Double Contract Love novel · Chapter 6 of 24

Chapter 6: Harlan Club

On Sunday morning Dal came out of the bedroom already dressed, in a gray suit that fit.

"Lillian," he said. "Before we go. About Birdie..."

"Don't," I said.

He stopped.

"I'm a coward before a fight," I said. "If you tell me something big now, I'll walk into that club thinking about it, and Gwen will smell it."

"I'd rather you walked in knowing."

"Tell me in the truck on the way home. All of it. I promise I'll listen."

He studied me for a long second.

Then he nodded once and picked up his keys.

I wish I had let him talk.

The Harlan Club sat on a hill above the river, white columns and a green awning, and a doorman who looked at Dal's truck as if it were a mistake.

The dining room was full of linen and silver and women in pearls.

Gwen's table was by the tall windows, where everyone could see it.

She sat at the head in lavender silk.

Tabitha was on her right, and on her left, in a navy blazer, sat Preston.

He actually had the nerve to stand up when I arrived.

"Lillian," he said. "You look well."

"Preston."

"Is that a..."

"Rigging ring," Dal said. "Four thousand pounds."

Preston sat down again.

Two of Gwen's friends were at the table too, women in their sixties with matching helmets of hair.

Gwen introduced us all.

"This is Lillian's husband, Dalton. He's an arborist."

"A tree surgeon," one of the friends said, delighted.

"He cuts them down," Gwen said. "Such honest work."

The waiter poured mimosas for everyone but me.

I asked for water, and Dal asked for coffee, and Gwen watched us both.

She waited until the food came, the little crab cakes and the eggs on silver.

She waited until the room had settled into its own noise.

Then she set her fork down.

"Dalton," she said sweetly. "I do hope you'll forgive an old woman for doing her homework."

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