Chapter 9
“I fucking love baked brie.” Joshua Mike meandered about the deck. Outside, thick maple trees swayed above, tea lights danced
in glass lanterns, and the sky faded to a dusky purple. Everyone circled the gas firepit, a table of hors d’oeuvres to their
side.
Danika had been proud when she first planned the spread. Together, she and Zami had crafted a perfect menu: There were his
signature byrek and ajvar, a tray of peach caprese, a spiral of edamame hummus and homemade chips, and decadent apricot baked
brie. Danika had designed the table tastefully, too: small glass vases filled with black-eyed Susans and Queen Anne’s lace
and water lilies, candles in colorful hand-blown votives, each tantalizing dish atop precious Polish pottery. Everything was
lovely. And now she could not even enjoy it.
“Me too,” Jackie said, sidling up to Joshua as she raised her small plate in the air. Her arms flexed with the movement, revealing
the thin definition of her muscle.
“Me three,” Abby, Jackie’s friend—who had arrived alongside them, unannounced—chimed in.
This additional guest was one more blow to Danika and the week. Her unexpected presence was almost as bad as that girl’s,
Augie. She had learned her ridiculous name from Zami. It all made Danika enraged, her body tight. She poured herself more wine.
Danika knew she had to remain collected. So just as the Fravels arrived, she’d retreated to her bedroom, pacing back and forth
while shaking her hands at her wrists, trying to release her anxiety. She couldn’t stop replaying Augie’s sudden appearance,
Chat’s reaction. While he had been clearly surprised, he had also been clearly happy.
It was obvious now that Augie was here for payback.
Danika had bumped her at that happy hour—had broken her and Chat up at the pool.
Would that make this revenge? Danika felt emboldened by the thought, threatened and defensive.
Who did she think she was?
Danika was further annoyed Augie was spending so much time with Teuta. She trusted Teuta’s opinion of people—she hated certain
members—and Danika thrived off her approval. She felt Teuta, like Chat, was one of the few people who really saw her, who
knew she was different. It incensed her to imagine Teuta and Chat and Augie together in the kitchen, talking about how over-the-top
the cabin was, how spoiled they all were—talking about Danika herself.
It was unfair how only just after Danika regained her composure, Joshua Mike and Jackie had arrived with an extra guest popping
out of their back seat. Danika felt like a firework had gone off inside her—and she’d instantly turned to Bill, looking for
someone to blame. He had raised his hands in surrender, a promise he hadn’t known. Danika steadied herself once more as she
greeted them, as Jackie hugged her and told her she was the “hostess with the mostest!”
Now, Danika forced a smile at the two women over the top of her wineglass.
She couldn’t wait for this night to end.
She was already tired of playing along, pretending not to be bothered by Jackie and Abby, who were feeding each other cheese and crackers.
Danika wondered if the three of them were sleeping together.
She knew Joshua Mike was part of the Club’s swinging crowd—the not-so-secret group that met at the Lakeside Lounge on Thursdays.
From the instant the three had arrived, they were always touching one another, elbows and shoulders and chins.
Even now, Abby brushed crumbs from Jackie’s lip.
Danika wanted to complain to Holly, but Holly was already tipsy and chatty, and Danika couldn’t get her alone. Not that she’d
know where to start anyway.
“The brie is from Bennington Farms,” Danika said mechanically as she turned back to the group, trying to hide her frustration
by making small talk. She couldn’t imagine Abby or Jackie knew the renowned farm-to-table grocer; she hoped it would make
them feel dumb.
“Oh, wonderful,” Mallory Harrison chimed in. “We have a standing delivery with them for the new restaurant. The cheeses are
divine.”
“Never heard of it,” Jackie said, indifferent.
“It’s all delicious, Danika,” Joshua Mike added. “You really do have the best taste.”
“We can’t wait for the restaurant opening, Mallory,” Bill interjected. Danika could feel him working the room, his charm set
to full blast.
“You and us both,” Malcolm said. “Shit is taking forever.”
“Is the theme still magic or whatever?” Holly said as she sipped her drink.
“Magical realism,” Mallory corrected. “It’s the Michelin chef’s concept, of course. A blending of Latin flavors. It’s whimsical.
You’ll see. We’ve all been working really hard.”
Holly made a sarcastic humming sound as Jackie asked if that meant tacos.
“Okay, ladies.” Bill laughed. “I’m sure it will be fabulous, Mal.”
Danika looked to the other side of the deck, where Chat and the kids had set up a board game on the outdoor couch. She felt
comforted by their presence. She was also glad she hadn’t yet seen Chat with Augie, who seemed to be hiding in the kitchen.
This made Danika more skeptical. Why was she hiding? What was she hiding? Part of her was glad she was out of sight, though. Unlike Jackie and Abby with their fake eyelashes and fillers,
Augie was a natural beauty, all flawless skin and apple cheeks, her youth shining and undeniable. It made Danika depressed,
picturing her twenty-two-year-old self. She had been better looking than them all! She again felt her age dividing her from
her previous sense of self—a line in the sand. She would never be that person again.
God, this night was hell.
“Did you have any ajvar?” Danika said to Chat as she crossed the deck toward the bar. She knew ajvar was his favorite of Zami’s
creations.
“Of course.” Chat rose from the couch, glancing at Gigi and the boys as he moved to Danika. “I think I had half the bowl.
Like I told Teuta, it never gets old. I could eat it every day.”
Danika smiled. She was a little surprised Chat and Teuta seemed to know each other so well, but she was glad they were friends.
She knew Chat visited the bakery between the boys’ activities. See, she thought, she wasn’t some crazy, possessive employer.
Danika traced the thick swoop of his hair, his face—that sharp chin, smooth neck—and suddenly flinched, jarred by how seeing
him at a certain angle, in a certain light, sent her through a time portal. She raised her glass.
“Oh hey, give me that.” Chat grabbed her wine before she could take a sip.
She froze, worried he was commenting on her drinking, but then he reached for a knife from the table.
Holding her glass out in front of him, he fished a gnat from the side of the rim.
Danika stared at him, the knife, back to him.
She felt momentarily numb from his kindness.
“Gotta save room for dinner.” He wiped the knife and grinned, handing the glass back to her, their fingers brushing.
“So, are you headed to Hilton Head again this year?” Malcolm asked, pulling Danika back to the group. The men stood close
to the firepit, the flames casting shadows across their khakis.
“Yes, sir, wouldn’t miss it,” Bill said. “End of August, as usual.”
Danika took a bitter sip as she watched the fire dance. As exhausted as visiting her in-laws made her, she did love their
house in Hilton Head, their yearly end-of-summer trip. Bill’s family was reserved to the point of being dull, but this year,
she couldn’t wait to show Chat the colorful row houses, the wide white beaches. He’d eat it up.
“Oh, I love me some Savannah.” Joshua Mike chewed yet another hunk of brie. “Love those open container laws. And all the ghosts.”
He wiggled his fingers at Jackie, who hooked her arm in his. She was a foot shorter than Joshua Mike—so was Abby. They were
both so petite, they seemed like two halves of a whole. Again, Danika imagined them all having sex.
“Have you played Oyster Reef?” Joshua Mike asked.
The conversation turned to golf from there, and as Danika moved away, she realized she was getting drunk. She had hardly eaten,
and the alcohol was swimming through her veins.
Danika went inside and headed to the kitchen. She walked slowly as if approaching a crime scene—but felt absurd. This was her house. Augie did not deserve her nerves. She fixed her hair and walked faster.
As Danika stepped into the kitchen, she held her chin high, prepared to meet them all, but there was only Zami. She paused,
deflated, and went to the sink.
“Everything good?” Zami asked as he whisked a bowl.
“Yup, yes.” Danika chugged a glass of water. She stared at her reflection in the windows above the sink. Catching herself
in a mirror always sobered her. It was unnerving, like watching yourself cry.
“I’m going to check the place settings and then we can get this show on the road.” Her mouth was still thick and dry as she
turned to face Zami. “And are you all set? Are you and Teuta, and . . . Augie? All set?”
“Yes, yes, you betcha. No worries, Mrs. Crawley. You enjoy yourself, yeah? We have it all under control. Are you sure you’re
okay?”
Danika assured him she was fine, then started down the cedar hall toward the screened-in porch, which connected to the far
side of the deck, one landing up from the firepit. As she approached, she suddenly sensed another presence.
Augie was focused on lighting the candles, the ashy smell of a fresh-struck match hanging in the air. She moved carefully
from one golden candle to the next, her hand gliding between them, forehead scrunched in concentration. Even in the dim light,
her eyes shone icy blue. Danika coughed once.
“Oh, sorry.” Augie jumped back, flicking out the match. They each stared at the table as if afraid to look at each other.
One candle remained unlit.
“Why are you sorry?” Danika straightened her back and stepped closer. She crossed her arms as she looked at the centerpieces. She hoped the intensity of her pulse did not show. She gestured to the single candle.
“You can finish.”
Augie inched forward. Danika watched her try to light the match, fail, try again. It took four swipes for the flame to burst
alive.
As Augie lit the wick, Danika continued studying the table, walking along the opposite edge. The tension between them was
palpable, a heavy, disorienting fog, but Danika pretended not to notice. She leaned down and touched the flowers, adjusted
a vase. She stood back to admire the table as a whole. There were delicate vases filled with wildflowers, all of varying heights
and colors; there was the linen runner she’d gotten in Malta years ago, a swirl of hummingbirds; throughout, rich dried green
vines and golden candles anchoring everything. It was more whimsical than Danika’s typical style, but it fit the setting,
the occasion. It looked effortless. No one would know she had visited two florists and three home decor stores to find the
right pieces.
“It looks really nice.” Augie stood back against the screened windows, the gray sky framing her.
“It does,” Danika said.
“And we, um, we put the extra setting there, right? That’s where you wanted it?”
Danika looked to where they had squished an extra plate and chair for the surprise Abby. Someone had even made her a place
setting card, which did not exactly match the gold pen and exquisite cursive of Danika’s other placards, but it was close.
Danika picked it up.
“I tried to make it the same, but we didn’t have anything gold, so.” Augie gave a small shrug. Danika noticed her shimmering,
perfect skin.
“We don’t need it.” She crushed the paper in her hand. “Abby will be reminded that she wasn’t invited.” Danika closed her fist. “She’ll know that she wasn’t—isn’t—welcome here.”
Augie looked as if she’d been slapped.
“I’ll just check with . . .” She trailed off. “Dinner should be ready soon.”
She slid past Danika, angling her body as far away as possible before rushing down the hall, the screen door bouncing closed
behind her.
Danika exhaled. She felt both satisfied and uneasy as she leaned on the back of a chair. How could that girl be so simultaneously
aggressive and timid? She was the one who had snuck up to the cabin. Why was she acting like some kicked dog? Danika felt
even more frustrated, and she opened her hand, the crumpled paper now soft as a petal in her palm. She only hoped she’d sent
a strong enough message to keep her away.
Danika held still for one more beat, taking in the solitude, and then walked around the table to double-check the place settings.
She knew her guests might be surprised by the assigned seats, but she also knew people liked to be told what to do. It was
especially beneficial this evening; Danika could ensure she’d be at the opposite end of the table from Joshua Mike. She needed
all the control she could muster.