The driver pulled up in front of a fancy restaurant, and I pulled out my phone to call Danielle to let her know that I had arrived. This was also me giving the other women who were with her time to get their act together.

I was not new to the whole society wives club. I’ve never been part of one, but I had a good idea of what happened in circles like that. That was how I knew I would be the topic of their gossip as the new member and Atticus’s sudden wife.

Danielle would obviously have ...