I became aware of my body odor and shifted further away from him. “I had a nervous stomach that night. Probably too excited about the show.”
I stood up and began to stretch out. “Last I heard you were living in New York.”
“I left after 9/11. Didn’t have the heart to stay.”
“I’m sorry.” I put a leg up on the bench next to him and leaned over to reach the toe of my shoe, feeling the stretch in my hamstring.
His eyes followed the movement.
“Hey, how’s Tami doing? I’m sorry, but I don’t know. Do you have children?”
“No. No kids.”
“Oh. Well, say hi to Tami for me.”
“I would, but she stayed in the city.”
Now, that was some interesting information. He got up, walked over to his bike, and straddled it. His eyes did a quick once-over of my body, and he knew I caught him looking. He grinned. “You’ve grown up, Susie, and look good. Real good.”
I gulped. Oh my gosh! Was he flirting? It sounded like he was flirting. He’d looked at me like I was hot. I gave him the full benefit of my perfect orthodontic smile, and he looked a little dazzled. Hmm. Maybe I should use it more. “It was great seeing you again, Brett, and thanks for stopping.”
“Anytime. That’s what firefighters do. Rescue people. So, if you ever need saving, or have a kitten stuck in a tree, give me a call.”
He was flirting, and damn, but it had my pulse racing. I didn’t need to run a mile. I just had to look into those dreamy eyes to get my metabolism juiced up.
“I’ll remember that.” I flashed him another smile, and he winked at me before walking away. I jogged home at a more leisurely pace, quickly showered and waited for Leanne. I wolfed down half a bagel with a light touch of no-fat cream cheese, and then she showed up, with Merrybell under her arm.
The cat hissed at me. “I love you too,” I told her. She scampered off. Leanne gave me a hug, which I tried to shrug off. “Come on, Susie. Don’t be mad. I didn’t want to tell Daddy where you were, but we all know how persistent he is.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. So I guess you know what happened, right?”
“Oh, Susie, it could only happen to you.” She shook her head and her shoulder-length hair bounced. “He’s still hopping mad, and to make it worse, everybody is teasing him about his black eye. His pride is injured.”
“I know. I feel terrible, but what can I do? He won’t accept my apology.”
“I know. He’s stubborn.” She smiled at me gently. “Come, let me see your face.” She took hold of my chin and checked me out. “Doesn’t look bad, but you should have gone to Dad right away. You don’t wanna mess with such a pretty face.”
I stuck my finger in my throat and pretended to gag. “So, what did you tell them about my disappearance? I told Dad I was stressed out, which is partially true.”
“Yes, I know. You try so darned hard, but nothing makes you happy.”
“I should go to Europe for a couple of years and paint. That would make me happy.”
Leanne pursed her lips. “Here we go again. What about your job as a paralegal? We thought you loved your work.”
“It’s better than changing bedpans.” The year I’d worked as a nurse had been the worst year of my life. I’d hated every minute.
“So, go to Europe. What’s stopping you?”
“A little thing called money. Dad isn’t going to pay for me to wander around Europe, or go to art school, and I don’t have enough in my savings account.”
“I could loan it to you.”
“No. Don’t be ridiculous. I won’t take your money.”
“Then ask Dad. He only wants what’s best for you.”
“I doubt that.” I don’t know why I feel so resentful toward Dad all the time, instead of showing gratitude. If it weren’t for his special talent as a surgeon, I’d be dateless.
Leanne gave me a quick hug. “Come for dinner on the weekend. How about Saturday? I have someone I’d like you to meet.”
“Oh, no,” I groaned. “Not again.”
“This guy is really nice. He’s an old school chum of David’s.”
Just what I needed. A man who makes his money looking up ladies’ skirts. David was a gynecologist, and trust me, even though he was my brother-in-law, I had a hard time looking him in the eye.
“Okay, Leanne. I’ll do dinner. What can I bring? Appetizer? Dessert?”
“No, I have everything under control.”
Of course she does. “Okay. Give McKenzie a big hug and kiss for me.”
She left, and I gathered up my nerve to call my mother. “Hello, Mom. How are you?” I spoke with such warm enthusiasm in my voice that even I could hear the insincerity.
“Drop it, Susan.” Mother sighed. “You are not going to weasel out of this. I plan on staying good and mad at you. What were you thinking? Running off in the middle of your art show, especially after your friends went to so much trouble for you, too. Your paintings looked very nice. I overheard many favorable compliments about your work.”
“Yes, well—”
“Well, what?”
“I guess with all the excitement over the show I needed to get away for a while and have some downtime.”
“Call it anything you want, but you did one of your classic disappearing acts. As always. When the going gets tough, Susan gets going.”
My mom sighed dramatically. She really was the drama queen. “You could never handle pressure. The slightest demand on you has you scurrying for cover. Not at all like your sister.”
“I know, Mother. Leanne is perfect. I’m not, never will be, and that’s the problem, isn’t it?”
“I didn’t say she was perfect, but she is certainly stable, and manages to balance marriage, motherhood, and a wonderful career. You can’t even balance yourself.”
Ouch. That hurt. I bit my lip and fought back bitter tears. “Mom, I did some sketches and paintings while I was away. The people at the B&B where I was staying said they were really good, and put a couple in their lobby for sale.”
Her voice softened, “That’s great, Susie. I don’t mean to be hard on you. It’s just that you act without thinking half the time, but I do love you.”
“Love you too, Mom,” I said automatically.
She sighed, “I know you are not on the best of terms with your father, but we have to keep peace in the family, and your dad is one stubborn man.”
“Yes, I know.” I wanted to ask why he’d come for me when he never showed me kindness, but I didn’t. There were a lot of things I’d like to ask about my father, like why did he run around on her, and why did she choose to look the other way? But there were certain things we didn’t talk about. Bottom line—I didn’t like their behavior any more than they liked mine.
I had to admit, I didn’t always make the brightest choices. Like when I was nineteen, I ran off with Jamie Jackson, a hardcore rock singer. I toured around the country with him for two whole years until the booze, the drugs, and the lifestyle became too much. That was mistake number one.
After leaving J.J., I returned to Florida, and Daddy promptly put me in Hanley Hazleton for a couple of months to dry out. It wasn’t too bad. I met a nice fellow there who was kicking some pretty bad habits, and we hooked up in some very strange places. We did it in the laundry room on top of the dryer. I remember how it was vibrating and when it got into high gear, so did the two of us. Another time I was in the shower and he sneaked in. We were pleasuring ourselves, and one of the other girls began pounding on the door, desperate to go. He tried to scurry out the window and got stuck with his bare fanny half in, half out. We were caught in the act, so to speak, and they kicked us out.
But we were kids, and it was fun while it lasted.
CHAPTER FOUR
I went to see my father at Palms Cosmetic and Reconstructive Plastic Surgery. It was a new state-of-the art freestanding center, with private overnight accommodations. More than half the patients checked in for body sculpturing
or facial rejuvenation, but it was also a renowned facility for reconstructive surgery.
I used to help out on Saturdays during the busy season, from November to April, when the snowbirds would all be down, but I stopped doing that when I discovered Dad doing more than surgery on a lady from Connecticut.
I was in the vicinity of Dad’s office one day, and it was lunch time, so I decided to pop into his favorite restaurant to surprise him. Well, he was there all right, but he didn’t see me because his eyes were fixated on a pair of perfectly endowed breasts.
The two of them were snuggled up in a booth, and she was giggling about something he’d whispered in her ear. I could see his hand groping her leg under the table, and I was so angry at my father, I wanted to march right over to his table and confront him, but I didn’t. He’d always been able to intimidate me, and I knew that somehow he’d turn the whole incident around, and I’d be the one wiping egg off my face.
So, instead of yelling at him, causing a scene, and demanding an answer as to why he was cheating on my mother—which my very soul cried out to do—I turned, and walked away before he could see me.
Just the memory of that day upset me still. I could feel the bitter taste of betrayal eat like acid at my stomach.
There were a few people sitting around the plush waiting room, and I glanced at them guessing what they were in here for. Over my reading material I scanned one extremely tall, beautiful woman that I guessed might be forty although she didn’t look a day over thirty, and figured she might be in for liposuction.
Another woman was slim with elegant, fabulous red hair, creamy white skin, and delicate features; in every way perfect. What were these people doing here? Why weren’t they out modeling or something?
I saw them eyeing me, too. Looking for a flaw, checking out my smooth skin, my toned arms and legs, wondering what I’d had done and what needed work. Let them wonder. I sat up straighter and tilted my head so they could see my long, graceful neck, my finely shaped nose, and my cupid mouth, the mouth that had started my life under the knife.
I noticed a small painting on the wall that I had framed and given to Dad a few years back. He’d kept it on display. What a surprise. It wasn’t my best work but it was a pretty South Beach scene.
I heard my father’s voice at the door.
Dr. Jensen, looking fit and handsome except for the discoloration around the eye, nodded to his clients and beamed with goodwill before his eyes settled on me. The smile faded, his eyes narrowed, and with a jerk of his chin he beckoned me in. “Your mother told me you wanted to see me. So, what do you have to say for yourself?”
“Well, for starters, would you please stop talking to me like I’m a child?”
“As soon as you stop acting like one.” He leaned toward me. “That is no sty. What is wrong with your eye?” I had used eyelash glue to hold my lid in place, but I should have known it wouldn’t fool Dad. All he ever saw were my imperfections.
“I had a bad reaction to Botox. Ended up with a nasty red welt and a droopy lid.”
“Dammit, Susie. Who did you see? All you had to do was come to me.”
“Yes, well, I didn’t, and I paid the price. Can we drop it now and talk about something else? How about dinner at Leanne’s? Is she having a cookout, or another one of her fancy affairs?”
“I don’t know, probably the latter. She wants us all for Labor Day too.” He smiled with pride. “You’d think she didn’t have anything else to do, the way she entertains and goes all out on holidays.”
“Yes, she’s something else, isn’t she?” Leanne was a doctor and a mother, as well as a perfect hostess who loved to entertain lavishly in her elegant waterfront home. A home that had once made the cover of Better Homes and Gardens. It was a wonder I didn’t hate her.
* * *
I had an appointment with Helga the following day, and since I hadn’t seen her in a month, I rambled on a little more than usual. There are times when I’ve done this and I see her eyes glaze over, and her head fall back, and I listen to the sound of her gentle snores, but this wasn’t one of those times.
“Your father got punched in the eye by a Hemingway?” Helga’s blue eyes were piercing. “Oh, that poor man,” she chuckled.
“Mm-hmm.” I studied my acrylic nails. The salon who had done my refills in the Keys had not been as good as my regular girl. It was time to have them redone. “He got a shiner and a bloody nose. It wasn’t a pretty sight.”
“Susie, do you think the attention you received from the Hemingway men was related to your constant striving for affection from your father?” I looked up from my nails. “No. Why, do you?”
“I think you form friendships with various people perhaps for that reason. Like the homeless family you sponsored for Thanksgiving last year. Against my advice and all reason, you invited them for a home-cooked meal, and when you befriended them, they practically moved in.”
I folded my arms around my middle, in defensive mode. “They were nice, and they needed a break.”
“You gave it to them, paying the gentleman to do handyman chores, and his wife to be your cleaning lady.”
“Mmm-hmm. I was happy to help them.”
“Yes, until you found cash and jewelry missing.”
I bit my lip. “I know. I’ll never understand why they did that. I would have paid them more if they’d asked.”
“I don’t know why either, but it was an invaluable lesson to you.”
“It was? What did I learn from this experience?”
“Not to be so willing to trust people that you let your guard down, and be in such a rush to befriend people that it clouds your judgment.”
“Don’t worry about me, Helga. I just volunteer at the shelter and serve the meals. I don’t bring them home anymore.”
Her sky-blue eyes grew gentle. “Oh, Susie. You have such a kind heart, and so much love to give, but you always make a point of giving it to the wrong people.”
* * *
My next stop was the Candy Bar. I took my usual seat at the bar and waited for Candy to turn around and see me. A huge, happy grin lit up her face the moment she laid eyes on me.
I wore a silly grin too.
“Hey, girl.” She touched my shoulder. “We missed you around here.”
“I missed you guys, too.” I squeezed her hand. “I am so sorry about Billy. Fran told me.” I added, “That crazy kid, running off like that, when he has a wonderful mother like you.”
“He’s probably just trying to worry me so I’ll get off his back. He wants to quit school and join the army.”
“Oh, God, no!”
She batted tears away, and I could see she was too upset to speak.
“I’m going to make up a pile of posters and put them up all over town. Is there anything else I can do to help?”
“Oh, Susie, that is very thoughtful of you. Thank you, but I don’t know what any of us can do. I’ve called his school friends daily and spoken to their parents, but nothing.”
Candy had left Alabama, alone and pregnant, when she was seventeen, and had raised Billy on her own, with no help from anyone. It wasn’t her fault she couldn’t control him. Candy was five feet nothing, and Billy was a whole foot taller than his mother, and nearly twice her weight. She could threaten him all she wanted, but he did as he pleased. The only option she had was to throw him out of the house, but now he had even taken that option away from her.
Candy looks more like his older sister than his mother. She has a rose tattoo on her breast, a couple of rings in her left eyebrow, and she wears her shorts and skirts too tight and her tops too low.
That’s just her cover, though. Beneath the brassy exterior, she’s actually one of the brightest and sweetest women I know.
She turned the Candy Bar into one of the trendiest single bars in the South Beach area. It was her idea to host a talent show once a month for local artists to showcase their talent, get recognition, and live their dream. She gave me that chance and even though t
hings didn’t work out for me, many people have gone on and become quite a success.
“Did he have any reason to take off? Trouble at school?”
“Not that I know of. At least nothing new, but he’s not in any of the hospitals, and he hasn’t been arrested. That’s the good news, but he could have gone anywhere. Out of state. Who knows?”
Her soft blue eyes showed their worry. “Damn kid. Just wait until he gets home. I’ll give him a lickin’ so bad he won’t be able to sit down for a week.”
I smiled, trying to imagine it. “He’ll call any day now. I’m sure he’s out of money, wherever he is.”
“I know. I keep hoping for that possibility too.” She tossed her head and I saw the rings in her eyebrows twinkle under the coppery light. “I’m glad you’re home, I wouldn’t want to be worrying about you, too.”
I felt like a heel. “I’m sorry for my disappearing act.”
“Forget it. It’s over and done.” She flicked her head in the direction of the stage. “We have a new band and I think you’re going to love them. The guy’s cute, reminds me of Tim McGraw.”
“Hmm. I’ll check them out.” I was sipping on a diet Coke when Lydia and Fran came in. I hugged them both. “My gosh, Lydia. Look at you.” I grabbed her by the arms and held them wide so I could admire her stomach. “I can’t believe the difference in a couple of weeks. You’ve really popped out.”
She grinned. “You can say that again, and I’m starting to feel the baby kick. It’s really cool.”
Lydia’s five months pregnant and it was the most wonderful mistake of her life. She’s a divorce attorney who didn’t believe in happily ever after, and now has the greatest guy at her side and a baby on the way.
“I was going to give you shit for taking off like you did and not calling us, but Fran explained everything, so I’ll drop the matter. But no more Botox, okay?”
“Yeah. I think I learned from this mistake.”
Fran slid onto the barstool beside me. “It’s great having you back. I’ve missed you at work.”
The Candy Bar Complete - 4 book box set: Candy Bar Series Page 29
