The Perfect Solitaire. Carmen Green

“Yes. No! I don’t know his last name.”

      “That’s the first thing a woman finds out about a man, right, Zoe? His name? Where he works? What’s his phone number, Faye? His e-mail? Let’s call him now and set up your first date. Who is he, Faye?”

      “I don’t have to answer you.”

      “Oh, my God. You really stole from me!” Zoe screamed at her sister.

      Tears ran from Faye’s eyes. “Are you going to let this happen? I’m your blood.”

      “And that gives you the right?” Zoe snapped.

      “It’s just jewelry. I’m your sister! Family is supposed to mean more to you than…stuff.”

      “Why’d you do it?” Zoe asked.

      “The divorce is costing me everything. You wouldn’t miss the money from a few necklaces—you have insurance—but this could help me get back on my feet. All you had to do was file a claim and they would have paid you back.”

      Ben had seen selfishness before, but never like this and never so blatantly between sisters.

      “You’ve always been selfish,” Zoe told her. “Jealous. You’re so lazy. That’s why you wanted to go with me today. All you had to do was ask to borrow the money and I’d have loaned it to you.”

      Faye slapped the desk. “Borrow? I’m assistant vice president of the Greenville Bank. I live in a three hundred fifty thousand dollar house, and I eat tuna out of a can and sleep on an air mattress! I’ve had to sell everything. I’m not borrowing anything from you, do you hear me? This is the least you can do with your high-and-mighty self. I don’t need anybody’s help. Fine. Help me, then. Let me walk out of here.”

      Ben wondered what Zoe was going to do. Faye was clearly trying to take advantage of Zoe who seemed to be intently studying her folded hands.

      “Faye, it’s too bad your life is a mess, but you don’t get to decide you’re going to fix it at my expense. Ben, I never thought I’d be saying this, but, call the police in here and have them arrest my sister.”