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men be relied upon to love you

The next , Philip came to the hotel to see Lola For a moment, she’d held out hope that he would tell her it was all a mistake, and he loved her after all But when she opened the door, his expression revealed that he hadn’t changed his mind; indeed, as if to make a point, under his arm were the Post and the Daily News They went downstairs to the restaurant, and Philip put the papers on the table “Do you want to see theive hihtily, as if she were above such things

“Listen, Lola,” he began

“Why are you here?” she asked

“I owe you an apology”

“I don’t want to hear it”

“I , and I should have known better I never should have allowed our relationship to continue I should have ended it before Christmas”

Lola’s stos Benedict—and Lola looked at her plate, wondering if she’d ever be able to eat again Had her whole relationship with Philip been a lie? Then she understood “You used me,” she accused him

“Oh, Lola” Philip sighed “We used each other”

“I loved you,” Lola said fiercely

“No, you didn’t,” Philip said “You loved the idea ofdifference”

Lola threw her napkin onto her plate of eggs “Let , Philip Oakland I hate you And I will always hate you For the rest of ain”

Holding her head high, she got up and walked out of the restaurant, leaving Philip sitting there, embarrassed

A little later, leaving the hotel with her ot to the airport, however, she bought the papers; and seeing her photograph on the third page of the Post, and reading the brief story about how Philip had duan to feel better She wasn’t some little nobody She was Lola Fabrikant, and someday she would show Philip and Enid what aher

Now, scanning the pew containing Philip and Enid, she saw Schiffer Dia next to Philip, followed by auburn-haired Annalisa Rice A fes behind theid blond bob, and next to her was James Gooch, with that familiar sweet bald spot on the top of his head Ah, Jaotten about James, as apparently back from his book tour Now he sat before her, like Providence She took out her iPhone “I’m behind you in the church,” she texted