Boots and Bedlam

by Ashley Farley

  “Chris Evert. Oh my word, is that . . .” Sam crossed the hall to get a better look. “It is! That’s Mick Jagger.” She scanned the photograph. “And Keith Richards.” She took two steps farther down the hall. “And Jimmy Buffett. And Kenny Chesney. Holy cow! I had no idea the Mottes were so well connected.” She lowered her voice. “We can’t let Mimi hear us though. It’ll go to her head.”

  Annie smiled. “Let me show you the dining room. Mimi has some beautiful pieces of silver.” Sam followed Annie into the adjacent room that showcased the largest crystal chandelier and longest mahogany double pedestal table she’d ever seen. Annie pointed at the ornamental centerpiece on the table that displayed a stunning arrangement of red flowers—roses, calla lilies, and amaryllis. “Mimi calls that thing an epergne. Her husband bought it for her in an antique store in New York. I asked, and it’s spelled e-p-e-r-g-n-e. Heidi let me help with the flowers. We soaked a block of oasis, which is like a green sponge, in water for twenty minutes. Then she stuck the flowers in the oasis.”

  Sam circled the table. “Everything looks lovely.” She noticed the sideboard set with casserole dishes of all shapes and sizes. “And I see you solved the server problem by setting up a buffet.”

  “That was Heidi’s idea.” Mimi floated into the room on a cloud of flowery perfume so strong it took Sam’s breath away. She was the picture of elegance in a green dress that clung to her toned figure. She ran her hand across the top of her gleaming silver chafing dish. “I haven’t used some of these pieces in years. Annie did a marvelous job of polishing them.” She pinched Sam’s cheek so hard it hurt. “I owe you one. I will hire these two to cater all my parties from now on.” After rearranging several of the serving utensils, Mimi moved on to inspect the rest of the room. She smoothed out a linen napkin at one place setting, and then adjusted a tulip that had begun to droop in the centerpiece. “Sam, please tell me you remembered to bring the oysters.”

  “They’re in the back of my car. We’ll leave them there until the party starts. It’s so cold out, they’ll be fine.” Sam turned to Annie. “We should get to work. Can you show me the kitchen?”

  They passed through the butler’s pantry and entered an all-white kitchen with stainless steel appliances, marble countertops, and pickled pine floors. And Mimi says she doesn’t cook?

  Heidi stood at an island the size of Maui slicing new potatoes. Annie crossed the room to the oven. Grabbing a pair of pot holders, she removed the grits casserole, golden brown and bubbling, and set the Le Creuset dish on the stove. “Heidi had to remake the grits. The other caterer’s were lumpy.”

  Sam raised a questioning eyebrow at Heidi who nodded. “I had to redo a lot of things. I don’t know who the other caterer is, but his food is not up to my standards.”

  Sam dropped her coat and purse in the corner of the kitchen. “No wonder Mimi fired him.” She unwrapped a stick of butter and began slathering it on ham biscuits.

  “Guess what, Sam.” Annie removed two bunches of herbs from the sink and joined them at the island. “Heidi asked me to work for her this summer in Charleston.”

  Heidi looked up from her work. “Contingent upon your approval, of course. I’ve got several big parties and two weddings lined up.” She gestured at Annie with her knife. “This one is a miracle worker.”

  Sam watched them as they worked. Annie was the right hand that instinctively knew how to aid the left. Heidi finished slicing potatoes, and then Annie scraped the contents of the cutting board onto a roasting pan. Annie sprinkled on rosemary and thyme while Heidi drizzled the potatoes with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Heidi opened the door for Annie to slide in the pan.

  “On to the salad,” said Heidi as she stood back from the oven. They retrieved the salad ingredients from the enormous Sub-Zero refrigerator and returned to their cutting boards.

  “I’m all for you working with Heidi this summer,” Sam said. “It would be a great opportunity for you to learn since the food industry is obviously in your future. But I wouldn’t want you driving home from Charleston alone late at night.”

  “I have an extra room,” Heidi said. “She could stay with me.”

  Sam’s interior radar sounded, alerting her to possible danger. This woman was a newcomer to their lives. What did they really know about Heidi? She could have some whacked-out sexual desire toward teenage girls. “That’s kind of you to offer, but it probably makes more sense for her to stay at Jackie’s carriage house.” Sam tore a sheet of aluminum foil off to cover the biscuits. “Have you ever been married, Heidi?”

  “I was married once. A long time ago. Things didn’t work out so well.”

  “Have you ever been tempted again? I’m sorry. I don’t mean to pry.”

  “No worries.” Heidi dismissed her with a wave of a cucumber. “My life is an open book. Truth is, I don’t have the best judgment when it comes to men.”

  “Do you have any children?” Annie asked.

  A faraway look settled on her face. “I had a baby when I was young. I was too selfish and immature and not ready to be a parent.”

  “Where is the baby now?” Annie asked.

  Heidi set the cucumber on the cutting board and sliced it into thin slivers. “I gave her up for adoption.”

  TEN

  The days flew off the December calendar as they raced toward Christmas. Sam put in long hours at work, helping her customers fulfill their holiday seafood needs, but she somehow managed to find time for tasks relating to the wedding. She took Eli to meet Pastor Paul, drove to Charleston for her final dress fitting, and sorted out the details of the pending sale of her Cape Cod and the purchase of the bungalow.

  Late in the day on Friday, a week before Christmas, she was in the kitchen dicing potatoes when Jamie arrived with Sophia. The California girl was every bit as stunning as Jamie had described, with creamy skin, a thick mane of auburn hair, and blue eyes so cold and pale they reminded Sam of a glacier. Sam embraced her son, but when she made a move to hug Sophia, the girl thrust a limp hand out at her, as though daring her not to come too near.

  Sam gripped Sophia’s hand tight. “Welcome to our home. You two must be starving. Eli has gone to the grocery for steaks.”

  Jamie’s face lit up. “Can we cook them on the grill?”

  Sam smiled. “That’s the plan!”

  Sophia rammed an elbow in Jamie’s side. “We’re going out to dinner, remember?” She batted her heavy eyelashes at Sam. “I hope you don’t mind. Jamie promised to show me the town.”

  Her son’s face fell. “Sorry, Mom. I forgot. I told Sophia I’d take her to the Pelican’s Roost.”

  Sam bit back the sarcastic comments that flooded her mind. “That’s fine. We’ll save the steaks for tomorrow night.” Sam returned her salad ingredients to the refrigerator. “I know you’re disappointed not to spend the holiday with your folks, but how exciting for them to have the opportunity to go to Russia. Are they traveling with friends?”

  “I’m not sure who they went with, now that you mention it. One of my father’s clients, I think.” Averting Sam’s gaze, Sophia focused her attention on the strand of hair she was twirling around her finger.

  The prickling of skin on the back of Sam’s neck warned her that Sophia was not telling the truth. Why would she lie about such a thing? Was her family life at home that unhappy?

  “In any case, we’re happy to have you here with us. Why don’t I show you your room?” With Jamie wheeling her suitcase behind them, Sam led Sophia down the hall to the guest room. “I put clean towels in the bathroom next door. I hope you don’t mind sharing it with me.”

  “How quaint. It’ll be just like at the sorority house.”

  Sam considered snatching the girl’s pert nose off her face, but she excused herself instead. “I’ll leave you to get settled. Let me know if you need anything.”

  Jamie followed her back to the kitchen. He went straight to the refrigerator, removed a container of tuna salad, and began shoveling it in his mouth with
a fork. “This is really good. Did you change the recipe?”

  “Annie tweaked it a bit. You’ll have to ask her what she added.”

  He ate half the container before replacing the lid. “I can’t believe you’re getting married in a week. Are you excited?”

  “We’ve been so busy at the market, I haven’t had much time to think about it.” Sam lifted the cutting board and scraped the potato skins down the disposal.

  “About the market. Do you think you can manage without me? I can’t just leave Sophia to entertain herself.”

  “I agree. That would be rude,” Sam said, rinsing the cutting board. “We’ll manage without you.”

  Jamie plopped down on the nearest bar stool. “Can we put the tree up on Sunday?”

  “I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that.” She set the cutting board in the drying rack and turned around to face him. “I’ve been thinking that maybe we won’t have a tree this year. It’s one less thing we have to worry about with the move.”

  “Are you kidding me? It’s Christmas. We can’t just not have a tree.”

  Sophia entered the room and sat down next to Jamie, sliding her bar stool closer to his. “I’m with your mom on this. Christmas trees are such a hassle. We have a staff that takes care of ours.”

  “How sad for you. Some of my happiest memories of Christmases past are of our tree-decorating parties.” Sam rubbed her temples, feeling the onset of a headache. “Why don’t we compromise, Jamie, and put up a small tree this year?”

  “Deal. Sophia and I will pick up a small tree tomorrow, and bring the ornaments down from the attic. We’ll decorate it on Sunday. Can we have a pizza party?”

  Eli came through the back door with a grocery bag in each hand. “What’s this about pizza? I thought we were having steaks.”

  “We’re talking about Sunday when we decorate the tree,” Jamie said. “Do you want to help?”

  “Of course.” He set his bags down on the counter and introduced himself to Sophia. He pecked Sam on the cheek. “I’m glad you decided to get a tree. I think you’ll be glad you did.”

  She leaned into him. “You won’t be so glad after Christmas when we have to deal with a dead tree while packing up to move.”

  Eli massaged her shoulders. “I have a solution for that. We’ll drag the whole thing, ornaments and lights, to the curb.”

  “Oh no you won’t! Not with my ornaments.” She had every ornament Jamie had ever made in school. Once he got old enough, he saved money from his allowance every year to buy her a special ornament relating to something that had happened during the past twelve months. The year she’d taken him to Disney World and he’d snuck off to the gift shop and purchased a glass ball with Mickey Mouse ears and 2005 painted on it had been a longtime favorite.

  Sophia nudged Jamie. “Is this move happening soon? I’m pretty sure you forgot to mention that little detail to me.”

  “We have to be out of this house by the twenty-eighth,” Sam explained. “We assumed you’d be leaving after Christmas to visit other friends or family members.”

  Sophia shook her head. “Jamie invited me to come home with him for the break, which isn’t over until mid-January.” She jutted out her chin. “Oh well. There’s nothing we can do about it now. I promise not to get in your way.”

  An awkward silence filled the room.

  What did Jamie see in this girl? This sorority diva. So-Diva. Sam mentally smacked herself. Give her a chance, Sam. She may surprise you.

  Sophia slid off the bar stool and pulled Jamie with her. “We should probably get going. I don’t know about you, but I’m starving.”

  Eli waited for the young couple to leave before he turned to Sam. “I thought we were cooking steaks.”

  “Sophia insisted Jamie take her out to dinner,” Sam said as she opened and closed cabinet doors.

  “What’re you looking for?” Eli asked.

  She slumped back against the counter. “Something that isn’t here. Why is it that I always want a drink the minute something bad happens or someone rubs me the wrong way?”

  Eli took her in his arms. “Because you’ve only been sober for a hundred and eighty-five days.”

  “This time. Last time I went eleven months before I lapsed.”

  “It gets easier. I promise.” He nipped at her earlobe. “We need to do something to take your mind off of—”

  “SoDiva—the blood-sucking she-devil who has my son wrapped around her finger?” Sam planted her face in his chest. “What’re we going to do about her?”

  “Nothing. Jamie will figure this out for himself.” Eli kissed the top of her head. “I admit she came on a bit strong. Maybe she’s just nervous about meeting her boyfriend’s family for the first time. Let’s give her a chance. Jamie is a good kid. If he sees something in her, there must be something to see.”

  “That’s what my good inner self keeps telling me. My bad inner self isn’t being nearly as kind or understanding.”

  Eli laughed. “You need a break,” he said, holding her at arm’s length. “You’ve been working too hard. It’s warm outside. Why don’t we go for a walk down on the docks and grab a bite to eat?”

  Sam smiled. “That sounds nice. Anywhere but the Pelican’s Roost.”

  The brisk evening air along the waterfront cleared their heads and increased their appetites. Instead of going out to dinner, they picked up burgers and a salad from the Main Street Grill and returned home. With the gas fire keeping them warm and cozy, they ate in front of the television, watching The Holiday with Cameron Diaz for what seemed like the millionth time. Eli said goodnight a few minutes past eleven.

  Sam had never needed to set a curfew for Jamie. He’d never been one to stay out late. But when the clock struck one and there was no sign of Jamie and Sophia, she sent several urgent texts to him. He didn’t respond. She paced in front of the sitting-room window with one eye on the lookout for headlights in the driveway. When her legs began to ache, she reminded herself that her son was a college student and that he probably stayed out much later at school. She forced herself to go back to bed. Forty-five minutes later, she was still wide awake and staring at the ceiling when the back door slammed. At the sound of giggling in the hallway, she cracked her bedroom door and peeked outside. Jamie had Sophia pinned against the wall, her long legs wrapped around his waist.

  Sam cleared her throat. “I’ve been worried sick about the two of you. Time to go to bed. I have to get up early for work in the morning.”

  She closed the door without waiting for a response. Muffled laughter echoed throughout the hallway for several seconds before they finally grew silent. Sam went to the kitchen for a cup of Sleepytime tea. She was already stretched thin. The last thing she needed was a house full of inconsiderate teenagers keeping her up all night.

  ELEVEN

  Sam spent the day on Saturday directing her staff and filling orders for customers with last-minute seafood needs. Annie peeled shrimp until her fingers bled. Cooper and Sean returned to the inlet three times for oysters. And Lovie recited recipes for everything from sautéed scallops to she crab soup. No one complained, especially not Sam. The booming business guaranteed her staff a healthy Christmas bonus, and the surplus would carry them through the slow winter months ahead.

  Sam checked her cell phone frequently for texts from Jamie and kept an eye on the front door hoping he might stop by to show Sophia the shop. When four o’clock came and went with no word from him, she began to worry. Jamie never went for long periods of time without checking in with her. At least not while he was in town. She arrived home a few minutes after six to find the pickup Jamie had purchased with the money he’d earned over the summer was not in the driveway. Nor was there a Christmas tree resting against the side of the house in a bucket of water. Sam felt the itch to wrap her fingers around the neck of a bottle of booze, but she brewed a cup of peppermint tea instead. She was sitting at the island, sipping on lukewarm tea, when Jamie and Sophia arrived around seven,
loaded down with shopping bags.

  “I take it you’ve been shopping?” Sam asked.

  “We went to Charleston.” Sophia dropped her bags in the middle of the floor. “The shopping is subpar, but I managed to find a few things.”

  Jamie leaned over Sam’s shoulder and pecked her cheek. “I bought something for you.”

  “What, a Christmas ornament to hang on the tree you forgot to buy?” Sam cringed at the sarcastic tone in her voice. She’d promised herself she’d remain cool.

  Jamie took a step back. “Ouch! Hostile,” he said, rubbing his arm. “For your information, the tree is in the back of my truck. It meets your criteria—fat and full and short like me.”

  “Five eight is not short. At least not according to Eli.” She stood to face her son, and cupped his chin “I’m sorry I snapped at you.”

  His dark eyes brightened. “You’re forgiven.”

  “Did you put the tree in water?”

  “No, but I will before we go out.”

  Sam removed her hand from his face. “Where are you going? I thought we were cooking the steaks tonight?”

  He shot an uncertain look at Sophia. “I was going to talk to you about that. Rachel, one of Sophia’s sorority sisters who lives in town, has invited some people over.”

  “The steaks will keep another night, won’t they?” Sophia nodded a yes before Sam had a chance to consider the question.

  Sam let out a deep breath. “That actually works better for Eli and me. We’re supposed to stop in at Brad’s.” Eli’s partner and his wife, Judy, had invited some of the guys on the police force and their wives over for an impromptu get-together. “Tell me, does this Rachel have a last name?”