Page 28 of The Social Affair (New Hope 1)

Chapter Fifteen

Josie

“I met someone,” I tell Beth over a salad I practically inhale. I notice she barely touches hers. Not at first. This is an audit, and audits are designed to get to the heart of the matter. She wants to squeeze as much out of me as she can. I’ll want to be very careful about what I say. I learned this the hard way. “Anyway,” I add nonchalantly. “I invited her to our meeting on Thursday. I think she has potential…”

Beth’s expression is unreadable. “It’s been so long since you brought someone in,” she tells me, her eyes wide. “She must be special.”

“It hasn’t been that long,” I say. But then I consider the last person, and I realize she’s right. “I’ve never been as good as you at it. But I do try.”

“Look at you, kissing up.” She frowns. “That’s not your style.”

“What? I thought you wanted honesty.” I lay my hands flat on the table. “I thought that’s why we’re here.”

“Grant is worried about you, Josie.”

“That is not your concern.”

She doesn’t blink. “It’s your husband’s concern, which makes it the church’s concern.”

I look away. “It shouldn’t be anyone’s concern.”

“You’re not sleeping. You’re over your weight limit. You’re speaking ill of New Hope to new members—Tom’s wife, of all people. I mean, come on, Josie. Of course, this is a concern. It’s out of character.”

It doesn’t matter what I say. So I start with the obvious. “It’s just been difficult…since June died.”

“For all of us,” she agrees. Then she seems to consider what to say next. “But we have to move on, Josie. June would want that.”

“Well, Tom certainly has. Moved on.”

Her lips fold inward. “What’s he supposed to do?”

“I don’t know—grieve.”

“People grieve differently, Jos— particularly men.”

I figured Beth would say that. She excuses the opposite sexes’ shortcomings like nobody’s business.

“You’re right,” I tell her. “Maybe I have been thinking about it wrong. I think I just needed a fresh perspective. I think June’s death has reminded me of my own mortality. It’s scary, you know. To realize that we’re all going to die. ”

She nods. This is what she wants to hear.

She stabs her fork into a tomato. She’s half-finished with her salad, meanwhile, I’d like to order another. “And the weight gain?”

“I’m getting my period.”

I watch as she stuffs the tomato in her mouth. She chews slowly. I feel my fight or flight reflex kick in, and it takes a lot to stuff it back down. “You know women have to allow for these things.”

“Yes,” I agree. “I’ve been weak.”

“We’ll need to advance your workout schedule.”

“I’m already doing six days a week.”

“Now, you’ll do seven. Sometimes it just takes a little extra to get the edge, you know.”

I don’t say anything. I sip my water. Sometimes you have to let things run their course.

“I have some audio files I’ll be emailing you. We’ll need you to listen and report back your interpretations.”

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