Thirty-three
Jenny tipped her head back and closed her eyes behind her dark sunglasses, enjoying the caress of the warm sun on her face. The courtyard of the little heritage cafe was a recent addition the new owners had just finished, adding to the vintage appeal. The cobblestone-look pavers, potted shrubs and black wrought-iron fencing was a vast improvement over the vinyl gingham tablecloths and faded plastic seats that had been crammed into what used to be known as Mrs McConnley’s Tea Room. The cafe was now known simply as 46 Main Street, and it all felt very fancy for Barkley. Not that Jenny was complaining.
‘Oh, please.’ Beth’s droll tone interrupted Jenny’s moment of solitude and she opened her eyes to look up at her friend.
‘What?’
‘You,’ she said, pulling out a chair. ‘Looking exhausted from all that hot sex you’ve undoubtedly been having.’
Jenny sat straighter in her seat and hoped no one nearby had overheard as she slid her glasses onto the top of her head and reached for the menu. ‘Would you stop it.’
‘Hey, I’m your best friend and I’m living vicariously through you at the moment since my husband is away, so deal with it. Most of us only dream of having some hunk sweep us off our feet and chain us to the bed for endless hours oftoe-curlingsex.’
Jenny gave a strangled chuckle as she shook her head. ‘Sorry to disappoint, but there are no chains involved.’
‘But thereistoe-curling sex,’ Beth said, eyeing her with a shrewd look and nodding slowly. ‘I knew it.’
Jenny sighed irritably. ‘Can we just order?’
‘What’s the matter?’
‘Did it ever occur to you that maybe I’m getting sick of everyone making fun of my love life?’ Jenny snapped, then felt bad when she saw her friend’s grin slip and a flicker of hurt cross her face. ‘Sorry. I didn’t mean to snap. I’m just tired. I didn’t sleep very well last night.’
‘Why? What’s going on?’
‘I’ve just …’ Jenny stopped and let out a sharp breath. ‘I’ve been put in a position where I have information about someone, but it’s really not my place to say anything.’
‘I see,’ Beth said, tilting her head slightly, studying her friend. ‘But this information is important, and the person it relates to has a right to know about it?’
‘Yes,’ Jenny said, tracing her finger along the edge of the table.
Beth shrugged. ‘Then you should tell them.’
‘Yeah but … it’s huge. Like, life-changing huge.’
‘Okay,’ Beth said slowly. ‘Well, put yourself in their position … Wouldyouwant to be told?’
It sounded so simple when someone else said it out loud, Jenny thought wearily. But it was the same conclusion she’d come to last night. Nick had a right to know—he hadeveryright to know—only she didn’t want to be the one who dropped the bomb on him.
‘Yeah, you’re right,’ she said.
‘So who’s having the affair with whom?’ Beth asked in a low whisper as soon as the waitress took their order and left.
‘It’s not that.’ She smiled at her friend’s crestfallen face.
‘Come on, I’m your best friend, you can tell me. I need some distraction in my life if you’re going to stop filling me in on your sex life from now on.’
‘It’s complicated.’
Beth frowned. ‘Is it serious then?’
‘It’s pretty huge.’
‘I think if I had to hear some bad news, I’d rather you be the one telling me,’ Beth said solemnly, before her eyes widened. ‘Wait. It’s not me you need to tell something bad to, is it?’
Jenny shook her head and gave a tired chuckle. ‘No. It’s not you.’
‘Phew. Thank goodness. Thought my whole day was about to get ruined.’
