got the eggs. All his animals run free and he feeds them right. No antibiotics, no hormone crap. They lead a good life.”
“I’ve never been to that farm. Never heard about it before.”
“Yeah, there are a lot of cool, secret places in Big Sur and around,” said Jen. “Stick with us and we’ll show you all our favorites. Places you won’t find online.”
The idea of hanging out like friends and having them share their secret places with me made my heart leap a little.
“It’s so nice to be here,” Kate said. “So cool to be home and chilling with you.”
A buzz of warmth flowed through my veins. The triplets were the first real company I’d had since Juan died.
Dan placed the chicken into a large casserole dish and squeezed fresh lemon juice over it. I noted the roped muscles in his arms flexed with even the smallest movement. He was wearing a black T-shirt with a peace sign on it. “So where’s your partner in crime?” he asked. “Your husband? The man who bargained down our mom with the deal of a lifetime.”
I had a knife in my hand, awkwardly looking for something to do. “I’m so sorry, I had no idea he did that. I never would’ve—”
“We’re so not blaming you,” Jen cut in. “That’s life. Please don’t feel—”
“She knows,” Dan interrupted. “She knows I’m fooling around.”
I regarded his face—he was hard to read. When a man is handsome he gets away with things. I knew Dan must get away with all sorts. “So where’s your girlfriend?” I asked, instantly wishing I hadn’t been so nosey, but then heard myself say straight afterwards, “Anyone special?”
“Just friends with benefits.” He winked at me.
“He gets all the benefits,” said Kate. “The girls not so much. We don’t like his attitude, do we, Jen?”
“No, he’s on the verge of being a scumbag.” Jen bared her teeth at him with an oversized, fake grimace.
“That is so not fair! You know I treat all women with respect. They know the deal upfront.” Then he asked me, “Where do you keep the salt?”
I reached into the cupboard and brought down a box of Maldon sea salt.
“All right!” he exclaimed, punching the air. “You have great taste. You even know what kind of salt to buy, dude. You’re so cool! Yet… you don’t like to cook?”
“Oh, yes, I love cooking,” I lied. Where did they get the notion I didn’t cook? I moved decisively to the fridge and brought out a half-opened bottle of champagne. Kate monitored my move.
“You’re going to drink that?”
“Yes, why not?”
“Even though you’re pregnant?”
Blood roared to my cheeks. I had forgotten all about that one: my “pregnancy.” The urge to dig myself out of my lie trembled on my lips, but the fib about the ultrasound had been too definite to deny. I should’ve been more vague. I’d need to whip up a miscarriage, or this make-believe baby could get to be a real bore. Then again, maybe this was an opportunity to stop drinking altogether. It was nice to know she cared enough to notice.
“You’re right,” I said. “I just wanted to taste it on my lips, but you’re right, I shouldn’t even touch alcohol. Not even one drop.” I made a silly “Oops you caught me” face.
“Not even one drop,” Jen repeated. “Unless you want a deformed baby with a big head.” She surveyed me. A little smile tipped up the corners of her mouth as if she knew about my fib, and for the first time I noticed she possessed a chilly beauty, full of poise, not the all-bubbly persona I had first taken her for. Jen stood tall, her posture erect as if she carried a book on her head. The kind of confident, popular girl I had longed to be at school.
“I’ll lay the table,” I said, suddenly feeling as if Cliffside had nothing to do with me at all, and I was their guest. “And thank you, girls, for keeping me in check about the champagne.”
Kate smiled. “It’s because we care.”
The subject changed, thank God, to solar power, and robots, and our future.
“Do you remember when that movie Enemy of the State came out?” I offered up. “No, of course you don’t, you were all too young. I think that was the film. Actually, maybe it wasn’t, you know, I can’t remember. Well, the main guy—was it Will Smith?” The triplets looked at me blankly. “Well, the Will Smith character was constantly being followed. The bad