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on.”
    â€œThat simple?”
    â€œYes.” Not really, but I refused to give the matter deep thought. If I went there, I worried I’d mourn my time for having kids had come and gone. I worried I’d feel sorry for myself. I’d wallowed in self-pity for more than a year and it’s not a place I wanted to revisit.
    â€œSo have you talked to him?”
    â€œMichael? Not since before I left for the cruise. We didn’t part on the best terms. He probably figures you told me about the pregnancy. I’m guessing he’s waiting for me to call him first. I’m thinking I don’t feel like it.”
    â€œHave you called his office, talked to Violet about auditions or outstanding checks or…anything?”
    Violet was Michael’s secretary, and though we’d always been friendly, we’d never been friends. “After the flashing fiasco, I don’t expect Michael Stone Entertainment Inc. will be sending me on any immediate auditions. The agency doesn’t owe me any money and Violet and I aren’t chatty.” I narrowed my eyes. “What’s up?”
    â€œI’d rather tell you in person.”
    â€œHas he decided to drop me as a client?”
    Silence.
    â€œI’ll take that as a yes.” I wondered if Sasha had pressed him to do so or if he’d decided I was, as I suspected, washed up in this town. Not that it mattered. Deep in my heart, I knew it was time to break clean with my ex, but that didn’t mean I’d make it easy for him. My days of rolling over were, well, over. “If he wants to release me as a client, he’ll have to track me down, because I’m not going to make first contact or open any of his e-mails. The least he can do is tell me in person.”
    â€œEvie—”
    â€œListen, Nic. I know I haven’t been myself lately, but that’s a good thing, trust me.” A headache needled behind my eyes. “Just now I’m exhausted. How about you and Jayne come over tomorrow night? We’ll have drinks and catch up.”
    â€œWe’ll bring the margaritas.”
    â€œSwell.”
    â€œI’ll let Jayne know you’re home safe. You get some rest.”
    â€œThanks, Nic. Thanks for caring.”
    â€œThat’s what friends do.”
    She signed off without any smooches or sappy goodbyes. I wasn’t insulted. Nic wasn’t the sappy sort. Jayne was another specimen altogether. If I called her now, she’d keep me on the phone for an hour, fussing and spouting New Age gibberish regarding fate and destiny. Nic, bless her soul, was saving me from a woo-woo lecture. At least for now.
    I massaged my temples and contemplated calling my dad. It had been a while since we’d spoken. Not that that was unusual. The Parishes were minimalists when it came to communication. I’m pretty sure we’re listed in the dictionary under dysfunctional.
    Still, I couldn’t get over the fact that, after twenty years as a bank president, Dad had snubbed retirement and Mom and bought a tavern. He’d never been a barfly. Although he enjoyed the occasional beer, the man could nurse a can of Bud for an hour. It had to be a life crisis. I could sympathize. I wanted to sympathize. But if I called him, I’d have to call Mom. Otherwise, she’d hear about it and accuse me of taking sides.
    My parents had split up just before my cruise, for reasons I still didn’t understand. Neither of them wanted to talk about it, which was normal since it was a private matter and they never talked about emotional issues. My brother, Christopher, who lived near our parents, assured me he’d “fix it.”
    I decided to wait until tomorrow, until I had more energy, before touching base on the home front. If something were terribly wrong, one of them would have called. Maybe.
    I pushed my ex and my family from my mind and concentrated on my new job. Sitting straighter, I dialed the number