Edie winced inwardly. That news cut through her chest and straight through her heart. “What about treatment?”
Frances sighed and shook her head. “I may regret that decision in the end, but it wasn’t going to change the ultimate outcome. And I … I don’t have anything to live for that would make all the sickness worth it. At least this way, I’m leaving something to my son. And going out with a bang, which, as you know, has always been the way I like to do things.”
Edie tightened her grip of Frances’s hand. Life was so cruel, so unfair. So infuriatingly random. “I’m so sorry, Franny.”
“Thanks.”
“I don’t think we should throw in the towel, though.”
Frances groaned. “Come on, Edie. You know as well as I do that Marcy is having second thoughts.”
“Yes, I do. She’s a good kid. She loves me and she will soldier on. Her part is done, so there’s that. But look, the thing is, none of us have a lot of time. Your time may be shorter, but we aren’t getting any younger and any one of us could kick off at any moment. I think we should all end this with a bang. A big, boozy, spectacular bang.”
Frances looked away. “What about Joan and Irene?”
“They’re in. I mean, I think they are. They’ve put a lot of work into this. And they found each other again. Also, I don’t think Irene could bear to tell her dark web friends that it’s a no on the power failure. She’d lose her street cred.”
“Irene’s street cred!” Frances repeated, laughing. So did Edie. They were suddenly laughing so hard they both doubled over with it. “Is this the craziest thing we’ve ever done?” Frances wheezed.
“Crazier than somehow getting on flights to Sweden?”
“Or showing up in Venice?”
They laughed harder. But then Frances said, “I guess we should go back and talk to the others.”
“And remind them that no matter how much of a bitch any one of us is, we love each other and always will.”
Joan was pacing when they came through the door. She ran to Frances and wrapped her in a tight hug.
“Okay, all right,” Frances said into her shoulder. “I’m notthatclose to death.”
“I just wanted to get it in before you are,” Joan said.
“I’m sorry for earlier,” Frances began, but Irene threw herself into the hug. “Shut up, Fran. It’s not your fault.”
“I mean I’m sorry for the last time. Joan was right—I took off without worrying about the two of you.”
“Bygones,” Irene said. “We really were a family, and sometimes, families fight. You guys are like sisters to me. Not Joan obviously, but you and Edie, as improbable as that should be.”
“We lost all our trust,” Frances said tearfully.
“No, we didn’t,” Joan said. “We’re here. We’re still family.” She looked up. “Get over here, Edie. Even you.”
“Are you sure?” Edie asked.
“Getoverhere,” Joan said, and held out one arm for her. “You’re the bad sister. Every group needs one. It makes the rest of us look good.”
“You’re just saying that to make me feel better,” Edie said, but walked into the group hug, and the four of them clung to each other.
“I’m sorry, Fran,” Irene whispered. “I should have told you to lay off the processed deli meat. You sure did love those roast beef sandwiches from that sketchy corner store.”
“I wouldn’t have listened,” Frances said.
“Fifty years,” Edie muttered.
“And I’m not throwing that away,” Joan said. “Especially now that we have it back.”
“So, what does this mean?” Edie asked. “Are we doing this thing?”
