Charlie was surprised at her mom’s vehemence. She sounded like the old Maggie, Cambridge Maggie. Serenity Point Maggie was much more permissive, much more laid back, too blissed out with Richard to be bothered sticking her nose in her daughters’ business. “I’m not spending the night with him,” Charlie mumbled. “I’d just be staying with him at some apartment in the city his parents own. And Cybill will be there.”

“Well, excellent, then he’ll have company since you won’t be.”

“But, mom—”

“Alice, what’s your opinion of this Jude person? You know him.”

Alice quit staring at that old photo on the wall of Tommy van Stratten—Jesus, obsess much?—to stare at her mother.

“Well,” said Maggie, impatient, “what is it?”

Alice opened her mouth, but then closed it again. She looked like a guppy. Finally she dropped her gaze to her sorbet dish, shrugged.

“That’s what I thought,” Maggie said, a gleam of triumph in her eyes.

Charlie stood up from the table quickly, letting her napkin fall to the floor. “I need some fresh air,” she said. On the way out, she squeezed Richard’s hand, to let him know she appreciated his support, and pointedly did not look at Alice to let her know what she thought of her traitorous ways. As she opened the door, she was annoyed to see the waiter pick up the napkin, neatly fold it, and return it to the side of her plate. Some dramatic exit.

• • •

Charlie leaned on the railing of the clubhouse porch, let the breeze coming off the ocean cool her hot face. Knowing that Cybill would have Jude all to herself tonight was filling her with more anxiety than she could handle. She knew her feelings were ridiculous, totally unjustifiable. It’s not as if she spent every waking moment with either one of them. They could easily be getting together behind her back. In fact, she suspected they were. Still, suspecting and knowing were two entirely different things. And knowing for sure they were going to be alone together for the next twelve to eighteen hours, a bed in the near vicinity, was making her nuts, just itchy with nerves and dread.

What a bitch her mother was being. And Alice, that little priss. Little phony, too. She’d crept in the house at dawn this morning. Charlie had seen her through the window when she woke up with dry mouth, went to the bathroom for a glass of water. Richard was proving to be all right, though, a little stiff maybe but basically a decent guy. He got it, at least. Knew what it took to make it socially in Serenity Point. Her mom didn’t have to know what it took because Richard had already made it for her. And Alice was happy to be an outsider, preferred it that way.

A voice cut into her thoughts: “Nice view.”