Trifecta

by Pam Richter

  "No junk food?" Julia asked, so famished she would have settled for Ding-Dongs and Cheetos. There was a bottle of white wine, a carton of eggs, some old cheese, an onion and one can of beer.

  "The caterers will bring lots of stuff. But that's hours away. I'll make a quick trip to the store. Ice cream and pickles, I presume?"

  "Cheese and onion omelette?" Julia asked. "I don't want to waste one minute of our time together."

  "I'll make it," Robin offered, giving her a melting smile. "You sit and relax."

  Julia coached from the sidelines, advising that he would have to cook the onions first or they would be raw when the eggs got done, when it became apparent Robin really didn't have a clue about how to cook a simple omelette. He only cut his finger once when he chopped up the onion. Julia only had to jump up twice to turn down the heat when she noticed the eggs were burning. The omelette was pronounced heavenly.

  After lunch Robin proposed a swim in the pool. Bathing suits were unnecessary because they were so high up in the hills that no one could see into the back yard.

  "Except maybe a helicopter," Julia said. "Or a mountain climber. Or a plane."

  "You're shy!" Robin said. "The probability of a plane or helicopter is almost nonexistent. So it has to be me, even though you know I adore your body. This whole thing is going to be very interesting. Sometimes I feel like I've known you all my life. But still, you're always surprising me."

  "I won't live with you first, Robin," Julia said warningly. "No trying it out for a while, to make sure you didn't make a mistake."

  "I don't make serious mistakes," Robin said with total conviction.

  Julia was following him back up the stairs to his bedroom. "Oh, and you're not at all arrogant, either. Never make mistakes?"

  "We're going to have to get married soon. I don't want us separated again. Unless you want to live with me in wicked sin forever." He was smiling.

  "No way, Robin."

  He was rummaging around in a drawer and pulled out one of his black tanks tops. "I exercise in these. You can wear it to swim in."

  Julia nodded, slipped out of the robe and put the silky shirt on. It fell to her mid-thigh.

  "Wow," Robin said when she turned around. He was pulling on swimming trunks. "See, I knew exactly how that would look. And I never make mistakes on the important stuff. I can hardly wait to see you in that, after it gets wet."

  Julia looked down and saw that the shirt was so large it barely covered her chest. She pulled up on the straps but it just slid down again. Robin was smiling at her appreciatively, and with exaggerated lechery. Julia tried to snap him with the towel he had handed her, but he jumped out of range.

  Robin took off at a run out of the bedroom. "I can't stay here and look at you. We'll just end up in bed again."

  Julia rushed after him laughing.

  When she caught up with him he was standing at the edge of the pool, the deep end, facing her with a smile.

  "What are you planning, Robin?" Julia asked suspiciously. "I don't trust that look on your face."

  "Come here, Julia."

  She shook her head and stopped a few feet away.

  "I can't keep my hands off you. I need a hug right now."

  Robin looked gorgeous with the sun shining on him in his bathing suit, all lean legs and wide shoulders. His stomach was perfectly flat. She couldn't resist.

  "See?" he said, leaning forward to kiss her when she walked up to him hesitantly. He didn't even put his arms around her until he could feel her arms reaching around his neck.

  Julia let out a tiny shriek when she felt them tilting backward. Robin did a perfectly straight dead-drop backwards, holding Julia tightly, and they landed in the water with an enormous splash.

  Julia came up, laughing and sputtering.

  Robin was treading water. He smiled back at her, and said solemnly, "Lost my balance there. You made me dizzy, Julia. It's not my fault."

  "Oh, really?" Julia said, feigning indignation. "You took shameful advantage of me in a weak moment. On purpose, I might add."

  "You think I did it on purpose?" He looked surprised and very innocent.

  Julia dove under the water and went beneath him, giving him a good goose along the way. She came up in front of Robin. "I know you did."

  "We have to settle this like reasonable adults," Robin said. "I'll race you to the end and back."

  They made elaborate negotiations about who would do what to whom when the winner was announced. The bargain involved peeling grapes, bathing in champagne and massages with mink mittens. It degenerated to a discussion of sexual slavery for the loser, with both of them getting ever more silly with the suggestions for the poor loser. There were more mundane chores included, like cleaning up after Scooter's puppies for a month.

  Julia knew she didn't have a chance in a race with Robin. No way. She would have to cheat. She though she could incapacitate him for a few seconds. The problem was, her own body could be traitorous. The plan would backfire if he got his hands on her. Julia said she had to rest for a moment before the race. They had been treading water in the deep end for some time, but their laughter about the silly race was what really made Julia weak. She needed a minute to recover. Robin was solicitous. After all, she was in a delicate condition.

  Julia got out of the pool, went over to her towel and picked it up, rubbing her hair vigorously. She knew the shirt was clinging to her provocatively as she walked back to the pool and she put a little extra bounce in her step, hoping it wouldn't be too obvious. Robin's eyes never left her.

  "Forget the race," Robin said. "I can think of lots of better things to do."

  Julia patted her face dry and then walked away like she was going to put the towel down on a chair. She suddenly turned and threw the towel on top of Robin's head. Perfect shot, she thought gleefully as the enormous towel covered his head, the ends falling in the pool, immediately soaked.

  She backed up quickly for a running start, rushed forward and did a flat dive almost over his head. By the time Robin had snatched off the wet clinging towel, Julia was half way down the length of the pool. He yelled, No fair, and started racing after her with a vengeance.

  On the last leg of the race Julia could tell by the splashing behind her that Robin had almost caught up when she was a few feet from the end of the pool. When she grabbed hold of the side she thought she won by a hair.

  "Damn you're fast," Robin said when he surfaced. "I don't get a slave for the next month."

  Julia was laughing and out of breath. "All bets are off. I'm already your slave."

  "Great. And I'm yours. Permanently. I meant it about the wedding, Julia. We need to plan it right away. I want a big one, with all our friends and relatives."

  "It'll have to be soon if you want traditional. I would look pretty silly wearing white, with a gigantic stomach," Julia said. "They'll think it was a shot-gun wedding if we don't make it fast."

  They were hugging under water and didn't hear the bell ringing until they surfaced.

  "What's that?" Julia asked, grabbing the side of the pool to get her breath back.

  "Front door. Must be the caterers. They're awfully early. I'll go check."

  Julia admired Robin as he levered himself out of the pool and grabbing a towel, went through the sliding glass doors into the house. He had the greatest tiny butt.

  Julia got out of the pool and put on the white robe. She didn't want anyone else seeing her in Robin's shirt. As she went to the glass doors and looked inside, she recognized Tony and a woman standing with Robin. Damn, it was the red-haired Sarah. The woman who'd had an affair with Robin.

  Robin turned around, saw Julia at the door and motioned her inside.

  Julia felt bedraggled and frumpy with her hair dripping, dressed in a robe. Sarah, she noticed, was impeccably attired in a beautiful grey silk suit and very high heels. Her hair was piled on top of her head in an intricate hair-do. She looked beautiful.

  "Sarah and Tony came by early, to help wit
h the preparations," Robin explained. He put his arm around her shoulders.

  Robin was telling them where to put the presents they had carried in when Scooter bounded into the room. The little dog ran straight to Julia and started to jump up and down. Julia picked her up.

  "The last time I was here that dog peed inside my shoes," Sarah said. She was laughing and the two men joined her. "I don't think she likes me. It wasn't a mistake. She was careful to pee in each one."

  "You never told me that," Robin said, but he knew the damage was already done.

  "I'm going to go dry my hair," Julia said, carefully keeping a false smile in place. She started carrying Scooter up the stairs, as much for comfort as anything else.

  "I'll go help Julia," Sarah said and followed Julia up the stairs.

  "Hair dryer is under the sink," Robin called after them.

  Wonderful, Julia thought. She wanted to be alone.

  The two women went into the bathroom and Julia found the hair dryer and plugged it in. She wondered how men tended to be such fools where women were concerned. Sarah was beautiful and they all went ga-ga, like some stupid knee-jerk response. First Robin and now Tony.

  "You can sit down in front of the mirror," Sarah said, taking the dryer out of Julia's hand. "It's hard to do the back by yourself, and you have such beautiful hair. We can just turn the ends under. Is that okay?"

  Julia nodded uncomfortably. Scooter jumped in her lap and started licking her chin.

  Sarah turned on the machine, paused, and then shut it off. She was looking at Julia seriously in the mirror. "I think, no, I hope, we'll be seeing lots of each other."

  Julia nodded and smiled at the beautiful reflection next to hers in the mirror.

  "That was a thoughtless remark. About my shoes. You had to know they weren't on my feet when Scooter peed in them. And I would like us to be friends. Sometimes I make the most stupid, unthinking remarks. I'm really sorry."

  "No problem," Julia said.

  "See, I was so jealous of you. I had this enormous crush on Robin. For years. We went out occasionally, but he made it very clear that we were only friends. And then I saw the two of you together. The way he was looking at you. And I knew. So I was hurt and bitchy the last time."

  "It's really all right, Sarah," Julia said, smiling at the woman. She felt herself relenting. Sarah was trying to make amends.

  "I know it is," Sarah said, grinning back at Julia. "You're wearing the ring. Tony told me all about it."

  "Does everyone know?" Julia asked.

  "Everyone who'll be here. Except Robin's parents, of course."

  "I hope they approve," Julia said, knowing her apprehension showed.

  "Don't worry. They'll probably be thrilled Robin is finally going to get married."

  "I didn't know you and Tony were seeing each other," Julia said.

  "Tony and I were good friends," Sarah explained. "Like brother and sister, almost, because we were constantly seeing each other at parties and different occasions. I always liked him, but he would never ask me out when I was seeing Robin. Then Robin told him about the ring, and Tony asked me out. I really like Tony a lot. I'm thirty years old, Julia," Sarah said, rolling her eyes comically. "That's like dead in this town. I want this to be a lasting relationship with Tony. I'm hoping to be your friend, because Tony and Robin are best friends. I'm really sorry we got off on the wrong foot, so to speak."

  Julia smiled at her, amazed at the complex emotions that had appeared on Sarah's face as she was speaking. The woman was sincere and really very nice. "I don't know anyone here except Robin. And Tony of course. I would love to have a friend. I'm a little frightened about living in a place I don't understand at all."

  "But you and Robin were miserable when you were separated," Sarah said as she began drying Julia's hair. "It's like a story-book romance. You had a horrible beginning here in Los Angeles, Julia. The tragedy with your brother. And then working for that sleaze-ball, Quijada. But I think you'll learn to love it."

  "Maybe you could help me with the wedding," Julia said hesitantly.

  Sarah turned around and sat on the edge of the sink, facing Julia. "Oh, yes! I'm glad you asked. I know everyone in this town. Would you believe I even went out with Aaron Quijada once."

  "No!" Julia said, shocked.

  "Yes. I thought he was very strange. Real creepy. I almost socked him when he tried to make a move on me. I'll tell you all about it some time. But I can make you the most beautiful, romantic wedding in Los Angeles. I know all the caterers. And the best place to get wedding gowns."

  "It has to be fast," Julia warned. "Within about a month."

  Sarah looked a little surprised, but they made lunch plans for the next day to discuss the arrangements.

  "Now tell me about your date with Aaron Quijada," Julia urged. Within minutes both women were having hysterics as Sarah described her nightmarish date.

  Robin and Tony were downstairs discussing Aaron Quijada's upcoming trial. Then it turned to the attempt on Julia's life that morning.

  "When that assassin took a shot at Julia," Tony was saying, "I think it was a diversionary tactic to keep the police from examining the fake Quijada too carefully. He probably intended for the police to respond and start a real shootout, so he could sneak away when it was over. But Quijada's guy on the roof couldn't get organized fast enough when Julia shouted they had the wrong man. That's the only reason I can think of for such a suicidal and stupid attempt on her life. The guy must have been prepaid an enormous sum to take a chance like that, with the house totally surrounded. I guess they didn't expect the helicopter."

  "Scared me to death," Robin said. "I really thought she was hit."

  "I can imagine. The attempt on Julia's life is really what's going to put Quijada away. The assassin was already insisting on a plea, in the car on the way to jail. And he made sure we knew that he didn't mind spilling his guts about who ordered the hit in return for some judicial favors."

  They stopped talking when they heard the laughter from above and smiled at each other. "I was holding my breath. Close one that time," Tony said with relief.

  "Sarah's a wonderful person," Robin said. "I didn't know how you felt about her, Tony. I would have bowed out years ago. You should have told me."

  "We're making up for lost time. I'm glad you finally found Julia, though. I would have been waiting on the sidelines till my hair turned white."

  The doorbell rang and an army of people started rushing about the house, as the caterers had arrived. There were several cooks, preparing an elaborate dinner in the kitchen. In the back yard the tables were being set up for an enormous banquet. There were waiters and bartenders shouting orders at each other in a frenzy as they set up bars in the living room and the backyard.

  Julia and Sarah hurried about helping with the preparations. Robin saw Julia in the kitchen, preparing an appetizer with one of the cooks and he couldn't resist going up and kissing the back of her neck for a moment. Julia smiled at him and returned the kiss, but he could tell she was preoccupied.

  Robin went outside to prepare the truck, Make-My-Day, for presentation to his father. It took a while and when he finally came back inside he gazed around with approval and satisfaction. There were baskets of extra flowers being arranged in the living room. Balloons were hanging from the stair banister. Then he looked up, and felt his heart do a hard double beat. His face drained of blood completely.

  "Goddammit, Julia!," Robin shouted. "What are you doing?"

  She was balanced precariously on a ceiling beam, tying the 'Happy Birthday," sign up near the cathedral ceiling, which was a good twenty feet from the floor.

  Julia gave him a brilliant smile and waved. She wobbled a little and had to grab hold with both hands again. "I'm the smallest person. So it's best for me to do it."

  "Maybe you're the lightest," Robin shouted, running so he could position himself under her in case she crashed to the floor. "That beam might not break under you. If you're lucky. Is every
one here crazy?" Robin asked, looking around furiously. "She could kill herself."

  "I'm always climbing on things to take pictures, Robin," Julia said calmly. "I'm perfectly safe." She started crawling along the beam to tie up the other end of the banner.

  "I can't watch this," Robin said, shaking his head with trepidation when Tony came up to him.

  "She'll be all right. There are ten men under her and a man on the ladder right next to her," Tony said soothingly.

  "They're all looking up her dress," Robin complained.

  "Do I detect a little jealousy in that tone?"

  "You don't understand," Robin said.

  Tony was laughing, "Yes I do."

  Julia was taking pictures as the guests started arriving. She was positioned on the stairway balcony, to the side and above the entrance hall, kneeling so she could shoot below the chandelier. Robin had told her he wanted her to relax and enjoy herself, but Julia felt more comfortable with a camera in her hands. She recognized famous actors and writers, politicians, and even some rock musicians and singers along with Robin's friends and neighbors. Finally everyone had arrived and they all trooped into the back yard to hide before Robin's parents arrived.

  Robin pulled the draperies across the sliding glass doors so the backyard was hidden from anyone coming inside the front door.

  Julia went reluctantly into the back yard. She realized she would have to meet Robin's friends sometime and steeled herself. She was an outsider and prepared herself for cold shoulders as she slipped through the draperies.

  The evening weather outside was balmy and beautiful with a gorgeous sunset over the ocean in the distance. There was a group of musicians already playing popular songs on a platform that had been erected next to the pool.

  Julia was suddenly surrounded by a crowd. They had all heard about the fabulous ring and they all wanted to see it and meet the woman Robin bought it for.

  Julia was happily overwhelmed by the friendly welcome she was receiving. She met so many people she couldn't possibly remember all the names. She was shaking hands and received three luncheon invitations and a couple more for parties later that month. Robin stood beside her with an arm around her shoulders and helped with the introductions. Someone had opened a bottle of champagne and a toast was proposed to celebrate the engagement. Glasses were handed around and the large group all held them up to Julia and Robin.