THE TEXT FROM Kitty arrived while Liz was pulling laundry from the dryer in the basement of her building: M & D took L & H out for dinner at country club last nite. Thot u want to know.

Liz called her sister immediately. “This is huge,” Liz said. “Don’t you think?”

“I guess.” Kitty’s voice sounded flat, possibly bored.

“Are you painting your nails right now?” Liz asked.

“If I was,” Kitty said, “how would I just have texted you?”