Chapter 12: The Shower

By noon the video had half a million views.

Strangers had found my workplace.

My boss called to say he believed me, and that the firm's lawyer wanted me home for a few days.

I did not defend myself in the comments.

I sat at Margo's table and read the invitation Lorna's friends had forwarded to everyone I knew.

Baby shower for Camille Dunning. Lakeview Country Club. Three o'clock.

Margo came out of the bedroom in a black dress with her hair knotted up.

"You're going."

"I'm going."

"You can't walk in there empty-handed."

I held up my phone, a thumb drive and the hospital form in its plastic sleeve.

"I'm not empty-handed."

She straightened my collar.

"Then let's go give her a present."

The ballroom at Lakeview had pink balloons on every chair.

Sixty guests sat at round tables under a banner that read Welcome, Baby Girl.

Camille sat at the head in a white maternity dress with a corsage on her wrist, pale from the hospital but smiling for the cameras.

Dexter stood behind her chair with a hand on her shoulder.

Jasper sat at his grandmother's knee, eating cake with his fingers.

Lorna was at the microphone.

"Today we celebrate a new life, and a woman strong enough to endure the cruelty of a man who left her when she needed him most."

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