The Boyfriend of the Month Club (26 page)

“So how was the book club meeting?” Joe asked.

Penny and Sarah gave each other a look.

“It’s not exactly a book club,” Grace said. She wished she didn’t have to lie to him, but she couldn’t tell him what the club was about. Not without going into a whole lot of stuff she didn’t want to go into. So there was really no way to warn him about Melanie either. “It started out as a book club, but it’s grown into more of a . . . women’s empowerment group. But we also discuss books too.”
Sort of.

“Sounds cool. What book did you discuss tonight?”

You
.

“Um, well . . .
Pride and Prejudice
was brought up.”

“What is it with women and Jane Austen?”

“I’ll tell you later,” she said.

22

My Good Opinion Is Restored

“I’ll have the vegetarian lasagna, please.” Ellen handed the waiter her unopened menu. He took the rest of their orders and left them a basket of breadsticks. Grace reached out and took one. She nibbled on the end, but instead of the warm, buttery, garlic sensation she was used to, it tasted more like cardboard.

“What’s wrong?” Sarah asked Grace. “Why aren’t you devouring the breadsticks?”

“Today’s the day we approach Pop about selling Florida Charlie’s.”

“He’s never going to go for it,” Penny said.

“That’s what I told Charlie but he says we have to try.” While the idea of selling Florida Charlie’s was still repugnant, the offer guaranteed the store another three years. That was something at least.

“When is this all taking place?” Ellen asked.

“Right after lunch. Brandon is meeting us at the store.”

Sarah looked surprised. “Brandon’s going to be there too?”

“Charlie thought if it was just the two of us, Pop could blow us off too easily. But with Brandon there, he’ll be forced to listen to the deal. Pop is too polite to walk out on a stranger.”

“True,” Penny said. “That was smart of Charlie.”

“Let’s not talk about it,” Grace said. “Let’s talk about something else.” Grace could now understand Penny’s theories on avoidance. Just thinking about selling Florida Charlie’s was enough to make her stomach turn.

“Well, you’ll be happy to know that I have the go-ahead on The Continental for our next club meeting,” Ellen said.

“That’s good news,” Penny said.

“
Very
good news,” Grace agreed.

“I’ve booked a room for the first Saturday of every month, except for next month. I’ve switched the meeting to the second Saturday especially.”

Penny began counting on her fingers. “That’s Valentine’s Day.”

“I know,” Ellen said. “Very apropos, don’t you think?”

“But what if someone has a date?” Sarah asked.

“I think the point is that the women in this club won’t be having dates on Valentine’s Day,” Penny said.

“Joe hasn’t said anything yet, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed,” Grace said. “So don’t plan on my being there.”

Sarah clapped her hands together. “Gracie, you’re going to break your St. Valentine’s Day Curse!”

Grace waited for Ellen to start in again with Joe being a Wickham, but thankfully Ellen kept her mouth shut. “Maybe,” Grace said. “We’ll see.”

“I won’t be at the boyfriend club meeting either,” said Sarah.

“That’s the night the Dragon is having her housewarming party, and my attendance is mandatory. It’s too bad that’s the night of the club meeting, because I was actually hoping you all might come to the party. I’m dying to show you her house. I think it’s my best work yet. The before-and-after pictures are going up on my website.”

“Why don’t we cancel the meeting? Or move it to another Saturday?” Grace suggested.

“We can’t do that. This is a woman’s empowerment group!” Ellen said, waving a breadstick in the air for emphasis. “What better day to have a meeting than on a holiday that only serves to make women who don’t have a man in their life feel like they’re less-than?”

No one had a good argument for that, so Penny changed the subject. “Is the Dragon still trying to fix you up with her son?” she asked Sarah.

Sarah nodded.

“What does he look like?” Grace asked. “If you’ve decorated her house, you must have seen pictures of him.”

“Oh, I’ve seen lots of pictures. He’s about three feet tall, blue eyes, he’s missing a front tooth—”

Ellen began choking on her breadstick. “He’s . . . a . . . a mid-get?”

Grace gave Ellen a few hard thumps on the back. “Don’t make me do the Heimlich on you,” she warned. “After your performance at the boyfriend club Saturday night, I’d love nothing better than to put you in a half-Nelson.”

Ellen took a big swig of water. Her face was beet red. “I’m okay,” she croaked.

It reminded Grace of when Brandon had nearly choked on his beer at the Wobbly Duck. And thinking of Brandon reminded her once more of this afternoon’s meeting with Pop. Cardboard or not, Grace stuffed a breadstick in her mouth.

Sarah was still giggling when she said, “Sorry, Ellen, I couldn’t resist. I have no idea what the man looks like because I’ve only seen kiddie pictures.”

“She doesn’t have any other pictures of him up in the house?” Ellen asked.

“I’ve seen one from early high school. He had braces then. I know he likes to sail, because there are a lot of pictures of his boat, but that’s it.”

“You know what this means, don’t you?” Ellen said.

“No, but I’m sure you’re going to tell us,” Grace said.

“She says she wants to fix Sarah up with her son, but what she really wants is control over his life. She doesn’t have pictures of him as a grown man because, in her mind, he’s still a little boy.
Her
little boy.”

Penny rolled her eyes. “I thought Janine was the psychology expert.”

“It doesn’t take a degree in psychology to figure out an Oedipus complex.”

“I think Ellen is right. This guy is bad news,” Grace said. Not that Grace really agreed with Ellen’s theory. Grace had been all for Sarah going out with the Dragon’s son, but that was before her Charlie/Sarah brainstorm. Despite Sarah’s protests to the contrary, Grace was still clinging to the slim hope that Charlie and Sarah might one day get together. Strange, but now that the idea had taken root, she couldn’t get it out of her head.

“Don’t call out the National Guard, but I think I actually agree with Ellen too,” Sarah said.

“So what are you going to do?” Penny asked.

“I’m going to the party and I’m going to make nice with the Dragon and her son. And if he shows any interest in me, which I’m sure he won’t because he’s probably sick of his mother’s interference and wants to meet me about as much as I want to meet him, I’ll just tell him that I’m not over my ex yet.”

“That’s actually a pretty good idea,” Grace said. “But that’s not exactly true, is it? I mean, when do you think you’ll be ready to move on and start dating?”

Penny raised her brows at Grace. No one at the table said anything.

Was she being insensitive again? It irked Grace to no end to think of Sarah pining away for Craig. If Sarah only knew the truth. She thought briefly of Joe’s advice, about telling Sarah everything . . .

“What about you, Penny? Can I count on you to be at the meeting?” Ellen asked.

“Sure, I’ve got nothing better to do on Valentine’s Day.”

“Have you heard from Butch lately?” Grace asked.

“Nope. And I don’t expect to either. Oh goodie,” Penny said, spotting their waiter from across the room. “Our food’s on the way.”

Grace practiced her speech the entire drive back to the store while Penny critiqued. Even though Grace had told Charlie she was going to sit there and nod like a dummy, Pop would expect her to say something.

“Don’t sound so nervous,” Penny said. “Keep it short, simple. Besides, knowing Charlie, he’ll probably take over and you won’t have to say anything anyway. Lawyers love to hear themselves talk.”

Penny was right. She probably wouldn’t have to say much. And this was business. No reason to get all maudlin. Who knows? Pop might even be relieved by the offer.

Ha
. Who was she fooling? Pop would never go for it.

She spotted Brandon’s silver Jaguar in front of the store but there was no sign of Charlie’s car. Technically they weren’t meeting until one thirty. Hopefully Charlie wouldn’t be late. There were about a dozen customers inside, three of them waiting in line at the citrus shop. Penny went to help Stella take orders. Grace found Brandon perusing the T-shirt aisles.

“I’ve never seen you in your official Florida Charlie’s uniform,” he said. “Very cute.” He smiled and Grace got the impression he wanted to say something more but held back. On the off chance that Pop went for the deal, Brandon could very well end up being her boss. How weird would that be?

“I have to warn you, I’m still pretty sure my father is going to say no.”

“I can be very persuasive, Grace.”

Grace knew all about that persuasiveness firsthand. Maybe she was wrong and Pop
would
go for the deal, after all. Of course, it would take more than some long-stemmed roses and a few bottles of Dom Perignon to sway Pop, but still, it was probably wise not to underestimate Brandon.

The bell above the front door jingled and they both turned. Grace had hoped it was Charlie, but it wasn’t.

“So here I am,” Pop said. “What is it you and your brother wanted to talk to me about?” His face looked unusually ruddy.

Grace kissed her father on the cheek. “Did you just come from the gym? You look flushed.”

“Nah, but I thought I’d head there after our talk. I promised your mother I’d walk two miles a day. New Year’s resolution,” he said, sounding more resigned than enthusiastic.

Grace introduced Pop to Brandon and the two of them shook hands.

“Maybe we can go ahead and start?” Brandon asked. “We can catch Charlie up later.”

Pop gave Grace a
who the hell is this guy?
look.

“I’ll explain everything in my office,” Grace said, feeling nervous all over again. She ushered them inside and offered to make coffee. Brandon politely declined. Pop appeared impatient.

“Is the air-conditioning on?” Pop asked. “It’s hot in here.”

Grace checked the thermostat. It was set at seventy, as usual. “Do you want me to get a fan?”

“Nah, don’t bother, let’s just get down to it. What did you want to talk to me about?”

Grace glanced at her watch. It wasn’t one thirty yet so she couldn’t even blame Charlie for being late, but damn him anyway. This was his idea. How could he do all the talking if he wasn’t here?

“Perhaps I should start, sir,” Brandon said.

Pop took a handkerchief from his back pocket and wiped his forehead.

Brandon handed her father a business card. He began with a history of his investment group and then went into the current status of the local real estate market. Brandon was smooth and professional, but Pop didn’t appear to be listening and Brandon noticed. “Sir, is there something wrong?”

“Other than the fact that it’s hot as hell in here?”

Grace felt a moment’s alarm. It wasn’t like her father to use that tone of voice.

“Grace, maybe you should go get that fan,” Brandon suggested.

“Of course.” Grace rose from her chair and pulled out the box fan she kept in her office closet. She set the fan to high.

“That’s better,” Pop said, but he didn’t look any better. If anything, he looked worse. Why was his face so red?

Brandon gave her a look that Grace couldn’t read. “I think we should wait till your brother gets here before we go on.”

“Good idea,” Grace said.

Pop didn’t say anything. Which wasn’t like him.

“Pop, are you okay? Did you take your blood pressure medicine this morning?”

“Your father has high blood pressure?”

“I’m right here so you two can stop talking about me like I’m not. And yeah, I took my pills this morning. But I have to admit, I feel . . . dizzy. Must be this heat.”

“Pop, maybe you should lie down.”

He placed his palm against his cheek. “And my face feels numb . . .”

Brandon jumped from his chair. “Do you keep a blood pressure cuff in the office?” he asked Grace. “Or an AED machine?”

“A what?”

“Sir, let’s get you down on the ground.”

The scary part was that Pop didn’t argue. He let Brandon ease him to the floor. “Grace,” Brandon said in a low voice, “does your father have a history of heart attacks?”

Oh my God
.

Grace snatched up the phone and dialed 911.

“The ambulance is on its way, Pop.” She knelt next to her father and touched her hand over his forehead. It felt clammy.

“My chest . . .” he said. “It feels like I’m being . . . crushed.”

“Sir, do you have any nitroglycerin tablets?” Brandon asked.

“At the house,” Pop said between breaths.

Brandon looked Grace in the eye. “Do you keep aspirin in here?”

Grace ran to her desk, flung open the top drawer and handed the aspirin to Brandon. Between the two of them they were able to help Pop get down a pill.

Tears welled in Grace’s eyes. “This is just like before,” she whispered to Brandon. “He said the same thing before, about his chest . . .”

Brandon clasped Grace’s hand and gave it a strong squeeze. “His breathing is a little heavy and his pulse is fast, but it’s steady. I’m going to let the store employees know what’s going on and get the customers to clear their cars out of the way so the ambulance can park as close as possible to the door. I’ll be right back.”

Thank God the paramedics arrived quickly. They checked Pop’s vital signs, placed some oxygen on him, and transferred him to a stretcher.

“Can I go with him?” Grace asked.

“Sorry, ma’am, there’s no room in the ambulance,” one of the paramedics told her.

Brandon placed his hand on her elbow. “We’ll follow them to the hospital in my car.”

Penny and Stella and the rest of the store employees stood back, wide-eyed, and watched as the EMS personnel pulled Pop through the store on the stretcher.

“Penny,” Grace shouted on her way out the door. “Call Mami and Charlie and let them know what happened!”