She clinked her crystal flute with Lydia and Marlene, her best friends and bridesmaids. I was the maid of honor. It was the sister code. We didn’t have much in common but we made up for that with love. I fought with her constantly, but I loved my little sister fiercely.
Jon-Paul made it back. I hadn’t looked at the menu. My stomach didn’t even feel settled enough to eat and I was so hungry earlier. He started rattling off the specials and the appetizers he recommended. I motioned for him to come closer again. “Is there any way I could speak to the manager? I’m sure there’s still a misunderstanding. There’s no reason our meal would be comped.”
He had a warm, friendly smile. “Relax, Ms. Kopernik. There’s no mistake, I’m the manager.”
“You are?” He affirmed with a head nod. “Oh, well thank you . . . so much, actually. This is the nicest thing ever. I never dreamed we’d get such great treatment. Now what were you saying we must try?”
He put in the order for a few appetizer plates and salads. As soon as he disappeared, Maggie did the I told you so eye roll, halfway dancing in her chair. She loved rubbing it in when she was right and I was wrong.
“See, quit being the mood ruiner. We are being treated, who cares why. You succeeded. This day was very special and it continues. No one’s changing their minds or coming back to say they screwed up now. If they did, I’d write a scathing Yelp review and really muck with their 4 and 3/4 stars. A toast to my big sister, Poppy. She kicks ass at girls’ day out!”
I felt a surge of pride for a change. So far, I was the only one not trying to have a great time. Maggie had a way of bringing me out of the depths. I raised my glass and nodded to Aunt Shar. She immediately filled Mum’s glass again. We all clinked our glasses in the middle of the table. “Free food and drink. Woohoo!” I was ready to let my hair down. Well, not exactly, but no more fretting for the rest of the night.
That lasted about halfway through the main course. “I still don’t know how they knew we’re celebrating, nor do I get why they care. Do you think they do something like this once a week, a month, a year as a tax writeoff? It doesn’t make sense.”
“Oh my gosh, you’re so dense sometimes and you’re the one with the master’s degree.”
“What? You know something, don’t you?”
Lydia broke in. “It was him, Penny. You were so rude and made him feel bad. He asked Mags where we were going.”
“Who are you talking about?” The entire group loudly clanged their silverware and glared at me. I shook my head with disbelief, “No, no way. You’re all talking about that actor, aren’t you? Seriously, Maggie you told him our plans?”
“Yes, I told him. He didn’t want us to miss out. He felt to blame.”
“He bloody well was to blame. I loved Judy, she was a dear, but why did she have to have a starstruck moment and let him in. She’s a grandmother, not a groupie for crying out loud.”
Why couldn’t I be a happy drunk like Mum? She was across the table giggling like a loon. I’d had three glasses of champagne and felt angrier by the second.
“Oh, Chet Parker. That dear boy. Wasn’t he a dream, Shar?”
“Yeah, he sure was. That ass was to die for. If I was twenty years younger. Watch out.”
Ugh, my lip curled up in disgust. Time to put Mum and Auntie to bed, they’re three sheets to the wind, talking about a man half their age.
“Exactly, you girls have youth on your side and gravity isn’t your worst enemy yet. Not a one of you made a move. Pity.”
I had to get the story straight. “So this meal, the expensive champagne and even us being allowed inside fashionably late was all because of him?”
“Well, he never told me he was paying for it, but yeah, I’m sure he secured our reservations. This VIP treatment is way above and beyond, don’t you think?”
It just proved to me how arrogant he actually was. He could throw his name around and accomplish anything, nothing like the rest of us that worked our arses off to get by. I hated that sort of excessive lifestyle. I merely craved peace and quiet . . . ordinary, no frills. Daddy would shit, but I had to do the right thing and insist the meal go on the credit card he gave me. At least, Maggie didn’t pick out the most expensive dress in the shop today. She liked the mid-priced one best. That should ease Daddy’s pocketbook.
I waved my hand to signal for Jon-Paul. Maggie scooted closer. She slapped my hand down. “Don’t you dare.”
“What? I haven’t done anything yet.”
“I know what you’re going to try. Our drinks alone were a small fortune. You are not putting that on Daddy’s card. The instructions were to order whatever we wanted and to enjoy. That’s exactly what we did. You’re just pissed at yourself because you can’t stop thinking about him.”
“That’s absurd. I haven’t thought about him once until you pointed out you gave him a sob story, so he’d pay for our meal tonight. He doesn’t even know us.” It’s probably a tax write off, which is what I thought about the restaurant at first.
“Liar. You stink at lying.” Everyone agreed which really pissed me off.
“Oh yes, dear. You could never tell a fib to save your life. Maggie on the other hand could spin a yarn for days. The lies were so well plotted out, even when I realized the truth, I let it go for pure creativity.”
“Mum, please. Stop. You’re drunk.”
Maggie kicked me under the table and our mother responded with insult. “I most certainly am not. How dare you?” She hiccuped, then she and Aunt Shar started giggling like schoolgirls again.
My sister continued with her incorrect assessment. “There’s no way you haven’t thought about him. Hell, I did and I have Keats. He’s gorgeous, rich and so famous. We just found out he’s incredibly generous as well. I sorta regret he didn’t make my number one person.”
“What’s a number one person?”
“Oh, you know, the list?” I shook my head. I didn’t know what list she meant. “Keats and I have a person, a famous person we’re allowed to sleep with, no guilt involved. It’s a freebie. I wanted the list to be ten, but he insisted only one, since we do live in Los Angeles. If we would’ve kept it at ten, then Chet would’ve made the cut.”
“Eww, that’s gross and stupid. Who does that?”
“Lots of people,” Marlene informed me.
“Your father and I have one even.”
I plugged my ears with fingers and chanted “lalalalalala” over and over. Mum shouldn’t say another word the rest of the night.
I shouldn’t be asking, but I did anyway, “Who is your person then?”
“Sam Smith.”
“Sam Smith! I’m doubly sure he’s gay and would never be available to you. Seems like you wasted your nutty selection.”
“I don’t care. He’s already seduced me a million times with that voice. He’s my person, no regrets.”
“Then who is Keats’s?”
“I’m not telling. That’s a secret. I don’t think he wants anyone to know.”
Mum started to talk again, “Do any of you want to know mine and Frank’s list?”
All of us raised our voices, even Aunt Shar, “NO!”
“Well, it’s a damn shame you crossed off Chet, because you missed your shot at sleeping with him back at the bridal boutique this afternoon. I’m sure he was all about that. You know, seducing a bride-to-be and all must be on his bucket list.”
“Oh no, I’d never even consider that now.”
“Why not? Weren’t you raving about him earlier?”
“Yes, and that’s all true, but he’s off limits since I know the truth.”
“What truth?”
“That he’s really into my big sister and she has major hots for him as well.”
The whole damn table was wasted, so glad we had a driver. “Excuse me. I’m your big sister and in case you missed it, he and I clashed like crazy.”
“Yep, and it was exciting to watch. He couldn’t take his eyes off you the entire hour. I doubt h
e’d be going to this much trouble if he wasn’t so smitten with you. I hate that you didn’t give him your number.”
“You’re crazy. I don’t give my number to strangers. He’s not even my type and I’m sure I’m not his. The quicker we all forget about Chet Parker, the better.”
Maggie got very serious which was not at all like her normal personality. “Hun, it’s been a long time. He’d want you to be happy. Quit putting up a wall every time you meet someone new.”
“Don’t.” She knew damn well not to go there.
She wouldn’t listen, she continued. “No, you need to hear this. He’s been dead over seven years. You’re still young and so beautiful, inside and out. Don’t you want to live life fully? All you care about is work.”
“My work is very fulfilling. I make a difference and I care about my family, obviously or I wouldn’t put up with half this rubbish.”
“I know you do, babe, but when you go home at night, who do you share your joy and disappointments with? Pepper? Don’t deny it. You talk to that damn dog like she’s a real person. It’s sad.”
I wanted this entire day to only be about Maggie, but she started it. “You’re right. It’s very sad.” I felt the tears well up in my eyes. My face was warm from the alcohol and so they felt much cooler as they fell down my cheeks. “It breaks my heart that I had my shot at true love when I was so young, but life is cruel and brutal and I lost him to a miserable disease. Why can’t you be happy you found what you wanted? You don’t need to concern yourself with my love life. I don’t need your interference. My chance was lost just like my hope and all our dreams. Those are buried with Jordan and nothing you say or do will exhume them.”
I’d succeeded on putting a damper on everyone’s good time. No one looked happy to be there any longer. I knew they probably couldn’t wait to drop me off at home first before going back to the hotel. There was a good reason I was normally the quiet one. Maggie was always the life of the party. She got that from Mum. I was too much like Daddy. His loss, the other loss our family suffered was never brought up either. People like us are better off being the strong, silent types.
Everything I said was true. I could never love anyone like I loved Jordan. I didn’t want to either. I wouldn’t betray his memory like that. The very idea that a man like Chet would ever tempt me was completely absurd. However, it still didn’t bode well that one thing Maggie said was true. I had thought about him the entire ride over and it infuriated me to no end.
Instead of thinking about Penny the entire way to Mom and Dad’s, I should’ve figured out how I would explain all the missing desserts to my mother. I totally forgot what I did back at the dress place.
“Chester Donovan Parker.”
Whole name. I was in trouble. I left my old room and marched down the hall. “The house looks great and the food smells delish. I’m so glad I came home for the weekend.”
She had all the bakery boxes opened. “Since when has Agnes Monroe ever goofed my order?”
“It’s not her fault. Let me explain.”
“Let me guess. You ran into some of your freeloading friends and they plundered my book club’s cakes?”
More like, I stumbled upon the prettiest girl in the world. I’m kinda nuts about her, but she sorta hates me. I plan to fix that real soon, as soon as I figure out a few details like her last name and number.
Where do I begin? I never went on and on about women to my mother. I was pretty private on the subject. “No, it wasn’t anything like that. In fact, we should turn on the news. I may or may not have caused an accident in the middle of rush hour.”
“What are you talking about? You were in an accident?” She quickly lost her perturbed tone and acted very concerned.
“Mom, look at me. Do I look like I’ve been in an accident?”
She fussed at me for not making myself clear, so I backtracked and told her about the new girl at the bakery and the rush of girls. “I sought refuge in the only available place, the dress shop next door.”
“Oh, I hear it’s nice. Elaine is coming tonight and her niece bought her dress for prom there.”
Jeez, Mom could get off topic so easy. I cared nothing about her friend Elaine’s niece. “So anyway, as I was saying, I got stuck because the fans were outside and then there was a wreck.”
“Oh no, you don’t think the commotion caused the wreck, do you?”
“I hope not, but I’m not sure; everything happened so fast. Now, back to your goodies. The nice ladies inside were having a special day trying to choose a wedding dress. I intruded on their private appointment, so I offered up some treats. Please, tell me there’s enough for your party? If not, I’ll go out and find something else.”
“No, it should be alright. It’s just I wanted extra. Your father usually wants one or two and so does your little brother.”
Teddy could skip the sweets in my opinion. He was a couch potato, video game player to the worst degree. He’d put on a few pounds since he broke his leg last year in la crosse and stopped doing anything physical. I kept my opinions to myself because Mom was super sensitive about anyone criticizing one of her kids. She could barely stand to Google my name because there was always negativity for no reason other than some people had nothing better to do with their lives.
Mom never stayed mad at her favorite kid. She denied that, of course and my older sister claimed the title, but it was the unspoken truth. She wasn’t nearly as upset when she heard I was only being nice. Mom gave me a hug and told me to make a plate of food, then to get lost for the rest of the evening. “I can’t wait to share this story. You’re always so generous.”
“Please, Mom. Don’t embarrass me. Just drop it, ‘kay. That one lady isn’t going to bring her daughter is she? She’s always trying to audition in front of me.”
“No, I don’t think so, but of course I always tell her she’s welcome. Bless her heart, she’s terrible. She gets turned down everywhere she goes.”
“Because, you said it. She’s horrible. I can’t watch her with a straight face.”
I hung out with Dad and Teddy in the game room. Basketball was on, so we were happy. Teddy was also curious if Laney Carter would attend book club. He had a wicked crush even though she was three years older. I doubt she was interested. He used the excuse he needed a refill on his soda even though we had a mini fridge up here. I pointed out the obvious, but he said it didn’t have what he was after. Dad and I both knew he was more interested in an older, fairly attractive senior with an annoying voice that couldn’t act for shit more than he cared about a root beer.
“Leave him alone. At least she gets his blood pumping and he’s up and moving around.”
“Dad, he’s fifteen. I’m sure the blood is always pumping even at the worst of times.”
Dad suggested I take him out in the morning for some physical activity. “You sure it’s okay. What did the doctor say?”
“The doctor gave him the all clear months ago. It’s a mental block. He’s got to get back on the horse so to speak. I want him to try out for football at school. He needs to start conditioning and get off the damn TV.”
I couldn’t understand what the issue was, but then again I wasn’t around very much anymore. I should try to do something about that; it would be easier during my break. I promised our father I would definitely get him moving tomorrow. I could hear different outbursts of laughter and I smelled decaf brewing. Mom refused regular coffee past 2 pm. They must be on the tail end of book club. Teddy didn’t make it back up for the end of the game. I thought that might be an indication of who was downstairs. I needed some quiet time, anyway. Gage hadn’t answered my texts. I needed to call him and see if he had new information.
“Night Dad, I’m beat. I’m not quite back on this time zone just yet. I’m turning in. Tell Mom goodnight.” I’d wrapped on the third installment recently. It had been the toughest shoot yet. My head wasn’t in it for some reason. I’d been doing a lot of self-evaluation which made me overly moo
dy. I wasn’t sure why I couldn’t live it up and enjoy life like I used to do.
I slipped pass the crowd unnoticed to make my way to my room. Sitting on my old bed always made me regret moving out a fraction of a second. It felt so much better than the big one I bought for the condo. This mattress suited me, I’d broken it in and nothing compared to a good night’s sleep at home. I felt like it conformed to my body so much better even though I’d spared no expense on the new one. I pulled out my phone again.
I hit call next and waited for Gage to answer.
“Hey, I was just about to call you.”
“About damn time. Well, tell me what you got.”
“Um, I double checked. The ladies had their dinner and that’s that.”
“No, that’s not that. Did you get me a last name?”
“No, and it was embarrassing trying to set it all up without knowing their full names. I asked Penny, Penelope, Poppy or Maggie . . . a party of six ladies maybe, but I’m not sure. I sounded like a moron. Why didn’t you ask their damn last name? Since when are you shy?”
“I forgot, I was a little distracted. So what did the hostess say?”
“Well, I mentioned the names and she said, yes, Penelope party of 6, 7 pm. I figured it had to be them, so I told her about the champagne and all the other stuff. Like I said before, that was that.”
I grumbled out a thanks, but I was really hoping for a little more information. I told him we’d catch up next weekend. Why was I so dumb and left without a full name this afternoon? The sister would have spilled. Gage actually did manage to remind me of a secret weapon. “Call that hacker friend of yours. I bet he can locate her, hope no one else finds out you’re stalking this poor girl. I can practically picture the Internet gossip now.”
“He’s not a hacker, he’s IT and that’s a great idea. For the record, no one’s stalking anyone. I just wanted to follow up and make sure Penny is okay.”
“Why wouldn’t she be okay?”
“I don’t know. Shut up. I’m hanging up now.” Gage had been my manager since I was a bratty kid, now I was a bratty adult and he still always had my back. He was part manager and a lot loyal friend.
The Price of Penny Page 3
