Text from Mom: Nora, I know you’re swamped, but I wanted to remind you that tomorrow morning is the annual rise and shine pancake breakfast at the church. Seven a.m. start, as usual. Dad and I would love to see you there, as would the whole community. It’s been a while, and you need to eat, so…
Me: Hi, Mom. I’ll try. I’m not sure if Kat mentioned the meet and greet event tonight, and I suspect I’ll be here quite late.
Mom: I understand. No pressure, dear. But how you spend your days is how you spend your life.
* * *
TO-DO LIST (Home Version)
Laundry!! Seriously – you are almost out of undies
Dishes
Clean out fridge (especially rice with suspicious looking green bits)
Water plants that are still alive
Buy vinegar and spray bottle to remove fungus from fern
Remove dead plants and clean out pots
10
Bad Fashion Choices and Even Worse Men
Theo
“What’s eating you now?”Markos asks me before taking a sip of his Pina Colada.
The mixer is just getting started. We are standing off to one side, watching everyone arrive. Nora’s assurances that she’d have everything pulled together in time have been backed up by her actions. Round tables with white tablecloths have been placed around the pool deck. Bright turquoise chairs are set up around them, and candles in hurricane glasses mark the centre of each table. A steel drum band creates a festive mood. Servers stroll around with trays of fruity drinks, and near the beach bar, a long table with hors d’oeuvres tempts the guests. It’s all delightful, and I’m pretty sure I’m the only grump at the party.
“Nothing,” I lie, my gaze falling on Ms. Nora Cooper for the tenth time in the last minute. She’s standing at the reception table, greeting the newcomers. I should stop looking at her, because each glance is a punch to thecojones. She’s dressed in a black silk shirtdress that skims her curves. As nice as the view is, it comes with a side order of guilt, having insulted her into spending a lot of money (that she may not have).
“You’re upset because you bullied that poor woman into buying a new wardrobe.”
“Maybe,” I tell him, jamming my hands into the front pockets of my suit pants. In hindsight, a navy suit may have been the wrong choice. It’s a pool party, and the sun is still blisteringly hot, even though it’s close to setting for the night. “You’re charming. How would you fix this?”
“I have no idea. I’ve never screwed up so badly with a woman before.”
“That’s helpful, thanks,” I say, giving him a glare. I let out a sigh, then add, “Maybe I should offer to pay for the clothes.”
“Nope, terrible idea,” Markos says.
“Why?”
“It’ll make her feel poor.”
“What’ll make who feel poor?” Carolina asks, sidling up next to me with a flute of champagne in one hand.
Markos leans across me. “Theo insulted that lovely Nora Cooper person the other day. Said she was dowdy and her clothes didn’t fit. Now he can’t stop thinking about it and feeling bad.”
Carolina blinks, her eyes growing wide. “You told her that?”
“No,” I answer quickly. “I told Markos that, and she happened to overhear. Then she went out and bought what looks like a whole new wardrobe.”
“What’s the problem then?” Carolina asks, looking confused. “You did her a favour, if you ask me. For you to notice, she must have no fashion sense at all. So if you helped her see she needed to upgrade her look, that was a kindness.”
“What if she can’t afford a new wardrobe?” I ask.
