“No one loses a hundred pounds watching their carbs!”
“Holy shit, did she lose a hundred pounds? That’s impressive.”
“You aren’t getting it.”
“I guess not.”
“If Hope loses a bunch of weight ‘watching her carbs,’ it implies that all any of us have to do is watch our carbs.”
“But you do watch your carbs.”
“Exactly! And it’s pointless!”
“Then why do you do it?”
“Because I like myself better when I’m trying.”
“I didn’t realize Ozempic was so effective...”
“It isn’t for everyone. And there are risks.”
“Huh...”
“I’m not mad at Hope. Honny and Joy are. Really it’s just Honny... You haven’t said anything about how we all look alike.”
“Well, you are sisters.”
“People have a hard time telling us apart.”
“I was more struck by how their husbands all look alike. How does that work?”
“They don’t look alike. They’re just a type.”
“I don’t think any of your sisters’ husbands liked me—were they attached to your ex?”
“To Tom? I don’t think so. I mean... they liked him well enough, but he didn’t really fit in.”
“He wasn’t the strong, silent type?”
“No, I guess he was—but he wasn’t a churchgoer.”
“I don’t think I got any credit for my Catholicism.”
“They probably didn’t like the idea of someone bringing a shiny new man to Thanksgiving. Maybe it made them feel replaceable... Don’t worry about them. My sisters all liked you, and their husbands think whatever my sisters tell them to.”
“Is that so?”
“No, I’m just kidding.”
“Huh...”
Chapter 37
Cherry was going as Russ’s date to the mayor’s holiday party the next week, and she knew just what to wear.
She had a flowy green dress with a high ruffled neck and puffed sleeves. Silk chiffon. Deep forest green. It looked like something Loretta Lynn would have worn to accept a country music award in 1972. Cherry was going to wear her hair up, with some tendrils hanging around her face. And she was going to wear metallic gold pumps with four-inch heels, even if it made her back hurt for weeks.
She wore extra sparkly makeup that night. Gold eyeliner. A very pink shade of cream blush.
