Mom wags a finger. “I’m telling you, I should never have stayed true to my grandmother’s century old eggnog recipe last year. It called for just a splash of rum, but I’m pretty sure I dumped in half the bottle. I swear I have no recollection of any of these things you’ve accused me of. It must have been the alcohol talking. Let me make this up to you. I’m having a dinner party tonight. I’d like to invite you all.” She extends her hands to the three of them. “Bring dates, bring friends. I think this will be a great way to start things off in the right direction.”
Roxy stands and lunges at Mom with a hug. The love fest begins, so I back the hell down the hall and out the building before they can spot me. It looks like I may not have to cut my mother out of my life after all.
My phone buzzes with a text. It’s Laney. It’s so nice to see her name light up my screen after one long year. Water finally comes to the desert.
Where are you?
Just getting ready to step back into my office.No lie, just stepped into the elevator.
I have a couple hours before the show. You mind if I stop by?
Come as quick as you can.
And with any luck she’ll do just that.
5
With Bells On
Laney
The Capwell Industries building stands erect as a cosmopolitan symbol among the far more meager structures in the downtown district. The long, mirrored architecture curves at the top, giving it a phallic appeal as it spears into the sky. I soak it all in before stepping across the street to visit Ryder for the afternoon. It’s as if with every step I take the relationship we’re renewing becomes that much more official. It’s strange to practically have Rue’s blessing. I’m not sure I’m buying that “alcohol talking” excuse, but if that’s the copout she’s willing to use, I’m fine with it so long as it doesn’t happen again.
“Wait for me!” Baya latches onto my arm. We’re still wearing our matching Santa hats with bells attached to the giant fur ball, so we’ve quite literally jingled all the way here. Baya turns to Roxy. “Why don’t you head back to campus? I’ll catch a ride with Bryson.”
“Will do.” Roxy tugs at my sweater, splicing my attention for a moment. “So, what do you think? It sounds like she was genuine.”
Rue’s face flashes before my eyes. Somehow Rue and genuine don’t seem to go hand in hand.
“Yeah—oh yeah.” I think genuine is stretching it a little too far, but I’m not going there. “For sure she extended the olive branch, and I really appreciate it.”
“So you’ll be there tonight?” Roxy dips her knees when she says it as if she’s pleading.
“Of course, I’m going to be there tonight—right after the show. It’s the final performance before Christmas, and I’ll even ditch the after-party just to make the effort. I really want things to go smoothly with your brother and me. I think this is a great start. And, I want your mom to like me.” I blink back unexpected tears. “To be honest, up until today that wasn’t all that important to me, but I really feel like you and Ryder are my family, and I’d like for your mother and me to feel the same one day, too.”
“You will.” She collapses her arms around me. “See you guys tonight!” She skips off to the parking lot, content in her delusions. Maybe I’m the one lost in my delusions? And negative ones at that. Ishouldtry harder, and if Rue is willing to meet me halfway, I’d better make the effort, too. But I can’t shake this feeling she was just putting on an act because Roxy was there.
“What do you think?” I ask Baya as we cross the street.
“I don’t know.” She shakes out her long, dark tresses. “I think she said all the right words—smiled when it was required of her. She even threw in a joke at the expense of Whitney Briggs’s rival.” She shrugs as we walk into the polished building.
A two-story waterfall sits in the center of the foyer, and it takes my breath away for a moment. I forgot how beautiful this place is—how beautiful a lot of things are.
Baya scoots in close. “I say show up tonight and hope for the best.” We step into the elevator and it entombs us with its quiet hush. “But just between you, me, and these four walls, I’d watch my back, Laney. Isn’t she Aubree’s blood relation? I doubt the apple falls far from the tree.”
“Funny, she used that exact same analogy about me and my mother last year.” I leave out the detail of my mother marrying for money when I was younger. About how her husband went into a coma and she was out spending his hard-earned cash when they finally pulled the plug. Word got around the hospital that she turned down the staff’s offer to be there during those final moments when he left this planet. She opted to try on shoes and told the hospital to call her when he was done—like he was a fucking turkey. I still get pretty steamed over the fact my mother was a bona fide gold digger but having my dad walk out on her put her in a tailspin. Anyway—Baya and I step out into the advertising department, and I drop her off at Bryson’s cubicle while I make my way over to Ryder’s office.
The entire area has a black and white motif with mirrors strategically placed to make the space look even more expansive. My heart hammers in my chest as I take it all in. A cold sweat breaks out over me all at once. It’s ridiculous for me to feel this way. I used to work right here in this building, on this floor. These are my old stomping grounds.
I glance over at the black lacquered desk I used to call my own. I was Ryder’s personal secretary once upon a time. But after things ended badly I never came back. Lucky for me, Bryson let me work at the Black Bear, and the rest is waitressing history. I wonder if I’d want my old job back if Ryder made the offer? I remember each and every one of those stolen moments we shared in his office. God knows I’ve played them on a loop while snuggling up with my, “mini Ryder” after the split.
I give a gentle knock to his office door.
Hopefully we’ll create a brand new memory this afternoon, and lucky for me because the real deal doesn’t require a single AA battery.
“Come in.” The baritone of his voice vibrates through the wood.
I step inside and close the door behind me, quiet as a whisper.
