“Great,” Irene said, throwing up her hands. “We’ve been made.”
“It doesn’t help to talk like we’re gangsters,” Frances said.
“Except that we are, Franny,” Edie said. “Just not very good ones if we can’t shake our own damn families.”
“What are we going to do here?” Joan asked.
The four of them looked at Marcy.
“Please don’t kill me,” Marcy said.
“For heaven’s sake,” Joan said. “If we kill anyone, it will be your grandmother. Edie? Any ideas?”
Edie glared at her granddaughter.
“Irene has an interview. You and I have an appointment on the other side of town. We need a decision,” Joan reminded her.
“I know, I know,” Edie said impatiently. “Give me five minutes with her.”
“Five minutes or else,” Joan said.
Frances shot her a look that basically askedOr else what?But Joan shook her head and gestured for her to go into her room.
Seemed like a good time to get dressed.
Frances shut the bedroom door behind her. Her headache was better, but she felt jittery, like her blood sugar was low. What if she passed out? She sat on the edge of the bed and took some deep breaths, her hands braced against her knees. She was still sitting like that when Edie burst into the room looking wild with fury. And also exhausted.
She searched around the room as if she’d lost something, then looked at Frances. “I told her.”
“About this job?”
“About … us. Sort of. Not everything, but enough. I didn’t know what else to do other than answer her questions. But right now, Joan is going to drag me out the door if I don’t get moving and Marcy is in no shape to get herself to the airport.” She picked up a bag and riffled through it. “What are you doing today?”
“Finding a vehicle,” Frances said. If she could swallow down this nausea. She needed to take a pill but preferred not to do it under Edie’s watchful eye.
“Could you possibly …” Edie started, then shook her head and picked up a sun hat.
“Babysit?” Frances supplied.
“I didn’t say it, but could you? I’m afraid to leave her alone now. She could ruin us. If I haven’t already ruined her. Imagine hearing your grandmother is a thief.”
“You haven’t ruined—”
“No?” Edie snapped before Frances could finish. “How would you feel if your grandkids knew about your sordid past? How would you feel if they figured out what you were doing in Vegas?”
“My grandkids?” Frances rubbed the spot on her temple she was sure the tumor was growing. “They’re young and gullible. If they could fit through an air vent, they might come in handy.” She smiled.
“Not funny,” Edie said.
“Not even a little?”
Edie sank down onto the bed. “Maybe a little. What if she can’t keep a secret?”
“She will,” Frances said with much more confidence than she felt. “Go on, do what you need to do. I’ve got this.” She stood up, her bag in hand, ready to dip into the bathroom and take another handful of pills. She could picture Amani shaking her head disapprovingly.
Edie smiled sheepishly at Frances. “Thank you. I don’t deserve your kindness or help after what I did.”
“True that,” Frances said jauntily. “But it’s water under the bridge. We are here now, and life is too short for regrets.”
