Page 232 of Sin Bin

“Four days ago!”

“He’s been processing it, trying to find the right time to tell you. He didn’t want you worrying about him, especially when you just started a new job.”

“Oh, Dad.” Meadow sighed.

“You can’t tell him I told you. Let him bring it up on his own the next time you talk to him. Don’t call him and make it obvious that you’re fishing for information.”

“I won’t,” Meadow promised. “Now give me the deets.”

Rosalie eagerly clapped her hands together. “He sat Wendi down and told her their relationship wasn’t working for him anymore. Apparently he’s been unhappy for quite a while. Shortly after she moved in, he realized they weren’t as compatible as he’d thought. It was little things at first. Her addiction to reality TV. The way she gossiped for hours on the phone. Her constant nagging about the foods he ate. Stuff like that. Gradually other things started to bother him—things he wouldn’t divulge out of respect for her.” Rosalie smiled a little. “That’s your father. A gentleman through and through.”

“Yes, he is,” Meadow agreed softly.

Rosalie patted her hand. “So what really put the nail in the coffin was Wendi’s animosity toward you. Harris said it wasn’t so obvious when they first started dating. I guess she did a better job of masking her true feelings, which women often do at the beginning of relationships. Once her mask started to slip, he didn’t like what he saw. He found himself constantly arguing with her about the way she talked to you. She tried to gaslight him. Tried to convince him he was only imagining things. All she succeeded in doing was making him madder and pushing him further away until he finally decided enough was enough.”

“Wow.” Meadow shook her head in disbelief. “Logan predicted this would happen. He was totally right.”

“Smart man, your Logan.” Rosalie’s eyes twinkled. “By the way, he played phenomenally last night. I wish I could have attended the game, but I had to work.”

“It’s okay. You’ll be there tomorrow. Now finish telling me about Dad and Wendi.”

The giddy smile returned to her aunt’s face. “After their talk, he asked her to move out by Friday. He was even kind enough to hire a moving truck for her. She didn’t go quietly. There was a lot of crying and screaming, and things were thrown at his head. Plates, vases, books—whatever she could grab.”

Meadow winced. “Yikes.”

“I know, right? Your poor father.” Rosalie laughed. “He says she left a bit of a mess, but he’s just relieved to have her gone. So am I.” She burst into song. “Ding-dong, the witch is dead! Which old witch? The wicked witch! Ding-dong, the wicked witch is dead!”

Meadow put her hand over her mouth, trying to smother her giggles. She wasn’t quite successful.

Rosalie grinned at her. “Don’t feel guilty for celebrating the departure of that horrid woman from your father’s life. God knows she overstayed her welcome.”

“That’s true.” Meadow sighed. “I just wish this breakup cleared the path for Dad and Trish to be together. But Trish would never cross the line by dating her friend’s ex.”

“Oh! That’s the other big news!” her aunt said excitedly. “Trish and Wendi had a huge falling out!”

“What? When?”

“The day after you and Logan left Vegas. Apparently Wendi was pretty upset with Trish for going to dinner with everyone—”

“But she’s the one who told her to go,” Meadow protested.

“I know! That’s what your father said! I guess Wendi was hoping Trish wouldn’t actually take her at her word. Your dad says she was furious when she came home from her book club meeting that night. The next day, she drove to Trish’s office and confronted her in front of her clients. She called her all sorts of names and accused her of trying to steal Harris behind her back!”

Meadow gasped. “Seriously?”

“Seriously! Trish was floored! She’s never done anything to warrant an accusation like that. I mean, you and I have always believed that she and Harris belong together, and I know you told me that sparks were flying between them over dinner. But those two have never behaved inappropriately with each other. I don’t think they were even aware of their mutual attraction until Saturday night. Anyway, Trish was totally blindsided when Wendi showed up at her office and made a scene. After her clients left, she and Wendi had the biggest argument they’ve ever had. Trish says it was ugly and Wendi said a lot of vicious, hurtful things. The kind of things you can’t take back. She told Trish she never wanted to see or speak to her again, then she stormed out and keyed Trish’s car! Can you believe it?”

“I can’t. It’s absolutely insane.” Meadow was reeling. “I am so sorry Wendi took it that far.”

“So am I.” Rosalie grimaced. “Trish was pretty devastated. She and Wendi have been friends for years.”

Meadow shook her head. “Poor Trish.”

“I know.” Rosalie sighed heavily. “She’s hurting now, but in the long run, she’ll see it was for the best. Wendi is a miserable shrew. She isn’t good for anyone.”

“I agree. Trish deserves better. So does Dad.”

“Absolutely,” Rosalie agreed. “I really hope those two give each other a chance. They could be so happy together.”

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