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baby six months later, if you know what I mean.”
    “Oh!” I thought I might have kept that detail to myself.
    “But that didn’t last long.”
    “Young marriages usually don’t.”
    “Yes. Anyway, I went to college, got an MBA, and my mom helped me take care of my daughter, who is now all grown.”
    I drained my cup and reached over to pick up the teapot. “More?”
    “Yes, thank you.” She held her cup out and I refilled it.
    “And you never married again?”
    “No, I didn’t. I had a long-term boyfriend. You know, married. I always thought he would leave his wife, but he never did. He broke my heart.”
    My hands started to shake. The floodgates swung open and panic swarmed my brain. She was exactly the kind of woman who had ruined my family. Right here in my living room! What made them tick, this breed of woman who thought it was perfectly fine to sleep with another woman’s husband, steal his affection, and destroy a family? My cup rattled against the saucer, but I managed to place it on the tray. Even though I became completely unglued in the space of less than a minute, I wanted to know how she justified her life.
    “And, so tell me, Jean…”
    I couldn’t find the words to ask the questions. I could feel my throat constricting and I could hear my heart pounding in my ears as my blood pressure rose. I knew my face was red and suddenly I began to perspire.
    “Are you all right, Mrs. Swanson? Can I get you a glass of water? Call someone?”
    “No, I’m fine. Thank you. I’m just getting over a nasty flu—fierce! I’m sorry. Now you were telling me about your friend ?” I pulled a tissue from my pocket and blotted my face, composing myself.
    “It was the same old story. I was young and pretty, he was married and bored with his fat wife. Every time I asked about her he always rolled his eyes and said she was just the most predictable, boring, and unsexy woman in the world.”
    Had not my own mother called me dull?
    “Right. So, you just thought, Oh, what the heck? Or what?”
    “Are you kidding? I never thought that. God in heaven, I can’t believe I’m actually telling you all this!”
    “No! Please tell me! I’m always so curious how these things get started, you know? Please, continue…”
    Bathsheba looked around the living room and continued her sordid tale.
    “Well, it’s hard to remember, it was so long ago. But he pursued me. I wasn’t interested in him like that, but he was smart and funny. Even though he was fourteen years older than I was, I got so used to being around him all day, the age difference disappeared. He was just Mark. You know what I mean?”
    “Yes, I think I do.” Harry came hopping out from the kitchen, whistled, and arched his wings. The Banking Slut nearly jumped out of her jacket. “This is Harry. Harry likes to be a part of things.”
    Harry continued to stare at her and wagged his red tail feathers. Even Harry knew an easy mark when he saw one.
    “Oh! Well, he sure is a good-looking bird. What kind?”
    “Thanks. Harry’s an African gray. So what happened?”
    “The usual thing. Wife found out. I got fired. He said he was sorry and gave me a bunch of cash so I could start over again in another city.”
    “Charles is a horse’s ass!” Harry said.
    “Did your bird just say, ‘Charles is a horse’s ass’?”
    “Yes.”
    “Oh. Who’s Charles?”
    “Charles was the love of my life until a gal like you came along…and well, you know the rest of the story. But I suppose things worked out better for her than they have for you.”
    “What is that supposed to mean?”
    I couldn’t believe this tramp would dare to take umbrage with my words, but I answered her anyway.
    “Just that she and Charles have two children and a nanny and scads ofmoney and that they are seen all over New York together having a wonderful time.”
    “Jeez. If I were in your shoes, I’d move. Who needs it?”
    I imagine she thought she had evened the score.
    “Excuse me