Clearly satisfied at having the last word, she left.
Karen watched her go, noting that there wasn’t a person in Wharton’s she didn’t speak to or offer a smile on the way.
“She’s remarkable,” Karen murmured aloud, then sighed. “And wise.”
Tonight would be soon enough for that talk she intended to have with Elliott. She would use the extra time to think through the situation, figure out exactly why she was so upset and find a way to discuss it all calmly and rationally over dinner. Frances had been exactly right. Yelling wasn’t the mature way to resolve anything.
And unlike the passive woman she’d once been, Karen also knew that the strong, confident woman she’d become wouldn’t allow resentment to simmer too long or let the whole incident slide in the interest of keeping peace. She’d deal with this head-on before it destroyed her marriage. At least she’d learned something from her marriage to Ray: what not to do.
Pleased with her plan, she paid for their drinks and headed back to Sullivan’s, where Dana Sue and Erik greeted her warily.
“Oh, don’t look at me like that,” she said. “There are no divorce papers being filed. In fact, I never even saw Elliott.”
Erik breathed a visible sigh of relief.
“Where were you, then?” Dana Sue inquired.
“At Wharton’s with Frances, the voice of reason,” Karen told them.
Dana Sue grinned. “Did she give you one of those sage lectures that makes you feel about two-inches tall? When she was my teacher, she could just look at me with one of those disappointed expressions and practically reduce me to tears. She was the only teacher I ever had who could pull that off. It even worked on Helen.”
“No way,” Erik said, looking impressed. “I didn’t think anyone intimidated my wife.”
“Frances Wingate did,” Dana Sue said. “She had the best-behaved students in the entire school. We didn’t turn into full-fledged Sweet Magnolia hellions until later.” Her expression suddenly sobered as she turned back to Karen. “So, have you stopped being mad at me and Erik?”
“I was never mad at either of you,” she told them. “I knew you were just the messengers.”
“And Elliott?” Dana Sue prodded.
“I still have plenty to discuss with my husband,” Karen said. “But at least now I think I can do it without throwing pots and pans or those nifty little dumbbells at the spa at him.”
“Word has it that Dana Sue was pretty good at turning pots and pans into weapons back in the day,” Erik commented, giving Dana Sue a taunting look.
“Only because Ronnie deserved it,” Dana Sue retorted, her tone unapologetic. “The man cheated on me. Fortunately he learned his lesson and I haven’t needed a cast-iron skillet for anything other than cooking since then.”
After a very tense afternoon, Karen suddenly chuckled. Impulsively, she crossed the room and hugged her boss. “Thank you for giving me my perspective back.”
“Glad to be of service,” Dana Sue said. “Now, if no one has any objections, let’s get these dinner preparations underway before our special of the night is grilled-cheese sandwiches.”
“On it,” Erik said at once. “Thoroughly decadent chocolate mud pie coming up.”
“And I’ll get started frying chicken,” Karen said, thankful that her relief would be here soon. “When Tina gets here, she can take over and I’ll finish up salads before I head home.”
At least here, she thought as she settled happily into her routine, peace and harmony once again reigned. Something told her, though, that it was just the calm before the storm.
2
Elliott had spotted his wife outside of The Corner Spa talking with Frances. When she hadn’t come inside, he’d been surprised, but he’d been so busy with his packed schedule of private clients who were booked well into the evening that he hadn’t had time to consider why Karen might have come by, then left without speaking to him.
It was near closing time when Cal Maddox came in to pick up Maddie, who’d stayed late to deal with dreaded end-of-the-month paperwork. On his way to his wife’s office, Cal stopped to visit with Elliott.
“How’d things go with Karen earlier?” Cal asked.
Struck by Cal’s oddly sympathetic expression and his dire tone, Elliott frowned. “No idea what you’re talking about.”
Cal immediately looked chagrined. “Oh, man, first Erik sticks his foot in it, and now I’m doing the same thing,” Cal said. “Sorry. Forget I said anything.”
“Don’t stop now,” Elliott said. “Something tells me I’d better hear this.”
Cal didn’t look one bit happy about being the bearer of bad news. “Apparently Erik mentioned the gym to Karen today. She didn’t take it well. He called me to ask if I thought he should give you a heads-up. We agreed he probably should stay out of it, that the damage had been done.”
He gave Elliott a concerned look. “I gather you hadn’t told her.”
“Not a word,” Elliott admitted with growing regret. “Just how furious was she?”
“It was bad enough,” Cal admitted. “But it got worse. When she found out that Dana Sue knew as well, she stormed out of Sullivan’s to head over here. Obviously she wasn’t thrilled about being left out of the loop.”
Elliott sighed. “So that explains it,” he said. “I saw her outside talking to Frances and wondered what she was doing here, but then they left. She never came inside.”
Cal grinned. “If I were you, I’d send flowers to Frances. Obviously she managed to do what Erik and Dana Sue couldn’t. She calmed Karen down.”
“I don’t think I’ll count on that,” Elliott replied. He knew all too well that Karen’s sweet nature was deceptive. When her temper stirred, it tended to simmer, then reach a boil when he least expected it. “I suspect Frances only delayed the inevitable.”
Cal gave him a curious look. “I still can’t believe you hadn’t mentioned the gym venture to Karen. Is there some reason for that?”
“I haven’t had time to get into it with her,” Elliott said in frustration. “Apart from the fact that Karen and I barely see each other lately, there were a lot of issues the group of us had to consider. I wanted to be sure it was a go before I broached the subject with her. You know her history, Cal. Money’s a big deal to her, and risk scares her to death. I didn’t want her to panic for no reason.”
“So, you kept quiet to protect her?”
Elliott nodded ruefully. “It made sense to me at the time.”
Cal gave him an understanding look. “I get it, but a piece of advice? In this town, it never pays to keep secrets, because if even one other human being knows, sooner or later everyone will know. Remember how it went over with Dana Sue when she discovered Ronnie’s plans for the hardware store? Or how well Sarah took it when she figured out that Travis had big plans for a radio station and wanted her to be a part of that? These Sweet Magnolia women like to be in on things from the get-go. They don’t like to be blindsided.”
“Karen’s never really hung out with the Sweet Magnolias,” Elliott said, but he understood Cal’s point.
“She spends all day with Dana Sue and with Helen’s husband,” Cal reminded him. “She works out here and sees my wife all the time. Maybe she doesn’t go to margarita nights, but trust me, she’s