Jamie reaches over and grabs Jenny’s hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “You know that won’t ever happen either. You’ve got to give up this notion of having a baby. If it’s something you want that bad, you need to give up Judge.”
“But I love him. I can’t give him up.” Jenny’s eyes gloss over with tears.
I’m so muddled right now. This Judge guy is looking for a mistress, but apparently, Jenny loves him and wants his baby. Are they married? And if so, she obviously knows about it and is okay with him sleeping with another woman. What kind of man blatantly has mistresses in front of his wife? And what kind of woman is okay with it? Even going so far as finding one for him.
Seeing the confusion on my face, Jamie clarifies.
“We’re both his mistresses. So are Gillian and Layla.”
It takes me a moment to process that. “And you’re both okay with him sleeping with other women?” I almost choke getting the words out.
She smiles lightly. “Yes. We all love him and want to see him happy. We don’t mind sharing to make that happen. We’re actually all very close friends.”
Wow. Okay. That’s not strange at all.
“And Jenny wanted me to become one of his mistresses because I’m pregnant and that might change his mind about having babies?”
The wince on Jenny’s face makes me feel like a bitch, but really, how else would someone react in this situation?
“Sorry,” she mutters. “I didn’t mean for it to sound so…”
She trails off, so I supply the word for her. “Self-serving?”
“Yeah. That.”
Pink tinges her cheeks and the chagrin look on her face doesn’t sit well with me. She looks so young and innocent and sweet. If I had to guess, she doesn’t have a manipulative bone in her body, and from her expression, she feels terrible for attempting to use me to gain what she wanted.
I smile softly and reach over to pat her hand. “It’s fine. I know how desperate someone can get for something they want very badly. I wish I could help—well, not in that way.”
She laughs. “I’ll be fine. If God wills it, it’ll happen.”
“You should come with us one day to have our hair and nails done,” Jamie suggests. She brings her hand up to inspect her nails. “I need a fill-in soon. How long will you be in town?”
“Umm… I don’t know. As soon as the mechanic finishes my car, which he said could take a couple of weeks.”
Jenny claps her hands and bounces in her seat. “Perfect! We totally have time to do hair and nails!”
“Is there even a salon in Malus? It seems kind of small to have one.”
“Yes,” Jamie answers “It doesn’t get much business with the likes of folks in these parts, but she’s good. She used to work in a big wig salon in New York City.”
“Oh, okay then.”
“I’ll set us all up for an appointment. How does next Wednesday work for you?”
“Fine?” Yes, it comes out as a question. I’m still not sure exactly what’s going on. Did I just agree to have a salon date with two women I don’t know and who are mistresses to the same man? I mean, I’m not judging or anything, whatever floats their boat and all that. I’m just surprised they’d want to be friends with me. Especially considering the cold shoulder I’ve gotten from half the people I’ve come across in this town.
Jamie looks at her phone as she types something before popping her head back up, looking pleased. “It’s all set. She’ll see us at four next Wednesday.”
Well, then. I guess
I’m having my hair and nails done next week with my new friends. Maybe spending time away outside of Susan’s house will make the time go by quicker.
An odd thought enters my mind. What happens if when my car is fixed, I don’t want to leave?
I almost laugh at that thought and count it as crazy. There’s no way I’d want to stay in Malus. It’s small, isolated, and most of the people haven’t been too friendly.
And there’s for sure no one here I would miss.