“I never thought that you did.” Val really didn’t.

“Thanks. It means a lot to hear you say that. A lot of people do think it and I can see why.” Julia laughed wryly. “It would be a good way to get revenge on your husband’s whore. But honestly, I didn’t know she was having an affair with my husband.” Julia took a deep breath. “I believe she knew I was his wife, though.”

“What makes you say that?” Val asked.

“It’s a long story,” Julia said dismissively. “Basically, I was in love, stupid and blind to the obvious in front of my face. He played me for a fool—and so did she. She pretended to be my friend. We did lunches and shopping—and I fell for it all. It’s as simple as that. It hurts but it’s good for me to admit to it. At least that’s what my lawyer says.” Julia smiled bravely. “I don’t have a shrink yet.”

“They played you for a fool? How so?”

“I met him at a singles event. You know the kind of thing I’m talking about?”

Val didn’t, and her expression must have said so because Julia laughed. “Maybe you don’t. Maybe someone like you doesn’t have to visit a prefab meeting event for the terminally un-hook-up-able,” Julia said. “It’s one of those things where an event is sponsored and everyone that shows up is single. It’s supposed to be a safe way to meet strangers. Now that I think of what I ended up with, I probably would’ve been safer with some seedy internet site, and that’s a scary thought. Colin—that’s my soon-to-be ex-husband’s name—wasn’t there when I arrived. He showed up later in the evening. I had already met a nice guy, but he wasn’t all that attractive. I was finding out all about his tax business, when I saw Colin come in.” Julia hesitated in reliving the memory, her one-time romantic feelings toward Colin evident. “He took my breath away.”

She looked at Val. Her face showed embarrassing admiration for the man who had once been her husband.

“As the tax guy spoke, I stared at Colin, thinking I could never get someone like that. I was fixated on him and watched his every move. I’m not even sure whether or not the tax guy noticed I was checking out another man. Anyway, I didn’t care.”

Val let Julia continue. She wanted to interrupt, add some words of comfort, but couldn’t find the right thing to say.