Soon, Philippas secret catches the attention of Gwens husband, a prosecutor for the U.S. EW exclusively reveals the cover and an excerpt fromMrs.,below.
Excerpt fromMrs.by Caitlin Macy
Chapter One
Look at you in your fur!
You were so smart to wear it!
Credit: Little, Brown and Company
It was my mothers.
I never wear it.
I really never do.
But today I just thought,Why not?
In the cold, the mothers gathered outside the school.
sick the whole time, all five of us.
quit over the phone .
got to be kidding me .
torn ACL the very first run of the very first day .
Doug willonlyski in March.
Called me upsaid she wasnt coming back from St. Lucia.
It was January, the first day back after Christmas breakfreezing out, with a surprisingly cutting wind.
Not that she mindednot in any nonphysical, existential way.
You had to earn spring, after all.
something to be said for the tropical Christmas .
Toms mothers camel-hair coat.
A gift certificate to Best Buy .
Yup, yupdo the reverse.
because I dont need snow at Christmas.
I like it, but I dontneedit.
paid her the entire summer while we were away.
Above the door hung the school flag, whipped every which way today by the wind.
On a quieter morning you could see that it had a white cross on a red background.
Gwen Hogan kept her eyes on the flag, watched it flutter and snap.Me?
In her mind she was always having to set potential empathizers at ease.
I just cant get over the selfishness of it.
They cringed; gloved hands flew protectively to girlish faces.
This weather was unbelievable!
Well, Im glad I wore fur today!
Im glad I dragged it out!
Gwen hadnt seen the hat before, wondered briefly if it was a Christmas gift.
Watchfulin a woman who, for so many reasons, youd think wouldnt give a shit.
The driver, you mean?
Well, what does the meter say?
said Ann DeGroat, detaching herself from a conversation about limestone versus soapstone countertops.
Yeswhat are you implying?
said Betsy Fleming, rubbing her upper arms to keep warm as she joined Ann.
Hes trying to cheat you?
He said I should estimate.
This was Emily Lewin, a former prosecutor, taking on the cabbie.
Philippa went on without rancor: I take this cab every day.
It never costs more than twelve.
Hes very angry with me.
I gave him everything I have.
Thats not the point, Betsy said, sharing an exasperated glance with Ann.
Exactly how much did you give him?
Fourteen, Im sure, because I had a dollar in coins and I gave him every penny.
You paid in change?
but Emily went on the attack.
She leaned into the drivers-side window.
Its clear that, in fact, youve been overpaid for this trip!
Nautauqua, where the Girl Scouts met, had the traffic circle and the fast-food franchises.
Philippa Lye created the fantasy and then took you along on it.
Rosemary she thought of not at all.
In a stream of disgust, the taxi driver gesticulated violently and skidded off.
Emily put up a staying hand as she turned back to the group though Philippa hadnt yet thanked her.
There was an impatience in Emilys voice, as there often was when the women spoke to Philippa.
They snapped at her more often than you would expect adults to snap at another adult.
No one yelled at Philippa Lye.
Not for now anyway.
But one didnt wonder long.
Skinker, Farr meant something.
Even the extremely rich hedgefund wiveseven Lally Stein and Belle Ostergaardand their husbands gave the Skinkers a certain deference.
One could snap; one could not yell.
How will you get home?
This was Betsy, who perhaps had been upstaged by Emily.
Oh, goshI dont know!
Philippa caught Gwens eye.
Gwen hid a smile because she, too, found the question ridiculous.
Well take the bus!
But the mothers of St. Timothys didnt, as a rule, do comedy.
Looking alarmed, Ann gestured to the sky.
Here, take a twenty.
Betsy reached into her purse, fumbled for her wallet.
Ann was the quicker draw, from a shallower pocketbook: Take mine.
A brief argument ensued over who would loan Philippa the twenty.
Just take both, Emily decided.
In fact, you know what, Im going to give you twenty too.
You may need it.
All right, Philippa said gravely.
The women, looking pained by their own generosity, turned away with jerky, defensive movements.
It was Philippa who stood, tall and unslouching in the magnificent hat.
She reminded Gwen of a medieval bishop receiving patronage.
At twelve sharp, the green door swung inward.
The women surged forward as the ceremonial handing-off of their excuses for existence began.
Mrs. Davidson cried, I have Virginia DeGroat!
I have Willie Haskell!
On the tailwind of another gust, as the names continued, one final mother blew in.
Why, it was the new mother!
Everyone, turning, having forgotten her entirely, observed her with curiosity: the New Mother.
Her daughter had started just that morning, a rare midyear admittee.
Nobody got into St. Tims midyear.
Short but not petitetrim and muscular, in factshe was darkly attractive.
Minnie was her name, was it?
Emily Lewin had asked her provocatively.
had come the disarming reply.
My mother loved anything Disney, and she named me after the cartoon!
She looked good-humored as she flipped her sunglasses up and glanced around.
Herehere, they all feltwas something new.
Most people would have stowed them at home or in a waiting car.
The New MotherMinniewas apparently ignorant of these subtleties.
Or perhapsthe idea presented itself uncomfortablyshe was simply uninterested in them?
Gwen stared at her shoes, unable to believe a person could actually walk in them.
Lila and Dickson Dilworth!
The New Mother went straight up to Philippa, of all peopleand introduced herself.
She looked vaguely at the woman as she went on, recounting some tenuous connection.
I have Peter Felekonaides!
I have Emma Eliot!
Some artwork youll want to take home and display.
Did you have a good day, honey?
Just such an amazing coincidence!
Ive been so looking forward to trading stories with you about the place!
Ive heard your name so often, I feel like I already know you!
Whats for lunch, Mom?
Mary tugged at Gwens hand.
Perhaps it reeked of the middle class, or seemed grungy.
Gwen had quickly learned to keep silent.
Hey, Gwen said to Philippa as she brushed by her.
Some sympathy passed between them, as it always did.
He had another accident, Gwen could hear Ms. Babcock flatly informing Philippa.
Waiting for the light to change, Gwen glanced back.
Philippa was taking the news impassively.
This seemed to vex Ms. Babcock, who likely expected flustered apologies from the mothersprostrations and embarrassment.
A flicker of annoyance crossed the womans broad face, which came up to Philippas bra line.
Weve gone to the Lost and Found twice for him.
From the book MRS. by Caitlin Macy.
Copyright 2018 by Caitlin Macy.
Used with permission of Little, Brown and Company, New York.
