The Housewife(31)

I don’t know if I was supposed to attend the lunch proper after I’d cooked for everyone, but nobody was going to contradict Eileen. So I got my plate and paper napkin—I did curl my lip at the paper napkin, I have to confess—and joined the others. Then I realized that the point of this fundraising charity event was for everyone present to write a check, stick it in a bowl, brush their hands together, and get drunk. I didn’t have a checkbook with me, so I drank instead.

“Did Deborah ever attend these lunches?” I ask.

I know full well Deborah did, since I have her appointment book.

The harpies exchange a look. Here she goes again. “Deborah was a wonderful asset to our little get-togethers, yes,” a woman in pastel colors says. She gives me a small smile. “I’m Carol, by the way.”

I shake her hand. “I was thinking of having some work done,” I say.

They all frown. “Work?”

“Yes. I believe Deborah attended the Laurel-Westlake Institute of Plastic Surgery.” I’ve had plenty of champagne but no food, so it comes out like the laurstlake intistue of plastic surgy.

They frown. “Never heard of it,” Meredith says.

“Why would she get work done?” Barb says. “She was so beautiful.”

“You didn’t see her at the end,” Meredith says quietly.

“I only go to Dr. Mamoud,” Barb says. “Do you know Dr. Mamoud?”

“I do not,” I say.

“I go there,” Carol says. “He’s the best.” Then she narrows her eyes at me. “What do you want to get done?”

“I think my eyes are too close together,” I say.

They all frown at me. “I don’t think so,” Carol says.

“I don’t see it,” Barb says.

“Maybe a little, yes,” Meredith says .

I drum my fingers on the armrest. “So that’s odd. Because Deborah went there the day before she died.”

“Really?” Meredith says.

“Would you have work done if you knew you were going to kill yourself the following day?” I ask. “It seems like a waste, doesn’t it?”

A collective gasp.

“You don’t mean that, Jodie,” Eileen says gently, her hand on my forearm.

“Although having said that,” I continue, “why wouldn’t you indulge in a little eye lift, a smattering of Botox, make sure you look your best in your casket?”

Everyone nods thoughtfully.

“Oh, but wait!” I slap my forehead. “She shot herself in the face, remember?”

Silence.

“Did you spend much time with Deborah before she died?” I ask. “I mean, I know she was one of your best friends…”

“Of course we did,” Barb says. “We adored her. We saw her all the time.”

“Except for the last week,” Meredith says. “She was locking herself inside the house by then.”

“Locking herself inside?”

“She would not go out. Roy was incredibly worried about her.” She turns to Barb. “Do you remember?”

“Of course I remember.”

“For a week?” I say. “Is that all?”

“What do you mean?” Eileen says .

“Well, if you’re going through a deep depression like she was, surely you’d be affected for longer than a week. What was she like before?”

Meredith shrugs. “Normal, I guess.”

“So why would you all say she was so depressed? That she’d changed so much? That’s what you kept saying at Roy’s birthday party.”

“Because Roy said that,” Carol says. They all nod in agreement. “He was telling us that she was depressed and unwell.”

I take a moment to absorb all this. “So…you never saw her depressed.”

They all shake their heads.

“It’s just what Roy told you.”

They nod.

“And it only lasted a few days before she killed herself.”

“That’s right. What is your point, Jodie?” Meredith asks.

I ignore her question. “Did you know Vee?” I ask.

Barb and Meredith exchange a look. “Veronica? Of course. She’s a dear friend.”

“When’s the last time you saw her?”

“I saw Veronica the other day,” Barb says.

“You did?” Meredith says. “I haven’t seen her for weeks! How is dear Vee?”

“Very well. She looks happy. She’s with David now. You knew that, didn’t you?”

“Yes, I’d heard.”

“He’s wonderful. They’re a great match. Still…such a shame she and Roy didn’t—” They turn to me, suddenly aware I’m still here.

“Anyway,” Barb says. “Yes, we know her. Why? ”

“Does she live around here?”

“No. She’s in Sherman Oaks.”

“Why do you want to know about Vee?” Meredith says.

“Did you know her and Roy had an affair while he was married to Deborah?”

They frown at me.

“Surely not.”

“I don’t believe it.”