Page 97 of Absolution

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Jackie

“What are you doing?” Marianne asks, narrowing her eyes at me.

I’m standing at the counter, cutting slices of cake onto paper plates. “Putting cake on plates?” I say, brows lifted like the answer’s obvious.

Kate walks in, balancing a tray of juice boxes. “I think everyone’s good out there,” she says, setting it down.

I ask her, “Did Lorelie show?”

She shakes her head.

Marianne, who only met Kate today but has already latched on like they’re old friends, gestures toward me. “I was just asking Jackie what the hell she’s doing.”

I blink. “Doing?”

Marianne turns to Kate, like pulling in backup. “Her and Kyle. What’s with the flirting.”

“What flirting?” I say, laughing because I don’t know what else to do.

Kate, still drying her hands on a towel, smiles at me. “I mean… if my ex looked at me the way Kyle looked at you during candle time, I’d be on the floor.”

Marianne cackles, pointing. “See?”

I roll my eyes. “Today is our kids’ birthday,” I say. “We’re just trying to show a united front.”

Marianne crosses her arms. “And the whispering?”

“He was asking if I’m doing okay,” I say, more tired than defensive. “Today’s not just their birthday. It’s also the day we lost Duke.”

The kitchen goes quiet.

Kate’s face softens. “I’m sorry,” she says gently. “That’s a heavy day.”

I nod, slicing the last piece. “Yeah. It is.”

“Besides,” I say, trying to sound nonchalant as I pass Marianne a plate, “he brought a date.”

I don’t look up. Don’t let it show that seeing him with another woman felt like salt in old wounds.

Kate tilts her head. “She’s not a date.”

That gets my attention. I glance up, brows raised.

“She said her husband’s picking her up,” Kate adds, shrugging.

“What?” I ask, giving her my full attention now.

Kate nods, picking at the edge of a napkin. “We talked. I don’t know, maybe I was fishing for info, who knows. But she said she works with Kyle. Her car broke down on the way back from some work thing, and he offered to let her wait here for her husband instead of being stranded on the side of the road.”

I let out a breath. “Huh.”

“That,” Marianne says, pointing a finger straight at my face. “Why do you look relieved?”

“I mean…” I try to shrug it off, keep my voice casual. “I divorced the guy. But it’s not easy seeing an ex move on.”

Kate watches me carefully. “Is it because… maybe you want him back?”

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