I had said, “By fuss do you mean I’m buying us dinner?”
“Of course, I have no money, but since it’s your birthday I will let you pick the restaurant.” She added, “Just not Mexican, I am done with that place after that snotty waitress.”
So I was meeting her at my favorite Italian restaurant.
I also suspected my friends were planning a big party for the weekend.
I had said no fuss, but it would be kinda nice.
Because I was bored, and still a bit sad.
When I walked in,Jen was already there, my drink was ordered, and she had a wrapped box in front of her.
I sat down and clapped. “For me?”
She shoved it to me. “No, it’s for the waiter, of course it’s for you, open it!”
I tore open the package to find a brimmed cap, in a blue and green tartan that said Horse Mom on the front, and a pair of leather riding gloves that were butter soft.
“Ah, this is perfect, thank you. I guess I’m really leaning into this whole horse lifestyle.”
Jen said, “It’s basically your whole personality now.”
I chuckled. “Is not.”
“Is too. What did you do today? Shovel horse poop or ride a horse or comb your horse?”
“All of that.” I pulled on the cap and slid my hands into the gloves. “How do I look?”
She grinned and it was her turn to clap. “Perfect.”
I took the cap and gloves off when the food was served, telling Jen, “I’m royal now, I have to have good manners.”
She joked, “You’ve dripped drink on your shirt.”
We both laughed.
The food arrived, but then mid-meal, my voice trailed off as I noticed that near the door, Marcus, was on his phone.
He was scanning the room, peering out at the parking lot.
Something about his mannerisms made me think,uh oh, something’s going on.
He quickly strode to our table with his eyes on the door, and said, “Yeah, I’m beside her.”
Jen scanned the restaurant. “What’s going on?”
My heart began to pound, “What is it?”
He put his hand over the phone receiver. “Ma’am, there’s been a breach at the house. Stay put, Joel’s handling it.” But I jumped up from the table.
Jen said, “Where are you going?”
I ignored her and asked Marcus right as he hung up, “Who is it? Ask them who it is!”
“Sorry, ma’am, they hung up — they’re in the middle of it. We’ll just stay put until they give us the all-clear.”
“No way, we need to go. I want to go see who it is.”
