Hi, love, she said, extending her arms. I let her hug me, but I was caught completely off guard by her presence, after not so much as a text message in months. When she finally pulled away, I told her that I was slightly mortified at the thought of her setting foot in the house, which I hadn’t much reason to keep clean anymore. She told me not to worry in the slightest, though I registered her subtle disapprobation as we walked through the door and into the kitchen. She told me it was just an impulse, her stopping by on her way home from church. I still had a bunch of groceries left on the counter from my morning shop, which I began to put away to clear space. As I did, we made small talk, mostly about her summer plans, and who won Drag Race in the end, and the endless back and forth with the school’s administration about doing Kinky Boots in the fall. She asked about Ashley’s graduation and the prom party, which I glossed over. She then asked me how Paul was doing, and I told her she would have to ask him herself.

We’re not really talking at the moment. Not since Ashley moved out.

Cass looked shocked—What? Ashley’s gone too?

Yup.

She’s living with Paul? she asked, and I nodded.

Cass stood there watching me as I put the last of the vegetables into the crisper, and a couple of boxes of crackers into the cupboard. I’ve been really worried about you, she said.

Have you, I replied, chilly.

Yes. A lot.

I thanked her, and I told her that I could have used that worry a couple of months ago, but now it was misplaced. I’m in a good place now.

Are you really though?

I am, I say, packing the reusable shopping bags into their holder under the sink.

Love, I don’t mean to be rude, but I don’t think you are. I mean look around. Paul is gone. Ashley is gone. You’ve lost your job. Your friends—

My friends, what?

Well we’re all extremely—

My friends love and support me, I interrupted. And I see them three or four times a week.

Cass nodded—I’m glad to hear it.

I found it difficult to gauge just how much she knew. I wouldn’t be surprised if Paul had texted Aldo at some point, or one of the other book club husbands.

The truth is, Claire, I didn’t feel comfortable reaching out while school was still in session. It felt wrong somehow. Like I would be betraying the school, or betraying Kyle. I felt like I was in a really tough position.