Cordelia’s house is always flawless. I’m pretty sure dust doesn’t even bother entering her house. My penthouse takes a team to keep it pristine. Hers just seems to always magically be perfect. From the lace doilies to the antiques, everything should feel outdated, but here it’s pure bliss.
The table has a low floral arrangement with peonies and hydrangeas that perfectly match the tablecloths and china pattern.
I take a seat between Mindy and Winnie. They’ll act as my distraction and buffer one way or the other. Why am I stressing out? These women are my friends. They aren’t fake friends. They’re the real ones. The ones you tell when you think you’re bleeding to death, but it turns out you just got your period for the first time. The ones you talk to when your grandmother died. The ones who comfort you when your parents forgot that you were the lead in the eighth-grade play.
They’re your rock. Your cheerleaders. The only people in the world who you can count on.
Not one of them is going to judge you.
“The 158th meeting of the Sinister Spinsters Club is now in session. All members are present except for Leonie Lourdes who’s currently on a stakeout and couldn’t make it. Greer Novack, founding member but now a guest, is also in attendance.” Ottilie writes furiously in her notebook. “This emergency meeting was called by Greer Novack in regards torejoining as a member with full rights.” Ottilie takes this way too seriously, so we do as well.
“I’d like to enter into the notes that I am no longer Greer Novack. From now on, I will be referred to as Greer Hestons. This is my formal request to rejoin the Sinister Spinsters Club.”
The beautiful room goes silent. As if everyone processes what that means.
“I open the floor to debate.” Ottilie glances around the room with her pen poised to jot down any comments.
“What happened? Does Maddox need to beat Darrel up? Because let me tell you, he’s been itching for a fight and will gladly do it.”
“I say we let Winnie kill him,” the normally sweet and gentle Cordelia volunteers.
“First, we should find out what he did. Then, we can plan how to kill him.” Ottilie doesn’t seem to be the voice of reason in this conversation either.
All eyes turn to me. “We aren’t killing Darrel.” No matter how many times I’ve thought of doing it. “My baby might need his father…for a kidney or something when he gets older.”
“Father…” Ottilie’s pen slips from her fingers, clattering on the edge of her teacup.
“Can we put this up to a vote now?” And stop staring at me.
“I vote we reinstate Greer as a full member. Though we might have to eject Mindy.” And that’s Winnie saving the day.
“You aren’t booting me even if I eventually say yes to Maddox’s proposal.”
Cordelia chokes on the tea she foolishly lifted to her lips just a moment before. “What? He already proposed?”
“Sort of. More like he told me that we had to get married to have sex…and well, you’ve seen him, right? Plus, I’ve fallen in love with him.”
“Does he want kids?” All eyes turn to me, filled with sympathy.
“No. I think he wants them even less than I do, if that’s possible. According to Maddox, he already has enough kids to take care of. He doesn’t need to add any more into the mix.”
“So do you think you’ll marry him?” Ottilie lifts up her cup instead of the pen.
Mindy smiles. “Probably. Only there’s one problem…or two. Maddox doesn’t believe in divorce. He wants forever.” Mindy leans back in her chair like the weight of the world just dragged her down.
“So?” Winnie says what I’m thinking.
“So…my track record isn’t very good.”
Cordelia snorts…which somehow sounds ladylike coming from her. “You don’t have a track record. You’ve never tried getting married.”
“My mother has—”
“You aren’t your mother.” Ottilie reaches for a cookie. Unlike everything else on the table that’s homemade, Ottilie’s cookies are from a package, which is the only way she’ll eat them.
“I know that, but—”
“No buts.” Winnie grins. “You aren’t your mother, just like the rest of us aren’t like our parents. We’re our own people. That means we get to live our lives by our own rules and make our own mistakes. And let me tell you, walking away from a man that loves you that much would be one. I vote we keep Mindy in the club regardless of her marital status.”
