“Beaches?”
“Nope. It’s landlocked.”
“So what do they have?”
“Well, let’s see,” I say. “They have high rates of corruption and crime and the lowest per capita GDP in the world. But I’m sure we would all feel very grateful for our current lives if we went there.”
“You’re impossible,” Lainey says, then looks at Hannah. “Tell him to cooperate.”
“Y’all,” Hannah says. “This isn’t a real thing, is it? Because there’s no way I can travel right now—”
“Why not?” Lainey says.
“Because we’re slammed at work. We have three huge installations coming up—and a photoshoot with Southern Living.”
“Jada wouldn’t let you get away for a bit? Given the circumstances?” Lainey asks, referring to Hannah’s boss.
“She might,” I say. “For a couple days. But certainly not for multiple weeks.”
“You could always just quit,” Lainey says with a breezy shrug. “Like Tyson.”
“I can’t just quit, Lainey,” Hannah says. “I need the money. I’m not a famous actor.”
“I’m not a famous actor, either,” Lainey says. “I’m a working actor. And I’m sure you have more savings than I do. You’re so good with money.”
“Not lately, unfortunately,” Hannah says. “I’ve spent way too much on that stupid house—” She inhales sharply, then lets out a long sigh.
“I thought Grady bought the house with his trust fund?”
“He did. But I’ve been paying for the furniture—”
“That’s such bullshit,” Lainey says. “He needs to pay you back for all of that…. And you need to sell your ring. That sucker would fund the whole trip.”
“You think I should sell it?” Hannah asks, as I notice that it’s no longer on her finger. She must have taken it off when she went back to her bedroom. It’s a good sign.
“Of course you should sell it,” Lainey says. “Why would you ever want to keep it?”
“Well, don’t you think he’s going to ask for it back?”
“Probably will. But tough shit,” Lainey says.
“I agree,” I say. “That ring is legally yours, Hannah.”
“Are you sure about that?” she asks.
“I’d have to look up Georgia law to confirm,” I say. “But most states say that an engagement ring is a gift. He could try to argue that it was a conditional gift—dependent upon marriage—but I bet Georgia has a ‘dirty hands doctrine.’ ”
“I’d say he has dirty hands!” Lainey laughs.
“Which means if he did something to break the contract, the ring is yours,” I say.
“Okay. But is keeping it the right thing to do?” Hannah asks.
“C’mon, Hannah. Don’t play the martyr here,” Lainey says.
I nod emphatically. For once, Lainey and I are a unified front. “She’s right,” I say. “About the ring and the trip.”
Lainey and Hannah both look at me, surprised.
“I think it’d be great for you to get away for a couple weeks. Clear your head.”
Hannah bites her lip and nods. “Maybe. I guess I could talk to Jada…see what she says.”
Lainey is now off to the races, establishing the ground rules. Everyone will pick a destination, and no vetoes allowed, whether it’s a beach or Burundi.
“Fine,” I say. “No vetoes. I’m cool with that.”
Lainey nods, then says, “We’ll leave next week.”
“Next week?” Hannah says.
“Yes,” Lainey says. “No time like the present…YOLO, bitches.”
—
Later that night, after the girls have gone to bed and I’ve fallen asleep on the couch, I’m awakened by a tap on my shoulder. I open my eyes and find Hannah standing over me.
Startled, I ask if she’s okay.
“Yes. I just wanted to talk,” she whispers, sitting cross-legged on the floor next to the sofa so we’re eye level. “I have an idea.”
“What’s that?” I ask.
“I think I’m going to pick Texas,” she says, swallowing. “For my destination.”
“Why in the world would you do that?”
“Lainey’s sisters live there. I just did some digging. One lives in Dallas—the other one is in a small town called Dripping Springs.”
“And? So?”
“I think Lainey needs to meet them. Her mother’s gone. She has no family left. It’s a gaping hole in her life—and I really think she needs to try to fill it….”
“Maybe you’re right,” I say. “And maybe it would help with her drinking.”
“Exactly,” Hannah says. “I’ve tried to talk to her about that—”
“So have I—”
