“No kidding!I’mWoodgrove High Class of 2015!”
“Yes, I know! I knew you looked familiar when I saw you on the club’s website! I opened my old yearbook, and there you were.”
“What a small world!” Leslie tapped her index finger against her lips. “Did we have any classes together?”
“No … but I did have some classes with Madison Clark. I know the two of you were close friends.”
“Oh, yes! You know, the Clarks are still members here. Have been for thirty years, at least.”
“Oh, wow, I haven’t seen Madison since graduation! Do you … keep in touch with her?” I tried to keep my voice light so I wouldn’t give away how eager I was to hear about her.
“Oh, yes, of course! Madison and I are still thebestof friends. She splits her time between Sausalito and the city now, with her husband.”
“Oh! She’s married? Well—of course she is. She was always so beautiful. Always drove all the boys crazy, am I right?”
“Without a doubt! Yes, she married her husband Max about four or five years ago. I was her maid of honor, naturally.” Leslie beamed proudly. “They have an apartment in the city, but they still come up to Sausalito all the time to visit her family at their estate.”
“How nice. Do they have any children?” I swallowed, trying to keep my cool.
“Oh … no, poor thing.”
I struggled to keep my expression neutral. “Oh?” I wanted to hear more.
“They’ve been trying for years. Madison is just heartbroken about it. But sadly, it doesn’t look like it’s going to happen for them.”
“Oh, no. That’s so sad.”
“Yes, we’ve been talking about it a lot lately. I keep trying to tell her—there’s no shame in adoption.”
“That’s so true. But … she doesn’t want to?”
“No. She seems very against it.” She leaned forward and lowered her voice. “You know how those old-money families can be … they’re not keen on adoption.”
“Oh … yeah, I guess. I’ve heard that.”So … Madison can’t get pregnant on her own.My mind was racing.But what about all of Max’s women? If I hadn’t lost my baby … if she had eventually learned that Max had gotten me pregnant, and not her …I grimaced inwardly, thinking about how ugly that could have been.
“So do you think they’re going to keep trying?” I asked.
“Last time I talked to her, she was researching surrogacy, but it sounds like that’s a very slow and painstaking process. Who knewthere was so much you have to do? Medical tests, criminal background checks, and psychological tests? Good grief. They’re a wealthy, loving family who wants to have a child!” Leslie sighed and shook her head. “Guess we’ve just got to wish them luck, right?”
“Oh—right, right. Yes, of course.” I nodded, maybe a little too eagerly.Play it cool, I reminded myself. “Well, how about you, Leslie? Are you married?” I could already see the rock on her ring finger.
“Funny you should ask! Do you remember John Barlowe, from our class? My high school sweetheart? Well, we’re getting married in June! It’s going to be right here at the club, actually.”
“Oh, my goodness—you and John! Of course!” I bullshitted. “Congratulations, Leslie.”
“Thank you.” She beamed and wiggled her ring finger, causing the light to dance off her huge diamond. “But anyway—should we take a tour of the club so you can see all the amenities?”
“Yes, please!” I clapped my hands together like a fellow spoiled rich girl.
As Leslie led me all over the club, droning on about all the fabulous features, such as the women’s tennis and pickleball programs I could join, and the lobster brunches on Sundays, my head was spinning.
Max’s wife can’t have children of her own. Her family doesn’t like adoption. She’s researching surrogacy. Would Max stop sleeping around with other women if they were finally having a baby with a surrogate?
I couldn’t stop thinking about how things might have gone if I hadn’t lost my child—my child with Max.Madison would have been hurt. Furious. She can’t have a baby, yet her husband gets another woman pregnant. Wouldn’t that be the ultimate betrayal?I wondered how Max would have handled it. He had seemed excited when I told him I was pregnant. Would he have left Madison to be with me? Or would we have become his secretsecond family? And would he ever have told me the truth, that he was married?
After our tour, Leslie took me back to her office to go over all the costs of membership. Normally, I would have to be sponsored by a current member, but since we were fellow Woodgrove Lions, Leslie said she would waive the requirement. I nearly choked when she explained the annual fees, but I tried to match her enthusiastic smile and took the folder she gave me. I told her I’d get back to her with my decision.
And then, Max found himself another new girl. I called her Plain Jane.
