Free Talk of the Town by Sherrill Bodine Page B

you bastard, twenty-year-olds want me, too!”
    Now it made her feel so stupid and pathetic. Another crushing reminder of how easy she was to leave behind.
    Only Pauline’s deep, ragged sigh broke through Rebecca’s haze of memories and forced her gaze away from the hateful words.
    “It’s my fault,” Pauline whispered. “I gave Shannon the person to call at IU.”
    “It’s not your fault, Pauline,” Kate said briskly.
    “No, it’s
my
fault.” Rebecca faced her friends. “There was always the risk my lie would come out. I’m not ashamed of shaving six years off when I was twenty-seven to get a plum job with a prominent teen magazine. They refused to hire anyone over twenty-one regardless of their credentials. I’d do it again!” She thrust up her chin. “And I’m not ashamed of dating younger men. Why not? Look at Demi Moore. I was ahead of the trend.”
    She’d never talked about the real hurt, not even to Pauline or Harry. All her pent-up fears about abandonment, all her issues about protecting herself, her decision to shun commitment to avoid possible pain—she kept these to herself. They were all too weighty to burden her friends.
    Now, as always, she called on her survival skills.
Rage needed here.
    It roared to life, making her entire body burn. “Where is that
bitch
?”
    Bitch
echoed off the marble floor. Pauline sat up straighter. “Shannon took the day off. She’s going to the Peninsula Spa to have the works.”
    “Rebecca, stay calm.” Kate sounded stern, but Rebecca saw the concern clouding her eyes. “Therapy made me understand what motivates these young women coming up so fast on our heels. Society has given Shannon nothing to mark her transformation into equality and community with mature women in the workplace. That’s why she behaves so badly. We need to have patience with her. She needs our guidance.”
    “
Guidance
is hardly what I have planned for her once I find her!”
    “She’ll be at the Allen’s opening tonight. You can get her there. Are you still going?” Pauline asked hopefully. “I wish I wasn’t busy with the girls, or I’d go to support you.”
    A plan to confront Shannon took root in Rebecca’s fertile imagination. “Of course I’m still going, sweetheart. I wouldn’t dream of giving Shannon the pleasure of my absence. Besides, I would never disappoint Harry and Kate.”
    “I told you earlier I wasn’t sure about attending.” Kate shook her head, the deep eyebrow furrow of worry back in place. “Are you sure you can control yourself when you see Shannon there?”
    “Of course I can control myself! I
pride
myself on self-control. I plan to have a divine time at the party. So will you and Harry. I plan to
guide
Shannon through the rules of the female community. At the right time.
My way.
Certainly with more finesse than this cheap shot she took at me. Please come tonight,” she pleaded softly.
    Kate tugged at her shapeless black jacket. “I don’t have anything to wear.”
    To hear the age-old lament of every woman standing in front of her closet coming from Kate made Rebecca laugh. It felt good to hide her pain and embarrassment in something fun for Kate. “Go buy that fabulous black dress at LuLu’s.”
    A soft positively wistful expression flashed across Kate’s face. “I’m sure it must be gone by now.”
    “It has your name on it.” At Kate’s shocked look, Rebecca tried to reassure her. “That’s just a Laurie-ism for ‘It’s perfect for you.’ Please come with me tonight. I’d really appreciate your support.”
    “All right.” Again, Kate squared her shoulders, like a soldier going into battle. “I’ll be there to remind you to keep hold of your self-control. I’m taking Chuck to LuLu’s this afternoon to shoot photos for the article I’m doing on the decor. If the dress is still available, I’ll buy it.”
    Once Kate was out of sight and hearing, Pauline leaned across her desk. Her eyes burned with bloodlust. “I want to