Page 3 of Against All Odds

“Hi, Heath. Did you solve your problem with your stolen checkbook?”

I looked at her in confusion.

“I work at the bank,” she explained cheerfully.

I hadn’t seen her at Aspen Ridge Bank because if I had, I would’ve noticed.

“Yes, thank you.”

“So, Sable, we hear you’re single and ready to mingle.” Leslie had had enough of the introductory chit-chat and wanted to get to the point of dragging Sable into our group dynamic.

Sable laughed out loud, and I fellhard. “Oh, Leslie, I don’t see how that’s any of your business.”

Leslie looked like she’d been slapped, which she effectively had been.

Sable nodded at us as a group. “Y’all have a good evening.” She then gracefully turned her back to us and walked away.

“The nerve,” Alexa muttered as everyone took their seats except me. I wasstillleaving.

“She’s so rude,” Leslie agreed.

“I think you’re the one who was rude, Les. Asking her about her divorce? That’s uncouth.” Natasha waved a hand to a server. “I want to go home, so let’s close out.”

“Puhlease, don’t pretend you’re any better,” Alexa pounced on her younger sister. “If I remember correctly, you were the one who started the rumor about Sable fucking Mr. Pietro, saying that you saw them together.” She turned to look at me. “Mr. Pietro was our chemistry teacher.”

“I was a stupid teenager,” Natasha huffed. “Some of us have grown up,Alexa.”

I squeezed the bridge of my nose. I had to just turn Alexa down next time she suggested wehangout. Wasn’t the whole point of getting divorced that we didn’t have to spend time together?

Granted, I was still a newcomer by Aspen standards and didn’t know many people, but I’d rather sit out on my porch and stare at the mountains than listen to these women eviscerate another of their gender. So much for sisterhood!

“I’ll see you all later.”

I ignored Alexa when she called out to me. I was sure she’d find a ride home. As my daughter would say, I feltickyafter spending time with Alexa, and it wasn’t the first or only time.

I saw Bambi in the parking lot.

She was on her phone.

As she spoke, she leaned against the door of a Nissan Leaf. I surmised her vehicle was parked next to my Jeep. Her back was to me, so I was not too conspicuous when I eavesdropped on her conversation.

“Jack, I don’t see why you think we need to talk about this,” she said.

I recounted the catty conversation in the tavern. Jack was the ex.

“No, you’re going to stop calling me and trying to control my life. You now have Molly to control…or take care of or whatever the hell you’re calling it. I’m not in your life and?—”

There was a pause.

“Jack, don’t raise your voice at me,” she said sternly. “If you do, I’ll hang up and block you for good measure.”

She paused for a minute and then hung up. When she turned to face her car door, she saw me. She was, no doubt, painting me with the same brush as the others because she didn’t look friendly. Not. At. All.

“Are you okay?” I asked. Of course, nothing wasokay. I mean, her husband cheated on her, and he was still calling her and, apparently, yelling at her.

She shrugged. “No. But I will be.”

It was an honest answer, and I was surprised to get that from her. I thought she’d brush me off.

---