Chapter 5: The Refill

Jo's POV

Todd reached my table with a smile on, the warm one he used on customers when a car had a problem.

He rested his hand on my shoulder, and every head in the hall turned to see the good guy rescue his wife.

"Honey," he said, loud enough for three tables. "You've had a long week. Let's get you home."

In the first life, I had stood up and followed him out of a room exactly like this one.

By Thanksgiving, everyone in it had agreed I was fragile.

"I haven't finished my chicken salad," I said.

"Jo."

"Sit down, Todd. My boss's wife saved you a chair."

I pointed with my fork to the empty seat beside the dentist's wife.

She was a retired nurse, and she had been waiting twenty minutes to ask someone what had happened.

Todd looked at the chair.

He looked at the whole hall looking at him.

Then he sat, because the good guy does not make a scene at a Chamber luncheon.

I did not look at Dale.

I knew exactly where he was sitting.

I left before the pie and went to the ladies' room, to be alone for one minute.

Brandi was already inside, at the sink, mascara down her cheeks.

"You think you're so clever," she said, and her voice shook.

"I think I'm tired," I said. "I think you've been wearing my friendship for a few months."

"He was going to tell you."

"When?"

"After Labor Day." She gave a sob, and it almost sounded real. "I didn't mean to be your friend. It just happened."

I looked at her in the mirror, thirty-three, polished and blotchy.

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