On Saturday night Claire attended a dinner party hosted by my former boss − and her current business partner − Theresa Sanders.
“It’s going to be like this for a while,” Claire had said before she left. “We need to drum up some business, wine and dine potential clients. What agency is your company with? Maybe you should get me a meeting with Lucy. I bet I could woo−”
“You’re not going anywhere near Lucy. Promise me that.”
“Why so protective, baby?” I didn’t reply. Claire was as ruthless in banter as she was in business.

I was packing for my trip to Cambridge. It felt like I was saying goodbye to something, if only I could figure out what. I had opened a bottle of wine. I hoped they were joking about the retreat being alcohol-free. That would not work. How would I sleep at night? I hadn’t had any dinner so I was grateful when Eleanor yelled up the stairs − she always did that − asking if I wanted to eat with her. I gladly accepted. We finished the bottle while we ate but there was something going on with Eleanor. She kept glancing at the clock on the mantlepiece, like she had somewhere urgent to be.
“Hot date tonight, Eleanor? You seem a bit restless.”
“You know I don’t date anymore. I’m well past the age.”
“That’s bullshit, but hey, I respect your decision.”
“Listen, I haven’t been completely honest with you.” She looked at the clock again, it was five minutes to eight. “I am going out tonight but I asked Lucy to come over.”
“You what?”
“You have to talk to each other, dear. This is my house and I’m tired of all this tension. It doesn’t do anyone any good.”
“Last time I checked, Lucy didn’t live here.”
“Lucy has always been part of this house, long before you moved in.”
“I guess I’ll have to move out then.”
“And will you quit your job as well? Don’t be silly. I just want you to sort this out. No one was murdered. A few feelings got hurt, that’s all, but you girls have to get over it.”
“Do tell that to Lucy.”
“I have told her. She may surprise you tonight.” Then, at exactly eight o’clock, the bell rang. Eleanor let Lucy in and herself out. If she had told me ten minutes earlier I would have been out the door. She clearly ambushed me.

“Can I sit?” Lucy asked.
“Well, you’re here now. You may as well.” I opened another bottle of wine and without asking poured Lucy a large glass. I figured she needed it.
“I suppose I owe you an apology.” She looked at me, her eyes bright and wide. “I’m sorry. I overreacted. I abused my position at work. I violated your home. I went a bit mad, really.”
“I’m impressed. What did Eleanor say to you?”
“Lee, please. I mean it. This is not easy for me.”
“It isn’t easy for me coming into work every day, expecting the worst. And what was all that bullshit with Jim. Like I didn’t−“
“I made mistakes, I know that.”
“Mistakes? You made my life a living hell.”
“I was hurt. I’m sorry.”
“We slept together how many times? It was hardly a relationship. The way you treated me you’d think I was your wife of twenty years who cheated on you with your best friend.”
“I know, I know, I went a bit overboard. I just−“ She started crying then, quietly at first but soon she was heaving and tearing up like the weight of the world rested on her shoulders. I felt sorry for her. She wasn’t evil. She was just a little broken-hearted. it was all a bit disproportionate, but who was I to judge? She didn’t have to teach me about heartbreak. I walked over to her and embraced her. “I can’t help myself,” she said, “I’m in love with you.”

To be continued…