“Peppermint helps with nausea,” she said. “I wouldn’t have survived my pregnancy with Jill without these mints. It’s funny because it’s the one candy she doesn’t like. Suck on this. By the time it’s gone, you’ll feel much better.”
Taking the candy, Beth said, “Excuse me,” and hurried down the hall to the powder room.
“What was that about?” Natalie whispered to Elaine.
“She turned white as snow when I mentioned Paul.”
“It’s not like she knew him well. Maybe she’s just putting on a brave face. This stuff with Don must have her twisted up in knots. Any mention of you-know-who is bound to make her feel bad.”
Elaine smoothed the fabric of her cream-colored slacks. “What am I supposed to do about Charles’s party? All three of them are coming, and I don’t want a scene. All of our friends from the temple will be there. And the rabbi. My parents and sisters. Everyone!”
“You have to uninvite Mrs. Smith,” Beth said from the doorway.
Natalie’s and Elaine’s heads swiveled in unison. Neither of them had heard Beth return from the bathroom.
“Excuse me?” said Elaine.
“You have to uninvite Mrs. Smith,” repeated Beth, her gazeboring into Elaine. “How could you even consider letting her come after what she’s done?”
Elaine put a hand on her heart. “I’m sorry about what happened, Beth. You know I am. But she signed off on all of my requests in exchange for an invitation. I can’t go back on my word. There’s no telling what she might do.”
Beth advanced into the room. “Let me get this straight. A fireworks display is more important than my feelings?”
Elaine shifted uncomfortably. “It’s more complicated than that.”
“I don’t think it is,” Beth snapped. “I’m asking you to choose between Don and me—people who’ve been your friends for years—and the witch next door. And you’re going to pick the witch? You know what that tells me? That she got to you. To both of you.”
“What do you mean?” asked Natalie.
“You think because she planted some flowers or hired your children to work in her back garden that she’s being neighborly? Wake up and smell the coffee. She’ll be after Jimmy next. Or Benjamin.” Beth jabbed her finger against her temple. “Think about it! Why would she finally come outside after all this time and decide to attend a kid’s birthday party? Because she’s on the hunt for her next married man, that’s why. She’s looking to come between another couple.”
Natalie thought back to the cocktail party. There was no denying Mrs. Smith’s powerful presence. She’d silenced the room when she first walked in, but she hadn’t stayed long. She’d socialized only with her immediate neighbors and then left without saying goodbye.
“It is a little odd that she’d want to spend an evening with three hundred people when she ditched the cocktail party after forty-five minutes because she’s not used to crowds,” Natalie mused aloud. “I’m not buying her story about theskin condition, either. She had perfect skin. Perfect hair. And a perfect body. She’s younger than all of us, but she seemed much older. It was the way she talked. There is something strange about her.”
Beth said, “She’s a witch. You’re inviting a witch to celebrate your son’s bar mitzvah. You know what she did to Don. How she hurtme, and you still want her there? Are you serious?”
Elaine folded her hands in prayer. “Please. I won’t have anything to do with her after next Saturday. Not a thing! But I gave her my word. Just come to the party and—”
“It’s us or her,” Beth said flatly. “You have to choose.”
Elaine opened and closed her mouth like a fish. Finally, she murmured, “I can’t.”
“Actually, you just did.”
Beth stormed to the front door, opened it, and then whipped around to face her friends. “She’s dazzling you. You don’t see it, but I do. It’s exactly what she did to Don.” Her hand closed around the cross pendant hanging at the base of her throat. “That woman is evil, and as long as she’s in your lives, we can’t be friends. I’ll be praying for you and your families, but don’t call me until you’re done with her.”
The door had barely closed behind her when Natalie turned on Elaine. “Beth needs this party. She needs to dress up and feel pretty. She needs to drink champagne and dance with Don. How can you do this to her?”
“My son’s happiness comes first. I’ll fix things with Beth when it’s over.” Elaine stood up and carried her wineglass to the bar cart. “I feel a headache coming on. I think I’ll go home and lie down. Good night.”
Natalie let out a huff of exasperation and carried their dirty glasses into the kitchen. By the time she returned to the living room, Elaine was gone.
Feeling out of sorts, Natalie went out to the back deck and sank into a lounge chair.
She was annoyed with her friends. She’d wanted to celebrate her triumph. After all, she’d done the impossible. She’d sold the McCreedy house. Her friends knew how important this was to her, but they were too wrapped up in themselves to care.
In the rafters, she heard the electric bug zapper fry insect after insect. The sound pacified Natalie. She sank deeper into her chair and tried to absorb the serenity of the quiet harbor and the star-filled sky.
