“You really got a bad rap, didn’t you? Let me tell you this.” She gestures to my face with the vape pen. “Odilie was super reserved. I don’t think she dug female friendships. Everything was always surface-level with her. But she did not give two shits that Tom was having an affair. She was over that bastard. She was totally going to leave him. She didn’t say that exactly, but I could tell. And the media spun it like she was some devoted wife. Always pitting women against each other.

“My friends and I, even their husbands, we never held anything against you, not personally, anyway. You were in the wrong place at the wrong time. It was those creep wannabes who cleave to drama who really seemed to hate your guts. Not the people on the inside.” She shakes her head, her sand-cast chandelier earrings tinkling with the movement. “Anyway, I wanted to catch you before we went back outside. You’re cool.” She eases herself out of her position at the counter.

“Odilie knew he was having an affair?” I say quietly, the words like glue on my dehydrated tongue.

“Oh, yeah, it was obvious. All euphemistic. But I saw her the day he did what he did, and she knew he wasn’t happy about something. I’m a good read of people. I mean, I probably shouldn’t be such a blabbermouth, considering what my wife does and all. But I feel like everyone did you dirty.” Shirley drawls the last part. “Enough of that, though. Come back out and party!” And she saunters her way back outside, vape smoke trailing after her.

Leaving me standing there, dumbstruck, my hunger vanished, gaping at her retreating back.

7

ODILIE

Ten years ago

When Peri was done, Odilie could barely recognize herself. She was not a beauty. No one would call her a beauty. But Peri had fixed her up as much as anyone would be able to with the limited material Odilie provided.

She overlined Odilie’s lips, to give her a small pout; she magically highlighted Odilie’s cheekbones, usually hidden under baby fat. She gave Odilie false lashes, fluffed her limp, mousy-brown hair into beachy waves, hid the freckles dotting her nose, filled in her brows to give them a lush arch. Odilie felt like Anne Hathaway in The Princess Diaries.

“I got you a dress, too!” Peri called from the bedroom. Odilie heard the harsh knock on the door—Kitty, trying to use the bathroom where Peri and Odilie had been sequestered for hours. Odilie opened the door without giving Kitty a second glance and ran into her room, where Peri had laid out a shimmering pink satin dress.

“I can’t accept this,” Odilie said breathlessly, her fingers rubbing the material.