“Now, maybe,” Mims conceded, “but not then.”
“Not then, either. Jen’s not into guys. She’s got a girlfriend.”
“A…girlfriend?”
“I should never have divorced him.”
“Oh, yes, you should have,” Mims insisted. “If not her, it would’ve been someone else. And he’s never going to have any money. He’s never going to amount to anything.”
“There’s more to life than money,” Ella said.
There went the motherly eyebrow again. “When was the last time you tried living without it?” Before Ella could say anything, she added, “I won’t always be here as a safety net for you, Ella. I want you to be secure.”
“I am secure. I’m secure with Jake.”
“You think you can be secure with a selfish man who always puts himself first?”
Brandon Wallace, one of Jake’s softball team buddies, and Todd Black, who were sitting at a table behind them, suddenly began to laugh like some kind of all-knowing Greek chorus.
Mims shook her head. “Men like him, they use other people. They say all the right things, but their actions never line up.”
“Are you talking about Jake or my father?” Ella retorted.
“Both.”
Ella heard another guffaw from the table behind them. And something else, some kind of country song.
“Ella, baby—”
Ella held up her hand for silence. That voice, it sounded like Jake’s. She got up and moved to stand by the table, trying to subtly peer over Brandon’s shoulder. Sure enough, there on YouTube was Jake and his band. When had he done this? And what was it? Now Mims was standing next to her.
Brandon glanced over his shoulder at them and his eyes got bigger than those of any deer looking into a truck’s headlights. “Ella, hi,” he said, and quickly closed the page.
“Brandon, that was Jake,” Ella said.
His deer-in-the-headlight eyes shot to his buddy.
Okay, what was the problem? Jake was on YouTube. That should be good news.
“Uh, no, it was some—somebody else,” Brandon stuttered.
“Bring that back up,” Mims commanded.
Brandon and his pal exchanged uh-oh looks as he obliged.
Sure enough, it was Jake. “Oh, my gosh, he’s going to be famous,” Ella cried. Another thing her mother had been wrong about.
Then she heard the lyrics. What kind of sick song was this? Next to her, Ella could feel her mother stiffening. She listened in horror as the song proceeded on its nasty route, Jake mocking her mother, offering Santa beer for life if he’d just haul Mims away. That was supposed to be funny?
Mims didn’t stay to hear the second verse.
“I didn’t see you guys sitting there. Sorry, Ella,” Brandon said sheepishly.
He wasn’t half as sorry as her husband was going to be. Make that ex-husband. Again.
* * *
When Ella didn’t come home Jake figured she and her mother were shopping. But the hours dragged by and no Ella. His afternoon guitar students came and went, and still it was only him and Tiny in the house. Finally, it was almost dinnertime and he was hungry—for more than food.
He called her cell and received a very stiff hello.
What the hell was going on? “Hey, where are you?”
“I’m with Mims.”
“Did you guys go to Seattle or something?”
“No. I’m at her place.”
“Oh.” Disappointment and confusion made it difficult for his brain to come up with any other words. Finally some surfaced. “Uh, when are you coming home?”
“Not tonight.” The words came out so cold he nearly got frostbite on his ear.
“Okay, what’s up?”
“What’s up? You really need to ask?”
“Yeah.” How else was he going to find out what could have gone wrong between last night and today?
“Well, why don’t you look on YouTube? That might give you a clue,” she said. Then all he heard was dial tone.
He didn’t need to hear any more. Now he knew what the problem was. Somehow, someway, she’d seen him singing THE SONG. She’d been with her mother today and that meant mama-in-law had heard THE SONG, too. Shit.
He sat on the couch with his laptop and brought up “Merry Christmas, Mama.” He almost dropped it when he saw how many views they had. That was great—in a parallel universe. Here in Jake’s world it was a disaster. There he was, big, dumb, guitar-playing dope, dissing his former mother-in-law for all the world to see. He shut the laptop and fell back against the couch cushions. What was he going to do now?
* * *
The invasion had begun. Louise, Cass’s former mother-in-law, and Maddy, her former sister-in-law, stopped by the bakery midmorning to announce that they had arrived. Days early. “We don’t want to miss the bridal shower,” Louise had said. Next thing Cass knew, they were stealing Dani away for shopping and lunch. Cass was not invited, which she told herself was fine, since someone had to wait on the customers. The snub stung, though, and she could only imagine how many more she was going to endure before their visit was over.
The next torture began when Mason showed up at the house with his trophy wife, who also wanted to attend the shower—oh, joy. He looked as fit as he was on the day they got married and had only a scant salting of gray in his brown hair. Father Time was treating him much more kindly than Cass. Men. They always stuck together.
Babette, standing next to him, was arm candy with her petite figure and her perfectly highlighted, shoulder-length hair. Looking at her, Cass felt every extra pound on her body. And here was another treat. They’d brought their dog, Cupcake.
Some dog, Cass thought. The yippy apricot Pomeranian resembled an overgrown powder puff. Cass was not a fan of little dogs. She much preferred real dogs like Ella’s Saint Bernard, Tiny, dogs who had a purpose in life beyond trying a person’s patience.
“Oh, you brought Cupcake,” Amber said as Babette walked in holding the stupid thing like a baby. Amber reached out a hand to pet it and the dog growled and barked at her. She yanked back her hand.
“No, Cupcake, this is family. Remember?” Babette cooed to the minibeast. “She doesn’t know where she is.”
She’s in Icicle Falls, invading my house. And for longer than she’d originally agreed to, no less. She must have been insane to go along with this.
“She just needs time to warm up. She’s really very sweet,” Babette explained to Cass.
Compared to what?
“Thanks for putting us up,” Mason said.
He was managing to be civil. She could, too. “No problem,” she lied. Dani had given up her room and was sleeping in Amber’s, a sacrifice she was more than willing to make to have her father here. They were a full house, but not as full as they would’ve been if Mom hadn’t broken her wrist. If Mom and Ralph had made it, Mason and Bimbette would probably have been on the sleeper sofa.
At least she’d been spared having to see that every morning when she got up. “Dani will show you to your room. Dinner’s just about ready.” After that, the women would be off to Dani’s bridal shower, which Cass was determined to enjoy even if it killed her.
Dinner was lasagna with garlic bread and Caesar salad. Size-six Babette passed on the lasagna, had a few bites of salad and fed most of her garlic bread to the dog, who came to the table and sat in her lap.
“I take it you don’t like lasagna,” Cass said, trying (not very hard) not to be offended.
Babette wrinkled her pert little nose. “It’s so fattening.”
And that was why Babette was a size six and Cass was…not. She should have gone on a diet when she first heard this highlighted Barbie doll was coming.
Oh, what did she care? She didn’t have to look good for anyone.
This last thought didn’t prove comforting. She dished herself up a second helping of lasagna.
After dinner Mason and Willie got busy looking for a guy movie to watch while the wom
en cleaned up in the kitchen. Babette cleared the table, all the while talking about the “amazing” Murano glass she’d bought when Mason took her to Italy. Cupcake helped by trying to get into the garbage. And Cass reminded herself that they were only here for a few days.
Then it was off with Dani and Amber and Ms. Size Six to pick up her ex-mother- and sister-in-law at Olivia’s
B and B and take them to Samantha’s place for Dani’s big night.
They were already standing outside the door when Cass pulled up under the port cochere. Maddy had gone lighter with her hair and it looked like she’d gained weight. She’d gotten divorced shortly before Cass and Mason. Like Cass, she’d obviously shed a husband and gained a couple of dress sizes. Louise, on the other hand, had gotten thinner. She looked like a stick with a wool coat. Even her lips were thin. That probably had something to do with the fact that they were pressed together in a semifrown.
“It’s almost seven,” she said as she got in the backseat. “We’re going to be late.”
Ah, yes, how Cass remembered that charming critical spirit. “Don’t worry. Samantha lives five minutes from here. We’ll be right on time,” she assured Louise.
She was wasting her breath. Her former mother-in-law wasn’t listening. She was already gushing a greeting to Dani. “And here’s our bride. I’m looking forward to meeting all your friends, darling.”
And they were looking forward to meeting her. Not.
“Thanks for picking us up,” Maddy said. She checked out the interior. “Is this the same car you had way back when you were with Mason?”
Wouldn’t that have been a fun bit of information to spread when she got back home and saw her friends? “Not quite. How’ve you been, Maddy?”
“Wonderful. I’ve just gotten engaged.”
“Well, congratulations,” Cass said, determined to be magnanimous.
“How about you? Did you ever find anyone?”
Maddy had a way with words. “I haven’t been looking. I’ve been too involved with my business.”
“Still single, then? Well, maybe you’ll catch the bouquet. Dani, you’ll have to throw it in your mother’s direction.”
Oh, that was cute. “I think we’ll save that opportunity for the younger girls,” Cass said. “Speaking of bouquets, tell them about your flowers, Dani.”
Her suggestion shone the spotlight where it needed to be. Talk turned to the wedding and they made it to Samantha’s without Cass having to stop the car and bitch-slap her ex-sister-in-law.
“What a pretty house,” Babette said as Cass pulled up to the curb.
The Prestons’ house was decked out for the holidays with white lights strung along the roof and a holiday wreath on the door. Inside it was just as lovely. Samantha was an amateur photographer, and a winter shot she’d taken of Icicle Falls frozen in action hung over the fireplace. To the side of it, several candles were arranged on the mantelpiece, and the scent of bayberry filled the house. The living room was packed with women, all dressed in their holiday finery and Samantha’s coffee table was piled high with beautifully wrapped presents and gift bags.
Samantha herself looked chic in black jeans, ballet slippers and a green sweater that showed off her red hair.
“Thank you so much for including us,” Babette said once Cass had introduced them. “It’s so exciting to see our Dani getting married.”
Our Dani. Cass managed to smile and grind her teeth simultaneously.
“You’re welcome.” Then before Babette could get too chummy, Samantha got down to business, offering to take everyone’s coats.
Dani’s bridesmaids, Mikaila and Vanessa, came running up to her, all squeals and excitement and adorableness. Looking at them, Cass wondered if she’d ever been that cute. Hard to remember ancient history, but she was pretty sure she’d once been equally happy and carefree. She was still happy, she reminded herself. And seeing all her friends and neighbors here to show their love and support for her daughter had proud-mama tears welling up.
Samantha had gone all out and her dining room table practically groaned under the weight of appetizers and cookies.
“When did you have time to do all this?” Cass asked as she handed over her coat.
“Me? Are you kidding?” She nodded to where her younger sister stood, chatting with Lauren Belgado. “Bailey’s back. Wait till you taste the chocolate dessert she made.”
“Can’t wait,” said Cass. Too late to start dieting now, she reasoned.
But first she needed to make the rounds and thank everyone for coming. Oh, yeah, and introduce the in-laws.
“It’s lovely to meet you,” the mother of the groom said to Louise.
Yeah, well, wait until you get to know her, thought Cass.
“We’re delighted to be here,” Louise said.
She’d certainly been delighted to tell Samantha how lovely her house was. So much roomier than Cass’s, but then those old houses weren’t really designed for modern living.
Who said? It had taken all Cass’s restraint not to kick the gray-haired biddy in her skinny butt.
Now Louise was busy telling Mike’s mother how lucky her son was to be getting such a sweet girl.
“Oh, we know it,” said Delia, giving Cass an encouraging smile—one suffering daughter-in-law to another. Delia and Cass had become good friends over the past few months and had come to agree on several important things. Yes, their children were young to be getting married, but they were both mature, well-grounded kids and they’d be fine. And they were each getting a great mother-in-law, which was more than either Cass or Delia could say. And, no matter how strongly tempted, they would neither take sides nor interfere in their children’s lives.
Once all the guests had arrived, Samantha’s younger sister Bailey, who’d come home early to cater the wedding, took charge, making them all play a game, some sort of word scramble involving necessities for a successful wedding. Cass couldn’t help smiling at one of them—reacter, which, unscrambled, spelled caterer. Good advertising.
Then it was time to open presents. Amber was happy to be put to work making a practice bouquet using ribbons from the package and a paper plate, while Dani’s friend Vanessa kept track of who gave her what. Dani was over the moon with Cass’s, which was a box filled with essential baking tools. Like her mother, she loved to bake both at work and at home, and Cass knew Dani would use every item. Delia gave her a cookbook and the Sterling women gave her a gift card to Hearth and Home. Ella had made a wedding towel cake. Louise, big spender that she was, had given Dani a
9” x 12” glass pan and Maddy had gone one better by getting her a set of ramekins. Her bridesmaids got her fun gifts—personalized bride flipflops and a sexy cookbook loaded with aphrodisiac recipes. But the hit of the shower was Babette’s present—a huge Victoria’s Secret gift bag packed with lingerie. Even perfume.
“Oh, thank you! I love this fragrance,” Dani said happily.
“I know you do,” Babette told her, smiling.
It was like they were best friends. Cass popped an entire snowball cookie in her mouth.
“That’s quite the gift,” said Dot, who was sitting next to Cass with her foot propped on a footstool.
It was hard to swallow…the cookie. “Yes, it is,” Cass agreed, and went back to the refreshment table. This is not a competition, she reminded herself. Try to remember you’re a grown-up and be grateful your daughter has so many people in her life who care.
That attitude adjustment made it much easier to enjoy the shower. And it hardly fazed Cass when her former mother-in-law eyed her second plate with disgust. They were small plates.
Bailey had created a special drink for the bride that she’d dubbed Wedding Night Bliss, a frothy white concoction consisting primarily of coconut juice and white chocolate liqueur, for which she was now taking orders. “I can do alcoholic or virgin,” she said.
“I’d better make mine a virgin,” Babette said.
“And I know why,” Maddy murmured,
with a conspiratorial grin. She leaned across Dani and said to Cass in a stage whisper, “She’s pregnant.”
Cass lost her grip on her plate and two cookies bounced onto the floor. “P-pregnant?” she stammered.
“Wow, I didn’t know that,” Dani said.
“They’re thrilled about it,” Maddy confided.
And Maddy would know, of course, Cass thought cynically, since she specialized in minding other people’s business.
The rest of the evening became mechanical. Cass smiled and said all that was right while inside she battled with her less noble half once more. This time it was a losing battle. It was hard to shake the sense of injustice she felt. After doing such a lousy job with his first set of kids, Mason the absent father was getting a second chance with his hot young wife. Everything was going great for him the second time around.
You could have remarried.
As if she’d wanted to. She liked being on her own. No one to foul up her plans, no one to disappoint her, no one…well, no one.
That wasn’t altogether true. She had her family and her friends and her business. She didn’t need anyone else. Heck, she didn’t have time for anyone else.
But her nest was starting to empty. In another ten years she’d have time. How was she going to fill it? She’d never given that any thought. She’d been so busy, and middle age had been a lifetime away. Now here it was. She found herself feeling relieved when the party ended.
She helped carry Dani’s loot out to the car and load it in the trunk, then looked on with a motherly smile while her daughter hugged Louise and Maddy goodbye at the lodge. She kept her smile as she, her daughters and Babette drove back to the house and Dani said to Babette, “I didn’t know you were pregnant.”
“Well, I’m only three months,” Babette said, and glanced nervously in Cass’s direction.
“Congratulations,” Cass said, and tried to mean it. After all, there was no sense resenting Babette. She deserved a chance at happiness just like anyone else.
“Thanks,” Babette said. “We’re excited.”
Mason had been far from excited when she got pregnant with Dani. “How did that happen?” he’d protested. As if it’d been all her fault. Of course, he’d backpedaled and said they’d make it work. And they had. They’d made it work by her doing everything. Well, maybe this time around he’d be more involved.
Merry Ex-Mas Page 19
