Three Girls And A Leading Man (3 page)

“Hello, Annie, dear,” my mother
said. “How are you?”

“I’m good,” I told her. “How are
you?”

“Oh, fine, fine,” she said. “I just
finished my afghan, you know the one I was knitting for Beth? It turned out
just lovely, very warm and cozy. I was thinking I would start on yours next,
dear; it would be just the thing for you and Jen in that drafty old house.”

“I have plenty of blankets, Mom,” I
told her, rubbing my throbbing temple. “And our house isn’t that old.”

“Well, if you’re sure, dear,” she
said, sounding doubtful. “But I’d be happy to make you one if you change your
mind.”

“Okay, Mom,” I said, trying to tamp
down my irritation. Had she really called me just to talk about afghans?

“So what are you up to today?” she
asked.

“I’m still at work,” I told her. “I
had a few things to do after camp was over.”

“Are you sure you aren’t working
too hard?” she asked. “It seems like every time I talk to you you’re either at
work or running around with the girls. Won’t you wear yourself down this way?”

“I’m fine,” I said, struggling to
keep from snapping at her. My mother was so annoying.

“Well, I just don’t know how any of
your friends have met their young gentlemen when the three of you are always so
busy,” she said.

I sighed. Here we went again. If I
ever had a conversation with my mother that didn’t end up being about my lack
of boyfriend, I might just drop dead from shock.

“It’s a mystery of modern society,”
I muttered.

“Well, it just surprises me is
all,” she said. “Dear, did you happen to get that book I sent you last week? I
was worried because I hadn’t heard from you about it…”

“I got it, Mom,” I said. “I didn’t
call because I assumed it was a joke.”

“Why would it be a joke?” she
asked.

“Because I thought you would know,
after countless conversations on the subject, that I’m in no hurry to get a
boyfriend. I’m very happy with my friends and my life and the men that I date
and I don’t see any reason for any of that to change now, or any time in the
near future. Does that make it clear enough?”

On the other end of the phone, my
mother sniffed. “I just don’t understand why you don’t want a nice man in your
life. I know you say you’re happy, but what girl doesn’t want to get married?”

Because
that worked out so well for you,
I thought angrily
.

“Mom,” I said, breathing heavily.
“Please, please drop it, okay? I am perfectly happy. I don’t need dating tips
from some book. Okay?”

“But doesn’t it ever bother you
that Ginny and Jen are both so happy with their gentlemen, and you’re…you’re…”

“All by myself?” I asked. “Turning
into an old maid? Becoming a spinster?”

“There is no reason for you to take
that tone of voice with me,” she said, sounding wounded. “I just worry. I’m
your mother.”

“
I’m fine
.”

“Well, dear, I suppose we should just
change the subject then,” she said, clearly deeply offended. “How is Danny
doing? Do you think he might like a new blanket?”

I closed my eyes again and settled
into my chair, resigned to the fact that I wouldn’t be getting her off the
phone any time soon. As she rattled on about the pattern she thought she might
use, I looked down at the pile of work on my desk. It was only two p.m., but I
had a feeling it was going to be a long, long afternoon.

***

When I got home that evening, I was
pleased to see Jen’s car in the drive. I hoped that Matt wouldn’t be there. I
liked him very much and I thought he was totally perfect for Jen, but I wasn’t
quite in the mood to share my best friend tonight.

Before I could even get to the top
of the steps, Kiki was throwing the front door open. “Annie!” she cried. “I’m
so, so happy you’re here!”

“Hey, Kiki,” I said, fighting my
disappointment. She was a lot to take, Kiki, but once you warmed up to her she
wasn’t so bad. After the day I’d had, though, I wasn’t sure how much of her I
could handle.

“I came over so we could talk about
the event,” she said, moving over so I could squeeze past her through the
doorway. “We have, like, so much work to do.”

“Crap,” I muttered, dropping my
purse on the coffee table. “I totally forgot.”

Jen and Kiki had agreed to plan a
fundraising benefit for the theater in the following month. It was really
generous of them, as we wouldn’t be able to pay them much at all, but Jen
assured me they would benefit from the goodwill publicity. Their firm was very
new and could use all the positive PR they could get.

“Well,” Kiki said, following me
into the kitchen. “I have some news for you. And it’s gonna make you totally
happy, I promise.”

“Great, Kiks,” I told her, grabbing
the water pitcher from the fridge. “So...uh, is Jen here?”

“I’m back here,” Jen called from
her bedroom. “I’ll be right out!”

Kiki followed me back to the living
room, kind of like a little puppy, and we both sat on the couch.

“So Jen told me you had an audition
this week,” she said. “That is, like, so cool. For Jenner Collins? Oh my God, I
just love him so much. Daddy has done some work with him. He’s totally into the
revitalization of the city. It’s so, so awesome.”

“Yup,” I agreed, putting my feet up
on the coffee table. “He’s a pretty cool guy.”

“So was he there? At the audition,
I mean. How did it go? I bet you were just great.”

Kiki always talked like this, a
mile a minute. When I first met her I had thought she was the most ridiculous
person in the world. But I soon came to find out that she was genuinely this
nice, this interested in other people. There was nothing fake about her
enthusiasm. She was a good person to have on your side.

“Jenner wasn’t there, no” I told
her. “It was only the first audition. I wouldn’t imagine he’d be around until
the callback, if then. For all I know he won’t even have much to do with this
show; he might just be producing in name only.”

“Well, I bet you get the part. And
I’m sure he’ll be around for at least the performances. He’ll probably be,
like, so impressed with you.”

“Thanks, Kiki,” I said, smiling in
spite of myself. “So, what’s this awesome news about the event?”

“I actually have two awesome pieces
of news,” she said, bouncing on the couch a little. “But I can only tell you
one part right now. The rest will have to wait.”

“Um...okay?” I said, wishing I
could just go lay down in my quiet room. My headache was coming back with a
vengeance.

“Jen,” Kiki called. “Hurry up and
get out here! I want to tell Annie the news!”

“I’m here,” Jen said, appearing in
the hallway. “Hey, Ann,” she said, shooting me an understanding smile. “How are
you feeling?”

“Pretty rough,” I admitted.

“What’s wrong?” Kiki asked.

“Was just out late last night,” I
explained. “A little hung over.”

“Oh, you poor thing! And here I was
talking your ear off when you probably only wanted some peace and quiet. I’m,
like, so sorry. But I promise, this news will cheer you up!”

“Okay, Kiki,” I told her. “Shoot.”

“So, I told Daddy about this event
Jen and I are helping you with. And he was totally curious about your
organization. He hasn’t done too much work out in that neighborhood, you know?”

I nodded, trying to keep up. Kiki’s
dad, David Barker, was one of the most well-known and prestigious developers in
the city. He had made a ridiculous amount of money revitalizing run-down
buildings and neighborhoods in Detroit. He was now the owner of numerous
restaurants, clubs and hotels in the city, but to my knowledge his business
hadn’t ventured much into the area where my theater was located.

“So, anyhow,” she said. “I had Jen
talk to him and tell him about what you guys do, and he was totally into it. He
wants to give the theater some money! Like, not a crazy amount, but he wants to
be a patron. And as he gets to know you guys more, who knows how far the
relationship will go, you know? My dad is all about building relationships.”

I stared at her blankly. What was
she saying?

“He’s going to become a donor,
Annie,” Jen explained, smiling broadly at me. “He wants to come out to the
benefit next month and get set up as a patron.”

“Oh my God,” I said, looking
between the two of them. “Are you serious?”

Kiki just beamed at me. “See? I
told you it would cheer you up!”

“This is…wow, this is just
incredible!” I tried to wrap my mind around what Kiki was saying. Springwells
was a pretty small theater, even amongst non-profits. We were constantly
struggling to come up with funding. If we actually got a patron, especially
someone at the level of David Barker…it could totally change everything.

“He wants to meet with you next
week,” she said, still smiling. “Nothing formal, just a lunch.”

“Wow,” I said. “Kiki this is…well,
thanks. This is amazing.”

“I did nothing,” she said, holding
up her hands. “This isn’t a favor. I just mentioned the event. He was genuinely
impressed with what you guys do for the community.”

“Wow,” I said again, shaking my
head.

“So, what’s the other news?” Jen
asked hopefully, but Kiki just laughed.

“Nope, I told you you’d have to
wait.” Kiki said.

“You don’t know, either?” I asked.

Jen shook her head. “Kiki said
we’re waiting for everyone else.”

“Everyone else?” I asked. “Like,
who?”

Just then the front door banged
open, revealing Ginny, Josh, and Danny.

“Yay!” Kiki squealed. “I’m so glad
you guys are here!”

“Hi,” Ginny said, plopping Danny’s
diaper bag on the floor. “So what’s this big news?”

“We’re just waiting for Matty and
Eric now,” Kiki said happily.

“How are you doing today, Ann?”
Josh asked, smirking at me. “You were pretty far gone last night.”

I rolled my eyes at him. “I feel
great,” I said. “Just peachy, thanks.”

“She should,” Jen replied, walking
over to grab Danny from Josh’s arms. “Kiki just told her Mr. Barker wants to
donate to the theater.”

“Wow!” Ginny said, coming over to
sit down. “That’s amazing! Marilyn is gonna totally be thrilled with you!”

“Hmm, I hadn’t thought about that,”
I said. “But she probably will.” It was a comforting thought; my boss was a
really cool lady, totally dedicated to the theater and our kids. I wished she
would see through more of Grayson’s kissing up, but I really liked the idea of
impressing her myself. Maybe this would give me a shot at getting more of the
creative assignments.

There was a loud knock on the door.
“Come in!” I hollered. The door opened to reveal Matt and his
brother—Kiki’s husband, Eric. I rolled my eyes. “Matt, you spend the
night here four nights out of week. You don’t have to knock on the door.”

“I’m trying to be respectful,” he
said. “For all I know the two of you regularly hang out in your nighties having
pillow fights when I’m not around.”

Jen snorted. “Like that ever
happens.”

“Jennifer,” he replied, putting his
hand over his heart. “Please do not kill my dream.”

“Pig,” she muttered, but walked
over to kiss him hello all the same.

“Okay, Kiki,” Matt said, his arm
around Jen. “You told me this was an emergency. What’s going on?”

“Well, I have really, really
awesome news!” she said. “Daddy is working on this deal with a developer to add
a hotel to the new casino.”

I wrinkled my nose a little bit. I
was not really a fan of the Detroit casinos. They depressed the hell out of me,
to be honest. Any time I had been inside of one I was overwhelmed by the number
of poor people sitting there throwing their money away in the hopes of changing
their situation. Detroit had enough problems without adding institutionalized
gambling.

“So anyhow, the guy wants Daddy to
do a little market research, find out the kind of thing people our age would be
looking for in a high class casino hotel. So Daddy asked me if I wanted to get
a group of my friends together and go do some research.”

“What do you mean, research?” I
asked.

“I mean, the seven of us are going
to stay in a swanky hotel!” Kiki said, literally bouncing on the seat now in
her excitement.

“Where’s there a hotel like that
around here?” Matt asked. “That your dad doesn’t already own, that is?”

“There isn’t,” Kiki said, her voice
rising in volume with each word. “That’s why he wants us to go…” She paused for
dramatic effect. We all stared at her. “To Vegas!” she cried.

There was silence in the room for a
minute, then Jen let out a little yelp. “We’re going to Vegas?”

“Yes!” Kiki cried, jumping up from
the couch. “The developer got us three rooms at an awesome hotel right on the
strip. He wants us to go for a long weekend and come back to tell him all about
it. Isn’t that amazing?”

I stared at her blankly. It did
sound amazing. It also sounded expensive.

“Kiki,” I said, feeling
uncomfortable. “This is really awesome and everything; a free room sounds
great…but I don’t think I could afford the airfare or gambling money.”

“Don’t be silly!” Kiki cried.
“Daddy has a jet, you know that. And this is totally for business so I’m
allowed to use it. And the hotel will give us comps for the casino. The whole
point is for us to have a great time so we can report back to Daddy and his
partners what we liked.”

“Holy shit,” Ginny said. “Are you
seriously offering us a totally free trip to Vegas?”

“Yes!” Kiki said, sounding relieved
that we were finally catching on. “Well, I’m not. Daddy and his partner are.”

I just stared at her for a minute.
Vegas. I had never been farther west than Chicago. And then it had only been to
visit Jen at college, staying in her cramped little dorm. Nothing at all like
what Kiki was offering.