dark, anxious mood. Even the comfy upholstered semicircular banquet covered in peach velvet seemed annoying instead of sumptuously plush. Maybe it wasn’t exactly anxiety she was feeling, it was more of a low-grade perturbation—if that was even a word—an irkedness, which Lucy knew was definitely not a word. People loved to say, “Oh, you’ll meet someone,” as if it were some foregone conclusion, but Lucy knew statisticswise her chances were slim. She’d given up this really terrific thing in her life, which worked on a bunch of levels, and now she was alone again. Lucy snapped at the waitress then apologized profusely. Kit noticed.

“Is Matt being a jackass?” asked Kit. She really could be empathetic.

“Yes. Always. But it’s not—” said Lucy. Then, “How was the zoning hearing?”

“Nice try,” said Kit. “Now why don’t you tell me what you were really going to say.” Lucy inhaled then looked up at the heavens. Here goes nuthin’, she thought. “It’s Peter. He’s married.” They all reacted as if Lucy had missed a free throw at the buzzer in the fourth quarter of the final. Hands flailing, name-calling.

Lucy said, “Okay, knock it off. I don’t want to hear it. I broke up with him.” Her friends let loose a collective, “Awww.” Kit reached across the table and touched Lucy’s arm.

“Douche bag,” said Kit.

“You did the right thing,” said Gina. “Did you sleep with him?”

Nancy said, “Yeah. You did the right thing. Did you?”

Lucy made a snap decision in that moment to lie. She was mad at her friends for judging her and didn’t think they deserved—or could handle—the truth. She said, “No, I didn’t sleep with him and I feel miserable, thank you. And I’m alone again. But as long as you’re all proud of me for doing the right thing, that’s all that matters.” Sarcasm dripped from Lucy’s every pore.

Gina said, “I didn’t ask you to stop seeing him. Don’t do it for me.”

Nancy said, “Yeah, I think it’s fine. I mean it’s not fine. I think you’d be happier if you were dating someone who’s available, but if this makes you happy, go for it.”

Kit said to Nancy, “How can you say that? How can you condone that behavior when you’re a married woman yourself? I want her happy, too, but—”

Gina said, “Fortune sides with she who dares.”

Kit, “What nut job said that?”

“Virgil.”

“Virgil who? From the pool?”

Nancy said, “Look, obviously I’m all for the ‘unexamined life’ get-out-of-an-ethical-dilemma-free card, as long as it doesn’t lead to a life of crime.”

Kit said, “Yeah, hello slippery slope.”

Gina said, “Sleeping with a married person is not breaking the law.”

Kit said, “But it is sleazy and morally wrong if the wife doesn’t know. No offense, Luce, but it is. Too bad you can’t get her to join your Program.”

“Yeah, ha,” said Lucy.

“Did you tell Peter about The Program?”

“Are you kidding? No.

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