Page 19 of Happily Ever After

Chapter Eight

Cece was fine with giving Gigi a second chance. She truly believed everyone deserved that much. At least everyone who hadn’t done anything egregious like cheating on their spouse and leaving them to fight cancer alone.

With a soft exhale and a thought about how different Joe was, Cece helped herself to some fruit.

Around her, breakfast settled into an easy tempo, the conversation on Gigi a little, but already shifting toward how the book reading was going. Maude immediately called for no spoilers, as she wasn’t as far along as everyone else.

Plates were emptied and some refilled with fruit. Coffee was topped off. Althea took a second slice of toast and buttered it, commenting on the quality of the bread. Essie immediately offered that it was from Publix, which surprised no one.

Blaise mentioned a new book she was looking forward to. Essie brought up the rise in humidity. Paige said it was good for the skin.

Cece smiled at the familiar patter she had come to look forward to. The way the Queen Bees enjoyed each other’s company, conversations looping and overlapping without anyone being bothered by it.

Maybe it was because of her time as a journalist, but Cece liked to listen more than speak. She learned a lot that way.

She took another bite of frittata, which was filled with ham, bacon, cheese, and onion. The interview with Paige had gone exactly as it should have. Paige had been brutally honest without being dramatic, which had impressed Cece.

She’d finish editing the interview this afternoon and it would be live by tomorrow morning. She’d told Paige as much. Thankfully, Paige had promised to promote it on her TikTok channel, and Cece would be lying if she said she wasn’t interested in seeing how many listeners that got her.

There was a lull after Maude and Blaise started a discussion about whether audiobooks counted as “real reading.” The meal seemed to be just about over.

Then Paige cleared her throat.

Cece looked up immediately.

Paige sat straight in her chair, hands folded in front of her on the table. “I have something I’d like to share and since we’re all together, this seems like the perfect time.”

The table went quiet.

Cece thought she knew what Paige was about to say. It was a guess, really, but the timing was right. Paige was going to share with them what she’d shared with Cece.

What anyone who listened to the podcast tomorrow would soon find out.

Paige took a breath. “As you already know, I recorded an interview with Cece yesterday for her podcast.”

Most of them nodded.

“I talked about something I’ve never spoken about publicly before,” Paige continued. “Something personal.”

Cece stayed still, her hands in her lap. Paige was so brave.

“It’s no secret how my marriage ended,” Paige said, her expression calm and matter of fact. “Peter was having an affair. The secret is that the affair was with his personal trainer. His male personal trainer.”

There it was. The raw truth, offered without an expectation of sympathy. Which Paige probably wouldn’t want anyway.

Cece watched the reactions ripple outward. Essie’s mouth opened slightly, Blaise’s brows lifted. Maude’s jaw went tight like she was angry on Paige’s behalf. Althea let out a soft snort of disgust.

“Apparently, he’d always been gay,” Paige said. “I was just the most convenient smokescreen. As you can imagine, the lies and the betrayal were more than I could bear. More than anyone should have to. I left because of that. And because our daughter deserved to be treated better than that.”

No one spoke.

Cece wanted to hug Paige, to reassure her that none of them were judging her. They were all on her side.

“I’m sharing this now,” Paige said. “Because I wanted you all to hear it from me. It’ll be public information as soon as the podcast goes live, but friends deserve more than that.” She gave them a quick smile. “I should have told you all sooner. I just never thought it needed to be said.”

“It didn’t,” Althea said. “Not until Darcy came along. You did the right thing. I’m sorry you had to endure that.”

Maude nodded. “Yeah, I’m sorry, too.”