Evie is staring down at her plate with intensity and whispering to Paulie. Charlotte turns and regardsthe girl, too, while shaking her head in complete disbelief at this unexpected turn of events.
“It’ll only be for a few hours,” I add.
“I am not going to pretend to be your f*****g wife,” Charlotte insists, lowering her voice so Eviecan’t eavesdrop.
I raise my eyebrows and smile.
“Why are you smiling?” she snaps.
“I’m amused that you think you have a choice here.”
She grits her teeth. “This is ridiculous!” she says, throwing up her hands. “Can’t you just say you’re awidower? Your wife died in some tragic car accident or some s**t like that?”
“I don’t want to get into an elaborate sob story,” I explain. “I turn up with a wife and there won’t beany questions. It’s sim
