Classic Revenge Read Free

into her coffee. "So what do you
think about your new miracle inches-off contraption?"
she asked, nodding toward the living room.
    Trish shrugged. "I don't know yet. But it's not a
miracle-off anything. It's still going to take a lot of
hard work to get back in shape. The problem is that I'm
scared to death of it. I just know I'm going to climb on
the blasted thing and end up doing a back flip off it."
    Millie chuckled. "I know what you mean. I got one of
those stationary bicycle things a few years back. Thought
I was doing great until the pedals started going so darn
fast and I couldn't stop it. I must've lost a hundred
pounds on that one occasion alone. I sold it at a garage
sale the next month. But, hey, at least you're dressed for
the part," she said, her lips twisting into a grin.
    Trish looked down at her new exercise outfit the sales
lady at Sears had told her was absolutely perfect, right
down to the black leg warmers. "What's wrong with my
outfit?"
    "Nothing at all is wrong with it," Edna said, patting
her arm comfortingly.
    "Oh, come on, Edna," Millie scolded. "Trish needs to
hear the truth. Do you really want her going out in public
like that? You'd be as embarrassed as I would, and don't
bother denying it.
    "Trish, dear, you need to wait to wear those shiny leo tards and that elastic belt until you're over the donelap
disease."

    "The what?" Edna asked.
    "The donelap disease-you know, it's when your fat
`done lapped' over your waistline."
    "Millie!" Edna exclaimed.
    "It's okay, Edna," Trish said hurriedly before a fullscale war broke out. Edna must have missed the twinkle
in Millie's eyes. "We know Millie is exaggerating. She
doesn't embarrass that easily."
    Millie laughed. "Of course I'm kidding. I know you
want to get in shape and have more energy, but you don't
have that big a problem. You've been carrying on like
you're a two-ton Annie, and you're not. A little firming
up here and there," she said pointedly, peering at Trish's
butt over the rim of her eyeglasses, "and you'll be in
shape in-no-time."-
    "You look just fine, dear," Edna said, slanting her eyes
at Millie in warning. "Anyone who is trying to improve
their health can wear whatever they please and I'm proud
of you."
    "Yeah, I want to look my absolute best when I'm lying in my coffin having died of exercising," Trish said
wryly. No one spoke for a moment. "I'm sorry," she
said. "That was insensitive."
    Millie cleared her throat. "You didn't mean anything
by it, honey. It's natural for the living to go on living.
We say things that sometimes bring back sad memories, but we're human."
    Edna looked down at her clasped hands. "I sure do
miss her," she said softly.
    Trish and Millie both nodded silently. Edna was referring to Susan Wiley, a neighbor down the street who had died two weeks before in a tragic accident. They
hadn't seen much of Sam, Susan's husband, since the
funeral. He had withdrawn into himself, completely
devastated at the loss of his wife of forty years. They
knew it was going to take time for him to deal with his
grief, but they were concerned about him. All they
could do right now was to provide enough prepared
meals to help him get through this difficult period.

    Sam and Susan had regularly participated in the barbeques, card games, and luncheons that Millie, Edna,
and Trish organized. Only a week before her death, Susan had invited all three women over for lunch. She had
been her usual happy and vivacious self, a joy to be
around. Yes, Susan would be missed terribly.
    "Joe saw Claire a couple of days ago," Edna said. "Evidently Sam is thinking about moving in with his sister for
a while. He can't stand to be in the house where Susan
died." Claire had been the Wiley's housekeeper for the
last five years. Never married, she was a sweet woman
who became more of a friend to the Wileys than an employee. Susan used to boast that Claire, at age sixty, was a
true miracle worker around the