"Did you hear the McKenzies are getting divorced?"
"Nooo?"
Lubricated by the wine, Anna leant in closer. She loved juicy rumours and wanted to know more.
"Mmhmm. Well, you know Rose's daughter, Emily?"
The looks around the table said everyone knew who Emily was.
"Apparently, she's home from college for the summer and is working as a cleaner for the McKenzies. And well, it seems it wasn't just the silverware she was polishing, if you know what I mean."
"I'm not surprised. Have you seen the shape of her since she came back from college? All short shorts and cropped tops. And her hair certainly wasn't that colour when she went to college."
"Well, I heard her being called a homewrecker. It seems Gloria threw Dan out. Told him to pack his bags."
"She probably came home unexpectedly and caught them at it. Stupid man probably had the girl over the back of the settee."
"It's no wonder. Men are so weak and with a girl like that alone in the house with him, it was bound to end in tears."
"She looked ever such a slut at church on Sunday too. I felt so embarrassed for Rose having to walk beside her. Half the men in the church had their tongues hanging out when she walked up the aisle wearing that mini dress and trying to look like butter wouldn't melt in her mouth."
"I don't know what Gloria was thinking. Hiring a girl like that. These days, those kinds of girls have no morals. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that she forced herself on him."
"She strikes me as the kind of slut who spend more time on her knees when she's not in church."
"Of course, not having a father around when she was growing up probably didn't help. I read in Women's Weekly once that the lack of a father can cause girls to fixate on older men. Probably saw Dan McKenzie as a substitute father figure."
"Yes, what is it they call them? Sugar Daddies or something? They just see men as walking wallets."
"Poor Rose," Anna offered. "It must be so hard knowing everyone is talking about her slut of a daughter."
"Poor Gloria McKenzie." Susan retorted. "Seeing that slut every day walking past her house, rubbing her nose in it. Imagine living next door to that homewrecker."
With that, the woman murmured their agreement and returned to their card game.
A few days later, Anna found a book of poetry that Rose had lent her months ago.
"Shoot," she said to the cat. "I could have sworn I'd given that back to her already."
She stood up, determined to return it before it disappeared back into the mess of her house. Plus, Anna hoped she might get some more gossip about Emily.
She rang the doorbell, a smile ready on her face when the door opened.
"Oh, hello Emily. Is your Mother home?"
"I'm sorry, Mrs Collins. She won't be home for hours. She got called into work." Emily shrugged. "Anything I can help with?"
"I was just returning her book and hoping for a bit of a catch-up with her. But I'm sure it'll keep."
She ran her eyes up Emily's toned legs. The little pair of shorts she wore were just this side of indecent and the vest top didn't leave much to the imagination. "Harlot," Anna thought. Emily caught her looking and smiled.
"I've just finished my yoga and made some coffee. Would you like a cup?"
Anna blushed at having been caught staring but in her eagerness to find out any more scandal for the card night, she agreed.
"Sure, why not? I'd love some."
She followed Emily inside.
"I haven't seen you for ages, Emily. How's college life treating you? All late nights and boys and no time for studying, I bet?" She gave a fake laugh.
"It's going pretty well," Emily called from the kitchen as Anna settled herself onto the settee. "I tried dating a few college boys but decided they weren't for me. They're all so immature."
She appeared in the doorway carrying a tray with a coffee pot, two cups and a tray of biscuits.
"I've realised I prefer someone who has a bit more life experience behind them."
