“That way I can save it for the next time I need a favor.” Lily’s happiness was almost tangible as she talked about her husband. Her confidence that he could solve any problem was heartwarming.

The sound of Brooke’s heels on the tiles in the hallway warned of her approach. Rachel braced herself for her presence; she was really beginning to dislike the woman. There wasn’t a day she didn’t come by to ask for help with some task she needed done. She was passing off her duties of being a minister’s wife to both Rachel and Lily while she took all the credit from her husband and the congregation.

“Hello, girls, how are you both doing today?” The false sweetness in her voice had Rachel wanting to heave. “I’m having a small dinner for the wives of the deacons. Would it be possible for you to do the grocery shopping for me, Rachel? I would do it, but Jeffrey is teething and running a small fever.” As she held out a list, Rachel reached out and took it. It would take over an hour to do the shopping for the large list.

“I’ll do it during my lunch hour.”

“Perfect. I knew I could count on you.”

Rachel thought she would leave since her purpose had been achieved; instead, she lingered, leaning casually against the counter.

“Lily, I have several maternity outfits that I no longer need. If you’d like, I could give them to you. I noticed yours are getting tight.” A long, manicured nail tapped the counter. “You may want to watch your weight. Baby weight isn’t easy to get rid of.”

Rachel couldn’t believe the bitchy remark. Lily was smaller at eight months pregnant than Brooke was now.

“I bought my maternity clothes in Atlanta. They aren’t as tacky as the ones you’ll buy in Treepoint.”

Rachel almost smacked Brooke when Lily self-consciously ran her hand over her blue-jean maternity dress that she looked gorgeous wearing.

“I don’t think it’s the clothes that make a person pretty, but the person wearing them,” Rachel told Brooke sharply, moving protectively closer to Lily, who was sitting on a stool behind the counter.

Brooke’s eyes lowered to Rachel’s simple, blue dress, letting her distaste show. “I’m going home to Atlanta next week. I could pick up a few things for you, Rachel.”

“No, thanks. Clothes are clothes to me. I don’t place much importance on them. You can turn shit into fertilizer, but it still smells like shit.” Rachel had dealt with enough of Brooke’s snide comments, and she wasn’t going to tolerate her attitude any longer. She wanted to give her the grocery list back and tell her where to shove it, but she was afraid she would get Lily to do it instead.

“If you change your mind, let me know.” Brooke didn’t let her comment bother her. The plastic expression on her face didn’t change. “I need to be getting back to Jeffrey.”

“I’m really starting to hate that woman,” Rachel stated once she had left.

“I don’t think she likes us very much, either,” Lily said unhappily.

Rachel fumed. “She’s really going to dislike me when I shove my foot up her ass.”

* * *

The rest of the day didn’t get much better. The grocery shopping took longer than expected, and when she returned to the church store, it was crowded. It took over an hour to see that the customers were waited on.

When she and Lily were able to catch their breath, Rachel went to the diner to get them a late lunch and came out to pouring rain. Lily was unable to keep from laughing at her disheveled appearance.

“I’m really starting to question our friendship.” Rachel dried herself off with a towel.

“I’m sorry.” Lily straightened her face, taking the sandwich Rachel handed her.

“You can make it up to me. Tell me what I should wear tonight so I don’t look like a dork.”

“As little as possible.”

When Rachel choked on her sandwich, Lily had to hit her on the back several times before she could catch her breath.

She stared at her through watery eyes. “Are you serious?”

“Well, the women like to show some skin.”

“It can’t be any worse than their swimsuits.” Rachel thought about what was in her closet. “I have a cream-colored halter sundress. It’s a little early for it, but I could wear a shrug over it. Will that do?”

“Ah… maybe. Has Cash told you about Friday nights yet?” Lily asked tentatively, wrapping up the remains of her sandwich. Rachel wondered why she had lost her appetite.

“Not really, just that it’s the night you don’t have to belong to the club to party there if you’ve been invited. I’m not really worried about it. You, Beth, and Winter will all be there.”

“Shade and I haven’t been to a Friday night party since he found out we’re pregnant. He became very possessive. Beth and Razer usually stay home with the boys…” Lily gave her a bright smile. “You’re right; you don’t have to be nervous. We will all be there. Diamond, too. I’ll give her a call.” Lily patted her hand. “You don’t have to worry about a thing; we’ll all have your back.”

Rachel almost called Cash and said she was too sick to go out tonight. Lily’s words had sounded like a battle plan. She lost her own appetite, throwing away her half-eaten sandwich. The only reason she didn’t cancel was because it was past time she found out what really happened on Friday nights. It couldn’t be as bad as she was beginning to stress out about, could it?

* * *

She was a nervous wreck by the time Cash picked her up.

When she came out of her bedroom in the cream halter dress with the navy shrug, he raised a brow. “Aren’t you going to be hot in that?”

She was disappointed he hadn’t complimented her on her appearance. “It’s a halter underneath. I can take the shrug off if I get hot.”

His eyes went to the top of the dress covered by the shrug. “That works then. You ready?”

“Yes.” Rachel went to Mag, who was pretending to watch a game show, and gave her a quick kiss on her wrinkled cheek. “Goodnight.”

“Night, Rachel. Have some fun.”

“I will.” Rachel gave her neighbor Janet a smile, glad she was staying the night with Mag. Her kind gaze reassured her that Mag was settled for the night.

Cash had driven his truck to pick her up. Rachel climbed inside when he held the door open, settling comfortably on the seat. Hopefully, the night would be a lot of fun and she could put the terrible day she’d had behind her.

Chapter 31

Rachel sat on one of the couches, drinking the beer Cash had given her. She stared around the room, amazed she had been so naïve. She swallowed hard when Jewell began dancing suggestively in front of Nickel and Train came up behind her, pressing into her from behind, his hand sliding down the front of her tiny, black skirt. The top had already been taken off by Nickel and laid on the floor.

Rachel moved her eyes away from the tableau, but everywhere she looked in the crowded room was more of the same. Half-naked women, some she was familiar with that belonged to the club and others she knew from town. All of them here for the men and the sex that took place out in the open.

She stuck out in her clothes like a nun in a nudist colony.