AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I said, “You two knew each other before you met Meagin at the spa.”
“Well before,” said Bowman. “We both lead busy lives so we’d begun going to the spa to unwind.”
“Meagin’s lifestyle was different.”
“Meagin,” she said, sighing. Pale eyes fluttered as moisture collected in their corners. She reached into her purse, drew out a cloth hankie, and dabbed. You don’t see many of those anymore. Milo always keeps a couple in his pocket. Linen, monogrammed set, a gift from the man he’d lived with for years.
Like yawns, sighs can be contagious. Lana Demarest caught the bug and let out a soft breath. “Yes, Meagin lived differently than us.”
Toni Bowman said, “She was so bright, what a waste. That’s what happens when you marry that kind of money.”
I said, “Doug.”
“Doug,” she echoed. “According to Meagin, he madesixtymillion dollars last year. Even if that was an exaggeration, the total had to be astronomic. And that crazy house. As if they were English aristocracy.”
Lana Demarest shook her head. “Hard to conceive living there.”
Milo said, “You’ve been there.”
“No, but Meagin showed us pictures. Thought it was funny.”
“Living there.”
“Living with all that gingerbread and unused space. She said Doug would eventually sell it for a huge profit.”
Toni Bowman said, “Mind you, I have nothing against making money. That’s what I do, it enables Emil to keep helping people in pain and without worrying about finances. I just think marrying into money at that level can get in the way.”
Milo said, “Of…”
“Self-development, exercising your brain. Fulfilling your potential. Meagin was bright. Okay, she wasn’t educated, big deal, you can get past that. Sure it’s harder but you can do it. Meagin had plenty of potential but no avenue to develop it.”
Demarest said, “We didn’t judge but we did try to give her a little warning. Like are you sure?”
Bowman said, “Emphasis on ‘try.’ She giggled some more and changed the subject so obviously we dropped it. You can’t just come out and preach to a friend because you run the risk of blowing up the relationship.”
I said, “You valued your friendship with Meagin.”
“She was great,” said Demarest. “Kind, sweet, gentle. And yes, bright. She didn’t deserve this, not one bit.”
Bowman said, “Not one fucking bit.”
The women looked at each other. Both began crying softly, Bowman wielding her handkerchief, Demarest reaching into a multicolored box on her desk and pulling out a parrot-green tissue.
Bowman stopped first. Back to anger. “Maybe weshould’vepreached. Who the hell knows?”
Demarest said, “We discussed it between us, Toni.”
“I know.”
Milo said, “Discussed what?”
Demarest said, “A much younger guy, how that could be a problem because maturity takes longer to develop in men.”
“And sometimes never does,” said Bowman. “Get someone with the wrong type of mother and you end up with an eternal baby. Myhusband has always been mature. Even if he wasn’t twenty years older than me—even if he wasyoungerthan me—he’d be a grown-up.”
Demarest said, “My husband is five years older than me and we’re finally synchronized.”
Bowman said, “Men are like vegetables, they need seasoning. I said that to Meagin. She said, ‘Thanks but I’ve had enough of older men.’ Then she pointed out Doug was younger, too. So obviously, that had become her thing.”
