I turn her way, a bit surprised by her comment. “I wonder if Stassi wishes it had worked out for the two of them.”
Carlotta nods. “If I learned one thing about being the other woman, it’s that you never give up. Trust me. Those kinds of men know exactly what to say to keep you coming back for more.” Her head jerks to the left. “Harry’s here.” She gives a friendly wave. “Gotta run.”
She takes off and I make a face at Ariella. “Harry would be the man she played mistress to—and also my father.” I shrug. “I guess I was born out of controversy. It’s not a wonder this baby will be, too.” I glance back at Stassi and Slater, and they don’t look nearly as upset as they did a few minutes ago. In fact, they look as if they’re getting along. “How do you like that?” I ask as I step up beside her. “Maybe they’ll get together after all.”
Lil’ Mama barks. “Jazzy never cared who got her leftovers. I say good riddance.”
Ariella’s head inches back. “Well, look at that indeed.” Her nostrils flare a moment. “Excuse me, I need to refresh my drink and maybe get some of that cake.” She takes off and Nell glides over, scooping Lil’ Mama in her arms.
“What a treat to see you in action, Lottie,” Nell coos. “How I wish I were here to see it more often.”
“How I wish there was never any action for me to take part in ever again. But I’d want you here twenty-four seven anyway, Nell,” I say through the side of my mouth while giving Lil’ Mama’s head a quick scratch. If anyone accuses me of talking to myself, I’ll just tell them I’m singing along to the music.
Lil’ Mama gives a few sharp yips. “Here comes another one, Lottie!”
I look up to see Stassi about to pass me by and I step into her path.
Stassi has her silver hair cascading down her shoulders in thick rope-like waves, and it looks like a crystal river flowing down her back. She’s wearing a tight little red dress, and I can’t help but think she looks like a naughty Mrs. Claus.
“Stassi,” I say as I stretch a smile just for her. “You look stunning tonight.”
“And you are glowing.” She leans in and I get a lungful of her sickly sweet perfume. “You’re really ready, aren’t you?”
“Ready and willing.” I pat my belly a little too hard and another Braxton Hicks nightmare ensues. I close my eyes a moment, just hoping to get over the hump.
“Lottie?” Nell leans in. She’s the one that’s glowing. And those miniature stars that are dotted through her hair make me want to stare at her for hours. “My goodness. Are you in labor?”
“Are you okay, Lottie?” Stassi asks and I find her grimacing once I open my eyes.
“I’m fine. And everyone keeps asking. I must look miserable. But you didn’t look miserable.” I tick my head toward the door. “I saw you talking to Slater. Are things on the mend between you two?”
“On the mend? I don’t think so. Slater is just as greasy as Jazzy was in my eyes. He set me up as much as she did.”
“That’s okay, you don’t have to pretend. It was you who was having an affair with Slater. He liked you a lot. I watched the show yesterday. It was really evident he had a thing for you.”
She chuckles. “Lottie, Slater has a thing for any and every woman. I’ll admit, he likes to look. But I’m not the mistress in this scenario. And I can promise you I’ll never be with Slater Sutton. For all I know, he’s the one that pulled the trigger that night.”
“But wasn’t it you who asked Jazzy to step outside that night so you could talk things through?” I nod as I say it as if coaxing her to agree with me.
She laughs out loud at the thought. “Lottie? You must be mistaking me for someone else. There’s no way I would have asked Jazzy to step outside with me—for fear of her shanking me. No thank you. I wasn’t in the mood to smooth anything over with her. As far as I was concerned, she’s the one that owed me an apology. But I suppose that will never happen now. And I also suppose my good name will never be cleared. People will always assume I was the other woman—as evidenced by this conversation.” She huffs a dull laugh as she looks to the entry, and I turn that way myself. “It looks as if I’m not the only one who wants nothing to do with Slater Sutton.”
Lil’ Mama barks. “Include me in that number, please. Although he is handsome. He would have made beautiful puppies with my Jazzy.”
Standing next to Slater is a rather irate looking Ariella, and indeed they seem to be going at it.
“I think I see one of my old classmates looking lean and mean.” Stassi giggles as she looks to her left at a man standing on his own with a drink in his hand. “I’m going to ask him to dance. Here’s hoping I can get the rumor mill swinging in the opposite direction.”
She takes off and I stare over at Ariella.
“What is it, Lottie?” Nell swoops in close.
“She used to help Jasmine, the woman who was killed, run her door-to-door food service. And when she offered to have my meals delivered for the week, it almost sounded as if she was still carrying on with it. Slater says she is, but she says she isn’t.” I pull out my phone and look up the business once again. “Carlotta looked it up for me last night and said it was closed.”
“What did I look up?” Carlotta appears and snatches Lil’ Mama from the air and rocks her like a baby. “Harry’s talking politics with the yuppies
