Our Wicked Lies GledĂ© Kabongo (summer reading list .txt) đ
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- Author: Gledé Kabongo
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But Alicia wasnât impressed. She hadnât come all the way into the city to get the brush-off. âWhat happened last Thursday night, Kat? Eliot explained everything, but weâre best friends. Tell me in your own words. Then weâll put this incident behind us permanently.â
Kat picked up a thick leather notebook off her desk and quickly placed it inside the drawer, then continued shuffling papers.
âKatalina!â Alicia said sharply. âWhy did you have your hands all over my husband?â
Kat fingered her gold necklace and paused for a moment. Then she said, âYou want the sad, pathetic truth? Here goes. I thought something was going on between Richard and one of the lawyers at Tillerson Brenner who attended the party. I saw them together. Later on, as I chatted with Eliot, Richard approached. I wanted to hurt him, make him jealous. So, IâŠâ
âYou thought a provocative display would do the trick,â Alicia finished.
âYes. Iâm so sorry, Alicia. Iâm a terrible friend, and if you never want to speak to me again, Iâll understand.â
âIf that were the case, I wouldnât have bothered wasting my time trying to reach you. I donât condone what you did, although I do understand. Imagine the hurt and jealousy I felt when I saw you and Eliot.â
âI looked up and caught a glimpse of you disappearing. I had too much alcohol. Not that itâs an excuse.â
Kat clumsily brought her coffee mug to her lips, fingers trembling. She took a sip, then said, âI didnât mean to hurt you, Alicia. What I did was inexcusable and shameful. It wonât happen again.â
âMake sure it doesnât. What made you think Richard was cheating?â
She shrugged. âBody language. The way he stuck to her most of the night. She made him laugh. He seemed infatuated with her.â
âDid you ask him about her?â
âHe told me her father is dying of Alzheimerâs. She came to the party to get her mind off things. Turns out she and Richard knew each other in college. They hadnât seen each other in years until last Thursday night.â
She took another sip of her coffee and placed the mug on the desk. âI feel like such an idiot. What I mistook for a romantic interlude was my husband being the nice guy that he is, trying to comfort an old acquaintance.â
âWe all make mistakes,â Alicia said. She jiggled her foot, thankful it was out of Katâs line of vision. She had to believe Kat that it would never happen again. Believe Eliot when he said Alicia was the only woman for him, and that he would never step out on her with anyone, let alone her best friend.
âYou know me and my temper,â Kat said. âIf something doesnât smell right to me, I react, no matter the facts. I knew it was wrong, and I felt so awfulâ I couldnât look you in the eye. The next day was too soon. And the next. I just didnât know what to say.â
âItâs a good thing I barged in on you then.â
Kat said nothing for a moment, her body having curled itself into a sheepish ball. âLook, Iâm in no position to ask for a favor, but please donât say a word to Richard.â
Alicia waved a dismissive hand at her friend. âEliot and I talked it over and figured you knocked back a few too many and had a terrible lapse in judgment. I mean, what were you even thinking? But you donât have to worry about either of us saying anything. Just as long as this was an isolated incident, never to be repeated.â
âThank you. If the situation were reversed, I wouldnât be so quick to forgive.â
The women broke into a mirthless laugh as a printer spurred to life and spat out a few pages.
âIâm not as brazen as you to do something so ballsy. No pun intended,â Alicia offered.
âThatâs because youâre Eliotâs perfect angel.â
The women exchanged a knowing glance.
âHe wouldnât think so if he finds out what I did.â Alicia crossed her legs. âI have this recurring nightmare that Eliot finds out. Heâs full of rage. Then he collapses and wonât stop sobbing. He walks out afterward, saying heâs never coming back.â
Kat pushed back from the desk, stood, and then walked around. âYou want to hear a funny story?â
âGo ahead.â
âWhen I first met you, I thought, âThis chick is too good to be true. She must have dead bodies buried in her backyard or something and tries to cover it up by pretending to be a saint. With her perfect little family, immaculate home, and charity work.â Your kids looked up to you, and just when Iâd convinced myself it must all be an act, that nobody was that good a human being, you told me you were a virgin on your wedding night. I wanted to knock that stupid halo right off your head.â
Alicia couldnât help but smile. Kat had always been her staunchest defender and supporter.
âBut even angelsâ halos slip sometimes,â Kat continued. âWhen you told me about your bouts with depression, I thought, finally, sheâs human like the rest of us. I donât know⊠I stopped feeling as if I didnât measure up. Your struggles somehow freed me from believing I was the Wicked Witch of the West.â
âNo one thinks that, Kat.â
âSome of my former employees may disagree with you. Anyway, my point has three parts. A, your secret is safe with me. B, you canât undo it, so let it go, and C, it doesnât change who you are. Human.â
Kat always knew how to keep Alicia focused on the big picture whenever she beat herself up or had doubts. Kat came close, leaned in, and stared at Alicia without blinking. âLet the past stay in the past, amiga. Donât go looking for trouble. People who do, usually find it.â
âYouâre right. How about the present then? How are
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