Page 67 of The Husband Hour
Stephanie buried her head deeper in her pile of pillows. Beth could smell the alcohol seeping from her pores. Furious, she grabbed the comforter and pulled it off the bed.
“Mom! Jesus, what’s wrong with you?”
“Nothing is wrong with me. But there is plenty wrong with you, and we’re going to deal with it, starting today. Right now. You’re drinking too much. You’re not spending enough time with your son. And you did a lousy thing to your sister the other night.”
Stephanie sat up. Beth had known that would get her attention.
“Oh, now I see what this is about. Once again, Lauren the angel has been wronged.”
“I invited Neil Hanes over to spend time with her. He was asking about her. And then you…”
“I what? She’s the one who freaked out and left.”
“And you didn’t waste any time moving in,” Beth said.
“Oh, please. As if it were ever going to happen with Lauren. She hasn’t dated in all of this time—that’s on her, not me. But you know what? If Neil Hanes is going to be the one, she can go for it.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea now that you’ve slept with him.”
“I didn’t ‘sleep with him,’ Mother. We just hung out. The guy’s a talker. Frankly, he’s exhausting.”
Beth brightened. Was it true? Neil and Stephanie had just talked? She felt the universe was rewarding her for trying—and for pressing the issue with Stephanie. Emboldened, she said:
“I want you to take Ethan to dinner and a movie tonight. The only one you should be running around with is that little boy. I’ll give you the money for a night out, and I expect you to make yourself scarce.” She walked out of the room but turned around just long enough to add, “And get yourself dressed.”
Beth was already dialing Neil’s cell before she reached her own bedroom.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Running home after work, the sidewalk damp from an afternoon sun shower, Lauren nearly stepped on a slug but was able to jump over it at the last second.
She used to think slugs were snails that had left their shells, and then she learned that a slug had never had a shell to begin with. Looking at that soft, vulnerable creature, she felt a kinship; just when she’d been thinking the situation with the documentary was under control, she’d heard the news that another film project was out there. Would it never end?
The worst part was the realization that the past four years of pretending the outside world did not exist had given her a false sense of control. She was not a snail who had suddenly lost her shell; like that slug, she’d never had one. So now what?
There had been a time when she felt passionate about journalism. She had believed in discovering facts, in finding and telling a story. But Lauren, you know the real story. The truth.
Yes, she did. And she couldn’t imagine sharing it. Not for any reason. Not for anyone.
“You’re home!” her mother said, smiling as Lauren walked into the kitchen. “I tried calling but you didn’t answer your phone.”
“Busy day,” Lauren said, checking the time. Maybe she should talk to Matt now, before she lost her nerve. Before she changed her mind and had the urge to run away again.
“Well, I’m glad you’re here. Why don’t you take a quick shower? We’re having company for dinner. Neil Hanes.”
“Oh, Mom, I’m not up for that tonight.”
Her mother’s face fell. “I’d really like for you to be here.”
Lauren shook her head. When would her mother stop pushing?
“Sorry, but it’s going to have to be just you and Stephanie and Dad.”
“Stephanie is taking Ethan to a movie.”
“But Dad’s going to be here, right?”
Her mother hesitated. “I’m not sure.”
