Fuck. Larry slowly collapsed into the chair, running a hand nervously through his thick hair. Ginger watched him scan the pages, thinking that he was a lucky guy. What with all the other requirements of Larry's midlife crisisthe new sports cars, the too-young wardrobe, the spray tans, the hours in the gymat least he'd never need a hair transplant. I don't know how I'm going to swing this, babe, he said, shaking his head.

Ginger's toes curled. Why he continued to call her babe was anyone's guess. Ginger guessed it was because he'd forgotten her name. I'm sure you'll manage, she said.

He peered up from the document. Aren't you getting some kind of severance pay or something?

Yes, Ginger said. I get a month's salary, which I will put into the college savings plan. If you look on page three, you'll see that your alimony goes up despite any severance.

Larry tossed the file to the carpet in disgust. You just love busting my balls every chance you get, don't you? He let out a nasty laugh, scanning her face with fake concern. You want to know what I think?

No, but I'm going to hear it anyway.

I think you're going to use your severance for that little nip and tuck you've been putting off, which would be a wise move. It's definitely time, babe.

Ginger's spine stiffened. Larry knew exactly where her buttons were, because the ones she hadn't inherited from her mother were installed by Larry's skilled hands. Throughout their marriage, Larry would imply that if Ginger didn't maintain her beauty she'd only have herself to blame if he strayed. Seventeen years of that crap had done nothing but deepen the crow's-feet around her eyes and the frown lines on her forehead. And the loneliness in her heart. Everyone else in her lifeher friends, coworkers both male and female, her sonsthey all told her she was gorgeous. Strangers in the produce section would stop and ask for her autograph, mistaking her for a celebrity. Everyone in her life knew she'd gotten her nickname as a teenager because of her striking resemblance to the glamorous Ginger on the vintage TV sitcom Gilligan'sIsland.

And hadn't Lucio called her bonita, which was Spanish for pretty?

Suddenly, Ginger felt dizzy. Just the thought of Lucio made her skin tingle and her breath come quicker. How awkward! She was staring into the smirk of her ex-husband, yet she had to press her knees together with the thought of her sexual panther man. Oh, how Lucio had touched her! How he'd kissed her'every-flippin'-where.

Larry laughed. Well, well. Looks like I hit a nerve. He swaggered through the living room to the front door and Ginger followed him, still in a daze. She'd have to remember to never'ever 'think of Lucio while behind the wheel of a car.

You leavin', Dad?

Jason made his way into the foyer, a wad of Oreos in one hand and a glass of milk in the other. We still goin' to the driving range this weekend?

Larry suddenly looked nervous. Uh

Ginger's heart sank to her feet. He was doing it again, despite his promise. He said he'd never again break a date with the boys, yet he was about to do it anyway! The worst part was that his excuses were often a lie. He'd tell them something had come up at work, and the boys would accept that, since they'd grown up with an absentee doctor as a father. But Ginger knew better. She knew Larry often traded the company of his boys for that of his latest barely legal girl.

Sure, sure, Larry said, patting Jason on the back. We'll touch base later this week. Say good-bye to your brother for me.

Jason grimaced. Whatever, he said, shoving another Oreo into his mouth as he turned back to the kitchen.

Larry

He cut her off. I know. I know. I'll just have to do some juggling, is all. I'll make it work.

Ginger's whole body vibrated with anger. Make it work? They're your sons! Her voice had become high and squeaky, but she didn't care. They are supposed to come first! All that other stuff is what you have to make worknot your own damn children!

Right. Of course.

Ginger lowered her voice to a seething whisper. You're damaging your sons, Larry, and you'd better get yourself together or you're going to lose them, do you hear me?

Larry shook his head as if he felt sorry for her. What I hear is the menopause train coming down the track. Woo, woo! Larry pulled his fist through the air a couple times, then laughed at his own cleverness. Listen, babe, would you like me to write you a prescription? Something to take the edge off?

Ginger moved a step closer to him, refusing to take his bait. This is not about me. It's about Jason and Joshua.

Larry chuckled. Josh is at the head of his class. A total Goody Two-shoes well on his way to being president of the United States, for fuck's sake! And Jason is a good kid. He's just got a bit of a wild streak, is all. Larry grinned. It's perfectly normal.

Suddenly, HeatherLynn came around the living room archway like a demonic cotton ball, ears flying back, a menacing growl gurgling up from her throat, tiny little fangs exposed. Ginger was shockedshe couldn't remember ever hearing her sweet little girl actually growl. Maybe they'd been spending too much time with Roxie and Lilith.

Before Ginger could stop her, HeatherLynn leaped from the Mexican tile and nipped Larry right in the crotch. He screeched, more in surprise than pain. Then, just as quickly, the dog skittered back to the living room and dove under the couch.

Ginger's hand flew to her mouth in disbelief.

That crazy little bitch! Larry adjusted the zipper in his chinos and tried to brush away any dog hair that might be clinging to the spot of drool on the front of his pants. I never really wanted her, anyway.

Ginger choked on her laughter, the tears forming in her eyes. And that's why you spent twenty-five grand to fight me for her custody, right?

Larry snarled. Like everyone else around here, she's become emotionally disturbed without me as head of household. I could report her to animal control as a vicious dog.

Ginger laughed even harder.

You think that's funny, but the city could put her in quarantine.

Still laughing, Ginger reached around her was band and opened the front door. I'll drop a note to my lawyer about the alimony adjustment, she told him.

Dogs like that can be put down.

Good night, Larry. She turned him around and pointed him in the direction of his shiny new Porsche. Too bad you can't stay for lasagna.

How many days till they're home? Bea tapped her thigh with Martina's leather leash as she watched her dog tussle with a pair of poodles.

They fly in late Monday night, Roxie said.

I can pick them up, Bea offered brightly.

Ginger smiled at her friends. She missed Josie, too. For the weeks Josie and Rick were on their honeymoon, the group had been getting together at six A.M. on Monday, Wednesday, and Fridayjust as they had for three years nowbut it wasn't the same without Josie and Genghis, her gregarious Labradoodle. The pair always made them laugh. Their mornings in the dog park lacked a kind of joy without them, Ginger decided.

Teeny is picking them up, Roxie told Bea, which made perfect sense, Ginger thought. Teeny was Rick's best friend and business partner, and he'd been entrusted with Genghis and Rick's two other dogs while the couple was out of the country. The last time they'd talked to Teeny, he sounded exhausted. He was probably counting the hours.

Cool, Bea said. I sure miss her.

God, so do I, Roxanne said, sighing. As close as the four women were, it was understood that Roxanne and Josie were best friends. They weren't far apart in ageRoxanne twenty-eight and Josie thirty-fiveand they'd instantly clicked when they'd met at the paper on Roxanne's first day, six years ago now. By comparison, Bea and Ginger were recent add-ons. The four of them had met in the newspaper's break room and discovered they all had something in commontheir love of dogs. That next day, they started their dog-walking group. It had been going strong ever since, through several nasty breakups, a divorce, job loss, family crises, and the death of Roxie's beloved old collie.