"You've turned into a real bitch," Jeff snarled at Nora.

"Only two good things came out of our marriage, Jeff, J. J. and Jill," Nora told him. "I feel sorry for Heidi. She'll learn soon enough what a jerk you really are."

Jeff Buckley stormed past his attorney and stalked out of the room. Raoul Kramer followed at a discreet pace.

"I'm glad I'm not riding back to the city with him," Rick said with a grin. "Well, I think that went rather well, considering. I think we can get you a half interest in the house, and some alimony until you're able to get a job that will support you. I had already told Kramer about the accounts, but I don't think he gave it much credence until you blew your top at Jeff, Nora."

"This isn't fair," Nora muttered.

"No, it isn't, but the law isn't always about what's right, or what's fair. It's about the law," Rick told her.

"Let the house be appraised. I'll buy his half from him," Nora said.

"Honey, you couldn't get a mortgage," Rick said. "You don't have any credit. Your one credit card is in his name. The phone is in his name. The electricity. The water. The gas. And you don't have a job, nor the hope of one for a while. I'm sorry, Nora. Those are the facts."

"I don't care what I have to do," Nora said, and now her voice was shaking. "I… I'm not going to let him sell my home!" Then she turned, and left Rick Johnson's office.

She didn't tell J. J. of her meeting. No need for him to worry. He was heading off to State next week. She had intended on driving him, but the school was sending a bus all over the vicinity to pick up the new players of the various campus sports on scholarship. This way, it was reasoned, they could begin to get to know one another on their ride up to school. In a way she was glad. She wouldn't have a long lonely ride home. She had bought J. J. one of those prepaid cell phones with three hundred minutes on it.

"Don't use up all your minutes calling Lily," she warned him. "I want to hear from you, and know you're alright. Those minutes should last you until Homecoming Weekend. I'll buy you more minutes then, okay?"

His main concern was that she be alright, but Nora assured her son she would be fine. He was to study hard and play well. "He says he's selling the house," J. J. told his mother. "He can't do that, can he, Ma?"

"I don't want you to worry, J. J.," Nora said. "We're not losing our home. I will not allow that to happen. When did you talk to your father?"

"He called the other day when you and Carla were out shopping. I had just got home from work. I wouldn't have talked to him otherwise. Do you know what he had the gall to say to me, Ma, just before he hung up? Heidi says hi. Like I care!"

Nora laughed at her son's outrage. "I hope you said hi back," she teased.

"In your dreams, Ma!" he chuckled.

And then it was J. J. day to leave her, and she drove down to the Egret Pointe village green, where the bus was going to meet the football, soccer, tennis, swimming, and lacrosse players going to State. There were half a dozen boys standing there and three girls. The big bus pulled up, and the driver got out, opening the baggage compartments. Luggage was stowed, and the kids began to board. Nora hugged her son, and J. J. hugged her back.

"Be good," she whispered in his ear.

"Yeah." His voice was a little shaky.

"Call me when you get settled," Nora told him, pretending she hadn't noticed.

"Yeah, okay." He hugged her again and then, turning abruptly away, got on the bus. He found a window seat, and knocked on the window at her.

Nora saw him and smiled bravely. The door closed. The driver released his brakes with a hiss, and the bus began to pull away. Nora waved, feeling the tears pushing forward. Several other mothers were already crying, and being comforted by their husbands. The bus was gone. She walked to J. J.'s jalopy and got in. She had no one to comfort her. Not here. But she had already ordered The Channel for this evening. She hadn't seen Kyle in several days now, and their last meetings had been hurried ones because Nora was so nervous about anyone, especially J. J., learning her secret. Now, however, she would be alone in her house. Alone to live out her wildest fantasies with her lover. And no one would ever know. It was her secret. Hers, and the secret of all the other women, whoever they might be, outside of Ansley Court.

She thought about the meeting she had had with Mr. Nicholas earlier this summer. When this mess with Jeff was settled, she was going to tell everyone she was going away for a few days, everyone but Carla, and then she was going to take a delicious vacation in The Channel. She would close the den door tightly, and Carla would come and feed the cats twice a day. She thought about waking up next to Kyle, and maybe even Rolf too, in that great big bed, in that sensuous room. Rolfie would massage her every day. She would have a facial, manicure, pedicure. She would demand to be treated like a queen, and they would do it because it was The Channel, where all your fantasies came true.

Nora laughed aloud as she drove along back to her house. And jerky old Jeff back in the city, forced to pay the interest on a bridge loan so Heidikins could have her co-op. She suspected Heidi wasn't stupid enough to let Jeff put just his name on the deed of ownership. Jeff couldn't possibly imagine what a wonderful time his soon-to-be-discarded wife was having getting her brains fucked out by two very virile and handsome young men. Nora was still laughing as she pulled into her drive. Tonight couldn't come soon enough.

Chapter Seven


The autumn came, and Carla remarked that she thought Nora was really losing a lot of weight. "Haven't you noticed? Your clothes are hanging on you. Are you eating enough, sweetie?"

"I'm fine," Nora reassured her friend, "but I miss our coffee hours, and I miss all the kids on the court. It'll really be empty next year when the twins are gone, and Tiff is already working in Joe and Rick's office. She goes to class a couple of mornings a week, and then works the afternoons. Even you're gone during the days now."

"Yeah, I was really lucky being able to switch to the seven-a.m.-to-three-p.m. shift from nights," Carla said. "I can be home now in plenty of time to fix a nice dinner for Rick, and then when he goes to sleep before nine"- she grinned-"I can spend an hour or two playing in The Channel."

"I wonder if the others are playing too?" Nora said softly.

"Rina is back full-time with social services. They need case workers desperately, especially experienced ones like Rina. And Joanne is subbing this year for one of the fourth-grade teachers who's out on maternity leave."

"When did that happen?" Nora asked.

"The sub they had got preggers too, and without benefit of clergy. The school board wasn't too thrilled, but it's a difficult pregnancy and so she quit. They called in Joanne," Carla explained.

"Fourth grade," Nora said softly. "I remember fourth grade."

"Yeah, the year when all nice little kids turn into know-it-all, smart-mouthed preteens," Carla replied. "I don't envy Joanne one bit. How are your classes coming? You never did tell me what you decided to take."

"Introduction to Computers, Introduction to Business Management, Beginning Marketing, and a course called How to Get a Job in Today's Market. That one only meets once a week, but it's fascinating, and it's scary. I wish I was more interested in teaching, but I'm just not," Nora said.

"Doing any Channel surfing?" Carla said with a grin.

"Every night," Nora replied. "I don't know what I'd do without Kyle and Rolf."

"My God, Nora, no wonder you look so drawn!" Carla exclaimed. "You've got a full course load, and you're partying all night. When the hell do you sleep? Not to mention get your homework done." Her brown eyes showed concern.

"My schedule is set up so I only have classes three days a week. I go nine to noon two days, and nine to one on Wednesdays. I come home and do the course work and the reading. I'm asleep by five thirty most nights, up at nine, and into The Channel for some fun. I'm limiting my time there on school nights. I'm home by one a.m., and then up at seven thirty on school days. I've never been happier," Nora said with a smile. "Jeff isn't as happy," she laughed. "You're right, though. My clothes are hanging on me these days. I'll have to do some alterations. I just don't have the funds for new stuff, but I'm going to splurge and get my hair colored. Jeff wouldn't let me, but nothing ages a woman more than too much weight and faded hair."

"Are you dieting?" Carla asked.

"Nah," Nora said.

"What did you eat for breakfast this morning?" Carla demanded to know.

"I grabbed a yogurt and cup of coffee before I left," Nora replied.

"And lunch? What did you eat for lunch?" Carla persisted.

Nora thought a moment. "I forgot lunch," she said.

"It looks like you're forgetting lunch a lot these days," Carla told her, and going to Nora's fridge, she opened it to peer inside. "Good grief!" she exclaimed. "There's nothing in here."

"Yes, there is too," Nora responded.

"Half a cooked chicken, and you didn't cook it. It's one of those rotisserie birds from the market," Carla said. "A bowl of salad greens. Yogurt, a couple of bottles of flavored soda water, cheddar cheese, and some two percent milk. Nora, you aren't cooking for yourself! No butter? No bread?" She pulled open the top freezer. There was a package of Stouffer's macaroni and cheese, a bag of frozen green beans, and two packages of frozen chopped spinach. "No ice cream?" Carla shook her head. "Honey, you aren't taking care of yourself," she fretted. "You're going to get sick."

"I don't know how to cook for one," Nora muttered. "Besides, I take a multivitamin pill every day, Carla. I'm hardly skin and bones right now."

"You were a size sixteen, and I would put money on it that you've lost at least two dress sizes," Carla said, her sharp eye examining her best friend.

"I used to be a size eight," Nora said.

"Older women who lose too much weight always look their age, or older if they don't have the dollars to do face work, and you don't, sweetie. And even those women who do, hell, you can tell. I don't care how good the doctor is- those done-over faces on older gals always end up looking like an Egyptian death mask. There comes a time when a woman should age gracefully."

"I am aging gracefully," Nora laughed, "but losing a little weight will be good for my heart and blood pressure. Look at Margo. My mother is in her early seventies, and still a size six. And she doesn't look her age at all."

"Come to dinner tonight," Carla said.

"I've got a test tomorrow. I can't," Nora responded. "I'm not even going to go play tonight."

"I'm having my famous manicotti with meat sauce, and that garlic bread you love so much," Carla tempted.

Nora laughed again. "Bring me over some later, and I'll freeze it for another night."

Carla sighed. "When are you seeing Rick again?" she asked.

"Friday, after school," Nora answered. "Then I'm heading up to State for Parents Weekend. J. J. asked me to come."

"We're going too," Carla said. "Ride with us?"

"I will," Nora said. "I hate making that drive alone. Where are you staying?"

"The Fairfax Inn," Carla responded.

"Me too! That's great." Nora smiled. "It'll be fun."

"Okay, you're off the hook for tonight. I'll bring you some manicotti to freeze."

But after meeting with her lawyers on Friday afternoon, Nora didn't know if she wanted to go anywhere. She felt sick with their news. More than anything, she just wanted to find a hole, crawl into it, and die.

"What do you mean, I can't get the house?" she demanded of Rick. "It's the only thing I want from him. Nothing else."