“Whit!”
“Molly! Hi!” Whitney smiles her wide, generous smile, pushing her sunglasses on top of her head. “Meet Bea and Chloe.” She leans down and adjusts something in one of the bassinets.
“Oh, Whit. They’re beautiful.” The twins are burrito-wrapped in matching swaddles, sleeping peacefully. “They’re just perfect.”
“Three is a lot.” Whitney sighs. “But exhaustion aside, it’s been a pretty magical summer. Liam is so sweet with them.”
“I bet he’s the best big brother. I’m so happy for you guys.”
Whitney adjusts the strap of her workout top. “It’s great to see you, Moll. It’s been forever. Though I’ve hardly seen anyone since the girls were born, I guess. What’re you doing on this side of town?”
“I’m heading to my friend Sabrina’s, actually. Sabrina Danner. She lives right around the corner on Woodson. I don’t think you guys have met; she’s newish to town. You’d like her.”
“Ah.” Whitney nods. “We actually met briefly at the club the other day. Meredith introduced us.”
Molly’s stomach sinks. She wonders if Meredith told Whitney what happened between them on the Fourth of July.
“Actually,” Whitney starts, reading her, “Meredith mentioned that you and Hunter were at the fireworks with the Danners. I was bummed to miss it. That’s always such a fun night.”
“Yeah.” Molly manages a smile. “We missed you.”
“Meredith told me what Hunter said to her,” Whitney continues, and Molly’s stomach plummets even lower. “Well, she told me her version.” Whitney’s eyes narrow. “Between you and me, that woman needs to watch herself. I know she’s my friend, but she has no business bullying you guys into joining the club, especially in front of Stella. Hunter was right to give her a piece of his mind. Meredith’s just insecure at the root of it. That’s why she acts the way she does.”
Molly nods, the knot in her belly slackening. Relief. “Thanks for saying that, Whit. Seriously.”
“Of course. But anyway, yes, Sabrina seemed nice when we met. Although it’s funny, she doesn’t seem like the type who would want to be involved somewhere like the FCCC. I don’t mean to sound snooty—” Whitney pauses, clearly embarrassed.
“No, I know what you mean,” Molly says sincerely, because she does, and because that’s the last thing she thinks about Whitney. She’s unlike Meredith and Edie and Betsy in that way. “Supposedly, they only joined because Sabrina’s grandparents were very involved at the club. They used to live in Flynn Cove.”
“Is that what Sabrina said?”
Molly nods.
“That doesn’t make any sense.” The lines between Whitney’s eyebrows sharpen in confusion.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, George and I are on the board, so I see every application that comes through.” Whitney’s fingers are clenched around the stroller’s handlebar, gently pushing it back and forth. “If Sabrina’s grandparents had been members, that definitely would’ve been noted on her application.”
“Seriously?” Molly leans her forearm against the base of the open window. “Her grandparents weren’t members?”
Whitney shakes her head. “No. I mean, if they had been, the Danners wouldn’t have needed a letter of recommendation, let alone one from Meredith.”
“Meredith wrote them a letter of recommendation?”
“Yeah. Apparently, they have a mutual friend—a former colleague of Sabrina’s from the city who introduced her to Meredith when they moved out here.”
“Huh. But why would she…” Molly’s voice trails. She is thoroughly baffled. Why didn’t Sabrina mention having a mutual friend with Meredith? And why would she lie about her grandparents having been members? “That’s so weird.”
Whitney frowns. “Look, maybe there was some misunderstanding between you guys, but if Sabrina’s grandparents had belonged to the club, trust me, I would know.”
Despite the August heat, Molly’s arms suddenly prickle with goose bumps.
One of the twins fusses in the stroller, and Whitney reaches into the bassinet. “Shh, Chlo, it’s okay.” She looks up at Molly. “I should get these babes home; they’re due for a feeding. God knows I’ve got to keep them on some semblance of a schedule if there’s any hope for my own sleep!”