Marjorie answered the door wearing arm garters, skinny jeans, and a green visor with her hair teased above it. “What the hell?” Frances asked.
“It’s Poker Day. I spent the morning at the craps table,” Marjorie said as she ushered her into the tiny living area. “I’m glad you’re here. I made martinis.” She went into the kitchen.
“No, thank you,” Frances called after her. A martini was not going to mix well with the cocktail of meds she’d just taken. “The last time I had an early afternoon cocktail with you, I busted my head open.”
“That was not the fault of my cocktail, it was the fault of you not paying attention.” She came back with two martini glasses filled to the brim. “Sit,” she commanded Frances, then shoved a martini into her hand. She took a seat across from her, sipped the drink, winced a little, and put it down. “Okay, Fran. Who are these friends you’re suddenly so chummy with?”
“Irene, who I told you about. Joan and Edie.”
“Never heard of them,” Marjorie declared. “Why are you so determined to be friends after all this time? It’s a little strange.”
“Marge.” Frances laughed a little. “This feels like an interrogation.”
“Well, it is. In all the many years we’ve been friends, I’ve never known you to just take off like that. First Florida, now this.”
“It just came up,” Frances said. “It sounds fun. I’ve never been to New England in the fall.” That was another white lie. She’d been plenty of times.
“All four of you are going?”
“Yep. All four, two to a room,” she said, lest Marjorie get any ideas about tagging along. “I’ll be back in a couple of weeks.”
“Hmm,” Marjorie said, studying her closely. “Well, I hope you get some sun. You look so pale. Have you been running?”
Frances hadn’t strapped on her running shoes in weeks, notsince her diagnosis. “I haven’t had time.” She was afraid to run now. Afraid the exertion might hasten her demise.
Marjorie’s eyes narrowed. She set aside her glass. “Look, Fran … I know what is going on.”
Frances felt a twitch of panic. How could Marjorie possibly know anything? “What are you talking about?”
“The mysterious absences. The not drinking, and you’re thin as a rail. The reluctance to let me come along on your excursions,” she said, putting air quotes around the wordexcursions. “You’re being awfully secretive.”
Frances’s heart began to pound. Maybe she should have taken one of those antianxiety pills. She couldn’t tell if Marjorie knew she had cancer or was planning a heist, but neither was good. It had to be the cancer—Dr. McPherson must have told her. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Marjorie.”
“Don’t you?” Marjorie leaned forward, her eyes locking on Frances’s eyes. “Then I’m going to blow your mind, girlfriend.”
“You may already have,” Frances admitted uneasily.
“I know that you’ve got a new man.”
Frances’s mouth fell open with shock. Of all the things she thought Marjorie might guess, that was nowhere on the list. She was so stunned she couldn’t even think what to say. But Marjorie was so convinced she was right (she always was), that she smugly settled back.
“It makes perfect sense. You want to be thin for him,” she said, holding up one finger. “You are running around with him, someplace you won’t run into me or anyone else who has known you.” A second finger went up. “And you don’t want me to know becauseyouthink thatIwill think less of you becauseyouthink getting a little action is disrespectful to Nick’s memory.” She held up a third finger, then wiggled them at Frances. “Tell me I’m wrong,” she insisted with the supreme confidence of the self-righteous.
Frances was afraid she might laugh. Marjorie had just handed her the alibi to trump all alibis.
“Well?”
“Can’t get anything past you,” Frances said.
“I knew it!” Marjorie crowed, and slapped her knees in triumph. “Can I meet him?”
“No! It’s not the right time. I mean, right now we’re just enjoying each other’s company. Okay? And … and we’re going on a tour of New England.”
“What about after that?” Marjorie pressed. “Can I meet him then?”
“Um …”
“Oh, whatever,” Marjorie said with a flick of her wrist. “Take your time. I’m just so happy you’ve found someone, Franny. What’s his name?”
