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“Ugh,” Pandy groaned She’d forgotten about Meghan in her brief excite I shouldn’t even go on this stupid date If Meghan is upset, it’s not worth it”

“She’s not upset,” Suzette broke in “In fact, she’s just the opposite In fact,” she repeated, “we all agree that you and Jonny han wanted ht for her, it doesn’t ht for someone And why shouldn’t that someone be you?”

The question startled Pandy, enough so that it caused her to pause for several seconds while she considered which version of “Who cares?” Suzette ; she blurted out: “We’re coht now to discuss it”

She hung up before Pandy could object

Forty-five minutes later, Pandy opened the door to find Suzette, Portia, and Meghan standing there, each clutching a bottle of white wine

Frouessed they’d been at one of those Upper East Side bistros when Suzette had called

“Hello, ht cigarettes”

“Only five,” Meghan said

“Give ”

“What are you going to wear?” Portia asked breathlessly

“I’ to wear sleeveless white wool and putan off-white textured kitten heel Simple jewelry”

“Sleeveless white wool? On a date? That’s not very sexy,” Portia said

“Oh, I’ about the date,” Pandy continued blithely “Didn’t Suzette tell you aboutup to Henry’s office first He’s going to take photographs ofthe papers I’ll meet Jonny afterward”

She went into the kitchen to pour thelass of white wine

Why was everyone so excited about Jonny and not her good fortune, she wondered, relasses from the dishwasher They all kne important her career was to her; they were also well acquainted with Jonny’s questionable reputation An i in Monica’s pupils—came to mind, and she smiled In the shadow of the htly tarnished