Anna chuckled again. “Life happened. You don’t bounce as well at forty as you do at twenty. At some point you don’t bounce at all; you just kind of slide.”
The girls got the attention of several people with their laughter.
His handsomeness had one eye on the girls while he received a phone call from Gaston. Personally. Although he’d been doing work for their firm for years, decades really, he’d never spoken to a full partner before. It was only natural that his heart rate increased.
The girls gambled for a few minutes on the way to the buffet. From the outside, other than interesting choices for art, staying with a kitchen theme instead of the usual over-the-top Vegas stuff, the buffet didn’t look all that different than any other in town. It was once they got inside that the difference was obvious.
The setting seemed a bit more highbrow, as Anna described it.
The food choices were much different.
It took a couple of minutes just to find a plate; they were artistically placed down low at each station instead of just stacked where convenient like most buffets.
The ladies decided to start at the food station furthest from their table and work their way back.
Most of the food was presented in special little containers. The French fries were portioned for each guest in little wire cones with paper cones nestled inside. The fries were varied — sweet potato, plain, spiced, and others. There were so many choices that it was difficult to choose.
Each cooking station had a chef preparing food to order. It annoyed some, slowing down the movement of the lines. Others commented that it improved the experience and brought it from simply eating to dining.
The carving station was great. Anna couldn’t decide if the guy with the big knives was just a really tall guy or if he was standing on a platform. He had all manner of meat. Rotisserie chicken and turkey. Roast and prime rib. Ham and something else that she couldn’t identify.
When the ladies got back to their table, they took one look and burst out laughing. With all the astounding food in the room, each of them had stuck to a very bland menu, very similar to the dinners they’d eaten at every stop.
Anna shook her head. “My mom always said as I got older I’d just eat less and less and that I’d like to stick to the same things. I thought she was crazy.”
Adeline smiled. “There was a time that I enjoyed the finest foods in the finest eating establishments in the world. Now I find that my system just doesn’t appreciate all that heavy food, and I have no interest in working it back off these old thighs of mine. I must tell you, the best meal I’ve had in decades was a simple cheese sandwich that Cara took the time to prepare for me when we first met. I’m not certain it was her culinary talent as much as the fact that she took it upon herself to nurture me when I felt so alone and ill.”
Carolyn smiled. “I’m so grateful that my A.J. and Cara are together. She is a lovely young woman.”
Anna sounded firm. “Well, then, I suggest that we honor that part of ourselves that doesn’t really need all these empty calories and not push so hard to eat fancy just because it is the thing to do.”
Carolyn brightened. “We do have to try that bowl place that the technician at the spa told me about. I’m not sure that I’ve ever eaten anything like that before, but she was so enthusiastic about it, and she said if all we do is go there for a drink and to stare at the sea, it will be worth the price of the cab.”
Adeline enquired, “Have we decided if we are going to rent a car yet?”
“I’m not sure.” Carolyn talked around her bite of buttered roll. “How much would we actually use one?”
Adeline positioned her plate. “Better to have a car we do not require sitting in the parking lot than be dependent on others for all of our transportation needs.”
“Well then, when we get back to the room tonight, I’ll get us a car. I have all the information. It will only take a couple of minutes.”
“Thank you, Anna. All your research has certainly been of benefit.”
“Don’t give me too much credit. We haven’t done a damn thing but walk around in circles.”
Adeline apologized immediately. “That is mostly my fault. First we were trying to determine who was following us, then avoid them, now wait until they are called off. I am very sorry.”
Carolyn tried humor. “Don’t be silly. How many times in life can you say you have had a true adventure? I bet if you ask a thousand people if they have been followed around by a private eye being followed by a private eye being followed by the first one’s husband, you would not receive one positive response. Things like this just don’t happen in real life — well, at least they don’t happen in my real life. Thank the Good Lord, my life has been rather mundane. Other than the worry of my grandchildren not being treated well by their parents, I’ve not had many concerns in life, and even with that problem to contend with, I was well aware that the kids were not abused or neglected; they were just suffering from stupidity in their parents.”
Anna shook her head. “A common problem.”
“Isn’t it just?”
Carolyn took a sip of her drink to change the subject. “Adeline, it is none of our business, but we got kind of sidetracked back at the mall. You were telling us what was happening when that young couple decided to make a spectacle of themselves. We never quite got back to the topic. If you don’t want to speak of it, we understand; we just want to make sure that you are alright.”
“I’m quite alright. Better than that actually. For the first time in a long time I am content and at peace. I’ve made my decision. I believe it to be the right one and the fair one. I’ve made my wishes clear to my attorneys. They are in the process of drawing up the appropriate documents. My firm will have a sister firm here in Vegas print out the documents and send someone to me to have the documents signed and notarized. When I get back to Florida, I will go into their offices and do it right, as Gaston phrases it. He not only wants signed documents, he wants everything done in front of a videographer. He also wants my medical condition — the fact that I’m healthy and able to make these sorts of decisions — well documented, as he phrased it. He doesn’t not anticipate a challenge from my children. Meaning that he is not preparing the documents solely to address issues likely created by my children, but he will be mindful of that possibility. I, on the other hand, am quite certain that my older children will try to do anything and everything their cadre of attorneys can think of to break the will.”
“Such a waste of time and effort. I told my family that I don’t have any kids, I got nothing much to leave anybody anyway, but I’m going to die with only two nickels to rub together so they don’t even have to think about it.”
“I think that is a wise way to approach it, Anna. I’ll have to talk to my attorneys about that. Perhaps I should worry less about how my children will spend their inheritance and a little more about how I should spend it before I die.”
“They have t-shirts and baseball caps with that very phrase available at every souvenir store on the strip.”
“You could buy one that says I’m spending my children’s inheritance and send it to them. From every place we go. One for Vegas. One from Hawaii. If we end up bringing my grandnephew to Yellowstone, they probably have them there too.”
Carolyn seemed alarmed. “I don’t think I’d poke the bear.”
Adeline looked genuinely confused. “Excuse me?”
“I’m sorry. This is none of my business, but it just seems to me that if your children were having you followed here, why? What changed? If they were having you followed here, they probably knew what was going on with you in Florida, and if they knew that, they knew you were sick, and they did nothing to help you get well. I don’t wish to be unkind, especially about your children, but I’d say that is a really good reason not to push their buttons. They might not have your best interest at heart.”
Anna blurted, “Might not?”
“I think that fact is well e
stablished.” Carolyn couldn’t keep the sadness out of her voice. “Then it is probably not wise to advertise their monetary loss.”
Anna was undeterred. “Fine, you don’t want them to get all pushed out of shape now. Buy them shirts and hats and save them. If they try to contest your will, then what they get is all the shirts and caps.”
Adeline laughed until she choked. “I’ll speak to Gaston about that.”
When the girls arrived back at their hotel to change for the show they’d planned for the evening, they were intercepted by a young woman in a black skirt suit — her name tag indicated she was called Bonnie — and asked to follow her, that Mr. Colluride would like to show them something.
They followed the young woman toward the elevators, but instead of getting on the elevator they were ushered through a door that they’d not noticed before. It was totally nondescript and felt like walking through some sort of portal to another world. The new world was much less “Vegas.” No ringing slot machines. No flashing lights. No overused air freshener that didn’t as much mask the smell of cigarette smoke as add a disturbing level of scent to it.
After a number of twists and turns, they came to an office where Mr. Colluride was seated behind a large desk. The desk was intimidating in size and beautiful dark wood that gave the whole room a heavy and serious feel. Probably meant to scare the crap out of anyone they felt the need to escort behind the scenes. The stories of bringing people to the basement and out to the desert never to be heard from again may be considered charming folklore to some, but most people here in Vegas are respectful of the possibility if not the probability.
Adeline took his proffered hand. “Mr. Colluride, how is your child?”
“He’s the same. Thanks for asking. I got a call from your lawyer. He wasn’t happy. Anyway, I’m supposed to do what I can to keep you ladies as safe as I can. I know that it is a big imposition, but I’m asking the three of you if you could just stay in this facility while the lawyers take care of some business. By tomorrow or the next day it should all be taken care of, and you can go about your business.”
Anna pulled a face. “In other words, for the remainder of our stay in Las Vegas we are under house arrest.”
“Ma’am, I can’t force you to do anything. I am just hoping that you will agree to stay in this facility. We have the best of everything in Vegas. We will see to it that you are well serviced. Can you do that? Please?”
The girls exchanged a look.
Anna spoke first. “Yes, Mr. Colluride, if it makes it easier on you, we will stay in this facility. If it will give you the freedom to take the night off and spend some time with your family, we’ll stay in our room and play dominos.”
“Thank you. Thank you so much. I know you were kidding, but if you are here in the facility, you will be perfectly safe, and I can go to the hospital for a little bit. That means the world to me. Thank you, ladies.”
Adeline was shaking her head as they were escorted back out to the casino floor.
“I’m so sorry to put you through this. I’m not sure what Gaston is up to, but I will certainly find out.”
Carolyn slipped her arm through Adeline’s. “Don’t give it another thought. We can come back down to the bar and dance the night away. We can go to a show. They have excellent shows right here in the building. It isn’t really an imposition, Adeline. We purposely and purposefully didn’t make any plans for our trip, so there are no plans to break and no expectations not met. Please, relax. Everything is fine.”
When they got up to their room Adeline headed straight for her room and closed the door firmly.
“Say a prayer for Gaston.” Carolyn steepled her fingers.
“Really. She’s hot.”
“I can’t imagine how hard this is for her. To be dealing with all this, long distance, with virtual strangers. She really should get some rest. Stress is hard on your body, and she hasn’t been out of the hospital all that long.”
“I agree. Perhaps we should just tell her that we are going to stay in tonight. Put on our jammies and watch a little television. Turn in early.”
Carolyn warmed to the idea. “That sounds good. You think maybe we should run down to the notions and whatever downstairs and get some stuff to munch on and some sodas?”
“Chocolate. Chocolate is always good. If we’re going to watch movies, maybe get some popcorn and candy.”
“We could go down now, but I don’t know what kinds of things Adeline likes. As soon as she comes out of her room, we’ll figure it out then.”
They sat.
And they waited.
And they sat some more.
And they talked about family and friends.
And they sat some more.
And they watched the news.
And then Adeline came out of her room.
With freshly applied makeup.
Not a good sign.
“Are you okay?” Anna met her halfway across the room.
“I will be. At the moment I’m disappointed in myself, quite flattened by my children, buoyed by my younger daughter, and very certain I will be revived by my friends.”
Carolyn joined her friends. “How can we help?”
“Knowing you want to help is all the help I need. Now, what is on the agenda for this evening’s activities?”
Anna pointed to the huge television and elaborate entertainment center on the far wall. “We thought maybe we would stay in tonight and do a movie night. Popcorn, soda, the kinds of candy theaters overcharge for. What do you think?”
Adeline smiled. “I think that is very kind, but I think I would prefer, if you have no objections, to get out tonight. I think I would prefer to wear too much eyeliner, drink one more drink than I should, and dance my cares away.”
Carolyn wiggled her hips. “That sounds like a grand idea. Maybe we can recreate our last dance adventure.”
Adeline sat on the ornate chair. “Perhaps we can do better. I must warn you, his handsomeness will be following us more overtly, and he will be accompanied by associates. It is just for the next twenty-four hours, until it can be determined how my children will react to the current state of affairs.”
“Okay.” Anna and Carolyn answered in perfect unison, if not perfect harmony.
“Unconditional support. You haven’t even asked what it is I have decided or how that decision may influence our vacation. I feel quite blessed to have the two of you in my life. Especially right now. I’m not certain what my reaction would have been had I found out the depth of their betrayal when I was feeling so unwell and alone just a few weeks ago. Thank you.”
Carolyn took Adeline’s hand. “Adeline, we really haven’t done anything. We’ve come to Las Vegas, we’ve wandered around and enjoyed the sights, had a little excitement finding out we were being followed, and that is about it. Really nothing to thank us for. We are very glad you are here with us.”
Anna added, “And don’t forget our little girl Amy. We made her feel a little bit better too.”
Adeline brightened. “Oh, there has been an advancement in that arena also. I’m sorry I didn’t start with that, as it is much more uplifting than anything I might say about my own wretched children.” Adeline took a deep breath and smiled. “Amy is everything Anna knew that she would be. She is a lovely young woman with a good work record, and she was both honest and objective in her reporting of the unfortunate facts she related to us.”
“I’m glad to hear that my impressions of her were right on the money. I’m pretty good at first impressions. I can usually tell which side the bread is buttered on.”
“You were exactly right.”
“So, what did you learn?”
“It is more about what we have done.”
Carolyn asked, “What is that?”
“Well, as you would expect, Amy was not Peter’s only victim. As a matter of fact, once his sins came to light, the authorities at this establishment wasted no time in getting to the bottom of the whole issue. I must a
dmit, I had my doubts about the veracity of the group, but Gaston assures me that they have it well in hand. Peter was given the option of mental health support or a police investigation. He chose the former. The girls will be given the proper mental health support, and I believe that there will be a financial component to it as well. There are also new policies and procedures being put in place so that something like this will not repeat.”
Anna’s response was a little more harsh than she had intended. “Yeah, you can bet your ass that’s gonna happen. That isn’t being honorable; that’s called hush money and cover-up.”
“Look on it as you will, but the end result is a positive one. Further, Mr. Colluride will be employing Amy to care for his twins while his son is in the hospital. That will take some of the pressure off of his mother-in-law. Once the child is home from the hospital, the babysitting will continue until the family has had a chance to recuperate.”
Carolyn clapped. “Well, isn’t that great news? I hope she has room in her place for the extra kids.”
“In the short run, basic accommodations are in place. Mr. Colluride pointed out that they are children. Give them a sleeping bag and a good story, and they’ll be thrilled. In the longer term, the casino is starting a daycare facility, twenty-four hour care for their employees, on site, at a steeply discounted rate, based on a sliding income scale, and Amy will be running it. I should mention that I made the decision that Amy will never know that we had anything to do with this. The premise is that during the investigation into Peter’s activities, Mr. Colluride became aware of her second job, and his childcare needs were uppermost in his mind, which brought him to her door for help. It will all naturally progress from there.”
Anna raised her eyes to heaven. “Thank you, Jesus.”
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