Second Time Around Read Free Page A

hundred and fifty thousand.”
    “But that’s too much! She can’t do that!”
    “She already did. According to her estate attorney, she wants us to pay off our student loans and our credit cards—or, in my case, home equity loans taken out to pay for invitro—and use the rest to start over. Follow our bliss. Fight the power.”
    Jamie pushed off the wall, grabbed her handbag from her employee locker, and dug out a cellophane-wrapped pack of cigarettes.
    Anna paused when the lighter sparked. “Are you smoking?”
    “No.” Jamie closed her eyes and inhaled. The initial hit of nicotine rendered her light-headed for a moment, reminding her of how hard it had been to quit two years ago and why she shouldn’t have surrendered to the temptation to buy this “emergency reserve” pack on Monday when Cait had called to break the news about Arden.
    “Liar. Don’t make me send you another ashtray shaped like a blackened lung.”
    “Ugh. That thing was grotesque.” Jamie shuddered at the memory and stubbed out the smoke. “Listen, I can’t talk now because I’ve gotta start my shift, but you tell the powers that be that I don’t want any of Arden’s money. I already owe her more than I can ever repay. You, Brooke, and Cait can split it three ways.”
    “But her will says—”
    “I don’t care.” Jamie’s tone was sharper than she’d intended. “I’m not taking any of that money.”
    “But—”
    “No.
Non
.
Nyet
. End of discussion.”
    Anna paused, then asked, “Did something happen? Between you and Arden?”
    Fuck it
. Jamie extracted a fresh cigarette and lit up again. “No. Of course not. What are you talking about?”
    “I don’t know. But why are you so adamant about this?”
    “I love that girl like a sister and she’s only thirty-two and I will not profit from her death. There is no upside to this. Not for me.”
    “We all loved Arden,” Anna said softly. “But refusing this inheritance isn’t going to bring her back. This was her wish, Jame. She wanted to give us a gift.”
    “Well, I don’t want any part of it.” Jamie dragged on her cigarette and watched the ash crumble down onto her tight black halter top.
    Anna resumed her usual authoritative attitude. “Don’t make any final decisions right now. You’ll have time to think it over later when you’re not so shell-shocked.”
    Jamie finished her cigarette and tossed the rest of the pack into the trash with a physical pang of longing. “That’s a good word for it. The whole thing is still so surreal. My brain can’t process anything beyond the most superficial details. Like, you know what I was thinking while I was driving to work tonight:
What am I going to wear?
Honest to God. I can’t believe I’m going to go home tonight and open my closet and try to find something appropriate for Arden Henley’s funeral.”
    “Knowing Arden, she’d probably want you to show up in that micro-mini leopard print number and four-inch red heels. With a six-pack of wine coolers.” Anna’s laugh ended in a sigh.
    “Yeah, I’m sure her parents would really appreciate that. Not to mention the minister. I think I’ll stick to basic black and a purse full of tissues. Are we still on for the airport pickup tomorrow?”
    “Text me when you land. I’ll pick you up at the curb.”
    “Is Jonas coming with you?”
    Anna hesitated. “Um, I don’t think so.”
    “Oh?” Jamie waited a few seconds for Anna to elaborate, then prompted, “Everything okay with you guys?”
    “Mm-hmm.”
    “I know you’re holding out on me.”
    “And I know you’re smoking again.”
    “Well, aren’t we all just jam-packed with knowledge?”
    “Love you, Jame. Have a safe flight.”
    W hen Jamie emerged from the break room, the bar manager was waiting with the latest copy of the employee schedule in his hand and an irritated expression on his Botoxed, exfoliated face.
    “Why are your shifts X-ed out for the next three days?” he demanded. “We’ve been