“Penny, dear,” Blanc said gently. “You mustn’t be bitter.”
“I’m grateful the old codger found himself with a younger woman,” Penny said. “Fourteen years of cooking and picking up after him, watching him quit job after job because he decided he wasn’t appreciated, it got old fast.”
“Your husband left you for a younger woman?”
“He didn’t want to leave. He wanted an open marriage, so I’d continue to support him while he ran around finding himself. What he didn’t realize was I was happy to see him go. Happy to let his car model pick up after him. He was going through his photography phase, and clearly, she thought he had money. He didn’t. I do really recommend prenups. Especially the cheating clause.”
“She had to prove he cheated in court,” China said. “He was ridiculous enough to demand a court ruling on the prenup. Sadly for him, his cheating was very blatant. He went to hotels and was photographed because his little darling wanted the publicity. They were caught in compromising situations several times.”
“I’m so sorry, Penny,” Azelie murmured. “I don’t have words.”
“I’m not. Truly. That’s why I say trust your instincts. If I’d followed mine, I wouldn’t have wasted so many years with him. Right from the beginning I knew he was a worm, but I was certain he would blossom into a wonderful man.” She gave a snort of self-derision. “Once I shed that snake, I had the time of my life. I just followed my mother’s advice and stood back up, more determined than ever to live my life fully. I grabbed on with both hands and I rarely looked back.”
“That’s when she acquired all her excellent knowledge of men and their various kinks,” Blanc said solemnly. “If you need answers to any question regarding sex, just ask Penny.”
Rather than take offense, Penny laughed, breaking the tension that had built up with the revelations the Christian sisters had made.
“I became an official groupie for an entire summer, following a very popular band around. It was the most fun I’d had in years.” There wasn’t a sign of remorse in her voice or her expression.
“You refer to yourselves as the merry widows,” Azelie pointed out. “But it sounds as if you didn’t lose your husband to death.”
The three women exchanged a long, amused look and then burst into laughter. Penny nearly knocked over her coffee, she was laughing so hard.
“I’m officially a merry widow because I killed my husband off in fifty clever ways without actually killing him. It was an amazing journey of retribution and recovery. It was China’s idea.”
China nodded. “We played a game thinking up heinous ways to do in cheating husbands, wrote the ideas down and burned them in a solemn ceremony. When we reached fifty, we were feeling quite merry. Hence the name.”
The women burst into laughter again, and Azelie joined them. “How do you top that?”
“Now we play cards with Doug Parsons and Carlton Gray,” China said. “Neither one of them is anywhere near as good as we are, but we let them win unless money is on the table.”
“Once Doug had a little too much to drink and wanted to play strip poker,” Penny said and burst out laughing all over again at the memory. “We made sure he lost every hand.”
“I’m sitting at a table with some badass women,” Azelie declared.
“You’re one of those badass women,” China said. “You just have to believe in yourself.”
Azelie glanced down at her watch. “I have to catch the bus. I don’t want to be late for class. I have a very tight schedule today.”
“Promise you’ll talk to us later,” Blanc said. “We want to know you’re safe. And happy.”
“We mostly want you to know we’re here for you,” Penny said.
Azelie shrugged into her backpack and caught up the latte. “Thank you all. I’ll see you later.” She didn’t have too much time before the bus would show up. Hurrying along the street toward the bus stop, to her dismay, she spotted Alan Billows in his sporty little BMW. He was parked directly across from the bus stop, talking on his cell phone.
As Azelie approached the corner, Billows looked up and beckoned to her. She shook her head and indicated her watch and then the bus stop.
Billows scowled darkly at her. “Get in the damn car, Azelie. I don’t have all fucking day to wait around for you. I’ll drive you to school.”
“I have to take the bus.” That sounded lame even to her own ears. She tried to look calm and all smiles as she waved to him.
“Azelie?” A woman’s voice had her spinning around. The woman was tall and curvy, absolutely gorgeous with her sleek, shining black hair, perfect skin, dark eyes and lush lips. “I’m sorry I was late.” She winked at her. “We have time to study on the bus together.”
She came close. “I’ve seen you around the campus. Is that man bothering you?” She whispered the question, her back to Billows.
The last thing Azelie wanted to do was to have this woman who was trying to help get on Billows’ radar. He could be ugly and vindictive when he didn’t get his way.
Azelie hastily texted Billows that her study partner was there, and they’d planned to ride the bus together to work on their project. Billows didn’t answer, but roared off, his expression a mask of fury.
“Thanks,” Azelie said, meaning it. “I’m Azelie Vargas.”
“Lana Popov,” the woman introduced herself. “I have seen you around a couple of times, although I don’t think we have any classes together.”
Azelie would have remembered her. The woman was gorgeous. Perfect hair, skin, teeth, figure. Azelie couldn’t find a single flaw in her. Lana made her feel a little mousy. The bus drove up and the door opened. Both women climbed on, Lana following Azelie to one of the middle-row seats.
“Should you have called the police?” Lana asked. “Is he some kind of stalker?”
Azelie considered how best to answer. The woman had been kind to a stranger. She had deliberately pretended they were friends because she thought Azelie was in danger. She didn’t want to lie to Lana, but she didn’t want her probing any deeper. It was never a good thing to get on Alan Billows’ radar.
“No, he’s just the most annoying boss in the world.” Azelie kept her tone light, as if Billows amused her. “He doesn’t understand the concept of days off.”
Lana laughed. “I know a few people like that. Obsessed with work.”
“I keep telling him the days I have school. He agreed to let me have those days off, but now he wants me to come work whenever it suits him.” Azelie heaved an exaggerated sigh. “Really, thanks again for rescuing me. It was quick thinking.”
“I sent up a prayer to the universe that you wouldn’t ask me who the hell I was. You’re quick on the uptake.”
“You threw a lifeline, and I caught it. He would have made me late for my class, and I have an important test first thing. I don’t want to miss taking it. The policy is that if you fail, no makeup unless by prearrangement.”
