Read Chapter 15: SARAH

Sarah Hart was not what Maeve had prepared herself to dislike.

This was annoying.

They met at Lucy’s school fundraiser, where Bellwether had donated a basket of books. Sarah was tall, blonde, practical-looking, and wearing trainers with a navy dress because, as she explained, “I spent six years pretending parent events required proper shoes.”

“Maeve,” she said. “Lucy talks about you constantly.”

“Oh dear.”

“Mostly about the imaginary cat.”

Julian, carrying three paper cups, said, “I was not responsible for the cat.”

“You spread misinformation to a child,” Maeve said.

Sarah looked between them and smiled.

Maeve’s body went alert.

Not because Sarah was hostile. Because she wasn’t.

It would have been easier if the ex-wife had been possessive, bitter, suspicious. Maeve could defend against hostility. Generosity required participation.

Sarah asked about Bellwether’s plans and offered to introduce Maeve to a children’s author she knew through work.

“What do you do?” Maeve asked.

“Architect.”

Of course, Maeve thought. Existing architecture.

She nearly laughed.

Later, while Julian helped Lucy at a raffle stall, Sarah stood beside Maeve near the school hall doors.

“I’m glad he met you,” she said.

Maeve stiffened.

Sarah noticed. “Sorry. Too direct?”

“A little.”

“Julian and I spent a decade being indirect. I overcorrect now.”

Maeve looked at her.

Sarah smiled. “He told you that?”

“Some.”

“Then I won’t fill in the rest.”

“Thank you.”

They watched Julian lose deliberately at a ring-toss game so Lucy could accuse him of incompetence.

Sarah said, “He likes certainty but is attracted to people who terrify him.”

Maeve nearly choked on coffee.

“I’m not sure that’s reassuring.”

“It wasn’t meant as a warning either.”

Sarah turned to her. “For what it’s worth, you don’t have to be anything to Lucy because you’re dating him. She collects adults. Some become important. Some don’t. We try not to make her audition people for permanent roles.”

Maeve felt something loosen.

“Thank you.”

“That was probably too direct too.”

“No. That one was useful.”

When Julian returned, Sarah said, “I’ve successfully intimidated your girlfriend.”

Maeve and Julian both froze.

Girlfriend.

Sarah winced. “Or not. Sorry.”

Lucy looked up. “Isn’t she?”

Silence.

Maeve could feel the old urge to joke, evade, downgrade.

Julian said nothing.

He was letting her decide.

Maeve looked at Lucy.

“Yes,” she said. “I think I am.”

Lucy nodded. “Okay. Can I have two cupcakes?”

The world did not end.

Julian’s hand found Maeve’s briefly behind the raffle table.

That night, Maeve told him Sarah had called her terrifying.

“She’s always been perceptive.”

Maeve threw a pillow at him.