“Not really,” Micky said. “I was married to a person for whom the word ‘workaholic’ was an understatement. Compared to my ex-husband, Robin keeps very decent hours. It’s all a matter of perspective really. Like so many things in life.”

They arrived and the elevator was large enough to bring the six of them to the top floor comfortably. When she arrived at Caitlin’s penthouse, Lou could barely believe her eyes. It looked like one of those homes you only ever saw in interior design magazines.

Wine was poured and Caitlin put a couple of frozen pizzas in the oven so they could share a nibble and then they all sat staring out over the city as darkness truly fell.

Sheryl was the only one who didn’t drink, so Lou put two and two together quickly. She glanced at Kristin and wondered if Mia had managed to speak to her yet about a plan to save Annie’s Bookshop.

Lou hadn’t expected to walk up to her and Jo earlier that day, but she had, and she could only conclude that her feelings for Annie getting a fair deal were more important to her than her feelings toward Mia.

“Business at Glow seems good,” Caitlin said to Micky, snapping Lou out of her reverie.

“We truly can’t complain. Although that full class tonight was due to a lot of free trial members that have signed up very recently thanks to the wonders of very localized Google and Facebook advertising. Mia has been a real star for helping us with those.”

“Mia is amazing,” Kristin said. “Very smart, but not in the usual overbearing I’ve-been-to-business-school way, you know?”

“And she’s much nicer to me than you ever were,” Jo said to Micky, throwing in a giggle.

“Impossible. I always treated you like a queen,” Micky replied.

Jo smirked, then said, “All jokes aside, I really like her. Are you keeping her, boss?” she asked Kristin.

Lou sat there wondering whether Micky had set this whole thing up so various people could vouch for Mia’s character in her presence. She was pretty sure Mia was all the great things these women thought of her now, but she hadn’t always been.

“I’m making her,” Sheryl said. “She’s too easy on the eye to let go.”

Kristin slapped her partner on the thigh.

“I’m so disappointed in you, Sheryl,” Jo said. “I might need to get a new thesis advisor. All the things I’ve always believed about you have come crumbling down just with that one shallow comment.”

“Come on, Jo.” Sheryl pointed at Kristin. “Look at my partner. Surely you must have known all along that I appreciate great beauty.”

“There’s no use in trying to flatter your way out of it,” Kristin said.