“He’s been screwing around, bringing diseases home.” She lets out a bitter laugh.
I bite my tongue to keep from telling her I’m not shocked, and neither shouldshebe. Tristan’s been cheating for years.
“You did me a favor by telling the family at Christmas about him and Lulu.”
“Favor?” Katya gives me a teasing look.
“Yes,” Betty insists, apparently immune to sarcasm.
Last Christmas Eve was a shitshow. I did no oneanyfavors—except maybe myself.
“Anyway, after I got rid of Lulu, he promised he wouldn’t stray. Then he did. So…it’s over.”
I’m not convinced. People like Betty—and Edith—prefer the status quo, no matter how humiliating, until…maybe reality forces them otherwise? And it’s probably hard to ignore reality when you’re on antibiotics for an STI your husband gave you.
“Well, I wish you the best.” Then, because I can’t help myself, I lean in close. “Do you have a good divorce lawyer? Because my friend here?—”
“—is so busy she can’t take new clients,” Katya cuts in, yanking me back by my coat.
Betty blinks in confusion. “What?”
I sigh. “You have a divorce lawyer, don’t you, Betty?”
She licks her lips, shaking her head quickly. “I’m going to talk to one…soon.”
Right. She’s not getting divorced.Ever.
“And have you heard about Gianna?” Betty’s in gossip mode now.
“No.” And because I actuallydowant to know what’s happening with that awful woman, I indulge her and myself.
“She’s filing for bankruptcy.” Betty lowers her voice, like she’s sharing state secrets. “Nelson said he won’t help her. Neither will Tristan. I mean, Patrick owes some not-nice people over a hundred thousand dollars.”
“Wow.” Katya and I say it in unison.
“Auntie Mia!” Carla’s sweet voice breaks in, and she’s running toward me.
I crouch to hug her. “Hey, little angel, how are you?”
“I got a bee on my face.” She turns her cheek so I can see the painted black-and-yellow bee.
“Oh, that is so cool.”
“Carla, you can’t just run away like that.” A burly woman gripping Nelson Jr.’s hand approaches.
Nelson Jr. drops her hand and runs to me, too. I hug him, and he proudly shows me the spider painted on his face.
Betty exhales sharply. “Heidi, I told you to hold their handsalways.”
The new nanny just grunts. Her primary qualification, I guess, is that she’s not twenty-somethingand hot.
“Anyway, Mia, it was so nice to see you.” Betty waves to her children. “Come on, kids, say bye to Auntie Mia.”
I kiss them and they leave, Heidi holding their hands.
Katya wrinkles her nose. “That woman is so vapid…I don’t even have the words.”
“I think the words you’re looking for areblondeandfloozy.”
