No, it just tastes like grape juice with a zing.
“Let’s have a seat,” Lydia says as she scans the room, looking for someplace to park herself. She scrunches her nose up at the sofa, but then deems the dining table acceptable. They sit opposite each other, Lydia settles gingerly into her seat as if she fears it might break.
“Aren’t you going to have wine?” Cassie asks.
“Oh, no.” Lydia rolls her eyes. “I don’t like that kind. Anna and Constantine brought it over last night. But you should drink up.”
So she does. She has another healthy sip, and she feels slightly better about the day. A nice, warm feeling comes over her. And she’s almost glad Lydia is here. Maybe Lydia isn’t her favorite person, but she doesn’t have to worry about an intruder in her house if she’s got company.
“What do you want to talk about?” Cassie finally says.
“Francesca.”
It’s hard for Cassie to keep from spitting out her wine. That was the last thing she expected Lydia to say. Back when Cassie thought Lydia and Francesca were still buddy-buddy, it might have made sense. But why now? Why when Francesca is dead?
“Oh,” Cassie murmurs.
“I know what you’re thinking.” Lydia holds up what had looked like a perfectly manicured hand, although Cassie now notices several of the fingernails have been chewed on. “You don’t want to talk about your boyfriend’s ex. But I’d like you to hear me out.”
“Okay…”
“The thing is…” Lydia is staring hard at her now, which prompts Cassie to take another sip of wine. “I don’t think Joel ever told you about my relationship with Francesca. Did he?”
Cassie frowns. “No…”
“I didn’t think so.” She crosses her legs and leans forward in her chair. “You see, I was the one who introduced Joel to Francesca.”
Cassie’s mouth falls open. “I… I had no idea.”
Although it makes sense. Now she understands why Lydia was so defensive of Francesca. Why Cassie couldn’t live up.
“Francesca was my sorority sister,” Lydia says. Her eyes have become distant. “My little sister. I remember the first time I saw her walk into the Kappa house. She was taller than all the other freshman girls, and she carried herself like a woman ten years older. There was something about her that made everyone want to get to know her.”
“Oh,” Cassie mumbles because she’s not sure what else to say.
“And when Francesca moved to the city after she graduated,” Lydia continues, “and she started her restaurant, I did everything I could to help her. Because she was still my little sister, and my job was to take care of her. I mean, she was my best friend. Like I said, she was Violet’s godmother.”
“I… I’m very sorry,” Cassie manages.
“You have no idea,” Lydia snorts. “I thought introducing her to Joel would make her life complete. That’s the most important decision a woman can make, you know—who she chooses for her husband. And I couldn’t imagine a better man for her. He was with someone else back then, and I had a sit-down with him—convinced him he could do better. He listened to me.” Lydia’s eyes become moist. “I thought I was helping Francesca.”
“It wasn’t your fault that she…” Cassie can’t bring herself to complete the sentence.
“No, it wasn’t.” Lydia lifts her slightly bloodshot eyes. “It was Joel’s fault.”
Cassie feels a buzzing in her head. It’s not a drunk feeling exactly. It’s something different. She feels almost woozy.