Page 49 of Inferno
Draping her linen napkin across her lap, Prissy said evenly, “Things are fine.” No way was she telling Celeste the truth—that part of her still suspected Stan was having an affair, to the extent that she’d considered canceling her trip so he wouldn’t be tempted to play while she was away.
“So I was right,” Celeste continued. “Your fears about Stan were completely unfounded.”
“Yes.” Prissy forced a smile. “You were right.”
“See? I told you that man loves you and would never cheat on you.”
Prissy was spared from responding when the waiter materialized with their starter salads. As she and Celeste began eating, Prissy decided to steer the conversation in a different direction.
“Where are you and Grant staying?”
“Around the corner from the Mayo Clinic,” Celeste answered. “They put him up in a beautiful two-bedroom condo with lakefront views.”
“How nice.”Prissy paused,thencouldn’t resist adding, “Sounds like quite an upgrade from the humble abode you recently vacated.”
The edges of Celeste’s mouth tightened. “Youasked the question.”
“I did,” Prissy calmly acknowledged. “But I didn’t expect you to embellish on a description of your love nest without an ounce of shame.”
Celeste’s nostrils flared. With forced composure, she speared a slice of cucumber and slid the fork into her mouth, chewing slowly and deliberately.
Prissy waited.
“I know you think I’m a horrible person for what I did to my family,” Celeste said quietly, keeping her gaze trained on her plate. “Believe me, not a day goes by that I don’t regret my actions. I wish things could have turned out differently.”
“Do you?” Prissy countered cynically.
Celeste’s eyes snapped to hers. “What do you mean?”
“Do youreallywish things could have turned out differently? Or are you just saying what you think I want to hear? Because it seems to me that everything is working out pretty well for you so far. You’re living in a lakefront condo on someone else’s dime. You’ll be getting your master’s degree on someone else’s dime. You quit your job, yet here you are wearing Chanel and treating me to dinner at a five-star restaurant you couldn’t have stepped foot inside three months ago. You seem to be getting everything you ever wanted, Celeste. So forgive me if I have a hard time believing that you wish things could have turned out differently.”
“Are youserious?” Celeste demanded, her eyes flashing with outraged disbelief. “Do you honestly think that losing my family has been a damn picnic for me? Marcus hates my guts! Every time I call the house, he refuses to speak to me, and Michael can’t get off the phone with me fast enough! I love my children and I want custody of them, but I can’t bear the thought of hurting Sterling any more than I already have, and I’m not even sure that Michael and Marcus would agree to live with me after what I did. I feel like a complete failure, the worst mother that ever walked the face of the earth. So don’t youdaresit there and tell me that I’m enjoying the way my life has unraveled, because you havenofucking clue what you’re talking about!”
“Oh, please!” Prissy hissed furiously. “Spare me your sob story, Celeste. You’re not a damn martyr.You’reresponsible for the way your ‘life has unraveled.’ Not only did you cheat on Sterling, but then you had the audacity to allow Grant into yourhome, for God’s sake! You weren’t thinking about your husband and children. All you cared about was fulfilling your own selfish needs and desires. And you proved that once again when you decided to run off with Grant without giving a second thought to the children youclaimto want!”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Celeste fired back, oblivious to the curious glances they were attracting from other diners. “Idowant my boys, but I refuse to put Sterling through a bitter custody battle.Thatwould be selfish. As for me running off with Grant, I told you we’re only going to be here for four months.Ifwe eventually get married and decide to relocate to Minnesota, it’s not like I’d be committing a capital offense. As hard as it may be for you to accept, Priscilla, that’s what people do when they get divorced. They move on with their lives. Deal with it.”
Prissy had heard enough. Setting down her fork, she leaned across the table and said coldly and succinctly, “Sterling Wolf is a good man—the best thing that ever happened to you. He was there for you when Wendell died, and he manned up and did right by you when you got pregnant with Michael. For the sixteen years you were married, he was nothing but a wonderful husband and father. He may not be as rich or successful as Grant Rutherford, but he’s ten times the man that Grant willeverbe. Someday, after you’ve finished chasingwhateverit is that you’re chasing, you’re going to wake up and realize what a horrible mistake you made by walking out on Sterling. And when that day comes, it will give me great pleasure to look you in the eye and say I told you so. Until then”— Prissy tossed her napkin down on the table and stood —“have a nice fucking life.”
“Wait!” Celeste said urgently. “Please don’t leave, Pris.”
“I havenothingelse to—”
“I’m pregnant.”
Prissy gasped.
Even if she’d tried to walk away at that moment, her legs wouldn’t have supported such an endeavor.
Reeling with shock, she dropped back into her chair and stared at Celeste. “Whatdid you just say?” she whispered.
Celeste smiled weakly. “I think you heard me the first time.”
“I couldn’t have, because I thought I heard you say that you’repregnant.”
“I am.”
“But…how? You had your tubes tied after Marcus was born.”
