“She has red hair. Long red hair,” I say to the hostess, panic squeezing me. There are too many people around and I need air. I need to get out of this spot or I won’t be able to breathe. And Beth notices, because she’s about to grab my hand again and drag me out of there, when, from a distance, I see Annaliese walking toward us and I’m flooded with such relief that I almost collapse into Beth’s arms.

“Hi, sweetie!” She gives me a long hug. “We’re sitting right over there.” And she points to a small table tucked in the back that seats three. Beth glances at me, confusion etching her face, and I shrug, following Anneliese.

When we sit, Anneliese on one side, Beth and me on the other, she extends her hand for Beth to shake. “And how do you two know each other?” Beth looks at me and tries to sustain eye contact, her dark eyes flickering with bemusement. But I look away.

“Oh, I’ve known Beth for most of my life.”

“Not as long as I’ve known you, though.” Anneliese chortles, and I laugh along, feeling Beth’s eyes still on me, so many unanswered questions dancing in the small space between us.

“Our parents were friends. And then we ended up at the same college and both moved back to New York after.”

Beth leans forward, planting her elbows on the table. “So, yeah, I’ve been in her life a long time.” There’s an edge to her voice that I don’t like, and I pinch her thigh lightly, but she ignores me. She flags down a waiter and orders a glass of wine. “Happy birthday, by the way. That drink’s on me, for you. It is your birthday, right?”

Anneliese blinks slowly, gathering her thoughts. “Yes, it’s my birthday. At my age you stop celebrating with anything bigger than this, really.”

The waiter brings the wine, offering us food menus, which Beth promptly ignores. “Tell me about you, Anneliese. I’ve heard so much about you from Sue, yet I know so little about what you do. You’re from Isham?”

She nods, never breaking her smile. “Yes. I’ve been nannying around there most of my life. Some tutoring and teaching, too.” She opens the menu. “Oh, everything here looks so good! The reviews were right!”

But Beth isn’t letting up. “So, what do you do now? Have you been in New York City long? Or are you just here to mooch off Sue?” Anneliese shifts uncomfortably in her seat, and I dig my nails into Beth’s leg. This time she swipes my hand away, and I have to hide my wince.