What’s going on?
Is everything okay?
Sorry I wasn’t able to respond. I was playing poker at Tony’s.
Tony was a coworker. He managed the store in which the pharmacy leased space. Ben hung out with him occasionally. They both liked to mountain bike. But the fact that Tony was also associated with the pharmacy made Sloane wonder if other coworkers were invited—like Adele.
Was the new girl there?
She held the words on the screen a full three seconds, then deleted them. She didn’t want to come off as a jealous shrew, even though she currentlywasa jealous shrew.
A knock sounded at the door.
“I’m up,” she called out.
Charlotte came in wearing a sheepish expression. “Morning.”
Sloane slid up and combed her fingers through her tangledhair. “Morning,” she said, feeling contrite about how she’d behaved last night.
“I just wanted to say... I’m sorry.”
“So am I,” Sloane mumbled and set her phone on the nightstand. “I was... worked up. You’re going through a lot, and I should’ve taken that into account.”
“We overreacted. We’re both struggling, and we both have difficult decisions to make.”
“Who could’ve guessed our lives would come to such a turning point? Maybe we’ll both wind up single,” she added with a humorless laugh.
Sloane assumed Charlotte would make some wise crack about becoming roommates and growing old together. Something with a sentiment akin to “at least we have each other.” But she didn’t. She became even more serious and reflective. “Here’s the thing, Sloane. I don’t thinkyouhave to wind up single.”
Because Ben was such a good husband. But he’d been a good husband all along. That didn’t solve the problem of whether she wanted to have children. “You’re saying you do plan to end your marriage?” She was interested in Charlotte’s answer, but she also wanted to keep the focus off herself.
Charlotte crossed the floor, threw open the shutters and stood in a pool of sunlight as she stared out the window. “Yeah.”
“You really mean it this time?” Sloane had heard a note of commitment in Charlotte’s voice that hadn’t been there before.
“Do you mean that?” she pressed when Charlotte didn’t immediately respond.
“I do. Letting go all at once was a big step. A lot has happened in a short time, so it took me a minute to get my bearings. But I’m there now.”
Sloane got up and walked over. “You don’t need him, Char. You’ve got us.”
“I appreciate that.” She smiled. “So... what areyougoing to do?”
Sloane wished she could say she’d also come to a decision, but she hadn’t. “I don’t know.”
“Fortunately, you don’t have to make up your mind this minute. Why don’t we take the day to go see the Emerald Grotto?”
“But... you haven’t sent in your pages yet.”
“I’m close. I need the support of my friends today. And Lilly. I’ll send them late tonight.”
“Okay. I’ll buy the tickets and you and Jules can Venmo me.”
Lilly had been enjoying herself as much as she could, considering she had no idea what would happen when their stay in Italy came to an end. But today felt special, like a holiday, so she wasn’t going to let anything sad or worrisome intrude.
First, she, Julian, Sloane and Charlotte took a bus to Amalfi. The driver tapped his horn around the blind curves as they traveled along the narrow, winding highway that connected Positano, Praiano and Amalfi—and other towns on the coast—like the thread going through a strand of pearls. Then they enjoyed Nutella croissants, which shattered into sweet flakes, and coffee—she got hot chocolate—at a sidewalk café not far from the huge, ornate cathedral that sat in the middle of the town square.
After that, they walked around the cobblestone streets to visit the surrounding shops before catching a small boat, one that could only seat six people, at Pennello Pier.
