Lily White Lies(33)

“It doesn’t matter what his reasons were. I’m not keeping it; I just thought I’d enjoy it until I had to give it back.”

Cory’s smile grew broad. “Really? You’re not keeping it... does that mean?” She hesitated long enough to search my eyes. Finding the answer she was looking for in them, she said, “Does Charlotte know yet?”

I shook my head. “I wanted to tell Brian first, but the way things are going...”

She opened the passenger door and let out a slight laugh.

“Well, this’ll make her day. She’s been like... obsessing over you marrying that dick.”

Keeping my motives for wanting to visit Charlotte to myself for the time being, I said, “How about we go tell her now?”

“Let’s do it.”



About half way to Charlotte’s, I found myself growing quite eager to see whom she had spent the night with. Then Cory gave me something else to occupy my thoughts.

“Meg, what do you want to do about the party? The arrangements are made, but with you and Brian taking a trip to Splits-Ville... well, it you’d rather cancel I’d understand.”

I hadn’t given any real thought to the party. I glanced at Cory, hoping her eyes would reveal how she felt about my canceling something she had worked so hard to prepare.

I opened my mouth, but before I could speak, she said, “I’m not trying to sway you or anything, but... I thought you should know that the theme of your party is, ‘It’s Raining Men’ and since you’re back in player status, this party might be just what you need to forget all about the schmuck-in-a-three-piece.”

I laughed.

“It’s raining men—hmm—does sound like fun.”

Optimism glowing in her eyes, she timidly asked, “Then we’re on for Friday?”

Knowing she was holding her breath while waiting for my answer, I quickly agreed, “We’re on.”

“Yes!” Holding an imaginary glass in the air, she added, “Here’s to rain... and pre-marital divorce!” Leaning back in the seat and looking quite pleased with herself, she ran a hand through her blonde hair, which the wind pulled in every direction.

I found her last remark thoroughly confusing, but knew better than to ask her what she meant. My party had been a close kept secret between her and Charlotte and I knew she would give nothing away this close to its happening.

We pulled into Charlotte’s driveway and I quickly turned the engine off. I was hoping to get to the door before she heard our arrival, increasing our chances of seeing her mystery man.

In my hurried state, I was half-way to the front door when Cory called to me from the car.

“What’s up, Meg? Does the first one to the door get a prize or something?”

I quickly made my way back to the car, grabbed her hand and headed up the sidewalk to the house, forcing her to keep up with my brisk steps.

“Charlotte has a guy in there and I want to see who...”

In a high-pitched tone, she cut me off. “Charlotte’s getting some—no way! Like, how do you know?”

“Ssh. I don’t want her to know we’re here before we get a look at him.”

“I’ll bet he looks like an accountant... you know, kind of studious and dependable.” Cory laughed at the image of the man she described.

I rang the doorbell, eager to get in the house.

“I’ll bet he’s got a mustache. She loves guys with mustaches.”

Giggling, Cory said, “I’ll bet he’s...”

As the door swung open, we stared up at the man neither of us expected to see.

“Kevin?” I hoped my surprise didn’t come through in my tone of voice.

He teased, “Well, if it isn’t the rest of the Mandrell sisters. C’mon in.”

Cory and I exchanged a stunned look. I had been under the impression that Kevin and Charlotte’s on-again, off-again sex life had been over for some time.

I managed to say, “I hope we’re not interrupting anything...”

“I hope we are.” Cory laughed; believing the road to life was paved with spandex and humor.

Charlotte appeared from the bedroom wearing a silk housecoat and a smile that revealed everything. The last time I’d seen that much joy in her eyes was the day Bobby was born and I wondered how long Cory and I had been oblivious to this situation.

There was no need for words. Charlotte smiled, I raised my eyebrows and smiled back, and then she nodded her head while Cory followed our wordless conversation. The three of us understood every word we didn’t say.

Taking his cue from the delight none of us could hide, Kevin said, “Uh oh, I see that coffee-klatch look in your eyes. I’m thinking that maybe now’s a good time to take Bobby to the park or the mall or the moon or anywhere that will get us out of your hair...”