Maybe she was going about this all wrong. Maybe having sex with Cole would get him out of her system. It could happen.
In the end it was easier finding something to wear than it was deciding where her relationship with Cole should go.
Two hours later, Leena parked her Sebring a block from the theater and checked her makeup in the visor mirror. The classic red lipstick drew attention to her mouth while the smoky, slightly shimmery powder and dark mascara added depth to her eyes. She’d swept her hair into a simple updo and was wearing her little black dress of
Breakfast at Tiffany’s
fame. She spritzed a little Happy perfume on the back of her neck. The movement of the few tendrils of hair she’d left loose would throw the scent around in a discreet yet intriguing way—a beauty tip she’d learned early in her modeling career. Her killer black heels not only looked great but were actually comfortable as well.
“Pssst!” Leena looked around to see who was trying to get her attention and found Hannah hanging out in the shadows to the side of the Tivoli Theater. When Leena walked closer, Hannah yanked her into the shadows with her. “I need to tell you that I’m so sorry.”
“Sorry about what? You didn’t take any of those pills, did you?”
“No, no, I promised I wouldn’t. But I also promised I wouldn’t tell your secret and I did. I didn’t mean to. My mom was saying nasty things about you and I was just trying to defend you. I didn’t mean to tell her that you’re researching a role as an actress. It just came out. I’m so sorry.”
“That’s okay.” Leena patted her shoulder.
“My mom said it was a lie, but I said you wouldn’t lie to me.”
Okay, that made Leena feel like cow dung. “If you recall, I never actually
said
I was here researching a role.”
“Well, of course you wouldn’t actually say it because it’s supposed to be a secret. But now everyone knows about it.”
Leena almost told her the truth. That she was down on her luck. But she just didn’t have the heart to do it. Not with Hannah gazing at her with such admiration.
“Don’t you worry about it, Hannah. I’ll just deny the story. I appreciate you giving me the heads-up, though.”
“I hope I didn’t ruin your welcome-home party.”
“No, not at all. Like I said, stop worrying about it. Everything will be okay.”
“You really think so?”
“Yes, I do.” Leena had to. Or she’d run screaming down Barwell Street. “So stop worrying.”
“Okay.” Hannah smiled gratefully before disappearing into the shadows.
Leena almost called her back to invite her into the party before realizing that Edie wouldn’t let her daughter attend.
“What are you doing out here?” Sue Ellen demanded from the middle of the red carpet spread in front of the Tivoli. “It’s time for your grand entrance.”
“Am I being shot out of a cannon?”
“No.” Sue Ellen’s expression turned worried. “Is that what you wanted?”
“No way. Quiet and understated, remember?”
“That’s why I decided not to wear my Mae West costume after all. Lulu talked me out of it.”
Leena made a mental note to thank her.
“Now get in here. You’re missing your own party.”
Leena stared at the mob in the lobby. “Who are all these people?”
“Guests.”
“I only recognize maybe”—Leena counted—“a dozen. Who are the other forty or fifty?”
“Prospective clients.”
“What?”
“For when I get my realtor’s license. I figured I might as well promote my professional career while having the party.” Only now did Leena realize that Sue Ellen’s outfit was conservative for her. While it was hot pink, the suit had a flattering line. Her acrylic nails were a matching color with silvery dollar signs on them.
“Be sure and have some crab puffs,” her sister continued. “Butch did the catering.” A second later Sue Ellen flitted off.
“Wow, this is a big party,” Mindy said from beside Leena.
“I don’t know most of these people.”
“When you live in a small town everybody knows everybody else.”
“I haven’t lived here for a decade.”
“Right.” Mindy nodded nervously.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to bite your head off. I’m just a little nervous.”
“No way. You? Nervous? Not possible.”
“Totally possible. You look great.”
“I don’t, but it’s nice of you to say so.”
“Okay, that’s got to stop right now.”
“What did I do wrong?”
Leena tugged her friend into a quieter corner. “You keep insulting a good friend of mine and I want you to quit it.”
“I’m so sorry.” Mindy hung her head. “I try to never insult anyone.”
“The friend I’m talking about is
you
. You keep putting yourself down and I want you to stop doing that.” Leena lifted Mindy’s chin. “You are a smart and beautiful woman.”
“I’m not beautiful.”
“You accept a compliment with a thank-you. You are worthy and lovable and have so much to offer. You have the best smile, excellent cleavage, gorgeous skin, and you always see the good in people. Everyone but yourself.”
“I’m not like you.”
“And you’re not supposed to be. Trust me, I’m no role model.”
“Yes, you are. You’re a successful model about to embark on a new exciting career in film.”
“All lies. Except the model part.”
“What?”
“There is no movie. That was total speculation and . . . never mind about that. We were talking about you. I want you to come with me to belly-dancing class.”
“I couldn’t.” Mindy’s face turned apple red. “I’d be too embarrassed.”
“Just come with me once. If you really hate it, you don’t have to do it again. Come on. Just once. As a welcome-home gift for me.”
Mindy held out her hands in surrender. “Okay, okay.”
“There you are. I thought you’d kidnapped my beautiful wife,” T-Bone said. Like Butch, T-Bone had been on the state championship wrestling team and had the no-neck build of a wrestler. The adoring look he gave Mindy made it clear that he loved her as much now as he did back in high school.
“I’m not beaut—” Mindy stopped when Leena gave her “the look.” “Uh, thank you?”
Leena nodded her approval. “That’s a much better way to accept a compliment.”
“Mindy never believes me when I compliment her,” T-Bone said.
“She’s going to do better about that in the future. Right, Mindy?”
“I’ll try.”
“You go, girl.” Leena gave her an encouraging hug. “Carry yourself as if you’re proud of what you have. Head held high, shoulders back. You’d be surprised how well that works.”
“Leena, what are you doing in the corner?” Sue Ellen demanded. “You’re supposed to be mingling.” She dragged Leena across the lobby. So much for head held high. Hey, it was always easier giving advice to others than taking it yourself. “Now talk to people.”
A woman approached her. “Leena, long time no see. Do you know who I am?”
Leena didn’t have a clue.
“I’m Connie Clayton. We went to school together. You didn’t recognize me, did you?”
“I, uh . . .”
“That’s what four kids will do to you. And Clairol. I used to be a brunette with long curly hair and now I’m a short-haired redhead.” Connie laughed and preened a bit. “So Leena, tell us more about this movie you’re going to be in.”
“I can’t.” She just couldn’t say it was all a mistake. Not to anyone other than Mindy. Certainly not to Connie Clayton, leader of one of the cool-girl cliques in high school. A clique that had never included Leena. “So you have four kids now?”
Connie nodded. “They drive me nuts. There’s no place for them to play here. There was talk a while back of opening a playground in that vacant lot just north of town, but nothing ever came of it.”
“There are nonprofit organizations that help out with setting up playgrounds for communities that need them,” Leena said. “You could check on Google and see what you find.”
“I don’t have time to do that. Not with four kids.” Connie drifted away.
“Some things never change, huh? Connie never wanted to take the initiative. Hi, I’m Vanessa Jacobs. I was in English class with you.” The woman smiled.
“I remember you. You took great notes.”
“Still do. I’ve got a blog and website for women entrepreneurs. Angel is a member. Her Angel Designs is really hot right now.”
“Skye’s mom runs Angel Designs?” Why had no one mentioned this before? Their fuzzy scarves and shawls were all the rage.
“So you’ve heard of it?”
“Who hasn’t?”
“Our site is all about empowering women. I’d love for you to be a guest blogger and talk about learning to love your body.”
Sue Ellen had clearly been eavesdropping nearby. “Is she talking about the Remote-Control MegaMax—”
Leena cut her sister off. “No, she’s not. Excuse us a moment, will you?”
Vanessa nodded as Leena dragged Sue Ellen away to the ladies’ room.
“What’s wrong?” Sue Ellen demanded. “I’m not the one talking about loving your body.”
“Loving as accepting. Not loving as sex and orgasms with vibrators.” A toilet flush in one of the two stalls sent Leena into a blind panic.
“Chill out,” Skye said as she opened the stall door and joined them at the sink. “It’s only me.”
Leena sagged in relief.
“I already knew you both bought one of Lulu’s RCM vibrators,” Skye said.
Leena looked at Sue Ellen. “You didn’t tell me you got one too.”
Sue Ellen shrugged. “I couldn’t get it to work.”
“Me either,” Leena admitted.
Skye shook her head while washing her hands. “Amateurs.”
Leena ignored the comment. “Do you two know Vanessa Jacobs?”
“Sure,” Skye said. “She runs a great website.”
“She asked me to be a guest blogger and talk about empowerment for women. Accepting yourself and your body. That kind of thing.”
“Tell them that big hair makes you look smaller,” Sue Ellen said.
“Did you accept her offer?” Skye asked.
“I was about to when Sue Ellen here interrupted us.”
“Sue Ellen, don’t you have a cake to prepare?”
Leena stared at her sister in surprise. “You baked?”
“No. Butch made it. But I have to light the candles.”
They ran into Butch outside the restrooms. “There you are,” he said. “I’ve been looking for you. The cake is ready to go.” He pointed to a large sheet cake on a wheeled cart a few feet away. “Here.” He handed Sue Ellen an elongated candle lighter. “You do the honors.”
“It’s banana cake,” Sue Ellen told Leena.
“Why all the candles? It’s not my birthday.”
“I put ten on here because that’s how long you’ve been gone.” Sue Ellen reached out to steady one of the candles. Instead she ended up igniting her long acrylic nail.
Leena grabbed her sister’s hand and blew her nail out before it scorched her. “That was a close call.”
Sue Ellen sniffed back tears.
“Did you get burned?” Leena asked in concern, taking hold of Sue Ellen’s hand again to look. There was no sign of injury, other than to the fake nail.
“They don’t match anymore,” she wailed.
“We are
not
burning your other nine nails,” Leena said.
“I wanted tonight to be perfect.”
“It will be.” Leena patted her sister’s shoulder. “Go on into the bathroom and run some cold water on it. We’ll wait for you. Hurry up.” Leena blew out the few candles Sue Ellen had successfully lit. “You get a do-over. Only this time
I’ll
light the candles.”
The cake made its entrance without further mishap. A few minutes later, Leena accepted Vanessa’s blogging invitation and worked out the details with her. She also talked with her about the undeveloped playground.
Catching sight of Tameka, Leena excused herself.
“Do you know Hannah Dabronovitch?” she asked Tameka.
“Yes. She’s a student in one of my classes. Why?”
“She’s having some body image issues, and I thought maybe you could help her. I tried, but I don’t know how successful I was.”
“I can help out. There are some passages in a book called
The Body Project
that might help. I’ll also touch base with her softball coach. She might have some ideas too.”
“Hey, I don’t mean to interrupt,” Julia said, looking radiant in a simple floral dress. “But I just wanted to thank you for your help, Leena, when I barged into the animal clinic and my water broke.”
“I didn’t do anything.”
“You called for the ambulance. I’m sorry I was so crazed that day. My husband Luke will tell you that I’m not usually like that.”
“You were under a lot of stress.”
“Yeah, well, so were you. Your first day on the job and all. Anyway, I just wanted to say thanks.”
“Where’s your baby?”
“With Angel. She couldn’t get Tyler to come to the party. He hates crowds, so they decided they’d rather babysit our darling. It’s the first time I’ve left her,” Julia admitted. “It’s only for an hour and they’re right upstairs in Skye’s apartment over the theater, but I miss her.”
“Miss who?” Luke asked as he joined them, sliding his arm around his wife’s waist.
“Our amazing baby girl.”
“We could always go check on her,” Luke said.
Julia nodded. “What a great idea.” A quick smile and she was gone along with her husband.
“How the mighty have fallen,” Cole whispered in Leena’s ear. “Luke used to be a tough guy and look at him now.”
She shivered. His warm breath tickled a tendril of her hair. He’d done it again, sneaking up on her and stealing her composure.
“We’ll talk later,” Tameka said, leaving them alone. Alone with the sixty other people crowding the elaborately elegant lobby.
“Come on.” Cole gently steered Leena through the throng to the doors leading into the theater.