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sick person's stalking me. Or I could attribute my
sudden glow to my daughter's failure at school and the consequent
headache.
    "I've read it's that feeling of being free again," Simone says.
    Shannon smiles and joins in. "Oh, I'd love
some of that. Free of the nagging hubby. Free of his soccer games
and the stupid household chores."
    Someone should point out that getting rid of
the hubby doesn't equal the vanishing of household chores.
    "Soccer?" Lucy asks as though it's a dirty
word.
    Here we go again. In spite of myself I start
to laugh.
    "Oh for God's sake, Lucy, she's American,"
Mindy says. "It's the American word for football, not a
vibrator."
    I excuse myself to get the coffee from the
kitchen, hoping Jamie will arrive in the meantime because it's
already ten minutes past five. When I return with the tray holding
the coffee mugs and the remaining chocolate chip muffins he's still
not here. The ladies are getting excited, so I ask, "Shall we
start, then?"
    Murmurs expressing agreement ensue, then the
room falls silent and I take out my notes. "In our last session we
discussed how important it is not to seek all fault within
ourselves because the guy's to blame too. I hope you had enough
time to practice this new world view and see a difference in the
way you feel about your new circumstances."
    "I did," Mindy says. "I cancelled my Botox
appointments."
    I smile and nod. "Good for you, Mindy. Why go
through with something that you don't even need. Look at you,
there's not a single line on that smooth forehead of yours."
    "That's because we're not really talking
about my forehead here."
    The boss again. I wonder whether she'll ever
be bothered to attend this meeting herself instead of sending the
poor personal assistant. "Do you actually get paid for all the
extra hours you put in?" I ask, then shake my head because it's not
really my problem. "Never mind."
    "I don't," Mindy says. "But I'm grateful for
the experience. Judging from the statistics, I'll probably need the
knowledge in a few years."
    I crane my neck to the site, only then
noticing Jamie through the open door. He's standing in the hall,
leaning against the wall, as he stares at his smartphone like it's
about to start speaking. Maybe he's shy, or intimidated, with so
many women around. We probably are an intimidating bunch.
    "Excuse me, everyone. I'll be right back."
Clearing my throat, I stand and walk out.
    Jamie raises his gaze and squeezes his phone
inside his pocket. "Oh, hello. Didn't see you coming."
    "Yeah, you were probably busy saving the
world." I smile and reach out a hand, praying he won't grab it. He
does, sending a pleasant jolt through my body. His palm feels
surprisingly coarse for a man who spends his days sitting in an
office. I pull back a little too quickly, but Jamie doesn't seem to
notice. I continue, "Are you scared? Come on in. No one's going to
bite off your head."
    He leans into me and whispers, "You sure? The
meaty one looks quite menacing."
    "That's Lucy," I say. "She might come across
like a dragon, but once you've warmed up to her she'll be like the
mother you never had." Or the sex agony aunt, but I keep that part
to myself. "They're just a bunch of women, not a species from
space. I'm sure you've met a few in your life."
    Jamie cocks his head to the side and stares
at the ceiling as though thinking. "Yeah, I might have met one or
two. Don't think we got along that well. Nah, I'll wait here until
you finish your class or employee meeting or whatever that is."
    Laughing, I grab his hand again and pull him
toward the door. "Don't be shy. It'll be fun, trust me. Just sit
down and listen until you start to feel comfortable. Your
presence's broadening everyone's horizon."
    "Is that the therapy room?"
    "I'd rather call it our meeting room. It
sounds less intrusive, don't you think?" I say. "Come on now."
    I push Jamie in and smile at the various
emotions written on the ladies' faces. Lucy moistens her lips,
almost leering as though she