Edith watched Pennie fuss over the conversation, half–expecting her to blurt out that Lucille was pregnant with Justin’s child.

She set her fork aside and fixed Pennie with a steady gaze. “Go on, then. Say what’s on your mind.”

Justin shot his cousin a sharp look, his brow furrowed in irritation.

How did the usuallyposed Hawksley family end up with isomeone /ias impulsive as her?

Lucille, ever the peacemaker, tried to hush Pennie in her gentle way. “Pennie, maybe this isn’t the best thing to say in front of Edith. She’s bound to be upset if you bring it up.”

Edith didn’t particrly dislike Pennie; if anything, it was Lucille’s constant fretting that grated on her nerves.

“Miss Lowell, if you were truly worried about upsetting me, you wouldn’t keep hinting at things you think I shouldn’t hear. If that were the case, you’d simply say nothing at all.”

A flicker of embarrassment crossed Lucille’s face, as if Edith had seen right through her.

She fell silent, sitting stiffly beside Pennie.

Pennie, oblivious to Lucille’s subtle maniption, jumped to her defense. “Lucille’s only thinking of you! Honestly, you just don’t appreciate when someone has your best interests at heart.”

Justin had reached the end of his patience.

He pushed his te away, appetite gone, and dabbed his hands with a napkin. “Enough, Pennie. If you have something to say, just say it.”

Pennie pouted, but pressed on. “Justin, Lucille only married that foreign guy for a green card–there was never anything real between them. You weren’t some homewrecker or anything. The two of you broke up

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because of a misunderstanding, and now it’s cleared up.”

Edith’s heart skipped a beat.

So Justin ended things with Lucille because he thought she was married? But now Lucille was divorced… did that mean-

Her eyelid twitched, and an uneasy feeling settled in her chest.

So, Pennie’s words did matter after all.

Lucille kept ying the damsel, a performance only Pennie seemed to buy. “Pennie, things are different now. There’s really no need to talk about this anymore. Justin is married, and Edith is a wonderful person…”

Justin watched the two with narrowed eyes, amused at how perfectly they yed their parts: one blunt, one fragile.

The more Lucille acted wounded, the more Pennie barreled ahead.

Pennie looked straight at Edith, her eyes unblinking. “Edith, please don’t take this the wrong way. I just think it’s better to put everything on the table. It’s best for everyone to be honest.”

Edith pressed her lips together for a moment. “You’re right,” she said quietly.

After a pause, she stood up. “Justin, I’ll go pack my things. I’m sure you and Miss Lowell have a lot to discuss.”

For the first time, Pennie regarded her sister–inw with some respect. At least Edith wasn’t the clingy type–definitely a step up from that scheming woman hanging around Winston.

Justin’s frown didn’t budge.

He watched Edith leave, his jaw tight.

So that’s how it is. Last night, she’d promised not to throw him to another woman, and today she was already going back on her word.

Once Edith was gone, Pennie took the hint and got up to leave too. Before

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going, she gave Lucille an encouraging nudge.

“Lucille, talk things through with Justin. Misunderstandings need to be cleared up, don’t you think?”

With that, she hurried after Edith.

Edith had said she was going to pack, but the truth was she’d lost all desire to do anything. She slipped out of the hotel, her chest tight, longing for a bit of sea air.

She hadn’t expected Pennie to catch up so quickly.

Pennie, thinking herself clever, said, “Justin doesn’t love you, you know.

I’m only doing this for your own good. Anyone can see you’re not the gold–digging type.”