Free Tell Me Lies by Jennifer Crusie Page B

could be really good,” Mel said, moving into her cheery mode. Mel’s cheery mode could be pretty exhausting, but Em was grateful for the effort. “Because, like, now that she’s hurt, your dad will remember how much he loves her and he’ll take care of her, and it’ll be all right.”
    “He’s going bowling,” Em said, and ate a pretzel rather than look at Mel.
    “Oh,” Mel said.
    Puppy puppy puppy puppy puppy . . .

    Four
     

The pain was better when Maddie woke up at nine. It had localized in her head, which gave her a body part to hold. She groped her way downstairs, but the phone rang while she was trying to read the label on her medication, and she lurched for it before it could ring again and liquefy her brain.
    “Maddie, it’s Mama. Are you all right?”
    “Yes, Mom.” Don’t shout like that.
    “Anna Henley called to see if you were all right, and that’s how I found out about the accident.” Her mother’s tone said that she wasn’t amused about that. “Are you all right?”
    “Yes, Mom.” Her head was coming off, and her neck didn’t move.
    “She said you hit your head. She said it wasn’t your fault, it was that Webster boy’s, but then you know how those Websters are anyway, all of them. Thank goodness it wasn’t your fault. I can’t believe you didn’t call me. Are you all right? Do you want me to come over?”
    Maddie winced under the onslaught. “No. I’m fine. Don’t worry. I’m fine.”
    “Are you going to be all right to go visit Gran on Sunday? You know how she is. I understand if you can’t go.”
    “I can go,” Maddie said. Assuming she was off the phone by then.
    “You don’t sound good. I can come over right now—”
    “No. Although I may need to borrow your car later this week.”
    “Any time. You want me to drop it off now? It’s not dark yet. I can just run it over—”
    “No.” Maddie pressed her hand to her forehead. If her mother came over, she’d have to kill her. Time for a diversion. “What’s all this about Gloria Meyer getting divorced?”
    “It’s true.” Her mother’s voice sank down on “true,” so Maddie knew the story was going to be a good one. Of course, Maddie’s story would be a beauty, too, when it got out. Maybe Brent’s not cheating, she told herself. Maybe he’s telling the truth and it’s all just a bad joke.
    “Her husband says she won’t sleep with him,” Maddie’s mother went on. “Can you imagine?”
    Maddie thought about Barry Meyer. Treva had once called him a weedy little warthog. “Yes, I can. Easily. Plus he never mows the lawn.”
    “Well, that’s what she said. He never does anything around the house. I guess he’s just worthless. But”—her mother’s voice sank lower—“I’ve also heard he thinks she’s seeing someone else.”
    “Gloria?” Maddie tried to picture Gloria and Brent together. Gloria in crotchless panties? “Must have been the ChemLawn man.”
    “I don’t know who, but I was very surprised.”
    “Me, too,” Maddie said. “I can well believe Gloria doesn’t have sex with her husband because I can’t believe Gloria has sex with anybody.” She sat down on the stool by the telephone, watching the second hand on the clock. If she listened for another two minutes, it would be obvious that she was fine and then she could hang up without worrying her mother. She could do another two minutes before her head fell off.
    “People are surprising,” her mother said. “Just when you think you really know somebody, they’ll up and do something like this.”
    “Like what? Divorce?” I’m going to be sick.
    “No, like Gloria having an affair.”
    “Well, get off this phone and go find out who it is,” Maddie said, praying it wouldn’t be Brent. “I can’t believe you’re wasting time with me.”
    “Maddie, how on earth would I find that out?”
    “How did you find out she wasn’t sleeping with Barry?”
    “He told his brother who told his wife who told Esther’s