Judy pointed her cup in Karen’s direction. “There is only one rule. You have to answer the question honestly…I’ll start…Rena, margaritas or martinis?”
“That’s easy. Margaritas.” Rena sipped her beverage and looked at Karen. “Karen, Coke or Pepsi?”
“Coke. Michael…the McLaren or the Ferrari?” Karen asked.
Mike shifted in his seat. “Oh, that’s hard. I have to go with my first love and say Ferrari.”
“I don’t know, Mike, that McLaren is an orgasm on wheels,” Zach told his brother.
“You have to drive the Ferrari next time you visit,” Mike told him. “OK, Joe…explore outer space or the deep ocean?”
Joe lifted his glossy eyes to the sky. “I’d be all over what’s up there.”
The questions kept rounding between them, most innocent until Karen decided it was time to up the stakes. “OK, Judy…hot college guys or hot college professors?”
Judy’s smile made Zach think maybe she’d attempted both. “Professors.”
Zach closed his eyes and tried not to picture his sister with an older man.
Joe nudged Mike’s arm. “All right Mike…kissing Marilyn Cohen or kissing Jennifer Ashton?”
Everyone in the group knew that Mike had the opportunity to kiss both women as they’d costarred in his films.
“Jennifer.”
“Really?” Joe asked. “I think Marilyn is more beautiful.”
Mike laughed. “She is…but Marilyn and I are friends. When I kissed her, her husband, Tom, was on set.”
Karen giggled. “Well let me know the next time you have to kiss her and I’ll come by and kiss Tom, make the whole ordeal even.”
“Tom is so hot!” Judy fanned herself while Mike and Joe shook their heads. “Karen,” Judy said. “Brazilian wax or total leg wax?”
The image of Karen having anything waxed shot Zach’s temperature to the sky. Good thing it was dark and no one would notice how Judy’s question affected him.
“What’s a Brazilian?” Rena asked.
Mike started to laugh. “It’s wrong on many levels that my baby sister knows something that my older sister doesn’t.”
Judy puffed out her chest. “That damn college education is sneaking in. A Brazilian is when a woman has all her hoochie hair removed.”
Rena blushed scarlet and giggled into her cup. “Sounds painful.”
“It is,” both Karen and Judy said at the same time.
Zach was equally mortified that his sister knew this…and turned on that Karen did as well. He poured straight tequila into his cup and took a swig while he waited for Karen’s answer.
“Well?” Mike nudged his wife.
Karen blushed. “I have to go with Brazilian, but for the record…it’s only because there’s more torture with a leg wax.”
“Yeah, sure,” Mike said, laughing.
Zach smiled into his cup and barely heard his name being called by Karen. “Zach…a hooker in Las Vegas, or a hooker in Bangkok?”
Joe and Mike tossed their heads back and Judy high fived Karen. “Good question,” Judy said.
Zach squeezed his eyes shut and tried to picture either one.
“What’s the matter…I think I’d go with the foreign woman,” Joe said.
Rena swatted his arm. “Eweh.”
Zach lifted a hand in the air. “No, wait…I’m thinking that Las Vegas has plenty of twenty-dollar tricks, where Bangkok probably gives ’em away for five bucks…I think there would be more chances of disease in Bangkok. I have to go with Las Vegas.”
Karen met Zach’s gaze across the fire and held. This little game of get to know you was more than he thought it would be. Seemed Karen might not be the complete saint after all.
“What about you, Mike…which would you pick?” Judy asked.
“I’m with Zach. I’d stick with Vegas.”
Karen fluttered her gaze away, and kept the questions going. “OK, Judy…broad shoulders or tight butts?”
Once again, Zach had to close his eyes.
“Oh, that’s hard…” Apparently, his baby sister had a preference for big shoulders. Zach just hoped that no one asked her about penis size or he’d have to excuse himself.
Chapter Seventeen
“No, Tony…he isn’t doing anything that might land him in the hospital.”
Karen stood several yards from the cabin where the cell reception was the best for talking. Seemed texting up in the mountains proved a better source of communication than actual phone conversations.
“I know he’s gotta be off-roading up there.”
“Nothing he doesn’t do when he’s shooting a movie.”
“Production starts in two weeks, Karen. Keep him whole.”
Karen shook her head. What she really wanted to tell Michael’s manager was that there was more to life than a production schedule. She’d not seen Michael smile as much as she had since they arrived in Hilton. Up here with the clean air and family memories, he was more at ease than ever.
Even after their divorce, she’d encourage him to visit his family as often as possible. They were good for him on many levels.
“He’ll come back to LA whole and ready to deliver the best movie ever. This really has been good for him, Tony. Trust me.”
A long-suffering sigh escaped Tony through the phone. “Tell him I called.”
“I will. And thanks for calling me and not him. I know it’s killing you.”
Tony chuckled. “Hey, it’s what he pays me for.”
“Talk soon,” Karen said before hanging up.
The sky was clear on their fourth day at the cabin. They’d eaten under the stars at night, and sat around a campfire roasting marshmallows playing word games. Karen couldn’t wait to do it all again.
Sawyer, with all his roughness when they’d first arrived, really was a softer man up in the mountains. He bounced his grandson on his knee, and when he thought others were watching him, he’d shout some order to keep his edge. In the end, Karen thought the man simply wanted his family around him all the time. Even if his desire wasn’t practical. She made a note to try to find a moment alone with the man before they left in order to encourage him to give his kids room to grow. That way when they all did come together it would be like this…loving and full of everything good, not resentment for having to stick within a mold he’d set up for them. Karen wasn’t sure why she always wanted to fix the relationships of those around her. Maybe it was a by-product of not having anyone step in for her as a child…she wasn’t sure. She simply knew it was in her blood to try to do something to make things right between parents and their children. Even if their children were adults.
The now familiar roar of a motorized off-road vehicle kicked up behind her. Back at the cabin, she noticed another person arriving. From the distance, she thought it was one of Michael’s old friends.
She started back toward the Gardner family but Michael headed her off and swung her around in the opposite direction.
“Would you mind if I took off for a few hours?” The grin on Michael’s face held mischief.
“Of course not. But…” She glanced over her shoulder, noticed his friend watching them. His single friend…“Oh, my God. You’re going to get laid!” she whispered with a playful smack to his arm.
Michael lifted his eyebrows a couple of times. “I just might.”
“You bitch!” Yet Karen understood the need. They’d both had nothing for so long and Michael had to be so careful with his lovers. “Go.”
“You sure? I was going to show you how to ride the motorcycle today.”
She rolled her eyes. “Go ride your own bike…I’ll have someone else teach me.”
Mike winked, gave her arm a little squeeze, and strode off.
She tapped the book she’d been reading before Tony’s call against her thigh and walked closer to the lake. After settling against a tree, she opened the book only to look up and wave as Michael and his friend rode by with a wave.
Brat.
But she was smiling and truly happy for Michael.
She let her mind slip into the pages of the story while the sun warmed her skin. The story wasn’t catching her, and her eyes slid closed. The nights had proved less than restful. Between the small bed, the unfamiliar room, and the overall restlessness of the others in the communal room, sleeping wasn’t easy.
“Good book?” Rena’s voice woke her, causing the book to slide off her lap.
“Not really.”
Rena dropped to the ground and leaned against her elbows to stare out at the lake. “How are you liking it here?”
“A lot more than I thought I would.”
“It’s a great place to recharge.”
Karen could tell by how Rena fiddled with the grass at her side that something was on her mind.
“Do you think you’ll be back?”
Karen hesitated, knowing full well she wouldn’t return. Unless the Gardners were up to inviting Michael’s ex-wife along for their family vacations.
“Uhm, yeah.”
Rena didn’t look at her, just nodded slowly. “You love him, don’t you?”
She was being led, and set up if she wasn’t completely clueless, but didn’t have an earthly idea how to get away from this conversation. “Of course.” She did love Michael, for the friend he’d been since they met.
“But you’re not in love with him.”
Karen opened her mouth to deny her words, but Rena stopped her.
“No. Please don’t reply to that.”
Karen swallowed her words and waited.
“One summer when Mike was sixteen we sat close to where you and I are right now. He was miserable. He’d tried to explain to our parents his desire to jump into the plays at school…how he didn’t mind working with his hands but didn’t see it as something he wanted to do to earn a living. Our dad didn’t get it. He sat right here and told me everything in his life was confusing and that none of us understood.”
“Sixteen is a hard age,” Karen added.
Rena nodded. “Coming of age is a lot easier if you’re not struggling with your sexuality.”
Karen froze. Through tight lips she asked, “Don’t all teens struggle with their sexuality?”
Rena caught her eyes. “Some more than others.”
Oh, Michael…your sister knows.
“You know what I think?” Rena asked.
Here it comes. She waited for the bomb to drop and couldn’t do anything other than watch.
“What’s that?”
“The reason you both haven’t come sooner is because Michael didn’t want any of us to get to know you. I also think the reason you and Michael aren’t talking about having kids…and you hesitate about discussing your return to Hilton, is because the two of you are planning to divorce.”
Karen opened her mouth.
Rena shook her head.
“I’d even lay money on the table to say the two of you could appeal for an annulment even after a year of marriage.”
“You have an interesting imagination,” was all Karen could come up with.
“Yet you’re not denying anything.”
How could she? Flat-out lying to Michael’s sister would make her look stupid when they filed for a divorce. “What do you want me to say, Rena? My loyalty to your brother is stronger than most family bonds.”
“I can see that. My guess is you’d even sacrifice yourself…for a while anyway, to help him.”
She hesitated…then said, “Your brother deserves his family’s love and respect.”
Karen glanced toward the cabin, the lake…anywhere but Rena’s eyes.
Rena offered another slow nod. She gazed over the lake again. “You’re going to tell Mike about this conversation, aren’t you?”
“Are you ready for any conversation the two of you might have as a result?” Karen asked.
“I miss my younger brother. We’ll all miss him. I can’t speak for everyone, but for me, I’ll take the real Mike Gardner any day over Michael Wolfe.”
“He needs to protect Michael Wolfe.” Karen hoped the message behind her words was clear.
“I’ve protected him my whole life,” Rena said. “I won’t stop now.”
Karen pushed to her feet before Rena achieved any more revelations. “It’s a cool enough day for a jog.”
Rena glanced around with a frown. “You should take Judy with you.”
Karen patted her back pocket. “I have my phone.” She didn’t even bother going back to the cabin to change clothes before taking off into a run.
There wasn’t a real trail around the lake, but Karen kept close to it anyway. She needed some alone time, but didn’t need to get lost.
In a way, she hoped she could be gone long enough for Michael to return, and maybe Rena could talk to him herself. Who else knew about him? Not Judy…or Hannah. They were clueless.
Zach had kept his distance over the past few days, but she always felt his eyes on her, across the campfire, or as she helped Janice and Rena with their meals. His eyes often lingered on his brother, too.
Karen jogged until she couldn’t see the cabin any longer then slowed her pace to a brisk walk. She checked her phone, noticed a lack of service, and shoved it back in her pocket. Calling Gwen for some sisterly advice wasn’t an option. She’d have to figure this one out herself. Part of her wanted to warn Michael before he returned to the cabin, but the other part wanted him to enjoy his alone time. Then at least he could go into any pending confrontation sated and ready for battle.
Maybe he’d always worried that spending time with his family would reveal his secret.
A long stretch of an even path appeared before her so she took off into a run. She cut through the trees that sat along the bank, and back down to the lake several more times before she realized how far she’d run. She removed her phone from her pocket and attempted to find a signal. Nothing. It was still midday, but she didn’t know exactly how far or how many miles it would take to get around the lake to come back alongside the road so she turned around. She walked for another mile or so before resting on the water’s edge.
After a good thirty minutes of sitting there contemplating life, she heard the buzz of a motorcycle moving toward her.
Sure enough, Zach made his way to her with a frown on his face. He skidded to a halt and killed the engine. “I’ve been searching for you for an hour.” His accusatory tone brought the hair up on the back of her neck.
“I’m right here.”
He glanced around, flung his arms wide. “You don’t even know where here is.”
“I’m not lost, Zach. I was on my way back.”
“You shouldn’t run off alone. There are hunters out here, trails that lead to nowhere.”
“I might be a city girl, but even I know not to wander off in the woods alone.”
He lowered the kickstand and climbed off the bike. She noticed his lack of helmet and wondered how fast he had left the cabin.
“What if you got hurt, twisted an ankle or something?”
“I have my phone.”
He glared at her. “A phone that doesn’t work most of the time.”
He had her there.
“Dammit, Zach. I needed some time alone, OK?”
Her outburst stopped his. His arms fell from his hips.
She turned to the water, and tossed the rock she had in her hand at a nearby bush. As soon as the rock hit, the bush rustled and started to move. Before Karen could move away, more ducks than she could count took flight and aimed directly at her.
She screamed and scurried from her rock, slipped on the bank, and found herself knee-deep in muck before scrambling up and out of the water. Her cry didn’t stop as she covered her head and lunged toward Zach.
Birds…all of them, scared the crap out of her. Always had.
Zach caught and held her still. “Hey. It’s OK.”
She heard another flap, but refused to open her eyes. “Get ’em off.”
“They’
re gone.”
She stood perfectly still, eyes closed and ears opened. She had one hand protecting her head, and the other one latched to Zach’s waist. His arms sucked her into him.
Once the noise of the birds flying away drifted, she opened one eye, fully expecting at least one bird to have held back to make her panic all over again.
Only the two of them stood there. “Gone?”
“Yeah.” Zach started to chuckle.
“It’s not funny.”
“I’ve never seen a woman move so fast in my life.”
She shoved out of his arms and looked down at herself. Her knees were covered in mud, the side of her leg caked with the stuff. “I don’t like birds.”
“I gathered that.” He still laughed. “Ducks haven’t been known to attack humans, though. I think you’re safe.”
“Stop laughing.”
He sucked in his bottom lip but his eyes still mocked her.
“Birds are unpredictable,” she made her argument. “They have claws and beaks.”
Zach’s eyes swept her wet frame. He laughed again.
“Oh…you…” she reached down, took a handful of muck and tossed it directly at his chest.
He stopped laughing. “Oh, you didn’t just do that.”
She lobbed another handful of mud at him before she slapped a hand on her hip. “Stop laughing.”
He swiped the mud from his chest, and leaned over to grab a handful for himself. When he rose to his full height, his playful smile met hers. “I think you missed a spot.”
The mud hit her chest and it was game on.
Her position close to the bank gave her the most ammo. She took two handfuls to his one and had him dripping in mud in a few throws. He started to duck away from her assault.
She slipped on the bank, grabbed handfuls of mud, and flung it in his direction several times. When it became apparent she was going to be over her head in the water, she retreated from the water’s edge.
He chased her around the bike, and missed a shot that was aimed for her butt. She was leaning down to grasp more dirt when he grabbed her from around her waist and took them both to the forest floor.
She was laughing so hard she couldn’t breathe, the birds forgotten.
Zach rolled her onto her back and covered her body with his. Karen took one last shot and smeared mud on his face with a free hand. They were laughing and Karen was moving her head from side to side to avoid him smearing mud on her face, too.
The Weekday Brides 04 - Single by Saturday Page 16
