The Truth About Mallory Bain by Clare Hexom Read Free Book Online Page B

spring. It mattered little that other customers wore clothes like mine. I pushed my hair off my shoulder and donned a cheery expression to conceal my awkwardness.
    On closer look, her hair had retained its natural blonde, or her stylist was one of the best. She reached for my hand, showing off manicured and professionally polished nails. My unpainted nails showed uneven lengths. A few broken ones needed filing. I’d been too preoccupied to let a little thing like messy cuticles bother me until now.
    â€œWe are thrilled you’re back.” The words bubbled out of her when she greeted me with a hug.
    We selected our coffees and retreated to the overstuffed chairs in the quiet corner near the unlit fireplace. I sat across from her, reminding myself to sit straighter, or at least to try not to slump.
    â€œI needed an afternoon out,” I told her. “Coffee with a good friend. A huge weight’s been lifted from my shoulders being home again.”
    â€œWe can only imagine. We often talk about you and Chad. When I told Erik you were moving back, the first thing he said was how much he regretted never making that trip to Tennessee we always talked about but never found time to do. He thought he might have helped sort Chad out for you.”
    â€œNow there’s a daunting task. No matter now. We’re here and what’s done is done. Where is Emma today?”
    Dana glanced down and flicked at the bodice of her dress. “At a play date with a neighbor.” She lifted her eyes and stared coldly into mine. “Your mother must be enjoying the afternoon with your little boy.”
    Without an obvious reason, her widened eyes unnerved me enough to avert my gaze downward into my cup instead of looking back. I nodded. “And she kicked around a soccer ball with Caleb this morning.”
    â€œErik’s parents live here. Mother returned to California after Father died.”
    â€œI’m sorry. You never mentioned he passed away.”
    She took a long sip of coffee and looked out the window. “Six years. Sudden. His heart.”
    â€œOur fathers died about the same time, then.”
    â€œWe seldom got along.”
    As if not getting along made his passing bearable.
    I deeply missed my own father, so I paused, searching for a fitting response. None came to mind. “You and Erik could move to California to be near her.”
    â€œWe’re too dug in here to leave.”
    â€œLike us, you’ll be around a long time.”
    She uttered a weak titter and rolled her eyes. “I suppose.”
    â€œEmma must miss your mom.”
    Dana wrinkled her nose. “Mother does her own thing. She travels, but she does send Emma gifts from the places she visits.” Dana rolled one shoulder and tittered again. “Enough of me. Tell me all about your plans.”
    â€œFind work. Settle Caleb in school. Mom invited Ronnie for dinner this Saturday.”
    â€œHow nice.”
    â€œI’ll bet you and Erik see many of our old friends.”
    â€œNot much.” She fussed with her dress again.
    Curiosity pressed me to know specifics. “Who?”
    She furrowed her brow. “Nobody really.”
    Her reticence stopped me from pressing. I excused myself, at least for a few minutes. My first impression made me rethink our friendship, though by the time I reached the restroom, I blew off my doubts. Dana was fine. The problem was me. I had diminished self-esteem thanks to Chad. But our meeting was too awkward to continue without reprieve from the prickly air between us. And I had no clue why that would be.
    I gazed at my eyes in the mirror. Dark circles were slowly surfacing from under my foundation.
    â€œNo doubt that jewelry is genuine,” I unthinkingly spoke aloud.
    â€œPettiness is unbecoming, Mallory.”
    â€œExcuse me?”
    I scanned the room from its reflection in the mirror. I was alone. I pushed open both stall doors. Empty. I stood back, staring at