She’d be a success, despite the odds, or the fact she had no idea what to do next.
And one day, Mom would flip open theTimesand see her oldest daughter winning a case or attending a swanky fundraiser, and call to say how proud she was, ask if they could have coffee or meet for lunch.
Pepper would smile and say, “Let me check my schedule. Oh. Darn. Looks like I have better things to do than get my ass kissed by a social-climbing adulterous hagfish. Hope you rot in your McMansion. Thank you and good day, sir.”
Or, yanno, some variation on that.
A freshening breeze blew through the window. She peeked through her fingers, palms pressed on her flushed cheeks. Between the crack in the curtains was a direct line of sight into Rhett’s kitchen. Hers was a typical shoebox rental kitchen. Plain. White. Boring. His was spacious, full of inviting natural light and exposed beams. Reclaimed wood cupboards contrasted with stainless steel appliances. Simple. Masculine. No sign of a woman’s touch. In fact, the only thing on the countertop besides a block of knives was a bowl filled with green apples. Her favorite. Tart but subtly sweet.
Her stomach rumbled. According to Google, the best pizza in town was at a place called Smuggler’s Cove. She didn’t have access to a Magic 8 Ball, but a twelve-inch pie might go a long way toward improving her current not-so-good outlook.
It was either that or sit scrolling through Facebook posts of people’s adult coloring book pages and perfectly organized day planners or click around snapshots of Hawaiian honeymoons and drooling babies, until she became nothing but a numb brain in a jar, beyond feeling or emotion.
Pizza was better for mental health.
The rain clouds had moved on, and it took five minutes to walk to the restaurant. Small wins. But hey, she’d take what she could get. Smuggler’s Cove was a red-brick hole in the wall. The placards on either side of the entrance readTWO BEERS FOR THE PRICE OF TWO BEERSandOUR DRINKS ARE COLDER THAN YOUR EX-GIRLFRIEND’S HEART. She opened the door and stepped inside. The cavernous space was crowded; a rousing sea shanty played over the tinny speakers. The décor wasGilligan’s Islandkitsch meetsPirates of the Caribbean.
As she approached theWAIT HERE TO WALK THE PLANKsign, the song ended. Someone dropped a fork. All conversation ceased. Her pulse accelerated. Pepper had never been the kind of pretty girl who made a room fall silent. If this was how it felt, then thank goodness for small favors, because it wasn’t nice to be visually picked over like a chicken bone.
“Contacts bothering you?”
“Excuse me?” Pepper startled. A vaguely familiar black woman stood a few feet away studying her with large brown eyes.
“You’re blinking a lot,” the woman said in a sympathetic tone. “That always happens to me when mine get dry.”
“Yes. Right. Darn these lenses,” Pepper lied quickly. Her vision was 20/20. “I need some of that, um, solution.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t get a chance to introduce myself this morning. Would you like to join me and my children?” The woman smiled a friendly, conspiratorial smile as she extended a manicured hand. “I’m Elizabeth.”
“Oh, yes. I remember.” The woman from the fabulous house near the park, living the dream as Pepper watched, nose pressed to the glass. “I’m Pepper. But it’s okay. I’m here to place a to-go order. I don’t want to be an imposition.”
“Nonsense. Follow me.” Elizabeth didn’t wait for additional protest, simply turned and sashayed through the maze of tables. Pepper trailed, a frumpy dwarf behind Snow White.
At the booth, Elizabeth gestured for her to sit on the red vinyl bench. “I hear you’ve come from New York City, and I’m simply dying to hear all about it. I haven’t been up there since having the kids. I believe you’ve already met my Kate and Will?”
“Like…theKate and Will.” Pepper gave the twins an awkward wave. “The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Kate and Will?”
“Such a magical couple.” Elizabeth heaved a happy sigh. “I’m the biggest royal fan. I crushed hard on that man when a teenager, but now I’m more obsessed with her. Talk about being my style icon! What I wouldn’t give to spend an afternoon raiding her closet.”
Pepper laughed in spite of herself. “She does have pretty amazing hair.”
“And her purses.” Elizabeth held up a black tote with brown leather straps. “I bought this Longchamp Le Pliage after I saw her wearing it in a magazine while getting a blowout.” Elizabeth wrinkled her nose. “It’s silly. You think I’m silly, don’t you? Go on. Admit it. Everyone does.”
“You’re adorable.” Pepper grinned. And it was the truth. There was something unrepentantly high-maintenance about Elizabeth. But she wasn’t competitive, just a woman who liked to indulge in the finer things and wasn’t embarrassed about it.
Will and Kate were elbows deep in their bowls, the sundaes as large as their heads. “Looks like the photo shoot was a success?” When Pepper spoke to kids, her voice went up an octave and took on the beginnings of a Mary Poppins–like accent. It was weird. Especially as she’d never even set foot in England.
“They told you about my bribery attempt?” Elizabeth asked with an unself-conscious laugh, oblivious to the fact she was dealing with a child-fearing weirdo. “Bad mommy here. No shame. I beg and barter with the twins all day. Negotiating international ballistic missile treaties must be easier than convincing my Katydid to smile for a camera.”
“Mama said she was going to put you out of your misery when she called you over,” Will piped through a mouthful of whipped cream.
“William John! That big mouth is going to get you in a world of trouble one of these days.” Elizabeth shot her son a pointed look. “It made my heart hurt to see you standing there with everyone all curious. No one meant any harm, but the limelight can be a lonely place.”
“Thank you,” Pepper said sincerely. “I’m not used to attention.”
“Well, you’re doingmethe favor sitting with us. I needed adult conversation. If I hear any more about bad dreams I’m going to scream.”
“Bad dreams?” Pepper knew one or two things about those.
