"Oh, please. I've got about ten different dresses laid out in the guest room and every day I change my mind!"

"I'll bet! Well, I'm wearing a little navy blue dress if that's okay. The MOG isn't wearing navy, I hope."

"No, she's wearing burgundy. So, I told Harold, I said, 'Honey? If you lay down with dogs, you get up with fleas.' He didn't want to hear it."

"No, I imagine he didn't. I love that saying."

I could hardly take a breath without laughing again.

"And the other fast-breaking news is Lisette packed up her little red wagon and . . ."

When Danette was finished with that story, I could hardly take it all in.

"Danette? Stop! This is like winning the lottery of all gossip! I need to catch my breath! My Lord, Paolo's girls are something else. I live vicariously through them for Tessa's sake."

"Me too. And of course, Suzanne and Alicia are both in the wedding. Gotta love those two."

"I do! Well, listen, more to come on them all, I'm sure, but in the meanwhile I have a few things to tell you."

I told Danette about finding the money and the therapy and that for the foreseeable future, I'd be living in Charleston, riding around in my new Benz. Wearing diamond earrings. I thought she would die laughing all over again and that I would too. However, I didn't tell her the details of the offer I'd made Wes. It didn't seem like the right time. When Wes and I had everything worked out, then I'd tell her. Besides, Danette, as anyone would expect, was in wedding overdrive.

"So I don't want you to worry about the bridal brunch," I said. "I've booked it at Loews in midtown. The New Wes is happy to pay the bill."

"You must have scared the absolute devil out of him."

"I did. Therapy was pretty much an exorcism. But believe it or not, he's still half clueless. Anyway, Loews has a great-looking restaurant called eleven. Check it out on the web. Does eleven to two sound good for a time?"

"Perfect! All the out-of-town guests are staying there because it's so close to the club. I'm putting together hospitality baskets for all the rooms with all the information they need for the weekend and of course some treats and a bottle of wine. And the hotel is giving us a hospitality suite where people can meet and talk."

"Great. Don't forget to give them corkscrews! And I'd throw in a peach, a Vidalia onion, and a Coke!"

"An onion?"

"Yeah, with a recipe on how to fry onion rings! Give them a packet of the White Lily mix?"

"Oh, gosh, I miss you, Les. You're so funny."

"And I miss you. But I'm going to see you soon, and your beautiful daughter is going to be queen for a day! I can't wait. Now, how are those tango lessons going?"

"Fab. I'll tell you. Les, a younger man? Oooh-weee, baby. He's something else. And wait until you see my yard! It's beyond anything I could've imagined. We're having the rehearsal party here. I found beautiful red and yellow paper lanterns to hang everywhere all above us in the trees. It's going to be a gorgeous party, if the weather holds, that is."

"Sounds amazing. And how are the groom's folks?"

"Shawn's mother is a living doll and his father too. They're so relieved they don't have to do a thing except pay the caterer, the florist, and smile."

"Well, didn't we say months ago that a big party is too hard to manage from a distance, especially if you don't know the town? Wait! They don't know about this business with Cornelia, do they?"

"I see no reason to tell them anything, do you? If Shawn didn't tell them, why would I?"

"Heavens, no! I wouldn't tell them either. When you get a head count for the brunch, let me know, okay? I'll get the invitations in the mail as soon as you send me a mailing list. If you have e-mails, I can do evites too. Maybe we should just add the brunch to the itinerary for out-of-towners? We don't want the Yankees wandering around eating out of vending machines when they could be eating eggs Benedict with us."

"Excellent idea. I'll e-mail you the list this afternoon. I think we're about fifty."

"Great!"

Wes was going to choke.

We talked for a few more minutes, and then we hung up, promising to speak in the next few days.

So Cornelia and Lisette were back on the streets and had to stake out new victims, did they? I'd bet they were already waxing their southern climes and making cupcakes for some poor women's unsuspecting husbands. Wow, I thought again, Cornelia had an affair with her almost stepson-in-law? That wasn't even redneck-it was downright nasty! Did Wes know this? Of course, he must! Why hadn't he told me? I could just see him at the club with Harold and Paolo, all of them consoling themselves with big steaks and lobsters and martinis. Laughing. I'd bet they were laughing and having a good time. Oh, so what if they were? I needed to make sure I didn't fall into that trap of thinking they all had a better deal than I did. And there wasn't a single thing I missed about any of them beyond some nostalgic twinges of our shared past in better days. I went back upstairs to unpack. My clothes were all put away.

"Thank you!" I called out.

Later on, downstairs, I checked the refrigerator to see what there was that I might rustle up for dinner and there wasn't more than some cheese, olives, and pickles. I could pull together some finger food for cocktails, but other than that, we were going to have to go out.

My cell phone rang and I answered it without checking the caller ID. It was Jonathan.

"I knew you were back!" he said. "Suddenly the sun's brighter and I'm in a better mood for no good reason at all."

"Thanks! Boy, it's good to hear your voice! Can we have dinner?"

"I can come by late, after dinner. We've got a department meeting tonight. Usually they cater in something like bologna sandwiches, which are darned hard to resist. All that yellow mustard and mushy lettuce."

"Sounds delish. Sure, just call me first, okay? I'm a little tired from the drive and all."

"Yeah, you must be. So how did it go?"

"How did it go? The therapy? You know, I think it went well, given all the issues. Wes is probably of another opinion. But anyway, at least we know where we stand with each other and coming to an understanding is very important."

"So what's the understanding?"

"I may not know where or exactly how I'm going to live out my days, but I'm certain it won't be with him. It's very sad. Anyway, want to go house shopping with me?"

"You bet! I love snooping around other people's houses and seeing how they live. You know, check out their medicine cabinets for what they take and bedside table drawers for who knows what? To see how they get crazy in the middle of the night!"

"Jonathan! Naughty boy! I never knew that about you!" The devil!

"Ah, madam, I have many surprises in store for you. Stick around!"

"I will! So call me later?"

"Yep. Count on it."

I had a few stories to tell him too.

As predicted, at five o'clock Miss JP barked, the front door opened, and Harlan was home. I was in the den reading Splendid in Ashes by Josephine Pinckney. It was terrific.

"I'm back!" he called out.

"In here!" I called back.

I got up and met him in the kitchen. He gave me a hug and scooped up Miss Jo, who washed his face with kisses. And, yes, they both wore monogrammed blue shirts, but Miss Jo's had short puffed sleeves.

"All right now! That's enough!" he said. "So how was your trip?"

"There's a lot to tell. Want to go to Magnolias? There's not diddly squat in the refrigerator."

"I know. I'm on a diet. I gained eight pounds in Italy. Can you believe? But sure, let's go have supper. Where's Jonathan?"

"Department meeting. He might stop by later."

"Great. Let me just put away my dry cleaning and all this stuff and we can get out of here. Want to walk?"

"Definitely. Just leave it by the stairs. Victoria Rutledge is in an unpacking mood!"

Minutes later we were walking up East Bay Street until we reached the ancient building that housed Magnolias, one of our favorite restaurants in the city. It was early, so they were able to take us right away and we were seated at a small table in the front room. There was a fever of pouring water, bringing menus and bread, did we want a cocktail and wasn't it hot today? Vodka and tonics with extra limes would be great, and before you could say Robert E. Lee, we were sipping away. This was why we loved Magnolias. Great service, friendly, beautiful, and casual, all at the same time. Not to mention delicious.

"I'm possessed. All I can think about is shrimp and grits with bits of chorizo and tasso gravy," Harlan said, reading the menu. "I should be eating broiled fish with lemon juice. If I had any discipline."

"And you could get hit by a truck tomorrow," I said.

The server approached the table.

"Y'all ready to order?" she said.

"I'll have the shrimp and grits," Harlan said, adding with a straight face, "because I could get hit by a truck."

I giggled, and Harlan looked sheepish.

"Yes, sir," the server said. "And for you, ma'am?"

"Oh!" Harlan said. "How rude of me! I should've asked you to order first, Les, but I knew if I didn't just go for it, I'd change my mind."

"I'll have the same thing," I said. "Don't worry, Harlan. I'll always be your partner in crime."

"Our poor cholesterol," he said. "Now tell me about your trip."

"Wes is such a knucklehead it's unbelievable."

"This is not news, little sister. Tell me something I don't know."

"Okay."

For the next thirty minutes, I told him about what I had offered Wes as a deal and he said he thought it was very smart.

"If you're not ready to file for divorce and go through the whole discovery process, this is a brilliant deal and more than fair."

"Well, he's got a week to agree, and if he doesn't, I guess I'll have to retain a lawyer. And then there's wedding news."

For another thirty minutes, I told him about Molly, Shawn, Cornelia and Harold, and Paolo and Lisette. I threw in an update on Danette, Nader, and their tango lessons.

"I hate weddings. Truly I do," he said. "But I'd pay money to go to this one."

"You don't have to. All you have to do is get in the car."

"And have Wes go crazy?"

"Screw Wes. It's not his party. Listen, you haven't seen my children in years. And you've never met Holly. Don't you think it's time? I'll call Danette. She'll be thrilled! You can stay with me in the hotel. I've got a junior suite with two queen-size beds at the new Loews. And I'm hosting the bridal brunch. You can help me."

"I've heard it's gorgeous, and I did just pick up my tuxedo from the cleaners . . . are you sure?"

"Positive. We'll have a wonderful time!"

We scraped up our remaining spoons of grits with the last biscuits and smiled over how bold we were.

"Do you want dessert?" I said.

"Absolutely. Let's split the strawberry shortcake . . . as long as we're going to hell, we may as well make it worth it."

"I agree. Then they can roll us home."

Harlan's laundry was still in the foyer when we got back to the house.

"She didn't put your stuff away," I said, stating the obvious.

"One should never assume when dealing with the dead."

It was around nine when the house phone rang. We were watching a PBS special about the Metropolitan Opera. I thought it might be Jonathan. Harlan picked it up.

"Hello?" he said. "Who? Oh, Wes!" Pause. "Fine, thank you. And you?" I muted the television, and Harlan made the crazy symbol on the side of his head with his free hand. "Of course. She's right here." Pause. "You too, Wes."

As he handed me the phone he mouthed, What's wrong with him?

"So much," I whispered and took the receiver. "Hello, Wes? Is everything all right?"

"Oh, yeah. So you got back okay?" he said.

"Yes. Thanks. I texted Charlotte. She didn't tell you?"

"No, but that's okay. So I have news. My doctor called. I'm fine."

"Oh, Wes! That's wonderful. You must be so relieved."

"Yeah, it was on the voice mail when I got home. And guess what else?"

"I couldn't begin to guess."

"Your daughter has a date. With that Oriental guy? Dr. Chen, my surgeon?"