But all that holding-my-tongue business changed when I encountered blabber-mouth Helen in the Market Delight dairy aisle .
“ Hey , Sue ,” she said . “ I sure hope your husband takes you to places like the Alto Rooftop Café .” “ Say again ?” “ The Alto , you know , that cocktail lounge with those wraparound views of the Manhattan skyline . Bob and I were there last Tuesday . His company was throwing a party for the sales reps who ’ d achieved their quarterly goals .
“ Your Tommy and some Dolly-Parton-type were having drinks together , and it didn ’ t look like they were talking business .”
That was the afternoon I had that dentist appointment .
I automatically thought of Linda , my best friend at school . She ’ d been to the house a few times , the new science teacher I was mentoring , single , with a knockout body that was clearly all hers . I ’ d set up the equipment for her each week to demonstrate the lab activities , so she ’ d see how we were implementing the curriculum .
Later , before I even unpacked the groceries , I asked Tommy whether he ’ d been with Linda at the Alto . He admitted it , saying he was getting some ideas for my upcoming birthday . When I rolled my eyes , he said with a shrug , “ What ’ s the big deal ? It was a public place in the middle of the afternoon . Besides , Helen is a busybody .”
He was right about Helen .
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