“He must have loved it. Being the one to ride in to the rescue.”
Beth hadn’t much liked Will either.
“Remind me why you left him?”
That was a thing Beth did, made you say the thing she was thinking. But Selena wasn’t going to give it to her, though she knew what Beth was driving at.
“Because I met Graham, realized that I wanted different things from life than Will did.”
“So, you were perfectly happy until the night you met Graham.”
“No one’s perfectly happy.”
Beth leaned forward, tapped a finger on the table.
“He was possessive. Controlling,” she reminded Selena. “He always wanted to know where you were, who you were with. He monitored you, didn’t he? Bedtime. Exercise.”
“He helped me to be more disciplined. He—pushed me to be my best self.”
Beth smiled, shook her head. “He wanted to be your daddy.”
“He wanted to take care of me,” said Selena. “Maybe I should have let him. It would be better than this.”
She swept her hand around her dream kitchen, which now felt like a sound stage, propped up from behind, fake, one good push and it would all fall down.
“I’m just saying. Don’t go backward because you’re scared now, honey. Don’t rush into Will’s arms to get away from Graham.”
Few friends would dare to say something so bold, so nakedly true. Because that’s exactly what she wanted to do. And, even though she’d just denied it, she knew he was there waiting. It was a comfort to know that.
“We’ll get through this like all the other ugly,” Beth went on. “And when you come out the other side, you’ll be stronger.”
“If I come out the other side.”
“I’m here.” Beth leaned forward, laced her fingers through Selena’s, blue eyes blazing. “I’ll drag you through if I have to. Just like you dragged me out of the woods.”
They looked at each other for a moment, then both started laughing, remembering, though it had been far from funny at the time—Beth in so much pain, the afternoon waning into darkness, the fatigue, the struggle of it.
“You were Iron Woman. All mettle and determination,” said Beth. “That’s who you are. Don’t forget it.”
Selena wasn’t that. She wasn’t as strong as Beth, who’d been alone since she’d left her husband. Her friend had a few lackluster dates, but nothing ever developed into more. Her stance lately was very anti-male. She owned her own business, often traveled alone, or with her single friends. She seemed to like being alone, making her own way and living by her own rules. If she was lonely, she never said so. But would she? Would she admit that to her allegedly happily married friends?
Selena had never been single, wasn’t even sure what it would be like.
“And this woman?” said Beth. Another pour. “What’s that all about? You tell some stranger about Graham, but you don’t tell me?”
“It was just this weird moment in time,” she said with a wave. “Believe me, I regret it.”
“Well, cut that woman off,” said Beth. “Don’t talk to her again. That’s creepy, Selena. Is she like some stalker type?”
“No,” she said. “I don’t know.”
“Don’t answer her. If she texts you again, have Will step in. And, you know what, tell the cops about her.”
“How will it look now? Another thing I’ve kept from them.”
“Have Will do it,” she said. It made sense. That was exactly what she should do. Why did she feel a stubborn hesitation?
“Is Will your lawyer or is he Graham’s lawyer?” asked Beth.
She hadn’t considered that. The question opened up a hollow in her center. “I guess he’s our lawyer.”
Beth shook her head. “Girl, you need your own lawyer. Someone who represents your interests alone. Things are going to get ugly and you don’t want to be the one twisting.”
She nodded. What a mess. She felt tears come, but she pushed them back.
“You’re Iron Woman,” said Beth. “Don’t forget it.”
She wasn’t made from iron, far from it. She had never felt weaker and more vulnerable in her life. But she smiled at her friend, remembering the day in the woods. How scared they’d been, how she was sure she didn’t have the strength to get them through, how Beth had walked the last mile gritting her teeth against the pain. They’d made it then, through sheer force of will. Sometimes that was all you had and all you needed, just the mettle to take the next step.
“What now?” asked Beth.
“Pack up—my stuff, and some more things for the boys.”