CHAPTER 4 TRY, TRY AGAIN

Mia, Zoe and Juliette said their goodbye's outside of Caitlin's condo.

"I am not looking forward to apartment hunting this evening. Maybe I'll just call my realtor and reschedule." Mia looks out over the lights, a far away look in her eyes.

"I would rather be looking for an apartement than having to look for a nanny," Zoe sighed. "Do you know how difficult it is to find a good nanny? Eric and I have been looking for a week and a half now, and no one seems to be right."

"Just don't run yourself ragged about it. I'm sure things will be fine. Besides, you could be going home to a cheating husband."

"Touche', you have a point, Jules," Zoe says. "You are a better woman than I am for staying with him. What are you going to do about Bobby?"

"I'm not sure yet, but I'll have to make a decision sooner or later."

"Well, I hate to bust up this little party, but I have to go look at apartments, unless anyone has any better plans."

Zoe and Juliette look at each other quizically. "I could spare a couple hours for drinks," Zoe says. "How about you, Jules?"

"I have some time, and this will kill Davis not knowing where I am. I'm in."

"Great! I'll call my realtor and reschedule. Where are we going?"

"I don't know. We could go to Max's for dinner and drinks, or we could go to the bar across the street. What do you feel like, Jules?"

"Let's do dinner and drinks at Max's. I've got nothing better planned."

Mia hails a cab and they head over to Max's.

"I hope dinner goes well for Caitlin. She needs someone good," Mia says.

"I know. She's had terrible luck with men. It's about time something positive happens to her. What did you say the name of that appetizer was, Zoe?"

"It's a green goddess dip with grilled shrimp. It's absolutely wonderful."

The cab arrives at Max's and the three women get out. "I've got it this time. Next time, you drive, Zoe," Mia laughs.

The women walk casually into Max's. After they request a table, Juliette looks over and sees Cilla Grey sitting with an unknown man. "Looks like the trash is out tonight," she says dryly.

Mia and Zoe both look over to see who she is talking about. "We don't have to stay here, Jules," Zoe says. "We can go somewhere else."

"Why would we do that? She's already seen us, and if we left, she would think she's won. We can't let her think that now, can we?"

The women are shown to their table ten feet from Cilla.

"Excuse me for one minute," she says to the gentleman, " I need to speak to some friends." She gets up and walks over to the table.

"I'm surprised to see the three of you here tonight. I figured you'd all be home playing wife," she says coolly. "But wait, that's not true for all of you. Sorry to hear about what happened, Mia. I guess he just couldn't keep up."

With a smile on her face, Mia looks up from the menu. "I'm surprised to see you here, too. I figured you would be out wrecking a home. Oh, that's right, you've already done that."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"You can drop the innocent act, Cilla. I know about you and Davis," Juliette says. "I know you know, so stop the pathetic act."

"Fine. Where's Catilin? I thought she would want to be here."

"It doesn't matter where she is; that's her business," Zoe replies. "Where are your flying monkeys?"

"They're at home resting, but thanks for asking. Give Caitlin and her friend my best."

"What friend are you refering to," asks Juliette.

"Oh, don't tell me the mafia doesn't know about one of their own," she says mockingly. Cilla looks triumphantly at the three women. "Her new friend she was kissing on the street this morning. And, I must say, she is very attractive."

"Whoever she chooses to spend her time with is none of your business," Zoe replies coldly. "We don't judge each other like other people apparently do."

"Don't get so defensive, Zoe. I'm sure she doesn't care who knows since she was in the middle of the sidewalk. There were more people than just me passing by."

"Do you have anything worth-while to say, or are you just wanting to fill the room with hot air," Mia says. "'Cause if that's all you're wanting to do, go do it somewhere else. I'd like to get my drink cold, not boiling."

"Well, I can see I have nothing more to say here. Have a lovely evening." Cilla made her way back to her table, a low laugh audible behind her.

"Can I just tell you how much I don't like her," Mia says.

"I know. She'll get what's coming to her in due time. For now, we have to figure out what she's up to. I don't like the way she was talking about Caitlin." Juliette glances over at Cilla's table, "There's something she's hiding, but I just can't put my finger on it."

"I agree, she's up to something. We need to talk to Caitlin in the morning," Zoe says. "But...there's nothing we can do about it now. The question is, does anyone have an appetite now?"

"Not really, but I could use a drink." Mia looks over the drink menu as the waiter walks up to the table. "I"ll take a Long Island Iced Tea. What do you all want?"

"I'll have a glass of Chardoney," Zoe says, eyeing the drink list.

"I think I'm going to have a Martini, please. I need something stiff." Juliette glares at the back of Cilla's head a few feet away. "I'll call Caitlin first thing in the morning. We need to meet for lunch and see how her date went."

The waiter brings their drinks back and asks if there is anything else he can get for them. "No, I think one is all I can stomach tonight," Zoe says. "Please just bring the check."

The waiter comes back with the check and the women pay for their drinks. "So much for having a nice dinner this evening. Let's go before we waste and entire evening near the witch." Mia gets up and takes her coat, Juliette and Zoe are right behind her.

"Call us after you talk with Caitlin in the morning, Jules. We'll meet for lunch and decide what we're going to do about her," Zoe says. She calls her driver and asks him to pick her up.

Mia looks at her schedule for tomorrow and confirms lunch. Zoe's driver arrives and she says goodbye to her friends and heads home. Mia and Juliette each hail a cab and go their seperate ways for the evening. All three know that tomorrow will bring news in all forms and fashion.