CALM DESPITE THE CHAOS
“Stayhere,”Cameronsays,and slips out his office doors to head down the hall.
I do as I am told for a total of ten seconds, until the sound of shouting joins the chorus of shrill beeps, and I can’t help but go after him. The smoke hangs in the air like a haze, and the acrid smell of burnt sugar grows stronger with every step that I take.
I turn the corner into the kitchen and find myself right in the middle of Delaney and Judith’s argument that has escalated to a screaming match to overcome the high-pitched alarm.
“Not only was this rude and unjustified, but it was incredibly dangerous—”
“I told you that the cookies were done—”
“And I assumed that meant you had taken them out of the oven! Never in a million years did I think—”
“I’m aguesthere, Delaney. Not your personal assistant. And I—”
“I asked you to watch the cookies for one second while I opened the door—”
“While you catered to the more affluent women—”
“That’s not what happened! Not even close—”
They continue to go back and forth while Cameron removes the charcoaled cookies from the oven and drops the smoking pan on the stovetop. He waves the towel in front of the smoke detector to try and get it to turn off, and I run to open the glass accordion doors to help his efforts. Val and Leah appear in the kitchen a moment later.
“What is going on?” Leah yells, covering her ears. Val takes in the scene with wide eyes and immediately does a U-turn, leaving the room as quickly as possible.
Delaney and Judith shout over each other to retell their version of events, but both pause when the alarm finally stops.
Leah takes her chance to add her two cents. “Judith, that was completely uncalled for. Delaney asking you to watch the cookies for a second does not mean that she thinks less of you.”
“Exactly! Thank you, Leah,” Delaney agrees, her hands accentuating the point. “I’ve hosted hundreds of retreats, and I’ve never—”
“Dealt with a woman who paid her own way? I can tell. Drew and I are the only working women here, and you singled us out from the get-go by making us work in the kitchen.”
I pale as everyone’s attention turns to me. I would hardly consider Delaney telling me where the dishwasher was when I was already putting my plate into the sink aswork. And I didn’t use my own hard-earned money to come here either because Scott, Gabe, and Monika footed the bill. Saying either of those things would only add fuel to Judith’s irrational fire, though, so I keep my mouth firmly shut.
“Wait a minute,” Leah jumps back in, pushing her long curls behind her shoulders. “We are all hardworking women here. I am a teacher, and Val is an entrepreneur—”
Judith rolls her eyes so hard that her head moves along with the motion. “I’d hardly consider Val’s job hard work, and judging by the size of that diamond on your finger, you’ll quit teaching the second your millionaire husband’s first batch of kids turn eighteen, and he finally lets you pop out a few of your own.”
“How dare you—” Leah shouts, but Cameron steps forward and puts his arms out like a referee at a boxing match.
“Okay, that’s enough. I’m sorry, Delaney. I know you asked me to stay in my lane, but this has officially gone too far.”
“I’ve got this. Back off,” Delaney warns Cameron through gritted teeth.
He remains calm despite the chaos and addresses Delaney directly. “I’d like to walk Judith to my office so that everyone can have some space, and so that we can adjust her travel plans for her to leave first thing in the morning, unless you have an objection to that?”
Judith interjects before Delaney can answer. “I’m local, so there isn’t any travel to adjust, but I’ll happily go with you so that we can discuss a full refund.”
“Of course,” Cameron says, calmly.
Delaney’s eyes continue to burn red with rage, but it’s hard to tell if she is madder at Judith’s antics or Cameron’s interference. It makes me feel strangely protective of him, so I take a few steps forward to insert myself into the conversation.
“How about we let Cameron handle Judith so that we can get on with our night? I am still looking forward to the wine tasting, but I need to run upstairs to get ready.”
“Me too,” Leah says, following my lead. “I only have mascara on one eye because I came running when I heard the fire alarm.”
Delaney looks back and forth between Leah and me. I hold my breath as I prepare for her to start yelling at one of us next, or to storm out of the room.
