Chapters (97)
- Cover
- Back Cover Text
- Praise
- Booklist
- Dedication
- Epigraph
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-One
- Twenty-Two
- Twenty-Three
- Twenty-Four
- Twenty-Five
- Twenty-Six
- Twenty-Seven
- Twenty-Eight
- Twenty-Nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-One
- Thirty-Two
- Thirty-Three
- Thirty-Four
- Thirty-Five
- Thirty-Six
- Thirty-Seven
- Thirty-Eight
- Thirty-Nine
- Forty
- Forty-One
- Forty-Two
- Forty-Three
- Forty-Four
- Forty-Five
- Forty-Six
- Forty-Seven
- Forty-Eight
- Forty-Nine
- Fifty
- Fifty-One
- Fifty-Two
- Fifty-Three
- Fifty-Four
- Fifty-Five
- Fifty-Six
- Fifty-Seven
- Fifty-Eight
- Fifty-Nine
- Sixty
- Sixty-One
- Sixty-Two
- Sixty-Three
- Sixty-Four
- Sixty-Five
- Sixty-Six
- Sixty-Seven
- Sixty-Eight
- Sixty-Nine
- Seventy
- Seventy-One
- Seventy-Two
- Seventy-Three
- Seventy-Four
- Seventy-Five
- Seventy-Six
- Seventy-Seven
- Seventy-Eight
- Seventy-Nine
- Eighty
- Eighty-One
- Eighty-Two
- Eighty-Three
- Eighty-Four
- Eighty-Five
- Eighty-Six
- Eighty-Seven
- Eighty-Eight
- Eighty-Nine
- Acknowledgments & A Personal Note
- Excerpt
For upon finishing, her mother turned, recognition flashing like lightning on her face as she moved directly toward their table.
“Oh God,” Janie said.
Her friends’ attention shifted to Janie’s mother.
“What’re you doing here, Janie?”
“I thought you were home.”
“I took an extra shift. How did you get in?”
No one responded. Her mother’s eyes swept over the table.
Nikki grinned and said: “Just relax, Marlene.”
Janie’s mother’s eyebrows arched at Nikki’s insolent use of her first name.
Nikki sipped her Coke. “We’re not hurting anybody.”
“I don’t need any lip from you.” Janie’s mother’s face reddened. “Just the pies and drinks?”
Janie nodded.
“Finish and leave. I’ll take care of the bill,” Janie’s mother said.
“I’ve got money,” Nikki said.
Janie assessed Nikki. “I just bet you do.” Then, before she left, her gaze drilled into her daughter. “We’re not members. None of you are. There are rules. I don’t know what you did to get in but don’t you ever pull a stunt like this again. Do you understand?”
Janie’s mother left and a long moment passed with Janie staring at the eternal green lawn. Nikki and Marie worked on their pie.
“I don’t know what she’s all lathered up about.” Nikki chewed slowly. “We’re not hurting anyone.” Her focus then went to the vacated tables nearby that still had cash on them.
When they left, Nikki moved toward the tables with unwatched cash.
“Don’t,” Janie said.
Nikki ignored her, quickly plucking small bills and coins just as someone called out: “Watch it!”
Heads snapped.
Several tables away, Janie’s mom, carrying a tray loaded with food, had glanced at the girls, not seeing the man who’d left his table and had stepped into her path. The collision caused a ceramic explosion, launching a starburst of food that splattered on tables, the floor and the man.
“I’m so sorry, sir!” Janie’s mother quickly seized a napkin, brushing at the tomato, lettuce, fries and toast that had stuck to his designer golf shirt, unable to remove the mayo splotched on his chest and shoulder. “Sir, I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay,” the man said. “Just an accident.”
Janie’s mom got down on her knees, brushing lettuce and chicken from his pants, bacon, tomato and mayo from his shoes. Her hands shook as she gathered the broken plates and food onto her tray while other men applauded and snickered.
“Looks like lunch is on you, Roy,” one man said.
The joke brought on roars of laughter.