Tanisha turned her back to the young woman and rolled her eyes. Ashton was, as Elise had said in a moment of candor, the love of her life. But in the few comments Elise had made about him, Ashton seemed obsessive and controlling. Once Elise had received a call from him that prompted her to jump up and leave in the middle of the session. “I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry. I just . . . I just have to go. Ashton needs some cold medication . . . he’s not feeling well . . . I have to go.” She’d nearly run from the room.

“That is such bullshit,” Tanisha had said.

Brianna had shook her head as there were supposed to be no judgments in the group.

“You know it. I know it. Even he knows it,” Tanisha had added, hooking a thumb toward Desmond. “That guy she’s with, he’s a control freak.”

Elise had missed the next meeting, but had shown up ever since, never saying a word about her abrupt departure. She simply acted as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. However, one time when Tanisha had asked how Ashton was, Elise had flinched. Her knitting needles lost their rhythm. “What do you mean? He’s fine.”

“Got over that cold or flu, did he?” Tanisha had asked as if she were truly interested, all the time ignoring Brianna’s stern glance.

“The flu?” Elise seemed perplexed, then got it. “Oh. Sorry. No. He didn’t have the flu or . . . or a cold. No. It was . . . was a rash. He just needed some . . . some cream. We were out.” She’d smiled quickly, an embarrassed grin that hadn’t touched her eyes and faded quickly at her obvious lie.

Now, Enrique scowled and cocked his left wrist, then tapped it repeatedly, even though he didn’t wear a watch. His eyebrows arched as he tried to silently encourage Brianna to get on with it.

Brianna didn’t understand what Enrique expected from the group, but she told herself if he didn’t need the support, he wouldn’t show up each week, which he did, faithfully. As he waited for his turn to speak, his leg bounced nervously, and he stayed attentive, like a racehorse ready to explode through the gate at the starting bell. Some of the members kept to themselves, but not Enrique. Nor, for that matter, did Tanisha, who was ready to tell the entire group about the failings of her family and current boyfriend. Tanisha and Enrique were definitely the firecrackers in the group.

Brianna was about to begin when Jenkins Olander strode into the room. Jenkins was a breath of fresh air. Unlike the other members, he offered a broad grin and lifted a hand in greeting as he made his way to the coffee machine. “How are you?” he asked Brianna, and gave a hug.

“Been better,” she said as he broke off the quick embrace.