by Donna Fasano
“Billy?” I squeaked, emotions other than lust a driving force to my brain. “What are you doing home?”
“Interrupting something, obviously.” Brow furrowed, he turned to his friend. “I’m sorry. This isn’t how I wanted you to meet my mother.”
Her eyes were wide. Tears slid down her cheeks. “Dad?”
Chapter 5
After thirty-eight years of living, I can say with complete certainty that this was the most painfully awkward, extremely mortifying moment of my life, bar none. There we lay, Harrison and I, with our flies down, my top on the floor, my bra exposing my nipples, and Harrison’s manhood sticking straight out of his jeans.
To our credit, we quickly rearranged our clothing before getting off the sofa, and didn’t stand to face our children until my top was back on, and Harrison was tucked away again. We stood together, shame-faced, eyes cast down, waiting for their disapproval to rein down on our heads.
Judgment day, and boy were we found wanting.
It didn’t come all at once. At the prolonged silence, I lifted my chin a little, and glanced from one shocked young face to the other. I shifted my feet like a child, and wrung my hands nervously in front of me. Harrison, white-faced, said nothing either.
I felt Billy’s angst and had to break the silence. “I’m sorry. This is very awkward, isn’t it?” I tentatively stepped forward and reached out a hand. “You must be Katie. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
She didn’t take my hand, probably thinking about where it had so recently been. I didn’t blame her. Not really. I thought about going to the bathroom and scrubbing my hands and mouth, but that was too easy. I deserved to be back-lashed for allowing this to happen. Here—in my own apartment—knowing that Billy was returning in the morning, and had his own key.
Billy’s face was beet red, his neck was flushed, and he was breathing out of his nostrils. His hands were fisted next to his side. I’ve seen him angry many times, heard him shout and rage and call me names, but that was when he’d been a frustrated teenager. I hadn’t deserved it then, but I sorely did now.
I waited for his outburst, but he looked so appalled that he was at a loss for words. “Billy,” I said. “I’m so sorry. This isn’t as bad as it looks. Harrison came to the Candy Bar to tell me that you two were engaged. We had a thunderstorm and you know what happens.” I rushed on, hoping for a little understanding. “This isn’t our fault. It’s the Candy Bar magic.”
I looked at Harrison, and saw his mouth open and shut several times, like a mute guppy.
I glanced back at Billy, and his face was redder still. I braced myself for a burst of shouting which didn’t come.
“Don’t you for one moment try to excuse this behavior,” he said, sounding like a grown-up for the first time. “You and him—it’s disgusting. Gross. I can’t believe this.”
Harrison cleared his throat, and took a step toward his daughter. “Let me explain…”
Katie shook her head and backed away from him. “There’s nothing you can say that will make any difference. I saw you with my own eyes. You were going to have sex with that woman…”
Her face twisted with pain, and she gave me such a look of pure hatred that I couldn’t stop the tears from sliding down my cheeks. I used the back of my hand to swipe at them and stood there--allowing her to call me anything she liked. I deserved worse.
“I’m sorry. I would never have hurt either of you if I could have prevented this.” I glanced at Harrison’s hard face. “He only came here tonight to talk about the two of you. We were concerned because you’re so young and don’t know each other well. Married, Billy? To someone I haven’t even met? It’s too soon. It can’t happen.”
My son’s mouth tightened.
“How well do you know each other?” Katie asked, her gaze ping-ponging from me to her father.
Harrison wouldn’t look at me. His eyes were on his daughter. “Katie. I’m so sorry. Let’s leave. We can talk about this later. I have a room at the Hyatt down the road.”
She shook her head, her long blonde hair swinging wildly from side to side. She looked so tortured that my heart broke. These poor children. What have we done?
Again, I tried to explain. “Katie. You don’t understand any of this, but hear me out. The bar I own is built on an ancient Indian burial ground and during tropical storms lights flicker, the brick wall behind the bar sweats, and magic is in the air.” At her contemptuous look, I cried out, “It’s true! Several of my friends have experienced it, and it’s a wonderful thing. But it also takes away a person’s control.”
“Enough, Candy.” Harrison growled. “You have no idea how ridiculous you sound.”
I shut up then, knowing he was right and hating him for it. I’d been looking for any excuse for my actions, but there were none. My shoulders shook, and I kept my head down and cried silently.
“Don’t speak to my mom like that,” Billy said, leaping to my defense. “You can see how upset she is, and magic or not, you came here by choice and tried to seduce her. Don’t see you apologizing for it either.”
Katie lashed out at Billy like we were all play-actors in a bad comedy. “My dad isn’t the rotten one here. Your mother probably came on to him, like all the women do. Since my mother died, dozens of women began the casserole brigade, bringing food and wine--literally throwing themselves at him. Isn’t that right, Dad?”
He nodded, still not gracing me with his gaze. I wished one of those Florida sinkholes would open right now and swallow us up. The thought of sliding down into the deep dark earth--never to be seen again--had its own magical allure.
Didn’t happen.
“Please don’t fight,” I said to the two kids who loved each other and were now at odds, due to their overly zealous parents. The two of them fighting was exactly what Harrison and I had wanted. But not like this. The shame, the pain. Their bitter disappointment.
Harrison cleared his throat. “Come along, Katie. You can talk to Billy in the morning.”
Billy stepped between them. “She’s not going anywhere with you.” He put an arm around the fragile looking girl. “We’ll go to a motel for the night and leave in the morning for the Keys. Tell them, Katie. Tell them you want to stay with me.”
She wouldn’t look at him, which broke my heart even further. “I’m not sure, anymore. Not sure about anything.”
Billy lifted her chin. “Look at me. You love me, right? We’re in this together. No matter what our crazy parents did.”
She nodded, and wiped tears from the corners of her eyes. “I do, but I’m going with Dad. I’ll call you. In the morning. I’m sorry,” then she turned and fled without a single glance my direction.
Harrison followed, also without a word, and Billy and I stared in silence as the door closed behind them.
“Don’t say a thing,” he said warning me, then he went to his bedroom and slammed the door.
No way could I sleep, so I poured myself a tumbler full of white wine and took it out to the balcony. The night was dark, no slither of moon to be seen. I could hear the lapping of the waves against the shore, and make out some white foamy tips in the dark, swirling water. I felt a chill in the air, although the night was still in the high eighties.
Tears rolled down my cheeks and I swiped at them viciously. Shame made me bury my head in my hands, and I swallowed my sobs, fearing that Billy may hear.
The kids were horror-struck seeing their parents making out on the living-room sofa. How much they’d glimpsed, I had no idea, but it was certainly enough that they knew precisely what we were about to do. We were planning on having sex.
Harrison had acted like a jerk. A sophisticated, educated, Ivy-leagued lawyer, whose earlier generation migrated on the Mayflower. Probably never farted in public, never cheated on his wife, or stole candy as a kid. Guy was like some clean, shiny penny, whereas I was like a dirty nickel.
Nothing polished about me. No wonder Katie thought I’d led her father on. I probably had. Without m
eaning too, of course. Me and my sequins and pink boots.
What a way for Billy’s girl to meet me for the first time. Or anytime. I had not only shamed myself, but shamed Billy too.
I can dress myself up, run around with clever, beautiful women, but inside I’m still Candy Thompson, whose father got liquored up and knocked his wife around, making my mother look old by the time she was thirty. Born and raised in a shack in Alabama, I played on old cars and broken refrigerators instead of a swing set.
No matter how much I want to belong to a different world, this is me. I might be able to disguise my roots for awhile, but at the end of the day you just can’t take the trash out of the girl.
Chapter 6
I woke up to the sun shining in my eyes, and wondered how late it was. I could hear Billy padding down the hall, and the masculine rumble of his voice as he spoke on the phone.
I’d really messed up this time. Slipping out of bed, I put on a robe, and used the bathroom to wash the night’s misery from my face. I brushed my teeth, wincing at my reflection. My eyes were two pink rimmed, puffy orbs in a pale face. I’ve never been a pretty crier.
I felt like walking down the stairs, out into the ocean, where I’d keep going until I came to the end of the Atlantic. Next stop Cuba. I might be the only person ever to make that trip in the opposite direction. With my luck, I’d run into some illegals on an overstuffed rowboat and get hauled in by the authorities, adding a criminal record to my misery. Or I might drown, and be found by blackhearts who’d take my washed-up body and sell it for used parts.
Neither option had much appeal.
Instead I went into the kitchen, poured myself a cup of coffee, and stayed to listen to Billy’s conversation. It sounded heated, which clued me in that he was arguing with Katie. That was so not good. It was our fault--mine and Harrison’s.
I wondered how he was handling his daughter, and her recrimination for last night. I somehow doubted he’d beaten himself black and blue as I had done. As a lawyer, I’m sure he could twist the truth anyway that suited him.
I put a hand on Billy’s shoulder, to offer support, but he shook it off. Understanding that I was not his favorite person at the moment, I sat down at the table opposite him and waited until he put the phone down. He turned to me, circles under his eyes. “They want us to come to the hotel for breakfast.”
I swallowed a huge lump in my throat, knowing I had to face the music. “How do you feel about that?”
“I don’t want to see him, or you, especially together, but I guess I have no choice.” The muscle in his jaw flexed. “Katie wants to talk. With all of us.”
Tears stung my eyelids. “I’m so sorry about last night. I’d do anything to take it back.” I kept my hands wrapped around the warm mug for comfort.
“But you don’t even know him!” Billy gave a small shake of his head, coming to terms with what he’d seen. “How could that have happened?”
“It just did.” My face heated and I took a sip of coffee. “We got together to discuss you and Katie. We were—are—so concerned about you two getting married because you’re both so young and haven’t dated long. We wanted to figure out a way to be supportive, yet make you see reason. We didn’t plan on making out.”
“But you did!” His eyes flashed with anger. “I saw you. We both did. Your top was on the floor. Thank God, you still had some clothes on. A few more minutes, and you guys would have been screwing on the couch.”
“Billy,” I said softly, aching for him, and for myself. How could I ever make this right? Some role model I turned out to be.
“I’m ashamed as much as you are,” I said in a gentle tone, hoping that if he could see how contrite I was, he might have the heart to forgive me. “I don’t know what got into us, but you know as well as I do that the magic is real. Still, I understand nothing excuses our behavior. Once again, all I can do is apologize and try to make things right.”
“How are we going to do that?” His tone was surly but I didn’t blame him. At least he wasn’t telling me he hated me.
I got up and ruffled his spiked brown hair. “We are going to get Katie back. Win her over. Then you can take her to the Keys and have a great time. Maybe one day you’ll look back at this and laugh about us silly old farts.”
“That won’t happen.” He ran a hand over his face. “But do you mean it? You’ll help me with Katie? She just told me she wants to go back home with her dad.”
That would be Harrison, winning his arguments. “I’ll think of something to get you and Katie to the Keys. Promise.”
“Okay, then.” Billy got up from the table, his anger down a notch. “I’ll go shower and dress while you do something with your face. It’s a mess.”
Or not. I laughed, covering my cheeks with my palms. “Thanks for nothing.”
I grabbed some ice from the freezer and wrapped it in a wash cloth, then went into my small bathroom to bathe my swollen eyes. That and eye drops were my only hope.
After ten minutes I gave up and jumped into a warm shower to wash my hair. No time for my usual workout—a thirty-minute Zumba tape on TV—instead I had to rush to a breakfast meeting with Mr. Harrison Wolfe and daughter. Once again he was calling the shots.
Such an unusual name, I thought, and yet it suited him. He looked successful but hungry, like a man who could easily swallow his prey.
Sheesh, I had to stop thinking of him in terms like that. The hungry part had my stomach hopping like butterflies and my body parts tingling. Nobody had ever made me feel like Harrison. Wanting to do things I’d never even thought to do.
I put on a slimming pair of white Capri’s and a loose fitting flowered top that I hoped would be conservative, but nice for a hotel breakfast. I took my time blow-drying my shoulder-length mane so it fell sleek and smooth--all the natural waves tamed. The one thing about Florida weather is that the humidity can make your hair curl and I relentlessly battled it daily with flat irons, hair dryers and sprays. When all else failed I relied on my straw hat.
I used a light hand with my make-up, except for the under-eye cover cream. I used a pink lip-liner that accentuated my full mouth, and finished with a quick spray of expensive perfume. I was as good as I could be, and if Mr. High and Mighty didn’t like it, all the better. We would never be friends after last night’s fiasco, and even if the kids forgave us, I’m not sure I would forgive him--the way he’d left me without a kind word or backward glance.
When I re-entered the living room, Billy waited impatiently near the door. “What took you so long? We only have ten minutes to get there. Her dad already hates me – we can’t be late.”
“We won’t be late. It’s a five-minute drive.” I grabbed my handbag and slipped into a pair of wedged sandals. “How do I look?” I put myself directly in front of him and patted beneath my eyes.
He studied me for flaws before saying, “Better.”
“Well, that’s a relief. And you look mighty handsome, my son.” He’d put on khaki shorts, a polo shirt, gelled his hair and was freshly shaven.
“Nice try, but you’re in my bad books.”
“Yeah?” I quipped, feeling a little more myself. Confident that I could meet any obstacle in my way–or my son’s way. “So what else is new?”
We took the elevator down to the underground parking lot, then drove the few blocks to the Hyatt. As soon as we entered the lobby, I spotted Harrison and Katie. They were sitting on a sofa chatting, and I could tell from her body language that she was still ticked off.
They stood when they saw us. Katie shot a quick peek at Billy, but didn’t greet him. Her manner was stiff and cool although she looked as pretty as a picture, with her long hair floating down her bare back, wearing a flowered sundress.
Harrison was in cream linen pants, and a blue shirt with the sleeves rolled up. He had a bluish tinge under his eyes—the only evidence that he hadn’t slept so good either.
Billy stepped forward, looking like a big, awkward, unhappy kid. “Katie? You
okay?”
She nodded, glanced at her feet, and didn’t speak. I wanted to nudge her, tell her that it wasn’t his fault. Instead I just squirmed and spoke to Harrison. “Good morning. I’m glad you suggested breakfast.” At his hotel, where he could have the upper hand.
“Obviously we need to talk—the four of us,” he said.
I touched Katie’s elbow, drawing her attention. “I’m so very sorry. Please, forgive me. And don’t take this out on Billy. He loves you.”
She jerked her arm away, put her head in the air and marched off. The three of us followed. Katie stopped dramatically at the entrance to the lobby café then turned to face Billy and her dad, excluding me. “Do we have to do this? Isn’t it awkward enough?”
Harrison answered with a tone of finality. “Yes. We do. It’s what adults do when there’s a problem. They talk things out.”
“There you go again—saying that I’m too young and don’t know my own mind.” Katie crossed her arms.
Billy stepped next to Katie, taking her side against her dad. “We’re in love and know exactly what we’re doing. We don’t need your permission. We’re both twenty-one.” He puffed his chest out. “I’ll be twenty-two in a couple of months.”
Oh man. Right move to gain the girlfriend’s support, wrong move to endear himself with Dad. I glanced at Harrison’s face and saw the tick in his jaw.
“We are here to discuss your engagement, Billy, not come between you and Katie. That’s not our intent.” I gave Harrison a meaningful look, hoping he’d play smart.
Billy certainly hadn’t. By voicing himself so aggressively, he’d made an enemy out of the father instead of an ally. He’d put Harrison in a defensive position. Katie moved away from Billy, obviously torn.
Harrison could have been in the courtroom as he said, “Let’s go in.” He put a hand on his daughter’s back urging her forward. She never once looked at Billy, and my heart broke for my son.
