Page 39 of The New Year's Party
“That’s in horrible taste,” reproved Hellie. “Someonediedin that fire, Ted.”
“What?” said Allie. “Wait... did I miss something?”
Another silence.
Bennett was looking at Will, who was studiously not looking at anyone. Jenn’s jaw was tight. Olivia knew, of course, that Will and Jenn had been investors in the restaurant, just like she and Bennett were. When, six years ago, Bennett had mentioned that Phelps wanted to buy Rock the Clock, a Michigan City establishment where Bennett and his friends had all hung out as teenagers, Olivia enthusiastically supported the idea.
“You know most restaurants fail,” Bennett had said. “We’d have to be prepared to lose whatever we put in.”
“Of course I know that,” Olivia said. “But it’s his dream. And he’s your friend.Ourfriend. We should support him.”
As it turned out, they never had to fork over the cash. The whole thing had fallen apart, as things often seemed to for Phelps. And to be honest, wasn’t that what drew her and Phelps together on that fateful New Year’s Eve? What made her cross the line?
Five years ago, he was in the dumps. The restaurant dream was gone. His marriage had fallen apart. The despair in him called to the despair in her, and Olivia had made the horrible mistake of oversharing, of opening up a part of her past that not even Bennett knew about, because she wanted Phelps to see that she hadn’t just coasted through life like they all seemed to think. She, too, had wreckage. She understood rock bottom.
“It was a tragedy,” Olivia found herself saying out loud to Allie. Then she caught Phelps’s eye and her throat went dry. He kept looking at her as she spoke. She reached under the table and grabbed Bennett’s hand. Her heart was racing. “It would have been an incredible restaurant. Bennett and I both believed in it.”
“You know?” said Ted loudly, cheerfully. “It always kind of smelled like arson to me.”
Doug, who had just taken a drink of water, spewed it out. Olivia clutched Bennett’s hand tighter under the table.
“Seriously?” Jenn made a growling sound and slapped her napkin on the table, rattling her silverware and looking daggers at Ted. “Why is hehere?”
Will put a hand on Jenn’s back. “Hey. Let’s—”
“I willnotcalm down,” she said in a tight voice that could have cut through steel. “Why aren’t you still in jail?”
Olivia’s heart hammered in her chest. She’d never seen Jenn look like—like...this.
Ted’s lip curled. His face was boyish in its relaxed state, but right now Olivia could see the devil in the harsh twist of his mouth. “Good behavior. What’s it to you?”
“Hey, have you guys heard about that new flu thingy in China?” said Bunny with forced cheer, but Jenn cut through.
“You traumatized my children, Ted. You came into my house, mysanctuary, and my kids had to watch while you were dragged away by the police. My oldest daughtercrieswhen she hears a siren, to this day. So I’m sorry if I don’t want to sit across from you and pretend everything is fine between us.”
“Okay, guys—” said Bennett.
“Why areyouhere?” Ted said to Jenn in a laughing, mocking voice as he leaned back in his chair. “You hate these people. Anyway, you’re the one who asked me to burn the place down for you.”
“What?” said Phelps at the same time as Will.
Jenn stood up abruptly, pushing her chair back, her cheeks aflame. Her voice was wobbly. “Why would you say something like that? Youliar! Will and I wereinvestorsin that restaurant. Webelievedin Phelps’s vision. Why wouldItry to sabotage it?”
“Because you’re a crazy bitch,” said Ted coolly.
There were multiple gasps around the table. Olivia felt a pain in her chest and realized her hand was resting there, just above the neckline of her dress, her nails digging into her skin.
“Ted,” Olivia said—she couldn’t let him say these awful things about Jenn—but Jenn’s voice rose to a shriek, cutting her off.
“You—”
“Enough,” shouted Phelps, pushing his chair back violently. He stood. The room went dead silent. Doug, whose fork had been on the way to his plate, froze in midair.
“I—” said Jenn.
“Enough!” boomed Phelps, his fists hitting the table, rattling the plates. All of a sudden he seemed taller to Olivia. His face was set, his eyes flashing. He pointed at Ted. “You, shut up.” He pointed at Jenn. “You, sit down.”
She sat heavily, as if physically pushed.
