She’d asked Roy to give a brief explanation of the meaning of Bonfire Night before the fire was lit. Roy said it wasn’t necessary, but Wendy didn’t want the whole neighborhood to think they were psychotic bonfire worshippers. Criminals, actually, considering the fireworks. She was about to go tap him on the shoulder and remind him to say a few words, but Roy was deep in conversation with Tupper and Elizabeth Paulsen, so she stayed away.

Stuart was with Mandy tonight, but not with Mandy. Since discovering her fakery, he’d maintained an imaginary distance. He even taunted her a bit, just to test her.

“Which is better, beer or wine, to mix with your meds?” he asked. “I hear unpasteurized cheese is dangerous for MS sufferers.”

Mandy was unruffled. She’d been faking so long, she’d become an expert. “Dr. Goldberg says it doesn’t matter, as long as I take my vitamins and eat well and get plenty of sleep and sunshine.”

She looked beautiful tonight. If Stuart wasn’t so angry he’d write a song about her.

You lie like a rug, like a kick to my face

But I see you, girl. Fucking pump that bass!

He’d installed one of Tupper Paulsen’s Macaws in the kitchen, to record the extent of her deceit. She had a CrossFit trainer now. They pushed the bed out of the way to get his equipment in. Other than working out, getting the mail and stuffing it under the bed, and cooking elaborate meals from boxed gourmet food delivery services, she still spent most of her time in bed on her iPad. Watching the surveillance footage was actually really boring.