It took some time with all the brushes and different stages. It took a little bit longer to cover up the zits and red spots than I would have liked. Perfection took time and I wasn’t about to rush it.
Once I was satisfied, I sprayed on a sealer to keep the make-up from sweating off, then pealed off the towel to get dressed.
I slipped into a designer mini dress with a plunging back. The heat was intolerable so the less fabric I had to put on my body, the better. I took some time to pull my hair up into a sensible ponytail, plugged in pearl stud earrings then squirted some perfume to my neck. I skipped a necklace because it wouldn’t go right with the dress then paused to see if I was missing something.
Deodorant was the last thing to go on and soon, I was ready. I took some time to put on a pair of bright, red pumps. As I looked at myself in the mirror, I couldn’t help feeling absolutely beautiful. “Well, pup…” I looked on the bed, but she wasn’t there. I found Lilah snoozing on the floor beside the new bed I’d bought her. I didn’t understand that dog. She had a bed, but the floor seemed to be more comfortable.
When I descended the stairs, it was a while later and I was beginning to feel as if I should take a nap. Still, shopping called. It stunned me to find my mom sitting in the living room with two uniformed police officers. I couldn’t remember a time when there were cops in the house. Soldiers, mostly men and women of power, but never any police officers. This was certainly new.
I arched a brow. “What’s going on?” I asked. “Why are the police here?”
Mom sniffled and wiped her nose with a crumbled handkerchief. “Um—it’s your father. He’s missing. He didn’t make it to his meeting with the Department of Defence.”
“Seriously?” I asked. “You don’t seriously believe that, do you?”
“Ellie.” My mom warned around another sniffle. “Not now.”
“What do you mean?” One of the cops asked.
I frowned. “Dad’s not missing. He was here this morning.” I stopped short at saying he was probably with one of his many whores. I didn’t stick around to hear much of anything else. I hurried out to my Porsche and tossed myself behind the wheel. As I zoomed along the long driveway, I wondered why mom was even crying over dad. The man was unfaithful and didn’t even try hiding his infidelities.
This wouldn’t be the first time he went radio silent for an extended period of time. But he’d only been gone a couple of hours. I’m not sure why mom was freaking out.
My father had the habit of going off on binges—days would pass, and we wouldn’t be able to find him. Then he’d show up smelling like cheap perfume and with his collar caked in lipstick.
I wasn’t worried. He will pop up again sooner or later, hung over and dazed. The last time he went on one of his little orgy-fests, he needed penicillin to clear up a little itch he had. I found out when he pulled something from his pocket and the prescription fell out.
Every time I thought of that whole scenario, I wanted to hurl.
Still, mom stayed with him. I wasn’t sure if it was the money or weakness. Afterall, she’d been with him for so many years, no judge would let her walk out of the marriage with nothing. Then again, the legal system was messed up—to say the least.
At the restaurant, I handed the sports car over to the valet and hurried inside. The hostess smiled at me then led me over to the table Jennifer and I always used. We hugged and I plopped down in my chair.
“What’s up with you?” Jennifer quired a carefully sculpted eyebrow.
“You’d never guess.”
Jennifer arched a brow. “Guess? Oh boy. Something to do with Lilah? I told you not to get that dog because she would be a pain in the butt.”
“That dog is hopeless.” I shook my head. “I know that now. I can’t even teach her to sit. It’s a disaster there but one I can handle. No, it’s nothing to do with Lilah. It’s my dad.”
“Well? Tell me.”
I sighed. “He’s missing.”
“Again?” She asked.
“I know, right?” I exhaled loudly. “My mom seems to think this time it warrants calling the police. So, right now she’s sitting in the living-room, flanked by two of Montana’s finest, playing the dutiful wife.”
“Maybe he really is missing this time.” Jennifer was thoughtful. “She’s never called the police before, right?”
“Doubt it.” I cleared my throat and dropped my cell into my purse. “He keeps sticking his dick into the dark places and mom is sitting at home with cops, sobbing. I mean, the fuck?”
“Money makes us do strange things, I guess.” Jennifer explained. “Think about it. What would happen if you lost all yours? You have to keep in mind, your mother hasn’t worked in years. Your father has been the primary source of income and the person who keeps her to the lifestyle she’s become accustomed. She probably couldn’t find a job out there in this atmosphere if she tried.”
I frowned. Jennifer’s words hit a little close to home. The fact I was almost thirty and never had an actual job was a little unnerving. My money couldn’t last forever—even though there was a lot of it.
Maybe Jennifer had a point—maybe I should figure out a back-up plan.
