Page 98 of The Banned Books Club

Dan put down his soda. “Why doesn’t he just focus on finding his wife instead of making trouble with his in-laws?”

The waitress arrived to check on them, and Ruth ordered a blended margarita before answering. “From what I’ve heard, his parents have hired a private detective, but he isn’t turning up many clues. Not yet, anyway. It’s as if she just dropped off the face of the earth.”

A horrified expression descended on Louisa’s face. “I’d be frantic without my kids. Can she do that? Legally, I mean? Just...take the boys?”

Ruth shrugged. “I guess she can. I work with a teacher whose husband is on the police force. She told me he says there’s really nothing they can do, since there’s no court order to prevent her from leaving.”

Edith clapped a hand over her mouth. “That’s unbelievable! Taking your kids and disappearing into another state without the permission of your spouse—isn’t that kidnapping?”

“Apparently not,” Ruth said. “But if he can find her and file for divorce, he could change that eventually. He might have a much better chance of gaining full custody after what she’s done, too. But my friend’s husband said it’s important he find her fast. If she moved to a different state, the longer she’s there, the harder and stickier it’ll be.”

Edith tucked her hair behind her ears. “Why’s that?”

“Something about jurisdiction,” Ruth said. “And, of course, the judge would have to consider what’s best for the boys. If they’ve settled into their new place and are thriving, he or she might be hesitant to uproot them. Not only that, but if it goes on for another five years or so, the boys will be old enough to speak for themselves and say where they’d most like to live, which could have significant influence.”

Louisa shook her head. “The way he’s acting, if he finds her, he might not wait for help from the courts.”

“That’s just it,” Ruth said. “I wouldn’t want to be her.”

Edith toyed with the condensation from her water glass. “Margot’s brave. I’ll give her that.”

Cormac was equally impressed. He never would’ve expectedherto do something so gutsy. Gia was the spunky one. She’d always lived her life unapologetically.

“Why do you think she ran away?” Victor asked the table at large.

“Her husband was cheating on her, and everyone knew it—even you,” Louisa said. “I’m the one who told you.”

He scowled at her. “I know, but a lot of people have affairs without their spouse taking the kids and running off.”

“Well, if you’re going to cheat, that’s a risk you take, so let that be a lesson to you,” she joked.

Everyone chuckled. Then Edith grumbled, “And we thought we had drama inourfamily...”

“Hopefully, the business with your father and Gia is finally over and done with,” Dan said.

“Whoa!” Victor pointed at the entrance. “Speak of the devil.”

They all turned to see that Gia had walked in. She was standing at the hostess station, waiting to be seated, looking down at her phone, so she didn’t notice them. Otherwise, Cormac believed she would’ve walked out. And he wouldn’t have blamed her. Why would she stick around when she was outnumbered by his family—not to mention Ruth, who’d defected from her side and joined theirs.

“Unless she’s meeting someone who’s late, it looks like she’s here alone,” Dan said.

“That doesn’t surprise me,” Ruth said. “I don’t think she’s getting out much, what with taking care of her mom and then this thing with Sheldon. She certainly hasn’t calledme.”

The hostess approached and Gia exchanged a few words with her before being taken to a table not far from where they were sitting. She’d already sat down and stowed her purse in the empty chair next to her by the time she saw them all staring at her.

She blinked as though she couldn’t quite believe her eyes. Then she reached for her purse as if she’d get up again—probably to head right back out to her car. But the waitress stood over her already asking for her drink order. Either Gia felt penned in, or she decided she wouldn’t let anyone chase her away, because she let go of her purse once again and ordered a drink. Then, acting as if they weren’t even there, she went right back to doing what she’d been doing on her phone.

“I wonder how her mother’s feeling,” Edith whispered.

“I don’t know.” Ruth kept her voice down, too. “Like I said, she hasn’t called me since...since before the Banned Books Club meeting.”

Cormac didn’t find that to be even slightly surprising, given that Ruth had been more supportive of Edith. But he didn’t say anything.

Louisa looked over at him. “Doyouknow?”

He shook his head. “I haven’t talked to her, either. That was part of our peace agreement, remember?”

Louisa had the good grace to look slightly abashed before getting to her feet.

---