I deduce she’s just come from Bistro de Margot—the companion trailing a step behind her is clutching a glossy takeout bag stamped with the restaurant’s name.
I’ve met this woman before, though her name escapes me. I think she’s from Essex, and like all of Edith’s friends, she’s mousy, the lesser one. Aiden’s mother doesn’t do equals—only admirers, sycophants, or people she can boss around.
They’re both in designer coats and pearls, which they’re probably going to clutch any minute, I think, amused.
Both women look alike. The same plastic surgeon? Definitely the same hair salon, because they are similarly and perfectly coiffed.
“Do you know what they’re saying about my family?” she hisses as she storms toward me, high heels clicking on the sidewalk like gunfire.
“I have no clue,” I reply, a broad smile on my face because this woman, whom I didn’t want to upset so as not to irritate my husband, has absolutely no hold over me anymore.
Firstly, Aiden has cut his parents off, which, according to him, is apparently annoying the fuck out of them.
Secondly, if he doesn’t like how I treat his mother, he can take his legally-mandateddates and shove them up his ass.
“You’re laughing? After everything you’ve done to this family?”
Katya steps slightly in front of me to protect me. I’m touched, but I can handle Edith Winter.
“You manipulative little bitch. You think ruining my family gets you power? You’re nothing.”
“Walk away,” Katya warns, voice low and steady.
“Edith, this is neither the time nor the place for a show,” I add laconically.
I don’t like this woman. I don’t like that she’s makingme the center of attention, because people are stopping to look. Some even have their phones out.
“You want a show?” Edith hisses—andthen…she shoves me.
It happens so fast I can’t even brace. I stumble backward and crash hard against the metal edge of a parking meter.
Pain blooms across my lower back, bright and stunning.
A passerby catches me before I can fall on the asphalt, helps me up.
I blink through tears, shock burning through me. My back throbs.
Katya rushes to my side, her voice fierce. “You okay? You’re okay?”
I hear a nasally voice say, panicked, “Well, she pushed her and she’s hurt. There’s blood. Bring the fire department. The police. The EMTs.”
“Oh, please, stop pretending that you’re hurt,” Edith cries out stiffly, as if she didn’t just assault me in public.
“You assaulted her, lady,” someone cries out.Obviously not a local.
“Edith, I saw what you did,” another says.Obviously a local.
“I recorded it,” someone else announces.
And then there are lots of people talking at once.
“Who does she think she is, treating someone like that?”
“That’s her son’s wife.
“What a bitch!”
Katya rounds on my future ex-mother-in-law. “You assaulted her. We’re pressing charges.”
