Snagged (13 page)

“And if he doesn’t, we have to be the ones to take control of them. I’ve got to get downstairs to the rubber-chicken dinner. Just what I really feel like having. A lot of small talk when I have other things to think about. I trust you will remain here awaiting word as to the whereabouts of our overgrown Boy Scout.”

Ethel managed a smile. “I’ll be here.”

“Good. I know it’s late. You can turn on the television if you’d like.”

“Thank you, Ruth.”

“No problem, Ethel.” Ruth started to leave when Ethel suddenly remembered.

“Oh, Ruth. One more thing. While you were on the other line, Barney Freize called. He’s looking for his money.”

Ruth swung around, her eyes bulging. “You call Barney and tell him we’ll have his commission check of forty-five thousand dollars as soon as we know if the panty hose is good. He’s already gotten five thousand dollars for letting us have first crack at it.”

“But—” Ethel protested.

“No buts! Just do it!” Ruth slammed the door behind her.

In my own sweet time, Ethel thought indignantly as she picked up the hotel television guide.

A
T FIVE MINUTES past seven, Regan and Richie’s taxi pulled up in front of the Watergreen Hotel. A doorman rushed over to let them out.

“Welcome to the Watergreen.”

“Thank you,” Regan said as she got out behind Richie. Two well-dressed couples were waiting to hop in.

“Where are you going to?” the doorman asked them.

“Joe’s Stone Crab,” one of the women said excitedly.

“I hope you’ve got a reservation,” he replied and leaned over to tell the cabbie.

“Last I heard, they don’t take reservations,” Regan heard one of the men mumble.

Regan pushed through the revolving doors of the hotel, with Richie following. They stepped into a dazzling lobby with bright green-and-white-checked carpeting, numerous plants, and a miniature waterfall on a side wall. The registration desk was to the left. Across the way was a sunken area with a large circular bar, and tables and chairs that had a great view of the pools outside and the beach that lay beyond. The whole effect was festive.

Regan spotted Maura and John seated by themselves. She and Richie hurried over.

“How’s the blushing bride?” Regan asked as they all kissed hello.

“On my third nervous breakdown,” Maura replied.

“Fourth,” John corrected. “Here, have a seat. No one else has shown up yet.”

Regan and Richie sat down and the waiter hurried over. Richie ordered an old-fashioned and Regan decided to have a mai-tai.

“Yours looks so good,” she said to Maura.

“It’s so good I’m already on my second.”

“Your hair looks nice,” Regan said.

“You think so? It’s a wig.”

“It is not,” Regan said flatly with a half-smile.

“I know. But I’m beginning to think that’s the way to go.”

“Don’t laugh,” Richie said. “Poor Birdie tried one of those home permanents a few days before we got married. It looked like someone came up behind her and scared her real bad. She couldn’t stop crying. God love her. I told her not to worry, it’d all be okay. But I must say I was relieved when it grew out about a year later.”

“Uncle Richie, did she wear a wig at your wedding?” Maura asked.

“She wanted to, but her mother thought it was sacrilegious. I know. Go figure.” Richie helped himself to peanuts.

“So, John,” Regan said, “do you have any cute single friends who are going to be at the wedding?”

John’s face, handsome with its sparkling Irish eyes and strong features framed by curly blond hair, settled into a frown. “Now, let me think . . .”

“That means no,” Maura pronounced.

“What about Kyle?” John protested.

“Kyle?” Maura gasped. “I’m not setting up one of my oldest and best friends with Kyle. He’s a pathological liar.”

John nodded his head. “That’s true. But other than that, he’s a really nice guy.”

Maura turned to Regan. “We used to double-date with him until I couldn’t take it anymore. One night we’d be with one girl who’d be telling me all about her and Kyle’s plans for the future. The next night there’d be someone else he was leading on. I couldn’t stand it because I wanted to tell them, but John would have killed me.”

“Gee, I can’t wait to meet him,” Regan retorted. “Oh, look, here come my parents.”

Nora and Luke hurried over from the elevator bank and greeted everyone.

“Good news, Richie,” Nora said as they sat down. “We’re getting lots of responses for the party.”

“Oh, that’s great, Nora. A lot of people, huh?”

“Believe me, a lot of people,” Luke testified.

Nora patted Maura’s hand. “And the big day is almost here.”

“That it is. You’re coming to the luncheon tomorrow, aren’t you?”

“Absolutely. The fashion show isn’t until three o’clock. What time does the rehearsal dinner start?”

“Drinks at seven.”

Regan laughed. “I’ve got some good stories for the toasts.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of,” Maura groaned.

“Spring break in college. I came down to visit you. What was that guy’s name again? The one who gave you his college ring five minutes after you met him at that bar in Fort Lauderdale?”

“
REGAN
!”

“Their whole relationship lasted about an hour and a half. Irreconcilable differences.”

“I didn’t hear about this one,” John observed.

“That’s because no one counted until I met you,” Maura said, her voice dripping with sweetness.

“Thank God you broke off the engagement to that other guy a few years ago,” Richie pronounced as he munched on more peanuts. “He was all wrong for you.”

“I knew we should have eloped. Let’s change the subject,” Maura pleaded.

John put his arm around her. “We have no secrets, honey.” He turned to Regan. “What else can you tell me?”

“Did she ever mention the guy who gave her a set of jumper cables for Christmas? The worst part was that they weren’t even wrapped.”

“He also gave her a set of windshield wipers,” Richie offered.

“Oh yes,” Regan chuckled, “he was a hopeless romantic.”

Maura hit John’s knee. “I can’t wait to get a couple of your friends contributing to the storytelling.”

“Now, now,” Nora said. “Let’s not pick on Maura.”

“We’ll have plenty of time for that tomorrow night,” Regan agreed.

The waiter came by and Luke and Nora ordered their drinks.

“Maura, what kind of music are you going to have at the reception?” Nora asked.

“Elevator music, if my mother has her way.”

“At least nobody will start to sweat when they dance,” Regan offered.

“Actually,” Maura began, “we’ve hired a band that plays all kinds of music. Or so they say. My mother’s afraid that when they start playing rock and roll they’ll blast the place out, so she’s begging them to leave their amplifiers at home.”

“Speaking of amplifiers,” Regan said, “we need to figure out what we’re going to use for a sound system for the fashion show.”

“We just got a set of pots and pans you can borrow,” Maura offered.

“We’ll have to save those for New Year’s Eve,” Regan said.

The waiter appeared and deposited Luke’s and Nora’s drinks on the table. “Excuse me,” Nora said, “do you know if the manager, Mr. Fargus, is still here?”

“I’ll check for you, ma’am.”

“Nick Fargus?” Maura said. “He helped us plan the reception. He’s definitely a little weird.”

Luke chuckled.

Nora looked at him.

“I know, Dad,” Regan said. “Mom was looking to fix me up with him, right?”

“I didn’t say a word,” Luke said as he put up his hands.

“He is a lovely young man,” Nora insisted.

Within minutes, Nick was scurrying over to the table, checking for dust buildup on the brass railings along his way.

“Hello, hello, hello, everyone. Hello, Maura. Hello, John. Hello, Mrs. Reilly. Hello, Mr. Reilly.”

“Hello, Nick,” Nora said. “I’d like you to meet my daughter, Regan—”

“Oh, nice to meet you, Regan. I thought you were one of the models for the fashion show tomorrow.”

“No, no. I’m just helping Richie get the show organized. This is Richie Blossom.”

“Regan is one of my bridesmaids,” Maura said gleefully as Nick and Richie shook hands. “And we were just saying that there aren’t enough eligible guys to dance with at the wedding. I do hope you’ll stop by and take Regan for a spin on the floor.”

“Hey, that’s my job! Make everybody happy.”

“Thank you,” Regan said. “Yes, thank you very much.” I’ll get you for this, Maura, she thought. “Do you have a stereo system?”

“A what?”

“A stereo system. We need music for the fashion show.”

Nick snapped his fingers. “You know something? I don’t. I’ve been meaning to buy a CD player, but I’ve been so darn busy. I knew I should have just gone out and gotten one. I wanted to read
Consumers Digest
to find out which was the best one to get, and now it’s tomorrow—” His voice trailed off mournfully.

“Don’t worry,” Regan said as she unconsciously patted his shoulder.

“You still want to have the fashion show, don’t you?” Nick asked.

“Of course,” Regan said. “If I can get ahold of a friend of mine who is a stereo salesman and knows all about which one to buy, would you be interested in making a quick purchase tomorrow morning?”

Nick nodded. “You bet.”

“Good.” Now, I hope I have Nadine’s number with me, Regan thought.

N
ADINE AND JOEY were enjoying a cold beer on the patio in his backyard when the phone rang.

“Why don’t you let the machine pick it up?” Nadine asked as she curled her toes around the braiding of the chaise longue.

“It might be the office.” Joey hurried into the kitchen.

A minute later he was yelling out the kitchen window, “Nay, it’s for you.”

“For me?”

“It’s Regan.”

“Regan?”

“Do I hear an echo?” Joey asked.

“Wiseass,” Nadine said as she pulled herself out of the chair. “I don’t know why they don’t get a cordless phone for this house,” she mumbled, “a little static in your ear never hurt anybody.”

The screen door slammed behind her as she took the phone from Joey. “Hey, Regan, what’s up?”

Nadine listened as Regan explained to her about the fashion show and the urgent need for a compact disc player.

“You’re not going to believe this, Regan, but today I met a woman who claims she was wearing this run-proof panty hose. It was really nice.”

“Where did she get it?” Regan asked.

“Her son is an engineer and he’s testing it for his company to possibly buy. Oh, hi.”

“What?” Regan said.

“Sorry, one of Joey’s roommates just walked in. Anyway, we were both getting a manicure and I knocked into this woman’s leg with my wet nails. The polish wiped right off. Your friend Richie could make a lot of money on those stockings if they’re as good as they seem. I’d buy ten pairs.”

“That’s what we’re hoping,” Regan said, “which of course comes back to the need for the compact disc player. Can you recommend a particular kind? This guy Nick wants to run out and buy one tomorrow morning.’’

“It depends on how much he wants to spend,” Nadine said. “Some people drive me crazy coming in and out of the store a hundred times, checking every last detail of every system, down to the color of the plug. I know they’re really running around wasting gas comparing prices all over town. What’s this guy like, anyway?’’

“Ohhhhh, he’s nice,” Regan said haltingly.

“Nice means uh-oh,” Nadine said as she sat down on one of the vinyl kitchen chairs whose stuffing was popping out in the back. “Before I met Joey, when someone tried to fix me up, if they started out by saying ’Well, he’s nice,’ you knew that was the kiss of death.”

Regan laughed. “My mother thinks he’s a lovely young man.”

“Enough said. Wait a minute, how did your mother meet him?”

“She and my father are down here for a convention and for the wedding. She’s hosting the cocktail party before the fashion show.”

“Cool. Regan, I can tell you a lot of things to look for in a CD system, but it’s probably better if I go shopping with him. Hold on. Joey, are you going to work in the morning?”

“For a couple of hours.”

“Regan, if he wants, I can go with him in the morning.”

“Nadine, that would be really nice of you. Are you sure?”

“Yeah. Besides, Joey and I can go to the beach tomorrow afternoon.”

“You’re certainly welcome to come to the cocktail party and fashion show.”

“That might be fun. Old Nick’ll probably need help setting up the CD player in his apartment anyway.”

“I’m sure. I’d come shopping with you, but the bridesmaids are getting together at eleven A.M. for a luncheon. But I can meet you here at the hotel afterward.”

“That’s fine. Why don’t you come over for a beer later? We’re just going to cook some food and hang out with some of Joey’s friends and his roommates.”

“I probably won’t get finished here until ten,” Regan said. “Is that too late?”

“Are you kidding? In this part of town, the night hasn’t even started yet.”

“True. Give me your address.”

After Nadine gave Regan the address, they agreed that Regan would have Nick call Nadine directly to set up their shopping date for the next morning.

“He’s with our group right now,” Regan said, “we’re about to go in for dinner. I’ll have him call you right away.”

“I’ll be here. By the way, Regan, do you have a boyfriend?”

“Why are you asking me that, Nadine?”

“Because I’ve got a guy here who you should meet.”

“Only if he’s really nice. Bye, Nadine.”

“Bye, Regan.”

B
ARNEY FREIZE WAS more than a little annoyed that Ruth Craddock didn’t have the decency to call him back after he had been good enough to introduce her to the Birdie Panty Hose and very possibly save her company’s butt. Barney paced around his little den. “It takes nerve, that’s what it takes, it takes nerve,” he said to the air. He pulled open the sliding glass doors that opened onto his tiny backyard and breathed in the pungent scent of the citrus trees. “Be calm, Barn, be calm,” he said to himself but felt his anger rising.