“Oh my goodness!”
“I know! I decided being a hairdresser was far too risky for me, so I started working at clubs, behind the bar serving drinks. About the only thing that could go wrong then was pouring the wrong drink and even then, if that happened, it wasn’t the end of the world. One of us would drink it to hide the evidence.” She smiles fondly at the memory.
“Sounds fun.”
“Yes, it was. That was where I met Carter. He gave me an abnormally large tip and had written his number on the bill. I told him he was obnoxious to think the money would win me over for a date, and he spent the next two weeks sitting at the end of the bar, scaring off any man who showed a little too much interest in me, and trying to convince me that I should let him take me out on a date.”
“Aw, that’s sweet, and so romantic.”
“Of course, I would have dated him anyway if he had just asked me properly in the first instance. I think he had me the minute his eyes locked with mine.” She drifts off dreamily before her eyes flash with sorrow and a subtle glaze appears over them. “Anyway, you don’t want to hear about me.” She bounces back quickly, smoothing her hands over her lap.
“Oh no, I’m happy to listen. I suppose I always liked the thought of happily ever after, I just never knew it came true.” The sound of sorrow in my voice surprises me. I thought I was making progress, moving forward but it serves to remind me that the doubt and negativity still shadows my mind.
“Oh darling, you’re young. There’s a whole life ahead of you that you never knew existed. I bet you never dared dream that far, huh?”
“No,” I say quietly.
“Well, then we need to rectify that. I don’t know what’s happening between you and my son, or if it will go anywhere special for you both. But, either way, you, my darling, need to start living. Only you can push forward and make your future happen. Yes, there will be people along the way that help and add to the journey but ultimately, it’s you that decides who’s in it for the ride with you. You need to decide who you want by your side, and who you want to leave behind in a cloud of dust.”
She’s right. I know she’s right about everything she just said. I know it’s easier said than done but I’m trying, and I couldn’t be luckier than I am right now to be surrounded by the people I know I can count on.
“You know, when Denham was young he wanted to be a fireman. He wanted to save everyone and everything. He was the child that brought home the stray dog in the street because he thought it looked hungry. Turns out, it only lived three doors away and belonged to the new neighbors. But he couldn’t stand the thought of it being hungry or hurt, even if it was neither of those things.”
“He has a kind heart.”
“Yes, he does. A kind heart is one that’s vulnerable to being broken too. Life soon taught him to toughen up. Women thought he was an easy catch, and because we were reasonably well off it made him a target for gold diggers and shallow harlots.” I don’t know if it’s my imagination but I catch her glance at me after she says this then pauses to take in my reaction. It rubs me the wrong way, but the more I mull it over in my head the more I understand she’s just protecting her boy, and even though I know it’s an unnecessary warning, she doesn’t know me very well yet.
“I’m sorry, Arianna. That was insensitive. I wasn’t implying you…I mean…Oh, damn.”
“Really, Dana. It’s fine. He’s your son and I understand you being protective over him.”
“I’m the only parent he has. He’s been the head of the family since Carter…” She swallows hard before continuing, “Since he died. Denham’s been so strong, so…detached, even. There’s more to it, and he won’t let me in. He took position as the head of the family and dealt with everything matter-of-factly, making sure we are all doing just fine, but never letting anyone check that he’s doing okay. I worry about him, you know? Bottling everything up and not having someone to talk to. I thought maybe he started to soften when he first met Amy, but then the cheap little whore let her real persona shine through, and I thought she’d honestly turned Denham off relationships for life. She hurt him, Arianna. She’s cold and calculating and the more time she spent with my boy, the more she drained his ability to care for anyone outside of the family. And then this last week…I don’t know, he seems different. When I call, he doesn’t answer me in short sharp tones. Actually, he hasn’t stopped talking, and it’s mostly about you.” She smiles genuinely now, her eyes sparkling.
“I don’t know why,” I blurt out, “I’ve been nothing but trouble since I walked into him on the very first day.”
“Maybe you just made him realize what he’s been missing out on, he’s opened his eyes for long enough to start to see the good in people again.”
“Maybe.”
“Look, Arianna. I may not believe in a god but there are two things I believe in…” She leans forward with her elbows on the bistro table. “Karma and fate. Everything happens for a reason. It might not be clear right now why, but further down the line, it will all fall into place. Keep that in mind and you won’t go wrong.” She smiles and stands, straightening out her pants.“Now what do you say we get some more coffee, and finish off these truffles?”
It’s just then that I notice I’ve completely relaxed. Of course I want to see my best friend but I don’t need her here to hold my hand. She was right; Dana is a sweetheart. I am enjoying her company and it’s refreshing to spend time with real people. I guess because I was playing a persona in LA that I didn’t really look past the facades that all of our acquaintances had painted on. Now that I think about it, they were all living lies and deceit of some kind. Dana, Denham and as far as I have seen, Tara and Spike too, are honest and upfront. I’m pretty sure I’ll never be unsure of where I stand with them, which makes it easier for me to be myself.
I send a quick text to Lottie.
Don’t hurry … You were right xx
Then I slip my cell back into my pocket and head inside.
Chapter 5
Arianna
Lottie joins us after finishing work, and we sit on the balcony on the shaded side of the hotel. The Las Vegas sunshine is too hot to sit in directly, but it’s great to be outside in the fresh air. If you had asked me a week ago what I thought I would be doing right now, I certainly wouldn’t have painted this picture. It feels like I have known Dana for years, she’s easy company and very sweet. She rolls her eyes at Lottie’s antics, but it’s all done in an affectionate motherly kind of way which is just what Lottie needs as her own parents are so dysfunctional.
Lottie is a little quieter than usual, I notice. She’s not so quick to fire comebacks where I would expect her to, and she seems somewhat subdued. It might be because she homed in on the truffles as soon as she arrived and hasn’t had more than a minute without her mouth being full of the chocolateydeliciousness. And damn if I wasn’t a little outraged that she let herself in and finished them off.
And, in true Lottie fashion, she insisted we opened a bottle of Prosecco, just because we can.
