“In a heartbeat.” That was probably a lie. Caro and Rich, her ex, had divorced with grace and humor, and I still didn’t understand how they’d pulled it off. Those two still had dinner together once a month. Caro went to his wedding, for heaven’s sake!

That’s what I’d been hoping for, if not expecting. An amicable divorce where we still saw each other on the holidays. If he wanted someone else, I wouldn’t have cared, not once the divorce was final.

It was the deceit that had my panties in a twist, as the young people said. He’d cheated on me. Had there been other women? Was WORK the first time he’d had an affair?

I’d probably never know, would I?

I closed my eyes. The bourbon made a nice warm spot in my chest, and after two nights without sleep, I could use some relaxing. When I left the hospital earlier today, Sadie gave me the stink eye for saying I needed to go home. Juliet told me to take a long bath and make sure I ate a real dinner. Such was the difference between my two children. I’d only just walked in the door when Caro came in like an angel with bourbon, and a long, comforting hug to boot.

John had a mistress. He was young again. He had discovered what happiness was, did things with his tongue and was now in a medically induced coma.

“I want to find out who she is,” I said suddenly. “I mean, Caro, who the hell would want that old windbag? She sounds like she’s twenty-three. He’s seventy-five years old, don’t you know! And he’s got that horrible nose! Thank God the girls took after me. That there’s a blessing, you know what I’m saying?”

Caro laughed. “I love when you talk Minnesotan to me.”

“It’s because I’m a little drunk. I think I had a breakfast bar in the car this morning, so this is my dinner.” I held up the glass. Caro always had the good stuff. Woodford. John was cheap when it came to liquor. He’d never bought a bottle of wine that cost more than ten dollars.

Caro squeezed my hand. “By the way, yes. Thank God they both look like you. But some women will do anything for a man. Especially a married man.” She stood up. “I’m gonna call for a pizza. I’d offer to cook you something, but I just don’t love you that much.”

I started laughing, the exhausted, wrung-out kind of laughter that was hard to stop.

A mistress! Who’da thunk it?

From the kitchen, I heard Caro calling Wood Fire. “It’s a rush job, okay? A pizza emergency for the first selectman.” Caro’s voice was soothing and warm, and people just loved her. I sure did.