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Her phone chimed again with a reply from Cindy.

Thanks for caring, I mean that. And you’re right about what I normally do. I’ll be sure to step back at times. See you Thursday.

It was almost normal, Megan considered, the two of them texting like this. No hateful words being sent by Megan. No pleading for forgiveness and understanding coming from Cindy. No mention of a home-wrecking Donald or Ronald. Normal. Like they were still together…

No! Don’t do that!

The only—absolute only—reason Megan wasn’t texting hellfire to Cindy was because Carole had just died. Megan would help get Cindy through the funeral, but once the service was done and Carole interred, Megan would hop back in her car and leave Cindy in the rearview mirror of her life once more.

Again, her phone chimed.

“Jesus Christ, Cindy!” Megan muttered under her breath. But then she saw Vanessa’s name and Megan’s heart started racing.

I fell asleep watching world war z last night. :-)

Megan smiled; Cindy now pushed out of her mind.

I myself drifted off while watching Star Trek the Motion Picture :-) It’s free on Prime now.

Vanessa replied:

An underrated classic! (And Ilia can navigate my starship any day!)

Oh, do bald women do it for you? Shall I shave my head before I see you again?

Only if you wear the uniform also! ;-)

“Who are you so busy texting?”

Megan hadn’t noticed her mother approaching the picnic table.

“No one!” Megan said. “I mean, no one you know.” She put her phone face down on the table. “It’s nice to see you, Mom.”

“You too, darling! You look beautiful, still in shape.”

Megan bit the inside of her cheek to keep a sarcastic comment from leaping forth. Heaven forbid one of Audrey Baldwin’s daughters get out of shape. Of course, Audrey, even at fifty-six, looked phenomenal, with platinum blonde hair expertly styled and a figure that most twenty-something women would want. As usual, she was dressed in understated elegance, today wearing a tank-style floral print maxi dress with fitted waist.

After Megan took their lunch orders out of the Vigilucci’s bag—the insalata di cesare for Audrey and the spaghetti carbonara for Megan—they sat at the picnic table. Mother and daughter then began catching up. Megan filled her in on work and the latest on her transfer to New York. There wasn’t much to tell on that score, except to say that Lucy Whitaker had promised Megan that she’d be relocating there before year’s end.

Audrey, after telling Megan that her father sends his love and was finally considering retiring from the investment bank he worked for, naturally wanted to talk about her current favorite topic: Megan’s sister’s wedding.

“Molly has chosen the most darling invitations.” Audrey said. “Just wait until you get yours; you’re going to love it.”

“Does Molly really have to send me one, Mom?” Megan asked. “I thought maybe the combination of being her sister and being in the wedding party would be invitation enough.”

Audrey tsked.

“It’s tradition, sweetheart. Besides, it’ll be a memento of the big day.”

“It’s a waste of paper, Mom, not to mention a stamp.” Megan leaned forward. “Listen, Mom...is Molly sure she doesn’t want to postpone the wedding until all this Covid stuff has calmed down and things have somewhat gotten back to normal?”

“She doesn’t see a need to postpone, darling, and neither do I. It’s six months away yet.”

Megan took a breath before responding, mindful of who she was talking to.

“Buuut…the coronavirus doesn’t exactly follow a schedule, Mom. I mean, six months ago, people—myself included—didn’t think we’d be still be wearing fac

e masks and still having to order take-out lunches now.”