The Best of Enemies by Jen Lancaster

Author:Jen Lancaster [Lancaster, Jen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Humorous, Contemporary Women, Mystery & Detective, Women Sleuths
ISBN: 9780451471093
Google: FLnsBAAAQBAJ
Amazon: 0451471091
Publisher: NAL
Published: 2015-08-04T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER ELEVEN

North Shore, Illinois

Tuesday

“How’s your summer going?”

Keep it together, Kitty-cat, I tell myself. You can do this. Do not freak out. You are their PTO president. The second these moms sense weakness, bam! That’s it. Junta. Or hostile takeover. Or whatever it’s called when there’s a vote of no confidence and the democratic, fair, pretty leader’s ousted. You want to end up on the bottom of the phone tree list like your neighbor Cecily, not even deemed responsible to call one person, let alone ten? No. No flipping way. Not happening.

I smile broadly and say, “Oh, it’s been to die. Just the best, Merritt! And thank you for asking! You must tell me all about yours! Don’t you dare skimp on a single detail, either.”

Naturally, Merritt Wilhelm is still done up in high-speed moisture-wicking workout clothes, gun show on full display, lest anyone doubt for a second she spends all day at the gym. She launches into an exhaustive description of some house on some body of water somewhere. Don’t know. Can’t care. Not listening. I’m not here to make small talk. All I want to do is find my kid and mother-in-law, exit this damn party, and have a few minutes to sort out my racing thoughts.

“. . . water as clear as can be!”

I cannot piece this together. What am I missing? What did Trip mean when he wrote that things were changing? Was he leaving Betsy? How could that be? I never heard of a moment’s discord between them! And how could he believe that I’d be the kind of woman who hooks up with her best friend’s husband? Ugh, I feel sick again. I can still taste the bile, even though I shoved three pieces of gum in my mouth after I brushed my teeth.

“. . . jet skis, a pontoon boat . . .”

Was I somehow accidentally untoward with Trip? He always flirted with me, but I thought he was being friendly. Because I’d occasionally banter back, did he take my naturally sunny nature as an invitation? Yes, I can be flirty—flirting is an effective, everyone-wins tool for getting others to do your bidding. But my flirting isn’t of a sexual nature and I’d never flirt with anyone I actually crushed on—that would violate everything Kelly ever taught me! And, hello? Happily married! Smiling with my eyes and giggling on cue do not an adulteress make!

I’m worried, though—did Trip have a notion I wasn’t happily married? Why would he? Did he know something I didn’t? Do Dr. K and I not present a united front? No, that’s crazy. We’re fine. Fine! We’re great! Every married couple has ebbs and flows. This isn’t about my husband. This is about a man who was so used to getting his way that it never occurred to him someone would say no. But that raises the question, was Trip a cheater?

“. . . the most adorable fudge shop . . .”

Sure, as much as Trip traveled, he’d have the opportunity to step out on Betsy.

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