“You didn’t have to send your children away,” Unity told her. “I would have loved to meet them.”

“Next time.” Lela picked up her drink. “Thaddeus mentioned you were a widow?”

Unity nodded. “My husband was in the army. He was killed in the line of duty.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“Thank you. I always knew it could happen, but I still didn’t think it would, if that makes sense.”

“Did you have any children?”

“No.”

Lela glanced toward the family room. “I met Freddy when I was nineteen and married him when I was twenty. Six years later, we had three kids. As soon as the third was born, I told him to get snipped.” She pressed a hand to her mouth, her eyes wide. “I shouldn’t have said that. I blame the margarita.”

Unity grinned. “I won’t tell. Stuart and I got married at eighteen. He joined the army and I moved out to be with him as soon as he was done with basic training.”

“You were a young bride, too.”

“I was.”

Lela leaned close. “Thaddeus was married before. She wasn’t right for him. We never got along, which worried me, but I didn’t say anything. I’m just the best friend’s wife. But later, he found out she was being mean to his mother. What a bitch. I’m sure having your mother-in-law living right there isn’t easy, but she had own her suite of rooms on the main floor and she was such a sweet woman. She loved Thaddeus.”

Lela grinned. “When he was first starting out as a stripper, he would get paid in tips. After he moved his mom out to Las Vegas, she would take all the money he got and iron it for him.” She made an X over her chest. “I’m not kidding. Every morning she would iron the bills so they were perfect. Plus, the heat would kill the germs.” Her smile faded. “I miss her so much.”

“She sounds like she was a loving mother.”

“She was. I think she would have liked you. You’re normal and normal is good. You would not believe some of the women he’s gone out with.” She sighed dramatically. “If they get to the point of meeting us, we know it’s getting serious. Then it ends and they’re all hysterical. A few of them have come crying to me. Like I’m going to take their side. Boo-hoo. I miss him. Boo-hoo, the sex was so good. Ha! How much of that was because of him and how much was because of the money?”

Lela covered her face with her hands. “Listen to me! I’m horrible. Stupid tequila.” She dropped her hands to her lap. “Please don’t judge me. I’m a really nice person.”

Unity patted her shoulder. “You’re protective. Friends should be protective. He’s lucky to have you in his life.”

“You’re very kind. Thank you.”

Thaddeus walked over. “What are we talking about?”

“You,” Lela said with a grin. “I’m telling her stories.”