She sat up in bed and turned on the lamp. The magical sparks overhead transformed to an ordinary brown bug flitting about near the ceiling. She wondered how to catch it without killing it. Wondered whether the fate of one lone bug was worth the effort.

The phone rang. At eleven thirty, only one person would be calling.

— I hope I didn't wake you, — said Vicky. — I just got home from one of those endless dinners. —

— It's too hot to sleep anyway. —

— Julia, there was something I wanted to tell you earlier, when I was there. But I couldn't, not with all those people around. —

— No more advice about this house, okay? —

— This isn't about the house. It's about Richard. I hate to be the one to tell you this, but if I were you, I'd want to know. You shouldn't have to hear this through the grapevine. —

— Hear what? —

— Richard is getting married. —

Julia clutched the receiver, gripping so tight her fingers went numb. In the long silence, she heard her own heartbeat pounding in her ear.

— So you didn't know. —

Julia whispered: — No. —

— What a little shit he is, — Vicky muttered with enough bitterness for them both. — It's been planned for over a month, that's what I heard. Someone named Tiffani with an i. I mean, how cutesy can you get? I have no respect for any man who marries a Tiffani. —

— I don't understand how this happened so quickly. —

— Oh, honey, it's obvious, isn't it? He had to be running around with her while you were still married. Did he suddenly start coming home late? And there were all the business trips. I wondered about those. I just didn't have the heart to say anything. —

Julia swallowed. — I don't want to talk about it right now. —