Authors: Kathy Reinhart
“C’mon babe, late breaking news. No time to hit snooze today.”
I breathed deeply and felt one shudder run the length of my back as I looked around the bedroom, realizing my panic had been merely a dream.
“Okay, okay... I’m awake. What’s wrong?” I rubbed my eyes, hardly concerned with whatever had him out of bed so early on a Sunday.
“Wrong? Hell no. Everything is finally right. Get up, I’ll tell you about it while I pack.”
Pack? I was certain I was awake, no longer caught in the weird dream that had brought me to a sweat, but what was he talking about... packing for what?
He didn’t wait for me to ask him for details.
“That was Jim on the phone. He wants me to go to Detroit and handle the murder case everyone’s been talking about... you know the one... junkyard, bodies buried in crushed cars?” Searching my eyes for the recollection that wasn’t there, he waved his hand in my direction, and said, “Never mind that... Anyway, if things go well in Detroit, it could be just what I need to make senior partner.”
Still trying to organize my thoughts, I said, “That sounds like a real break for you.” I hesitated. “So... when do you leave?”
He glanced briefly at his watch, shrugged and said, “I have to be at the airport in less than two hours...” His expression bordered on lewd as he ran his hand across the front of his pants, pausing at the zipper, adding, “...why, do you want me to take care of you before I leave?”
I tried not to sound too eager as I threw off the covers and said, “Here, let me help you pack.”
~ ~ ~
I pulled my housecoat tightly around my waist and forced a smile as Brian gave me a kiss that bordered on brotherly. He picked up his bag and sighed deeply saying, “Wish me luck, Babe.” With a hand resting on the doorknob, he hesitated before mumbling, “Cosgrove, Berkley and McDonough...
humph
... I could get used to that.” Nodding to himself, he disappeared without looking back.
Brian had left in an elated state and had left me feeling more confused and concerned than I wanted to be. The wedding was growing closer and I still hadn’t found the right opportunity to tell him how I truly felt. I knew each day that passed would make me look and feel like a bigger heel when I did finally confess my lack of love for him.
Even alone in my own living room, I felt embarrassed by guilt. My timing was bad, not that the, I’m-sorry-to-do-this-but-you-deserve-better-than-me speech was ever welcomed. In the three years we’d been together, there were many occasions where a split would have been easier, better and more mutual than now—two weeks before the wedding. A part of me even considered going through with the whole thing just to spare myself the shame and Brian the hurt I knew we’d feel when I ended it. Wedding gifts had already begun to arrive, the hall was booked and everything paid for—how could I ever face anyone again if I broke off my engagement this close to our wedding day? But, how could I live with myself if I went through with it?
With a crisis weighing heavily on my mind, Brian out-of-town and a new sports car sitting outside, today had all the makings of a day with the girls. I smiled to myself as I dialed Charlotte’s number.
“Hello.”
“Hi, you busy?”
“Um... well... no.” She hesitated. “What’s up?”
“Um... well... no? Who’s tripping over their tongue now?” I let out a laugh, and said, “Hey, give me a call later; I can hear your heavy breather in the background.”
Returning the laugh, she replied, “Thank you. I’ll call you back in about an hour. Okay?”
“Later.”
I gave brief thought as to whom Charlotte’s company could be. She wasn’t the no-strings, no-names, no-questions kind of girl and she wasn’t the type to keep a serious relationship a secret, so I couldn’t imagine whom that left.
Charlotte’s happiness was long overdue. There had been sleepless nights, lost jobs due to lack of babysitters, having to answer all Bobby’s questions, even the tough ones and pretending to be happy without a partner, for his sake.
Kevin was a good father, at least as good as Charlotte allowed him to be. She allotted plenty of time for Kevin to spend with Bobby but never included him in school appointments, doctor visits or social functions. Coming from a broken home herself, I think her decision to keep Kevin at a safe distance was an exaggerated effort to spare Bobby from the trauma she had lived through as a child, if or when it didn’t work out between them.
Considering she had spent most of her life determined to make the right choices in an attempt to avoid a repeat of her childhood sufferings, she had few achievements to show for her efforts and numerous sacrifices.
I used the hour until Charlotte called back to shower, dress and decide what the girls and I could do for fun, and where we would do it. Just knowing my new car was sitting outside was enough to put me in the mood for a joy ride. The weatherman was calling for a beautiful day and I was already seeing myself behind the wheel with the top down, feeling the wind through my hair and smelling the country air as I was leaving the city in my rearview mirror.
As I threw my hair up in a loose bun, I realized that today was the first day in ages I’d seen a smile coming from the reflection in the mirror. A little ironic perhaps, in view of everything going on in my life, but it certainly felt good.
I didn’t wait for Charlotte to call back. Instead, I decided to drive to Cory’s house. We could surprise Charlotte together—and maybe get a look at her new playmate, too.
Cory’s father could afford to, and would be willing to buy her five of my new cars if her heart desired, so her open excitement surprised me.
“Wow, Meg! This car is the bomb! Brian bought this for you?”
I nodded, feeling slightly guilty for taking such pleasure in something I knew I didn’t deserve and couldn’t keep. “He said it was a wedding gift.”
As she ran her hand across the hood, she looked at me suspiciously. “Meg, I know Brian makes good money and all, but a gift like this... well, it seems a little extravagant for a wedding gift, especially since he’s footing the bill for the whole wedding.” I looked toward the ground, giving thought to what she said, as she continued, “A gift like this seems better suited for bribery or an apology for something really big.”
“It doesn’t matter what his reasons were. I’m not keeping it; I just thought I’d enjoy it until I had to give it back.”
Cory’s smile grew broad. “Really? You’re not keeping it... does that mean?” She hesitated long enough to search my eyes. Finding the answer she was looking for in them, she said, “Does Charlotte know yet?”
I shook my head. “I wanted to tell Brian first, but the way things are going...”
She opened the passenger door and let out a slight laugh.
“Well, this’ll make her day. She’s been like... obsessing over you marrying that dick.”
Keeping my motives for wanting to visit Charlotte to myself for the time being, I said, “How about we go tell her now?”
“Let’s do it.”
About half way to Charlotte’s, I found myself growing quite eager to see whom she had spent the night with. Then Cory gave me something else to occupy my thoughts.
“Meg, what do you want to do about the party? The arrangements are made, but with you and Brian taking a trip to Splits-Ville... well, it you’d rather cancel I’d understand.”
I hadn’t given any real thought to the party. I glanced at Cory, hoping her eyes would reveal how she felt about my canceling something she had worked so hard to prepare.
I opened my mouth, but before I could speak, she said, “I’m not trying to sway you or anything, but... I thought you should know that the theme of your party is, ‘It’s Raining Men’ and since you’re back in player status, this party might be just what you need to forget all about the schmuck-in-a-three-piece.”
I laughed.
“It’s raining men—
hmm
—does sound like fun.”
Optimism glowing in her eyes, she timidly asked, “Then we’re on for Friday?”
Knowing she was holding her breath while waiting for my answer, I quickly agreed, “We’re on.”
“
Yes!
” Holding an imaginary glass in the air, she added, “Here’s to rain... and pre-marital divorce!” Leaning back in the seat and looking quite pleased with herself, she ran a hand through her blonde hair, which the wind pulled in every direction.
I found her last remark thoroughly confusing, but knew better than to ask her what she meant. My party had been a close kept secret between her and Charlotte and I knew she would give nothing away this close to its happening.
We pulled into Charlotte’s driveway and I quickly turned the engine off. I was hoping to get to the door before she heard our arrival, increasing our chances of seeing her mystery man.
In my hurried state, I was half-way to the front door when Cory called to me from the car.
“What’s up, Meg? Does the first one to the door get a prize or something?”
I quickly made my way back to the car, grabbed her hand and headed up the sidewalk to the house, forcing her to keep up with my brisk steps.
“Charlotte has a guy in there and I want to see who...”
In a high-pitched tone, she cut me off. “Charlotte’s getting some—no way! Like, how do you know?”
“
Ssh.
I don’t want her to know we’re here before we get a look at him.”
“I’ll bet he looks like an accountant... you know, kind of studious and dependable.” Cory laughed at the image of the man she described.
I rang the doorbell, eager to get in the house.
“I’ll bet he’s got a mustache. She loves guys with mustaches.”
Giggling, Cory said, “I’ll bet he’s...”
As the door swung open, we stared up at the man neither of us expected to see.
“Kevin?” I hoped my surprise didn’t come through in my tone of voice.
He teased, “Well, if it isn’t the rest of the Mandrell sisters. C’mon in.”
Cory and I exchanged a stunned look. I had been under the impression that Kevin and Charlotte’s on-again, off-again sex life had been over for some time.
I managed to say, “I hope we’re not interrupting anything...”
“I hope we are.” Cory laughed; believing the road to life was paved with spandex and humor.
Charlotte appeared from the bedroom wearing a silk housecoat and a smile that revealed everything. The last time I’d seen that much joy in her eyes was the day Bobby was born and I wondered how long Cory and I had been oblivious to this situation.
There was no need for words. Charlotte smiled, I raised my eyebrows and smiled back, and then she nodded her head while Cory followed our wordless conversation. The three of us understood every word we didn’t say.
Taking his cue from the delight none of us could hide, Kevin said, “Uh oh, I see that coffee-klatch look in your eyes. I’m thinking that maybe now’s a good time to take Bobby to the park or the mall or the moon or anywhere that will get us out of your hair...”
Running an arm through his, Charlotte said, “No, no, I want you to stick around for this. We’re going to start off right.” She led Kevin to the couch and motioned for us to follow, before continuing, “Kevin and I have an announcement to make...”
Unable to keep her excitement inside, Cory blurted, “Oh my God, congratulations you guys!” followed by a squeal of delight.
We each laughed at her impetuous nature, except for Kevin, who was bewildered.
“How did...” Shaking and scratching his head, he tried his question again. “How did you know what she was going to say?”
The three of us passed a knowing look to each other, as Cory answered, “She told us when we came in,” which caused Kevin to smile and shake his head again.
He stood and gave Charlotte an affectionate pat on the hand.
“Your friends are always going to understand you just a little better than I do, aren’t they?”
“A lot better, but think of all the fun you’ll have learning what they already know!”
Winking, he said, “At least I know where to turn for advice when you get in one of those monthly moods and I can’t figure you out.” Turning his attention to Cory and me, he said, “I really do have to go. You three enjoy yourselves today...” Leaning over to give Charlotte a kiss before walking away, he added, “Bobby and I will see you later.”
Charlotte held Kevin’s hand until the distance between them forced her to let go. Kevin called for Bobby and with his words barely out of his mouth, Bobby appeared, offered a quick ‘hi’ and ‘goodbye’, and disappeared out the front door.
As soon as we heard the garage door open and the car back out, we fell into a round of screechy-girl-giggle-fits.
“How long have you two been...why didn’t you tell us that you...” I had too many questions to ask just one at a time.
“About eight months. We’ve been keeping it quiet until we knew for sure. We didn’t want to get Bobby’s hopes up or look like fools if it didn’t work out—again.”