Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
C ory flew out of the Nantucket airport at eleven on Sunday for his conference.
Mandy dropped him off at the airport and wished him a safe trip.
The tiny airport was always so busy with regular flights to Boston and New York.
Mandy was amazed by the rows of private jets and that there was so much wealth on their small island.
“I should get in around four on Thursday.” Cory kissed her goodbye, and she watched him walk off. There was a spring in his step. He was clearly looking forward to this conference and going to Vegas for the first time.
On the way home, she stopped at the market to pick up some laundry detergent. She hadn’t realized that she was almost out when she went shopping earlier in the week.
When she got home, she went up to her bedroom to throw a load in before meeting Jill and Emma later that afternoon for brunch. Jill was flying back from New York, and Emma was picking her up at two. They were meeting after that.
Mandy did the sheets and towels first, and when they were in the dryer, she emptied out Cory’s gym bag to add his clothes to the wash.
Along with his T-shirt and shorts, a folded bill tumbled out.
She picked it up and stared at the name on the envelope.
It was a cell phone bill addressed to Scott Lawson.
The address was Cory’s office, but he was the only Lawson there.
And the cell phone number was unfamiliar.
Scott was Cory’s middle name though. It didn’t make sense.
She felt her chest tighten and the beginning of a panic attack building and sat down for a moment.
She took a series of deep breaths and tried to will the feeling to go away.
She hadn’t had a panic attack in years, but she couldn’t think of any good reason why Cory would need a second cell phone or a different name on the bill.
She set the envelope on the bureau and planned to ask him about it when he got home.
Emma and Jill were just sitting down when Mandy met them at Black Eyed Susan’s, the eclectic restaurant on a cobblestone street in downtown Nantucket.
They all ordered coffee and didn’t really need to look at the menu.
Jill and Emma both got the French toast, and Mandy got the Portuguese scramble with cheesy grits.
While they waited for their food, Mandy filled them in on what the consultant had recommended.
“He had a lot of positive things to say. The food and service were both solid. He liked just about everything that he tried, but he did suggest that the menu itself could use an update to make it more fresh and modern.”
Jill and Emma both nodded. None of them were surprised by that.
“He also suggested we give the restaurant a ‘facelift.’”
“That sounds expensive.” Emma took a sip of her coffee, and it was clear she was worried about the money.
“What would that entail?” Jill asked.
“I don’t think it would necessarily be too expensive. New carpet, definitely. What’s there is worn and needs replacing. And a fresh coat of paint on the dining room walls.”
“It does look a little dingy,” Emma agreed.
“He also suggested that we hang some new artwork, maybe on consignment from local artists.”
“Oh, that’s a great idea. It would keep costs down too,” Jill said.
“Right. I thought that was a great suggestion.” Mandy paused before continuing, because she knew the consultant’s next one wasn’t going to be popular. “He also suggested that we look for ways to cut back on staff. Maybe not have as many servers on and see about less help in the kitchen too.”
Jill frowned. “What do you think about that idea?”
Mandy laughed. “I hate it. And I think Grams would have hated it too. We don’t have to take all the consultant’s suggestions. Of course, Cory would be all for cutting staff. He guessed that would be one of the recommendations.”
“I don’t think we should make any drastic changes with the staff either. What else did he say?” Emma asked.
“His other suggestions were marketing related, such as implementing more promotions and maybe a loyalty program.”
“How would a loyalty program work? That sounds intriguing,” Jill asked.
“It could be whatever we want. As an example, he suggested something like after ten meals, they get a free entrée. And that we should make sure we get the word out on social media and see about online advertising and coupons that we can give to local hotels and bed-and-breakfasts and, of course, an updated website.”
“Those all seem like good ideas. We should probably run all this by Paul too—he will have a say in everything,” Jill said.
Mandy nodded. “I agree. I figured we could discuss and then meet with him at the restaurant. He might have some other ideas, and I have one too.” Mandy had been thinking of ways to get the word out more about Mimi’s Place and had an idea she was excited about.
“What are you thinking of?” Emma asked.
“Once we replace the carpet, do some redecorating, and have a new menu all set, I thought maybe we’d have a big grand reopening party and invite a lot of the local businesses and our regular customers too.
We can do a cocktail hour type of thing, with a cash bar but provide complimentary appetizers so they can all see the place and try the food—and Paul can introduce any new items.”
“I love that idea,” Jill said enthusiastically.
“I do too,” Emma agreed. “And I can help with some of the social media marketing. I was thinking about starting a blog and linking to it on Facebook.”
“That would be great,” Mandy said and then paused before changing the subject. “So there is something else. Not about the restaurant.” She hadn’t been planning on saying anything, but she couldn’t stop thinking about the bill she’d found, and she was curious what her sisters would think.
“I was doing laundry earlier and found something odd in Cory’s duffel bag.” She told them about the second cell phone.
Emma and Jill exchanged glances and were both quiet for a moment before Emma spoke. “You said Scott is his middle name? I hate to be negative, but given what I’m going through, there’s only one explanation that comes to mind. Have you considered that he might be having an affair?”
Before Mandy could answer, Jill chimed in. “Have you noticed anything different about him lately? Has he lost weight or started dressing better? And is he away more, late nights, working weekends?”
Mandy sighed. “Honestly, it never crossed my mind, ever, ’til I found that bill. I thought things were fine, I guess.”
“Didn’t you say you dropped Cory off at the airport earlier today?” Jill leaned forward. “And he’s going to Vegas. Maybe it’s not just a work thing?”
“Hmm. He did seem unusually excited about going. But to be fair, he’s never been to Vegas before. He’s always been a workaholic, but he is working more late nights at the office. He says he gets more done there.”
“If he’s there.” Jill said what Mandy had been wondering since she’d found the envelope.
“He has been hitting the gym more lately too. I didn’t think anything of it.”
“How are things with you two?” Emma asked.
“We’ve been together so long that I thought things were fine. Good enough. We don’t really do much as a couple and haven’t for years. I focus on the kids, and Cory focuses on work.”
“You don’t do date nights?” Jill looked surprised.
Mandy laughed. “What is a date night? Usually when I suggest going out, Cory’s too tired, and we settle on getting takeout, and an hour later, he’s fast asleep on the sofa.”
“What do you think he is up to?” Emma asked.
“I can’t think of any other possible explanation. I was in denial about it all afternoon, but there is just no good reason why he’d need a phone under a different name.”
“Are you going to ask him when he gets home?” Jill asked.
“I put the bill on our bedroom dresser, so he will see it. And yes, I am very curious to hear his explanation.”
Cory called to check in a few times while he was away, and Mandy had to restrain herself from asking about the bill. She wanted to do that in person so she could look into his eyes and see his expression.
She’d had a lot of time to think about her marriage while Cory was away in Vegas.
She still loved him, and it was beyond painful to think of him with someone else.
She didn’t want to believe it, but she didn’t want to be naive either.
Thinking about the past six months, she saw a few things differently.
Like the extravagant gift he’d given her on her thirty-fifth birthday a few months ago.
He’d had a sleek white Mercedes convertible delivered, and when she stepped outside, the car was in the driveway wrapped in a big red bow.
She’d been shocked. Even though they could easily afford it, Cory had never given presents like that before.
She’d been thrilled at the time; it was so unexpected, and it was a beautiful car.
But now she wondered if it was because he’d been cheating then and felt guilty.
He’d worked a lot of late nights the week before her birthday.
And he’d been grumpier than usual with her.
He’d been short with her more recently too, easily annoyed.
But when she’d asked what was wrong, he’d said nothing and that everything was fine. But obviously things were not fine.
His flight was due in at four on Thursday, but around noon, he called to let her know he’d be coming in later and that he’d just grab an Uber from the airport and would see her around nine. That was when Mandy decided to do what she’d been thinking about all week.
She went upstairs and opened the mysterious cell phone bill. There were only three phone numbers on it. She punched in a code to block the caller ID on her phone and dialed the first number on the list. The call was answered after the first ring by a woman with a perky voice. “This is Margie.”