Roxy wedges herself in between us, an arm on each of our shoulders. “Isn’t it the most romantic, perfect thing ever? My son is a catch, and Celeste is perfect. And now you two are here to share the weekend with us. We’re all so blessed, aren’t we, Ryan?”
Ryan flashes Roxy a tight smile. “Oh, we are something, that’s for sure. And now, the gang is all back together. Let’s go have a drink.”
It’s hard to miss the tension between the Gentrys, but I’m sure weddings are stressful. And bringing us all back together again, in the desert, well, that’s bound to stir up memories, good and bad.
Before we can follow Ryan down the hallway, the doorbell rings. Roxy jumps.
“What the heck?” she says as she pulls open the door. “You were not invited here.”
5
Amelia
How could I not show up? I mean, come on. There is no Theta Gamma reunion without yours truly, and they all know it. Someone…ahem, Roxy…forgot to send the invitation to me, I’m sure of it. Besides, with all the mourning, or pretend mourning, I’ve been doing over my recently deceased husband, maybe I missed it. So many condolence cards were clogging our Georgetown mailbox it was obscene.
Yes, he was a long-serving senator with huge power. And because I was Senator Dell’s wife, I had a lot of power on the Hill myself. I know as much as anyone, you’re only as powerful as your elected spouse up there in DC. So, my time is coming to an end there. It’s time to reintroduce myself to Orange County, California. With all of the money my husband has left me, I’ll return in a surge of financial freedom and live the life I was meant to live.
I’ve always had money, I remind myself as I stand outside this lovely mid-century compound. My family was on theMayflower. If you say the last name Alden, most people in the Northeast will recognize it. My ancestor was John Alden, a prominent figure in the Plymouth Colony. And up to my daddy, the Aldens prospered and thrived.
My grandmother’s pearls around my neck are starting to feel moist. Ugh, I’m sweating, it seems. I run my hand behind my neck and lift my red hair. I can’t stand here any longer; I need to ring the bell. I came here on a lark, and really, I have nothing to lose. I don’t need any of these people. I have more money now than I can ever spend.
No, I don’tneedthem for anything. But this is going to be fun. Ever since I saw Celeste announce a special Theta Gamma reunion out in the desert, I knew I’d be here, one way or another. Celeste is such a lovely ray of sunshine. She reminds me a lot of Sunny. Always smiling, always upbeat. At least that’s what Celeste looks like on her social media. We’ll see if she’s the same in person.
I grab the big iron door knocker and let it drop before pushing the doorbell. I’m entering with a bang, some might say. I can’t wait to see Roxy’s face when she sees me. She won’t have an expression, of course, because she’s had too much work done. Mine is subtle, East Coast light touches. Roxy is over the top, and I love sticking it to her, always have.
6
Beth
I turn to look out the front door past Roxy and spot Amelia Dell, looking as glamorous as she was in college, and, I’m sure, as rich with her family’s generational money and her newly deceased husband’s estate. She was a legend back in the day, with the highest weekly allowance of any of the sorority sisters. And with her red hair, still long and styled in waves, her classic designer wardrobe, porcelain skin, and her willowy height, she demands attention wherever she goes. Now that she’s a widow, with all her husband’s money to spend since his untimely death from a heart attack, she has more power than ever.
“Hey, Amelia,” I say with my rush smile. “I’m so sorry about your husband. But it is good to see you.”
She laughs and gives me air-kisses near both cheeks. “Well, yes, it was a shock when he died like that, but he had become rather bothersome, to be honest. So, well, that settled itself. I guess you’vebeen there, Beth, with that husband of yours dying so young. Maybe that was a blessing after all. It’s good to see you. Ryan, you’re looking as handsome as ever, you devil. You don’t age. What’s your secret?”
Ryan flushes with the overt flirting. “Good to see you, too, Amelia.”
“Look at the all-important doctor. Come over here for a hug,” Amelia says. Jamie grins and they share a hug.
“You remember my husband, Greer,” Jamie says as Amelia and Greer shake hands. It’s clear Amelia doesn’t remember Greer, not at all.
Roxy’s hands are on her pointy hips. “Amelia,youwere not invited here.”
Oh my God. Amelia is crashing the party. Unbelievable. I cover my mouth with my hand so no one can see my smile.
“Oh, Roxy, don’t be silly. I’m sure my invitation got lost in the mail,” Amelia says, wrapping Roxy in a hug. “That’s better, sister of mine. Theta Gamma for life.”
Roxy’s speechless for a moment as she steps away from Amelia.
“I’m assuming a plus-one is OK with you too,” Amelia says, pointing behind her. He’s coming along right behind me. “Since my invite was lost, I presumed it was OK.”
Roxy shakes her head. “You really are something.”
And then I see him, a guy farther down the path, struggling to manage her three large pieces of Louis Vuitton luggage. I look at my beat-up carry-on suitcase against the wall in the foyer and shake my head. I’m so out of my league.
As he comes closer, I realize her luggage valet and date looks vaguely familiar. Or maybe my déjà vu about the house is coloring everything I’m seeing now.
“Well, here he is. You two remember Brett Logan?” Amelia says after air-kissing her now sweating date. “We ran into each other at a bar not long after my husband died, and he’s been such a comfort to me. Life has been a whirlwind, as you all can imagine. I have the kids to worry about. Their grief over their dad, and my own, of course. It’s all so complicated. But as I always tell the kids, nothing that comes easily is worth having.”
