Once I'd made peace with it, I could face this reunion with something close to calm.
I picked up a glass of wine and raised it toward Glenda.
"Welcome home."
She looked caught off guard, but smiled and lifted her glass in return.
Just as Glenda was about to drink, Chester stopped her.
"Glenda, you just got over a cold. Let me drink it for you."
The room went silent.
Glenda didn't refuse. She smiled and said okay.
After Chester finished the glass, she tilted her head and looked at me.
"Georgina, don't take it the wrong way. Chester's just looking out for me. He doesn't mean anything by it."
I laughed softly, then splashed the wine in my hand straight into Chester's face.
"Oh? So you can talk now."
Wine slid down his cheeks and dripped onto his expensive shirt, blooming into a dark stain.
Every eye in the room locked on me, bright with the ugly thrill of someone else's wreckage.
Chester stared at me in disbelief.
A long silence. Then he dropped his voice and snarled:
"Georgina, have you lost your mind?"
I smashed the empty glass on the floor. "Shouldn't I be asking you that? You're the one who's been faking it."
Chester swallowed hard, guilt written all over his face.