“Zach, your mom has done her best, and I for one appreciatethis, or I will try to on behalf of our guests,” Ryan says, his words directed at his son, hopefully trying to calm down his obvious disdain for his mother, our hostess.
“Well, I’m starving, so I’m looking forward to this meal,” Amelia says. “I hope it’s over the top again.”
“Of course it will be. What else would you expect?” says Roxy with a smile.
“Best my money can buy, right, dear?” Ryan says.
I look at him and he shrugs. It’s true, I suppose. It was his family’s money that trickled down to him, and to his family. I wonder if he often reminds Roxy of that fact, even after all their years together.
“I’m glad the power is staying on, and that the storm is hopefully on its way out,” Greer says. “Then we can properly deal with the uh, body, in the living room.”
Jamie stares at her husband. “Can we not bring him up anymore?”
“Of course, dear, so sorry, but it wasn’t your fault,” he says. “You did your best to save him.”
“We all saw that. You were a hero, Jamie,” I say as the wait staff walk into the room with our first course.
“Kale Caesar salad with fresh edible flowers and aged parmesan,” Roxy says as the plates are set in front of us. “Bon appétit!”
The salad is beautiful, an explosion of color that matches the flowers in the centerpieces. I smile at Celeste as I take a bite. Tastes as good as it looks. I notice Celeste isn’t eating hersalad. Poor girl. She never could eat if there was tension in the air, and there is tension everywhere in this room, in every nook and cranny.
“Enjoying your salad, Beth?” Ryan asks. His face has softened, and he looks like the Ryan I knew way back when.
“I am. It’s great,” I say.
“You know what’s great is having you back in my life again. I hadn’t realized until you arrived how much I’ve missed you,” he says.
Across the table, Amelia is listening intently. “You two were always close in college, weren’t you? Sunny’s favorite people.”
“Yes, we were,” I say. “And it’s because we both loved Sunny.”
Ryan nods as he chews his salad.
“You know, I always wondered if there was more,” Amelia says, slurring. “Like a little threesome or something?”
“Amelia! Stop it! Of course not,” I say, glaring at her. “My daughter is sitting right there.”
“Oh, I know Beth. I’m just fooling around,” she says.
“Truth is, sure, I found Beth very attractive and kind,” Ryan says. “She still is.”
I feel my cheeks flush with the attention and the compliment from Ryan. When theItguy in college says he thought you were attractive, well, that’s something. But none of that matters now.
“Thank you,” I say, and I know my dimple is showing despite myself.
“You’re welcome,” Ryan says. “Your kindness reminds me of Sunny. That’s why you two were best friends.”
“How sweet,” Amelia says.
“What’s sweet?” Roxy asks from the other end of the table.
Amelia looks at Ryan and then me, and says, “Nothing. Great salad. A little on the sweet side, but still good. And with a lasting flavor. It almost reignited something for those of us seated down here.”
Oh, for God’s sake, Amelia.
“A love of kale,” I say. “I always forget how much I love kale. Always have.”
The lights flicker and dim. Someone gasps, and I think it’s Jamie. She’s completely on edge tonight. Thankfully, the lights hold.
