“Yes, yes. Sorry. I just spilled coffee all over myself. How are you, Eliza?”

“I’m very fine, thank you. I just wanted to touch base with you about tomorrow. Give you directions and all that.”

Tomorrow? Was it really tomorrow? She needed a pedicure, a new bathing suit.

“Sure. Sure. I was going to call you today.” Amy looked at the rooster clock on the far wall: eight sharp. “What can I do to help?”

“Well, I’ve already talked to the kids and they’re all set. We’re all just going to have the best time.” Eliza’s words sounded robotic, prerecorded.

“Well, we’re really looking forward to our time at the lake. And it’ll be great for Molly and . . . What’s your son’s name who is the same age as Molly?”

“Alex.”

“Well, it’ll be nice for Molly and Alex to meet.”

“You’re bringing Molly?”

“Well, yes. She’s part of the family. Aren’t you bringing your boys?”

“Well, they have wrestling practice and all. I was going to leave them with my parents.”

“I don’t have . . .” Amy took a deep breath and Eliza filled in the gap.

“Can your daughter stay with friends this weekend?”

“I’ve already told her she could come.”

“Well . . .” Eliza paused while Amy waited and knew what the silence was for—Amy’s chance to give in, but she wouldn’t. Eliza must give in or be the worst of all Southern epitaphs—a bitch.

“Molly and Alex would have a lovely time together, I’m sure. Max has a wrestling match . . . so he can’t come, but . . . I’ll bring Alex,” Eliza said.

“Okay . . . well, tell me what I can do to help.”

Directions obtained, meals assigned, Amy hung up. Throughout the conversation, Amy had realized Eliza had assumed she and Phil went to college together. She didn’t correct Eliza, didn’t tell her that she hadn’t dated Phil until she had discovered Nick wouldn’t be returning from his trip to Costa Rica.

Phil was from their hometown, Darby, but hadn’t gone to Saxton University. The people Amy had always known were his friends, too; their lives had been intertwined since they’d been delivered in the same county hospital two months apart, since they’d attended the same nursery school. They were never close friends, or even casual friends, despite knowing each other.