Totlandia: Winter (16 page)

A paddle.

She slid it across the table to Bettina. “I brought it, just in case. It’s Art’s favorite. Savor each swat. Start out soft, but get harder. Trust me, he will, too.”

Bettina blanched. “You’re disgusting.”

Kelly laughed uproariously. Before Bettina could stop her, Kelly kissed her on the lips and whispered, “And you’re a natural. Just go with your feelings.”

Kelly was almost out the door before Bettina could find her voice. Bettina had half a mind to throw the paddle after her.

Instead, she slipped it into her bag.

3:30 p.m.

Bettina waited until Eleanor took Dante and Lily into the kitchen for ice cream before turning to Lorna and saying, “I know.”

Lorna blinked, but kept silent.

“About Art and Kelly. I know about them, Lorna. And I know you know about them, too, because I saw you coming out of my bathroom. It’s been two whole days! Why didn’t you tell me?”

Lorna sighed. “What would you have done if I had? Would you have believed me?”

Probably not
, Bettina thought, but she wasn’t going to admit it.

As if reading her mind, Lorna asked, “See? It’s a no-win situation for me. Either way, you would have hated me.”

Bettina shrugged. “I hate you already, so that’s not the point. The point is that
you weren’t loyal to me
. Not as loyal as I’ve been to you.”

It was Lorna’s turn to laugh. “Oh, really? Pray tell, how so?”

“I warned you about Kelly. Remember? When he took her virginity, it almost caused a permanent rift between our families. Matt never thinks of the bigger picture. We both know that.”

It was a lie. There had been nothing to warn her about. Kelly’s bullshit about Matt was just that: bullshit. Bettina loved slinging it in Lorna’s face.

Not to mention watching the light go out in Lorna’s eyes. So Lorna had believed Kelly after all.

And now she believes me too, the fool.

“Tomorrow, I’ll be the one to tell your girlfriends they’re in the clear, so try to keep your mouth shut until then. You know, infractions can still get one exiled from the club. I hope you watch yourself, for Dante’s sake.”

Lorna gave a slight nod.

Bettina couldn’t be sure her sister-in-law had heard her, she was so hurt.

That was okay. Mission accomplished.

***

Or maybe not.

Lorna had left Dante at the Palace of Fine Arts pond with Ally and Zoe. By the time she got there, Jillian had also shown up with Addison and Amelia. Jade just crossed the street from her house with Oliver and waved at her.

When they were all together, Lorna filled them in on the news that Kelly was gone.

She didn’t tell them the real reason, but the “official” one, which was bad enough. “She used Stanlee Gatti to decorate the potluck, and Bettina found out.”

Everyone sat there, stunned. Then Jillian piped up, “Do you mean we’re all in the clear? That we’re in?”

Lorna smiled. “Yes, but let Bettina tell you this tomorrow. Mum’s the word.”

Jade slapped her forehead. “I can’t believe this nightmare is over.”

“Yes! Mission accomplished,” Ally added.

Lorna winced when she heard that term. Their private missions were far from over. Ally still had to run a company on the sly. Eventually, the club would find out about Jillian’s divorce. Would she be ostracized? And if news of Jade’s past ever surfaced, she’d be booted out for sure.

So would she and Dante, if Bettina learned of his condition. It would give her the excuse she needed to punish her sister-in-law.

“Well, one thing’s for sure,” Lorna declared, “Bettina and her club weren’t able to break up our friendship.”

At least, not yet.

She held out her hand. Ally put hers on top of it, and Jillian followed suit.

Jade’s was the last hand on top. But she looked down at her feet. That way, she didn’t have to look any of the others in the eye.

Enjoyed Totlandia: The Onesies, Book 2 (Winter)? Want to find out what happens next? Click here to buy the next book in the series, Totlandia: The Onesies, Book 3 (Spring)!