Page 27 of Wine Whiskey & Lipstick

“Are you talking about the guy who carried you to your car?” Palmer asked. “He’s anasshole?”

Cat and Palmer exchanged a glance. They knew Dillyn’s judgment was, at best,off,so they didn’t take her too seriously. Still, Cat asked the obvious question. “What happened?”

“Selah’s characterization of her brothers was an understatement. As I said, I went to get my phone, and it was the strangest thing. Ben acted like he’d never met me. He was so cold.”

“Huh? That’s odd.” Cat wrinkled up her nose. “Did you greet them as the sweet Dillyn we all know and love, or theI hate all men because they are trashDillyn?”

“Is there a difference?” Dillyn asked.

Hell, yes! Palmer bit her lower lip to prevent herself from blurting out her thoughts.

“If you were your incredibly charismatic self, why do you think they would have behaved that way? Did you do something?”

“No!” Dillyn was slightly offended.

Cat went for the low-hanging fruit. “Well, some people might not take too kindly to outsiders who also happen to beBlack womenbuying this property. You know Randy? Our electrician? He stopped by this morning because he forgot a few things, but word on the curb is they are handling the situation at Frank’s last night as arson. Somebody purposely blew it up.”

“Are you serious?” Dillyn asked.

“Yep,” Cat confirmed. “I wouldn’t be surprised if cops showed up at our door asking questions. You know they’ll probably be looking at us.”

“Arson?” Dillyn found that hard to believe. “Who would want to blow up Frank’s? I mean . . .” She stopped her train of thought. It was silly. Summer didn’t even come up on a map. She was tired. “Look, I moved here because it’s peaceful, and I can escape most of the bullshit this world has to offer. I don’t even want to imagine what you’re saying can be true.”

Palmer looked at Dillyn with concern. Anger and pain radiated off her. “But . . . we didn’t move here to escape. We moved here for a fresh start.”

“Right. A fresh start. Escape. It’s all the same. That means I can live my life in peace without any messy entanglements.”

“Messy entanglements?” A lightbulb switched on for Cat. “Are we still talking about Frank’s? Isn’t that kind of like life? It’s full of all kinds of messiness.”

Talk to me after you’ve been publicly humiliated by a philandering ex-husband and suffered through two miscarriages.Dillyn didn’t want to argue. “Look . . . I’ve lived the so-calleddream.” She used her fingers to put her words in air quotes. “I’ve built a successful business and marriedthe man of my dreamsonly to realize it’s all bullshit. At this point, I just want to shed the things that don’t make me happy and focus on the things that do. That list is very short. Fortunately, you two are on it. Making our venture work is right up there too. I’m not interested in anything else.”

Cat spoke softly. “Dillyn, I know you’re still healing after everything that happened between you and Steven, but you can’t let him change who you are.”

Dillyn suddenly felt hot. Her chest started to tighten, and her throat felt like it was going to close up. Her emotions were too close to the surface as she blinked back tears.Where did those come from?Cry? I don’t cry.Dillyn whispered, “I don’t want to talk about Steven. I don’t need a man. From birth until now, men have only hurt me.” The room suddenly became much too small. Dillyn had to get out before she broke down in front of her friends. “Look, we are supposed to be painting, not analyzing my life. Let me go get changed, and I’ll be back.” Dillyn rushed out of the room.

Palmer released a breath. “Is it me, or does Dillyn seem really sensitive today?”

“She’s triggered by Ben, but I get the feeling something else set her off.”

“People heal at their own pace. But it’s been almost a year since Dillyn discovered the Steven fiasco, but I get the feeling you’re absolutely right.”

Cat knew exactly where Palmer was going. “There is no timetable to get over someone, but Dillyn doesn’t seem to be getting better.”

Palmer agreed. “We have to help her find her way. The problem is Dillyn has layers of shit I don’t think she’s ever dealt with, and Steven is just the tip of the iceberg.”

“You would know since y’all met in the ninth grade,” Cat said.

Palmer had figured out a few things, but Dillyn was always tight-lipped about that time in her life. “We’ve all been through a lot, but Dillyn has gone through more than most. None of us grew up in the best of situations, but Dillyn was raised by heathens.”

“Dillyn said Steven anchored her. She told me that he was the first guy ever to give a damn. I find that hard to believe.”

“Steven was different and the same in college. He was a narcissist and rebellious and cloaked it in the appearance of care. He was also very controlling where Dillyn was concerned. I hated the way he groomed her.” Palmer sighed. “I’ve often wondered if Dillyn mistook his narcissism for love and if she understood the difference between love and loyalty.”

Cat wasn’t sure either. She hunched her shoulders. “I don’t know, but Steven breaking her trust hit her differently than when guys we’ve dated broke ours. That’s where she and I are different. I don’t trust a man as far as I can throw them. Most are only good for sex. I don’t have the inclination to figure out which ones are bums and which aren’t, especially since most are bums. That’s why I’m not interested in a relationship.”

Palmer was confused. “Isn’t that kind of the same as what Dillyn’s going through?”

“Not at all. I’ve never felt the need to have a man in my life to feel complete. Dillyn wanted that with Steven. You saw her. She went to the ends of the earth to make him happy. He never seemed to do the same for her. So, while I get the part about her feeling like she doesn’t need a man, it should be her choice. Not because Steven broke her heart. No man can break my heart because I’ll never give it away.”

---