by Annora Green
“Yeah, perhaps,” Ari said.
¨°¨
On Saturday evening, Ari sat alone at Alice’s, an unusual place that was at once quirky and classy. The bar was in a Victorian house with peculiar decorations and a sort of Alice in Wonderland theme. Unusual choice of decor aside, it was actually a pretty decent place. There was live folk music and a small menu of unique drinks, interesting yet not overly fussy. It was not, however, the type of hangout she would have guessed Sophia liked - she envisioned black and white, pianos, martinis, jazz and James Bond doppelgängers at the type of place Sophia might frequent - not this strange, fairy tale-inspired, off-the-beaten-path hangout. At least the location was beautiful: Alice’s was positioned at the end of a little drive that overlooked a quiet, rocky beach.
Ari ordered a drink while she waited for Sophia, choosing a Manhattan. It ended up being one of the best drinks she had had in a long time.
She could not quite relax, though, questioning why she was even bothering to meet Sophia like this. The events from “the baking incident” - as she now referred to it in her mind - continued to preoccupy her. They way they had laughed and talked, got along so easily, haunted her. The way Sophia had at one point spilled some flour on her sleeve, and then later had dropped the salt on the floor, apologizing profusely. Ari had been entranced by the strong, successful businesswoman in her kitchen, taking baking so seriously, and it had been endearing to her that her activities in the kitchen had not been quite as sleek and polished as she usually carried herself in the rest of her life. She was natural that night, normal. Ari thought of the music they had been listening to, the amazing way the kitchen smelled as they were baking the turnovers, and later, after they ate, the way Sophia’s eyes had locked on hers as she leaned in...
Then, she thought of how Sophia had rushed out the door and acted like nothing at all had happened the rest of the week.
As Ari waited, she decided something. She was not going to trail after this woman and put up with all of her erratic behavior. No, Ari had had her fair share of dramatic relationships in the past, and was not going to get involved in any more. She was at the cusp of tunring 30; she did not need it anymore.
This conversation was going to tell her what she wanted to know. Whether Sophia was genuinely interested in the - whatever it was - that was going on, or if they should just pull the breaks and stop while they were still, more or less, ahead.
As Ari sipped her drink and mindlessly scrolled through her phone, she wondered what the odds were that the woman would actually show up. With every passing minute after 5pm, she figured her chances got lower and lower.
Until at last a leather purse was set gently in front of her, and she looked up from her phone to see a certain brunette sitting down at the table with her.
“Sorry I’m late,” Sophia said, and as she ran a hand through her hair, Ari could see that the woman genuinely did look sorry. And tired.
“No worries,” Ari said calmly, catching the eye of a waiter and passing her the off-white textured paper that the drinks menu was printed on. “Looks like you could use it.”
Sophia smiled wearily, and glanced down at the choices.
A waiter came, wearing a purple shirt and a strange top hat. Sophia ordered a cider.
“The cider is very good here,” Sophia explained. “It’s from an orchard run by the family of the gentleman who owns this place.”
Ari nodded, and held up her own glass, which was almost entirely ice at this point. “I believe it. This is a good drink. Or rather, was a good drink.”
The waiter brought the cider.
“I like it here,” Ari commented. “Quirky theme, but fun I guess.”
“The service is also good here. As is the view,” Sophia said, glancing out the window.
It was just getting dark.
“That it is,” Ari agreed, not looking out the window at all, instead looking at the person across from her.
Sophia missed it.
Ari cleared her throat and sat up a little straighter. “How was your day?”
Sophia sighed. “It was... a day. My family is a real handful. But Sabrina had a good bridal shower luncheon, so that has been successfully accomplished, and we can all move on to the bachelorette party, which I have to plan as her Maid of Honor. It is not, in fact, an honor to do so.”
“What are you going to do?” Ari asked, absently swirling the ice in her glass with the straw.
Sophia shrugged. “Have a party. Food, bartenders, hire a DJ. I’ll have to get Percy out of the house, perhaps he can stay with a friend. I suppose I’ll have to find something... scandalous. Like-”
Sophia cringed, “-exotic dancers.”
“Ohhhkay,” Ari said, sitting up straighter. “First of all, you’ve seen a lot of 90s movies if you think that’s how a bachelorette party’s supposed to go. Secondly, I highly doubt you want a bunch of your sister’s drunk friends, DJs, bartenders and exotic dancers in your house. You’ll be cleaning and repairing things from now until your sister’s fourth and fifth weddings, and that’s assuming your house’ll even survive the ordeal in the first place.”
Sophia took a sip of her cider and considered that information.
Ari continued. “Secondly, I take it your sister’s a bit of a diva? Bridezilla type?”
“That’s an understatement,” Sophia confirmed.
“All right. Well, I’m assuming she’s got some big expectations for her bachelorette. These things are destination events now, not wine and cheese parties at a home in the ‘burbs. You’ve got to go someplace. It should be a whole weekend deal.”
“My sister’s entire adult life has been one giant party, blowing her money on vacations and restaurants and bars and clubs. An extravagant bachelorette party is not something she needs,” Sophia protested.
Ari shrugged. “Ultimately it’s your call. I’m just saying, I’ve seen some pretty crazy and elaborate bachelorette parties in my day.”
“You’ve known a lot of bachelorettes?” Sophia asked.
“Not personally. Not really. It’s just in my former line of work, I kind of had to deal with situations that included bachelorette parties.”
“Right. Well then,” Sophia said, sipping her cider and thinking. “You’ve given me a lot to consider.”
“It’s not like you don’t have enough on your plate. I can imagine planning this is the last thing you want to do,” Ari said, reading her mind.
“It is. I have some big meetings coming up in the next couple of weeks, and I might have to travel a bit. A bachelorette party - pardon me, a destination bachelorette party - is about the last thing I want to plan.”
“You know, I could talk to Rachel. She’s always talking about how she wants to start her own party planning business someday. I know she’s thrown some killer bachelorette parties for friends, and this might be a good opportunity for her to cut her teeth on a professional level, so to speak. That is, if you’d be interested in someone else taking over and doing all the party planning.”
“Yes,” Sophia said, perking up at the idea. “Yes, I’m very interested. Tell Rachel I’ll pay her literally anything if she would just take this off of my hands and mind.”
Ari raised her eyebrows. “Anything? Okay, well, I’m sure she’d be really glad to do it, then.”
Sophia ignored that comment, thinking. “My family also has access to a private jet that we could use for the weekend. So the destination really isn’t a problem, as long as the flight isn’t too long. It’s a shared jet, so I don’t think we could get it for more than 3 or 4 days.”
“Uh... okay. Well, that gives us even more options,” said Ari.
Private jet? What kind of family was this?Ari wondered to herself.
“This is supposed to happen the weekend after next. Is that enough time for her to plan everything?” Sophia asked.
“That’s really last minute. I’ll check with Rachel, but if anyone could do it, it would be her.”
“Good,
” Sophia said, all business, and taking another sip of her drink. “Then it’s settled. Tell Rachel to name her price and give me a call as soon as she gets the chance and we’ll get started.”
“Consider it done,” Ari said.
The waiter brought her a second Manhattan.
“So,” Ari said slowly. “Moving on to another topic. I wanted to see you. Just, you know, to make sure things are ok between us.”
Sophia shifted in her seat and licked her lips nervously. Her eyes darted towards the door.
“Everything’s fine,” she said, trying to act casual, taking a sip of cider.
“Really?” Ari asked, lowering her voice, “Because I don’t really get the sense that things have been fine after, you know, the other night.”
Sophia looked at her with eyes that were soft and brown and conflicted. She took a breath.
Ari braced herself for what was coming.
“Ari, I appreciate having you around. As a neighbor, as someone who makes excellent coffee, as a person who generously keeps an eye on my son every once in a while when I’m stuck in endless meetings or am late getting out of work. I don’t want to jeopardize that. And getting to know me on a more intimate level... could jeopardize that.”
“I see,” Ari said, nodding, more than getting the hint.
Ari took a sip of the drink. It was stronger than the last one.
“Is there someone else?” she asked a few moments later.
Sophia shook her head. “No, of course not. I don’t want to have anything with anyone, in fact. Not now. Not when I’m busy, and have Percy, and have my work, and I’m going to need to start traveling more soon. It’s not right for my life right now.”
Ari nodded solemnly, looking at her, cool and polished and professional in appearance.
And also rather cool when it came to relationships, too, it seemed.
“No one can do everything,” Ari agreed politely.
Sophia looked at her, surprised.
Had Sophia expected Ari to pick a fight? Press the matter, argue the case?
Well, if she had, Ari thought, she’ll be sorely disappointed.
Ari had been let down by people too often in the past to want to press an issue, especially when it was already a problem before anything had really even started.
I can accept this, she thought, leaning back in her chair. It was better than facing what would inevitably be more intense drama later on.
“I definitely can’t do everything,” Sophia said.
Ari took a sip of her drink.
Sophia changed the subject back to the party.
“I especially can’t spend any more time than I already do stressing over my family and their extravagant tastes and requests. I hope Rachel is up for this bachelorette extravaganza. It may be quite a challenge for her first professional party planning endeavor.”
“Oh, she’s got lots of experience party planning. The business side of it, I can lend a hand with. I’ll convince her to take you up on this offer,” Ari said. “Leave it to me.”
“Perhaps this time, I’ll actually enjoy Sabrina’s bachelorette party,” Sophia said.
¨°¨
Next Wednesday, Sophia came into The Little Cafe for her usual coffee but, not like usual, sat down at a small table and waited.
“Rachel’s not working this morning, something came up with her family last minute, but she told me I could fill you in on her big plans for the party,” said Ari as soon as she was free and had left Athena in charge, sitting down with Sophia and pulling up something on her phone.
“First thing’s first, where are we going? I need to submit that information to the office that schedules the pilots and reserves the trips on my family’s shared jet,” Sophia said.
“Vegas,” Ari replied.
“Las Vegas. How original,” Sophia said, typing something into her phone.
Ari was not impressed by the sarcasm. “You wanna plan this thing, then?”
Sophia shook her head and looked up at her from the phone. “Absolutely not. Vegas it is.”
“You’re going to Vegas,” Ari repeated, amused, “For good reason. Rachel’s not just doing it because every bachelor and bachelorette party ever has been there, but we’ve both got some connections there that will make even the most discerning Bridezilla have an unforgettable experience.”
“Who would you have ‘connections’ with in Vegas? Do you know an Elvis impersonator, or a group of showgirls?” Sophia asked.
“Well, I worked there for a little while and kind of have a whole secret Nevada identity.”
“Are you serious?” Sophia asked.
Ari knew she had finally impressed the woman.
“Yep,” she said, sitting up straighter. “Over there, I’m Anna Summers. Nevada resident, complete with driver’s license and voting record.”
“Why would you...”
Ari waved her hand. “Long story, some other time. But it’s convenient for getting a local discount on a ton of stuff in Vegas. Anyways, she’ll have a memorable weekend. Or not memorable, depending on how much she decides to imbibe. There will be plentiful opportunities at her private party with a private bartender who, by the way, is making up a whole menu of cocktails specifically for your sister. Oh, you need to give me a list of Sabrina’s favorite types of cocktails.
“That would simply be alcohol. And ice.”
“Okay then,” Ari said, typing something into her phone. “Duly noted.”
“She has an affinity for the color green. Chartreuse liqueur, absinthe, emeralds, dollar bills.”
“Oh, a color scheme. Rachel mentioned something about trying to get one. She’ll be pleased,” Ari said, typing another note into her phone.
“What else are we doing on this Vegas trip? Other than having a private bartender who will serve us custom green drinks?”
“Shows, dancing, more drinking, food to soak up all of that alcohol, entertainers, your usual Vegas fare with a lot of pre-arranged things that’ll make your sister feel special and, ultimately, secure you the distinction of Sister of the Year for planning such a personalized, extravagant and extraordinary bachelorette weekend. For the third time.”
“Fourth, actually,” Sophia grumbled.
“Right. Fourth. Anyways, fourth time’s the... um, charm. Or something. It’ll be a good time,” said Ari.
Sophia shook her head. “It sounds tacky and ridiculous, all of it. Which I suppose is completely appropriate for a Vegas bachelorette party. So, thank you. Or thank Rachel for me, will you?”
She handed Ari an envelope. “The first payment for Rachel. It contains everything we agreed upon in the budget so she can start putting deposits down, as well as the first payment for her services.”
Ari took it. “I’ll get it to her. But I still have all kinds of details here for you to approve-”
Sophia stood up. “I don’t have time. I trust her. If she really gets stuck on something, let me know, but it sounds like she knows more about how to throw a bachelorette weekend in Vegas than I’ll ever know. Especially with all of your top-secret connections there.”
Ari wondered if Sophia had just winked at her, or if she imagined it.
Winking seemed way too good natured for the woman.
“Are you sure?” Ari asked, standing up with her.
“Yes. Now, I have to get to work,” Sophia said. “I have a conference call with a magazine editor in Paris this morning.”
Ari nodded. “Just be sure you’re ready next weekend for the tackiest and most ridiculous three days of your life. Oh, and what’s your dress size?”
“Why?” Sophia asked suspiciously.
Ari gave her an innocent look. “No reason. Just for party planning reasons.”
“I’ll send you my measurements.”
“I don’t need measurements. Just a size.”
“Sizes vary dramatically according to the label.”
“Uh, this isn’t for one of your fancy brands. An approximation should
work. Small?”
Sophia rolled her eyes. “Yes, Small. 4, if it’s a number. 8 UK. 36 European.”
Ari typed it in. “Got it. Rachel’ll let you know if she’s stuck on anything. Otherwise, we’ll see you at the airport this weekend.”
¨°¨
It is a wonder, Sophia thought, that her sister has any friends. Such an intolerable person who has very little regard for any living soul other than herself.
Sophia was the first to arrive at the Executive Airport that weekend, just to make sure everything was in order for the plane to depart on time. It was a small jet, used more frequently years ago by her father before he went into semi-retirement, and now shared amongst a group of his friends, colleagues and other associates.
Soon after Sophia spoke with scheduling to make sure everything was all set and helped herself to a cup of espresso, Sabrina’s friends began to trickle in. Not knowing any of them very well, Sophia had a few strained conversations with some of the first to arrive. As more came, they talked amongst themselves, mostly gossip about so-and-so; who had been married, or divorced, had a baby, had gotten cheated on, or had gotten Botox. The growing group of Sophia’s friends allowed a relieved Sophia to shrink back off to the side.
Sophia was especially relieved to see Ari and Rachel arrive, both toting armfuls of shopping bags.
“Can I help you with any of this?” Sophia asked, following them as they made their second trip into the small terminal building from Ari’s car parked outside.
“I’m good, but I think Rachel could use a hand with a few of her bags,” Ari said.
Sophia took one of the brown paper shopping bags from the woman’s overloaded arms.
“Thanks,” Rachel said gratefully, teetering under the weight.
Sophia helped Rachel load all of the bags, boxes and a few suitcases onto luggage carts while the rest of the bachelorette party continued to arrive in the small lounge area in the terminal.
“Are we throwing a party for a whole army?” she joked.
“Your sister has some specific requests and very discerning taste,” Rachel explained, setting a cooler down on a luggage cart.
“Don’t I know it,” said Sophia, motioning towards a porter who had been milling around the terminal building and started helping them unload.
