Page 117 of Happy Wife

In the parking lot, I give Autumn a hug and try to transfer my gratitude with a gentle squeeze. I know how hard this must be for her. How scary it is to think that they could all write her off. But she waves that away. It’s the right thing to do.

Perry and I pull into my driveway at magic hour, that part of the day when afternoon gives way to sunset and the sky is bright pinks and purples. Perry stops the car short when he sees Fritz standing in the middle of the driveway, leaning against the back of his car.

“Why don’t you stay here?” Perry offers.

“No chance. Fritz can talk to me.”

I get out of the car and close the distance to Fritz with strong, head-held-high steps.

“We had an agreement!” Fritz booms at me.

“Not this again.” I roll my eyes.

“You said you’d stop talking to people. You said you didn’t want to hurt the firm. So, imagine my surprise when I find out you’re trying to frame me formurder.”

“Any cooperation you might have thought I owed you all went out the door the minute you killed my husband.”

“I didnotkill Will. This is all some last-ditch effort for you to save your own ass,” he taunts me. “Well, it won’t work. This is my town. Or have you forgotten? You’re nothing. Nobody.”

Fritz is making a commotion, and I see Este and Beau approaching from the hedge between our houses. When they spot Fritz, they both start to jog to come to my defense. But I put up a hand to stop them.

“Maybe that’s true, but you’re also skimming off the top and stealing from your partner.” I watch Fritz’s eyes flicker with that accusation. “I know about the accounts at the credit union. I know that you were stealing from Will. And I know that you were grinding him to a nub because his abilities as an attorney were the only way for the firm to make any money.”

“I haven’t the faintest clue what you are talking about.”

“It must be so hard to be a hack. To be the golden boy who doesn’t actually ever do the work because you can’t. So you found Will and you made him do it all. And you just cashed in and dined out.”

I must be starting to hit some buttons because his face is getting red. His eyes scan the scene before him like he’s trying to plot his next move.

“You were nothing without Will.”

“What the fuck do you know about anything, Nora?”

“Rich coming from you after you built your fortune on Will’s back. Whatareyou going to do now that you’ve killed your golden goose, Fritz? You’re nothing but a hollow suit who squandered a fortune. How pathetic.”

Fritz lunges at me. I’m so surprised that I freeze. He’s nearly got his hands on my neck, but Beau steps in with a stiff arm and clotheslines him. Fritz is on the ground almost instantly. Perry and Este stand farther back as I take two steps until I am directly over him. Fear registers in his eyes, and it should. If it weren’t for the whole prison part, I’d murder him right here.

“Fucking leave. This is private property, and you’re trespassing.” I walk toward the house without looking back.

Este, Beau, and Perry follow me inside. I can see the questions on Este’s face.

“What the fuck just happened out there?” she says.

“Let me grab a bottle of wine. You’re going to need it.”

We order a dinner of takeout, and I piece together what Perry, Autumn, and I have been able to find over the last day or so. Este is gobsmacked. She looks toward the driveway where Beau laidFritz out. That was hours ago. Fritz had gotten in his car and driven God knows where after we went inside.

“How did he make it to your house when he should be in a jail cell?” she demands.

“Ardell said they have to get in front of a judge. But someone from the courthouse must have tipped him off to something. Who knows what they’ll have to do to keep him from running.” I take my plate to the sink.

After dinner’s been cleared, the exhaustion hits me. I feel like I might finally be able to sleep through the night. As I say goodbye to Este and Beau, thanking Beau for stepping in when he did, they leave through the side door.

I turn to Perry and say, “Perry, I can’t thank you enough for all your help. I couldn’t have done this without you.”

“Or Dean.”

“Or Dean. I’m so sorry about your friend. Maybe he and Will can keep a lookout for each other now.”