• 21 •

The Small Change Club was now officially meeting on Saturday afternoons, and this Saturday the three friends were in Tiffany's kitchen, making jam from their freshly picked rasp-berries.

Tiffany had assured herself several times that she was having a great day. It was actually her birthday. She was now twenty-five.

And separated from her husband and childless. Some happy birthday. She'd gotten a card from her parents, signed by her mom, of course, with a check for fifty dollars enclosed. “Have a wonderful birthday, sweetie,” Mom had written.

She always told her mom everything, but so far she hadn't been able to bring herself to make that call, even though she knew she'd get plenty of sympathy. She didn't want sympathy. She wanted her life back. She wanted Brian back, even though he obviously didn't want her. How pathetic was that!

She'd only heard from him once since their not-so-close encounter on the street, and that had been the message he'd left on her voice mail telling her not to worry. He was taking care of paying the mortgage and utilities. There had been no call from him this morning, which was just as well. She couldn't even imagine what they'd say to each other.

Cara and Iris had a cake and balloons for her at the salon the day before, and she'd pretended to be happy, like she was doing now.

“I'm not sure this is saving us any money,” Jess observed, pulling the giant pot of bubbling berries, sugar, and pectin from the burner. “Jars and seals and sugar—a jar of jam doesn't cost that much at the store.”

“Of course we're saving money,” Rachel insisted. “The berries were free. Remember? And we'll reuse a lot of the jars. Plus we've got a start on Christmas.”

“I know my son will love getting a little basket of jams,” Jess retorted.

“Your mother-in-law will,” said Rachel. “Speaking of sons, what's the latest with Mikey?”

Jess smiled. “He and Michael made up, thank God. Michael actually called and apologized to him. He even admitted he'd forgotten how hard it is to hunt for a job.

“So is Mikey moving back?” asked Rachel as they ladled jam into jars.

Jess's smiled faded. “No. He's still staying with his friend.” She heaved a sigh. “It's probably just as well. I hate to admit it, but I think maybe we made it too easy for him letting him hang out at home. Mikey seems more motivated now. He's actually going to some temp agencies on Monday. Hopefully, that will work better for him than it did for me.”

“With a degree in business, it should,” said Rachel. “It looks like life is improving for all of us.” Tiffany could tell she was sorry the minute the words were out of her mouth. “I mean financially,” she added, looking apologetically at Tiffany. “And speaking of finances, how are your bids going?”

Okay, here was something Tiffany didn't have to pretend to be happy about. “Awesome. I made seven hundred dollars!”

“Whoa,” breathed Jess. “What can I sell?”

“What a great way to start whittling down those credit cards,” said Rachel. “That is something to celebrate.”

It looked like that was all they were celebrating today. Neither of her friends had said anything about her birthday, even though she'd been hinting all week. Tiffany turned back to finish sealing jars.

“Speaking of celebrations,” said Rachel, “someone has a birthday today and we have a cake from Sweet Somethings.”

“Your favorite,” added Jess as Rachel pulled out a pink cardboard cake box from her pantry. “Lemon poppy seed.”

“Aw, you remembered. You two are the best.” Everyone had remembered except Brian. Well, he'd probably remembered. He just didn't care anymore. She blinked back tears, determined not to ruin her friends’ sweet gesture.

Rachel lit the candles. “Okay, Jess, you sing ‘Happy Birthday.’ I can't carry a tune.” Jess obliged and Rachel added, “Make a wish.”

Tiffany closed her eyes and wished for all her bills to be paid off. At least it was something she had a hope of making come true.

As soon as she'd blown out the candles, Jess said, “And now, do you want to know what else we're doing to celebrate?”

“There's more?”

“We're going out tonight to hear Jess's band,” Rachel announced.

She wouldn't be alone on her birthday. “Awesome.”

“Wear your dancing shoes,” said Jess as Rachel handed Tiffany a piece of cake.

Tiff took a bite of the cake. The lemon frosting melted in her mouth. Oh, yeah, this was going to be a good birthday after all.

“What are you doing right now?” Chad asked.

Rachel propped her cell phone between her ear and shoulder and walked to her closet to pull out her black top. “I'm getting ready to go hear my friend Jess play with her new band.”

“Sounds like you need an escort.”

“I have an escort.”

“Who? I'll have to beat him up.”

“Tiffany.”

“So, you'll be out clubbing with your girlfriends?”

“Yes, I will. And dancing and picking up men,” she teased. As if any man could compete with the hot moves Chad had showed her on the dance floor.

“Picking up men, huh? Where is this club?”

She told him, pretending she had no suspicion why he asked.

“I think I might have to show up to make sure no one comes along and steals your heart.”

“Smart man,” she teased. “Actually, I'd love it if you came. I want you to meet my friends.”

“I'll see you later, then,” he said.

Sure enough, The Red Hots were finishing up their second set when Chad made his way between the tightly packed tables in the dark little hole in the wall to where Rachel and Tiffany sat, nursing drinks. Actually, Rachel was nursing her drink. Tiff was already on her third.

He slipped into a chair next to Rachel and gave her a kiss and Tiffany pointed at him. “Oh, my gosh. It's … you.”

“Yes, it is,” he agreed.

Tiffany's delicately penciled eyebrows took an angry dip. “I thought this was going to be just the girls,” she said to Rachel.

“I wanted to come by and meet Rachel's friends,” Chad said smoothly. “Can you make me an honorary girl for the night?”

“I guess,” Tiff said grudgingly. “It's my birthday,” she informed him. “We're celebrating. I thought it was just the girls,” she repeated, and frowned at Rachel.

The cocktail waitress arrived and Chad ordered a Scotch on the rocks.

“No more for me,” said Tiffany grumpily. “It's no fun to drink alone.”

“So, what are we, chopped liver?” Rachel retorted.

Jess joined them now, eyes shining. “Okay, guys, what do you think?”

“You're great,” said Tiffany. “An all-girl band, that's awesome. Who needs men?”

Okay, this was getting embarrassing. “She's having some problems with her husband,” Rachel explained to Chad. “She's not usually like this.”

“I'm probably going to be like this for the rest of my life,” Tiff said, gazing into her glass.

Jess ignored her as if she was a naughty child, instead turning her attention to Chad. “I'm Rachel's neighbor, Jess Sharp.”

“I've heard a lot about you. Both of you,” Chad added, including Tiffany.

“You'd better not break her heart,” warned Tiff. “She already had one man do that, you know. You're all bastards.”

“That is an opinion not shared by everyone at this table,” said Jess. “Not even Tiffany. Don't let her have any more mudslides,” she said to Rachel.

“I don't want any more,” Tiffany retorted irritably.

Jess ignored her again, saying to Chad, “I love the new color you painted the house.”

“Thanks.”

“My husband is the biggest bastard of them all,” said Tiffany, and downed the last of her drink.

The cocktail waitress arrived with Chad's drink. He paid and gave her a hefty tip, surprising Rachel. For a man who didn't have any money, Chad Alvarez was a big tipper.

Jess saw her bandmates starting for the stage. “I guess I'd better get back to work,” she said, rising. “Thanks for coming, guys.”

Chad stood, politely, seeing her on her way.

A moment later the music started again with Jess singing Alicia Keys’ “Everything's Gonna Be Alright.” “Want to dance?” he asked Rachel.

“Go ahead,” said Tiff, her voice dripping with resentment. “Have fun.”

“This really wasn't one of my better ideas,” Rachel said, once Chad had her in his arms. She looked over to their table. Tiffany was pouting now. Even pouting, she looked cute and a guy in a baseball cap and a Mariner's shirt was already pulling up a chair next to her. “She's not normally like this, really.”

“I understand hurt, don't worry. Everybody has to work through their shit in their own way.” He planted a kiss behind Rachel's ear, making her shiver.

She understood hurt, too. It turned a woman into a raging river of bitter tears. She didn't want to go there ever again. But where was this relationship taking her? She wished she knew. Then she'd know whether to bail out now or chance the rapids. Chad's arm skimmed her back, heating her skin. Surely, surely this was too right to go wrong.

Tiffany decided to stop being a pill. It was no fun being a pill on your birthday. Better to have fun. Break hearts. She clapped and cheered for Jess. She ordered another drink. And she danced. And danced. And danced. “You know,” she told her new number-one fan, taking his hat off and putting it on her head, “Tonight's my birthday and I'm all alone.”

“Well, I can change that if you want.”

“I don't know what I want anymore,” she muttered, punctuating her observation with a hiccup.

“Do you want another drink, birthday girl?”

“No, that's okay,” said Rachel, appearing out of nowhere and giving the guy the stink eye. “She's had enough to drink. It's time to go home.”

That was easy for Rachel, Tiffany thought as her friend hauled her off. Rachel had a home, with children. All Tiffany had was a house.

And it was dark and uninviting. No Jeep in the driveway, which meant she had no husband waiting to make up. She wished she'd remembered to leave a light on as she fumbled for the front hall light switch. There was something so creepy about an empty, dark house.

Suddenly she realized her house wasn't empty. A solitary figure was coming toward her in the dark.