After Kate had vented for a while, she started to calm down. She didn’t look any happier, though. Louise passed the crackers and cheese around. The cheddar was rich and salty, which Izzy liked, but the crackers were very dry. She sipped water while Louise opened the second bottle of wine and topped up Kate, Dee and Melanie’s glasses.
Louise was so busy playing the host she had hardly taken a sip or two from her own glass so far. And Izzy wasn’t sure Tess had touched her wine. The lawyer looked shocked by Kate’s news, and her cold eyes darted about the room, never settling on anything for long.
Kate slumped back in her chair with her freshly filled glass.
“What about you?” she said, looking at Izzy. “What’s your deal?”
“Me? No deal.”
“You said you’re a waitress?” Kate spoke loudly.
“Yeah, at Shake Diner.”
“Nice! Boyfriend?”
“Yeah – I mean no.”
She’d had a boyfriend until this afternoon, if that’s what Adam could be called. A fiancé, actually. But it was definitely over now.
Kate raised her eyebrows and recrossed her long legs. “Make up your mind. Which is it?”
“We’ve just split up,” Izzy said.
She realised that she’d made the decision sound mutual, when it was anything but.
“Leave her alone,” Louise said. “You know she only moved here today.”
“Elaine was a cold fish, wasn’t she?” Kate said. “No offence, Izzy, but your aunt kept to herself. Was she always like that?”
“I guess she was a private person. I hadn’t seen much of her in the months before she died.” A cold wave of shame washed over Izzy. “She didn’t get on with my partner.”
“That’s enough prying into Izzy’s life,” Louise said, wagging a finger at Kate.
Kate ignored her. “So what do you do for fun?”
“I like crafts,” Izzy said. “I made this bag.”
Everyone’s eyes went to the bag. Izzy was sorry she’d mentioned it. They probably only cared about expensive bags from fancy stores. Izzy was surprised when Kate’s eyes widened in admiration.
“That’s gorgeous. Can I see it?”
“Sure.” Izzy passed the bag over.
Kate admired it closely, running her finger along the heart on the side. “Oh my god. It’s beautiful. I need one. Can you make me one? You could be a big-name fashion designer.”
“It’s just a hobby.” Izzy shrugged. “I don’t want to be famous.”
Kate peered inside the bag.
“What have we got here? I don’t mean to pry but I see A Study in Scarlet. And Crime and Punishment. I love this book. Raskolnikov is such a cool character.”
Izzy felt like snatching the bag back. She did her best to keep the irritation from her voice. “Actually, it’s a diary.”
Kate looked at her. “What do you mean? It’s a novel.”
“That isn’t really Crime and Punishment. It’s a diary disguised as a novel. My aunt’s diary.”
Kate took it out of the bag and flicked through it. Izzy had to stifle the urge to grab it from her.
“Don’t even think about reading that,” Louise said. “I’m sure it’s private.”
Kate shrugged and continued flicking through the pages. “Wow, your aunt wrote a lot.”
“Yep. I just found it this evening.”
“I hope you don’t find any shocking secrets,” Kate said. “Like that your aunt suddenly decided she was a man one day.”
She slipped the diary back into Izzy’s handbag.
Baxter began barking in the hall. Louise rose from her chair as the door to the sitting room burst open. Louise’s husband came into the room.
“Hello, ladies,” Robert said in a booming voice. Baxter wagged his tail and ran around Robert. “How are we all doing?”
Louise frowned. “You’re home early.”
“I was wondering why I was never invited to join your club.”
“Ladies only,” Kate said.
“That’s sexism.”
“I don’t care what it is, Robert. You’re not joining us.”
“You don’t want me in your club, fine. But this is my house. I’m allowed be in my own house, aren’t I?”
Louise sighed. “Of course, you are. Why don’t you go upstairs until we’re done?”
Robert gave her an indulgent smile. “I’m curious about what a book club is actually like. I’ve never been in one.”
“You’ve never read a book either.”
“Yeah, well. I don’t have much time for that. What are you reading, anyway?”
“Sherlock Holmes.”
“Oooh, I see Melanie has a very nice-looking copy of it with her. That’s lovely. It’s as beautiful as her perfectly manicured garden.” He sniggered. “Have you read it or do you just take selfies with it?”
“I’ve read it three times,” Melanie said in an icy voice. “First when I was thirteen and then again when I—”
“No need for your life story.” Robert turned to Izzy. “And you? New girl, have you got the book?”
Izzy nodded towards her handbag, sitting in Kate’s lap. “I bought it today. I’ve read a few chapters.”
Robert’s smile vanished. “What? You haven’t finished it?”
Louise crossed her arms and shifted weight from one foot to another.
“For god’s sake, Robert, would you stop making a show of yourself? I’ve never been so embarrassed in all my life. I’m amazed Izzy had time to find a copy of the book, never mind read any of it. She only arrived this afternoon.”
“True,” Robert said. “That’s somewhat understandable, I suppose.”
Louise sighed. “Never mind somewhat understandable. It’s none of your business.”
Robert pointed at Dee. “You?”
She held up a library copy of the book.
“You?” Robert pointed to Tess.
“Leave me alone,” Tess said.
This made Robert laugh. “I guess you’ll be sending me a cease-and-desist letter. Maybe a summons to court too. Have you read it or not, Tess?”
“If you must know, I’m listening to the audiobook. Stephen Fry reads it and he—”
“What about you?” he said, pointing at Kate.
“I read stuff on my phone.”
“I’m asking if you have you read this book.”
“Nope.”
“What?”
Kate said, “Would you stop playing the buffoon?”
“Excuse me,” Robert said. “I think this is a book club, and you should have read the book. You’ve got nothing else to do, do you? I mean, you call yourself an actress, but you’ve never actually acted in anything.”
“You have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“It doesn’t take a genius to know what a book club is.”
“It doesn’t take a genius,” Kate agreed, “but it takes someone smarter than you, apparently.”
“Get up.” Robert grabbed Kate by the arm. “Come on, stand up.”
“Let go, you idiot! Get your hands off me.”
Suddenly everyone was talking loudly, and Baxter was barking like crazy and running in circles.
Robert yanked Kate out of her seat.
“It’s a book club and you haven’t read the book. You know what that means? You’re out.”
He dragged Kate to the door, then shoved her through it. They were both roaring at each other. Kate put up a spirited fight, but Robert was stronger.
Soon everyone was on their feet. Baxter was still barking, now even louder, and running in panicked circles.
Izzy had the sinking feeling that something terrible was about to happen.
Louise followed Robert and Kate out to the hall and everyone else followed after her.
Izzy arrived in time to see Robert open the door to the street and push Kate out. She stumbled down a couple of steps. Izzy had a moment of terror when she thought Kate would fall, but she grabbed onto the railing and steadied herself.
“And stay gone,” Robert roared and slammed the door shut. He turned to the other ladies. “Now, that’s how you run a book club.”