Free Motherhood Is Murder by Diana Orgain Page B

home.”
She frowned. “Doing what?”
“Consulting, advertising,” I said, matching her frown.
What was she frowning at?
“Oh.” She swung her flip-flops around as she picked up her pace.
“And yours?” I asked.
She puffed up her chest. “He’s an IT manager.”
I suppressed a giggle at her competitive nature. Obviously, she liked playing “tit for tat.” Nyah-nyah, my husband has a better job than yours.
I thought Jim’s job was awesome. He was creative and fun and got to come up with all sorts of great campaigns. Maybe to someone like Evelyn, Jim’s brainstorms were just doodles.
I changed topics. “And your son? Where is he today?”
“With the nanny.”
Of course.
Everyone who is anyone has a nanny. When was I going to get a nanny? Although if you’re a stay-at-home mom, what do you do with a nanny? Take a break, I suppose. Go get your nails done. I glanced at Evelyn—she had a matching manicure and pedicure in an unbelievably delicious shade of orange. Sort of tangerine.
When was the last time I had my nails done?
“What about you?” I asked. “Are you working and on maternity leave or are you—”
“I am an attorney,” Evelyn said.
I raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”
“Well, I was. Contract law. Not criminal. I haven’t practiced since Kyle was born.” She eyed me. “I’ve worked with a lot of PIs . . .”
I waited for her to continue, semicringing to myself.
If she frowned at Jim’s being an ad consultant, then PIs must be the scum of the earth, but instead of a snide comment, she simply shrugged then sighed.
“Now, I’m a stay-at-home.” She rubbed her belly. “I’m having an at-home birth with Celia—do you know her? She delivered Margaret’s baby.”
I nodded, taking a deep breath. The air was cold and smelled of fish, yet was refreshing at the same time.
Ah, saltwater.
“We met at Helene’s funeral,” I said. “In fact, that’s what I wanted to talk to you about. Can you tell me about the fight you overheard between Sara and Helene?”
Some seagulls in our path squawked.
Evelyn shooed the seagulls with her hand. They circumvented us by running away from the water, then as we passed, they ran back toward the tide.
“They were fighting about the extension that Sara’s husband was going to build for her and Bruce. Helene was saying that it wasn’t necessary anymore and they didn’t want it built.”
“And that upset Sara?”
“It really ticked her off. I think Sara and her husband are having some financial problems. She really wanted that contract.” Evelyn laughed, seeming to enjoy the memory and the one-upmanship.
“I take it you and Sara don’t get along?”
Evelyn made a face. “Well, you know, I got kicked out of Roo & You.”
“I gathered that.”
“I shouldn’t have gone on the dinner cruise.” She threw her shoulders back in defiance. “But I already had tickets and it was Kevin’s only night off. He works a lot. From seven in the morning until seven at night. Saturdays, too. It’s a lot. And lately, he’s been preparing for this big IT contract in Asia. He leaves tomorrow and will be gone for about three months.” Her shoulders slumped slightly. “He’s going to miss the birth.”
Suddenly it wasn’t the best job in the world.
The water lapped at our feet. I jumped to move out of the way, but Evelyn let the tide run over her toes.
“I’m alone all day with Kyle,” she continued. “Except when the nanny comes over, but she doesn’t count.”
Did she have any idea how disparaging she sounded? “I really wanted this date night. I couldn’t bring myself to tell Fred what happened with the club.”
Boy, if Jim were leaving for three months and going to miss the birth of our child, I couldn’t imagine that I’d want our last date night to be with a mothers’ group, much less one that I’d gotten kicked out of.
I studied her face. “So what happened? Why’d they boot you?”
Evelyn stopped walking and laughed. “You don’t know?”
I paused beside her and shook my head.
“I would have thought they’d blabbed it to you right away,” she