It’s true, Lorelei. We didn’t mean for this to happen.
Her phone rang; Francine was calling. But Lorelei wasn’t about to answer. She knew she’d only hear the same excuses Francine had already left via several messages on her voice mail. Besides, Lorelei had no idea how she might respond. She didn’t want Lucy to overhear a conversation that was bound to turn ugly.
Lucy is here, she texted after rejecting the call.
What does that mean?
I can’t talk to you. I’d rather she didn’t hear what I have to say.
Which is...what? You hate me now?
Lorelei felt zero empathy for Francine despite that frowny face. Hate isn’t nearly a strong enough word for what I feel toward you.
Ouch, Lorelei!
It’s true.
No, you can’t mean it. We’ve been best friends since college. Let’s not let this cost all of us more than it has to!
You should’ve thought of that before you climbed into bed with my husband.
If you’ll just come back, we can work it out.
She sounded like Mark. I’m not coming back.
Ever? What about Lucy? You can’t take her from her father. I can’t believe you’d even consider breaking up your marriage.
Almost any wife would consider breaking up her marriage if her husband was fucking her best friend, don’t you think?
“Mommy, what’s wrong?”
Lorelei glanced up to see her daughter watching her in confusion and smoothed her expression. “Nothing, honey.”
“Is it Daddy?” Lucy asked, unconvinced and worried.
“No, it’s not Daddy.” Attempting a smile, Lorelei touched her daughter’s cheek. A second later, her phone buzzed again.
You think being crude and hating me is going to help the situation?
Francine had become very religious lately. Obviously, she didn’t approve of Lorelei’s language, which was pretty ironic considering what she’d done, but Lorelei didn’t point that out. There were more important things that needed to be said. No, nothing is going to help the situation. You betrayed me in the worst possible way, and we can’t fix it now.
So that’s it? You’re just going to write me off? Our friendship is over?
Lorelei’s heart pounded as she stared down at those words. Was it over? Did she dare make that declaration?
She was tempted to do it, to reject these people who’d hurt her so badly. But the ramifications would be huge, and she knew it. She’d be on her own again for the first time since she’d met Mark—and this time she’d have a kid to take care of.
She’d be facing her worst fears—what she’d faced in some ways, as a child—trying to forge a good life with no family. She had two sisters now, but she’d only known them for a short while. While she liked them, she didn’t dare rely on the hope that they’d be there for her like regular sisters.
She had to make the decision assuming she’d face the worst-case scenario, not the best.
It would be terrifying for her. For years Mark had been her bulwarks against the world. But after so much had happened, would she be any happier going back to him than striking out on her own?
No.
It is over, she wrote.
You don’t mean that, Francine replied.
Actually, I do.
What about your marriage?
Lorelei stared at this question for so long Lucy climbed off the chair and started tugging on her arm to go into the living room and put on a movie. But after telling her daughter to give her a moment, she drew a deep breath, set her jaw and typed, That’s over, too. Mark’s all yours now. I hope you’ll both be happy.
The response didn’t come immediately. Lorelei sat with her heart in her throat for a full three minutes, which felt more like three hours. Was Francine not going to respond?
We could never be happy without you, her ex-best friend finally wrote.
The lump in Lorelei’s throat grew until it threatened to choke her. You’ve made it impossible for me to be happy with you, she wrote back.