“I didn’t say that.” Irene looked off again.
“I wanted to start with you because if you aren’t in, no one will do it.”
Irene smiled softly. “We did have fun, didn’t we?”
“It was the best of times.”
“But I’m still mad at you,” Irene said. “And Edie, for fuck’s sake.”
“Me, too,” Frances agreed.
“We came too close to being arrested because of her.”
“It was an abominable betrayal.”
“All for that soft-bellied snake she was with.” Irene shook her head. “I don’t know, Frances. I don’t know that I’m up for it. It’s been a long time. I’ll be seventy-seven in a few weeks.”
Frances’s heart sank. Sheneededthis. From the moment Irene had said, “man feet,” Frances knew she was doing the right thing for herself. Their gang had ended abruptly and unfairly. She couldn’t imagine facing the next several months wondering what it would have been like if Edie hadn’t betrayed them.
But she also understood. They were older, out of practice, and even if she was dying, the rest of them weren’t. They had things to live for. “I understand,” Frances said softly.
“But if we’re going to rope in Joan and Edie, we better think about the possibility of travel. And I’m not leaving my Tantric class in the lurch. I have to figure a few things out.”
Frances lifted her head. “Right. Of course.” She felt a smile coming on. “So, you’re in?”
Irene stood up. “I guess you’ll stay with me.”
“You don’t mind?”
“I absolutely do mind, but at least I can get some color back in your cheeks. Don’t you use blush?”
“I’m wearing blush,” Frances said.
“You know they make cosmetics for mature skin now. You should invest. We’ll go to Joan first, then we’ll all go to Miss Gotrocks?”
Frances was grinning so hard she felt like her pale face might just split.
Irene rolled her eyes and started walking. “She’s probably more insufferable than ever.”
“Come on,” Frances said. “She couldn’t help that she was beautiful.”
“She could have,” Irene said, and then smiled at Frances. “You know what, old girl? It’s really good to see you and those man feet.”
Frances could feel tears forming behind her eyes. “It’s really good to see you, too, Mean Irene.” She slipped her arm through Irene’s and together they walked toward one of the towers.
Seven
Irene had always been something of an enigma, but Frances didn’t know if she ought to be alarmed or admiring of Irene’s austere high-rise apartment. It looked more like a stage set than a home. “Do you live here?” Frances asked, to make sure she was understanding the landscape.
“Of course I live here. Why would I have a key if I didn’t live here?” Irene dropped her bag and yoga mat on the floor.
“It’s just … you don’t have a lot of things,” Frances said, moving deeper into the small apartment to have a look. There was one other door, through which she could see a chest of drawers and a full-sized mattress on the floor. The lamp was sitting on the floor next to it. A single towel hung from the bar in the bathroom. In the living area, Irene had one long couch that she had said was a sofa bed. One long fold-up table, the sort one used at a garage sale, covered with a beach towel. On top of it were three computer monitors arranged in a semicircle. And a very cushy office chair. “Why?” Frances asked, motioning to computer monitors.
“Nosy,” Irene answered, and at Frances’s look, she shrugged. “It’s complicated.”
Frances gave her a dubious frown.
“I told you, I’m a hacker. I hack into things.”
