“I do not care to talk about it,” Laurel growled. “I’m going to bed.” As she stormed up the stairs, Windy exchanged glances with Riva. She lowered her voice, offering to tell the whole story.
“In the library,” Riva directed.
After they closed the doors behind them and sat down, Windy began. “It probably started shortly after you left. Kitty kept urging Marcus to dance with her and, to defer her, he danced with Laurel. And even with me. In the meantime, Kitty was consuming more mojitos. I suggested we call it a night, but Laurel was enjoying Marcus’s attention. Consequently, Kitty was getting more jealous. At one point we were all just sitting at the table, and Kitty started to pick on Laurel, poking at her age and appearance and whatever ... trying to get her goat. But Laurel was handling it like a lady. I was really proud of her.”
“What went wrong?”
“Marcus made a comment about you—how you were smart to leave when you did. He wanted to go home too. Of course, Kitty had to question him on that, saying how both you and Laurel were over the hill. Then she began to flirt with Marcus shamelessly. We could tell she’d over-imbibed, but she was literally throwing herself at my poor brother, telling him he’d have more fun with a younger woman. And then, she took advantage of your absence by slamming you.”
“Sounds like a good time was had by all,” Riva said sarcastically.
“Well, Marcus got fed up. He spoke up in your defense, which made Laurel madder. I think he knew it was hopeless, so he decided to leave. I followed his lead, telling Laurel if she wanted to stay, Marcus would take me home. But Laurel wanted to go with me. The three of us were in the parking lot when Kitty came running after us, saying she needed a ride. She grabbed onto Marcus.”
Riva nodded. “No surprise there.”
“Don’t be too sure. Laurel started to tell Kitty to back off. And Kitty, probably thanks to the mojitos, came unglued. I actually thought it was going to become a physical fight right there in the parking lot. Kitty’s voice was so loud, people were actually watching.” Windy frowned. “Pretty wild scene. Like a couple of adolescents in the high school parking lot. I was embarrassed forboth of them. Mostly for Laurel. She wanted to keep her cool, but Kitty kept pushing her buttons.”
“Oh my. What happened then?”
“Marcus grabbed Kitty by the arm and said he’d take her home. Of course, she liked that, but poor Laurel was fit to be tied. She ranted all the way home. I was trying to calm her down before we got inside, but then Marcus dropped Kitty off and it started up again. They were being so loud in the driveway, I had to get them inside. But honestly, Riva, I’ve never seen anything like it. Two women their age acting like juveniles.”
Riva took in a slow breath. “If I’d known having housemates would be like this, I’m not sure I’d have gotten into this.”
“I’m so sorry.” Windy looked almost tearful. “I hate fighting and wouldn’t blame you for turning all of us out, but I’m so grateful to live here, Riva.”
“I know you are. And I’m grateful you’re here. I just don’t know what to do about Kitty and Laurel.”
“I think Marcus feels guilty too. I’d been nagging him to bring along some of his single male friends. I’ll tell him he can’t come to dinner tomorrow night unless he brings at least one other fellow with him. It’s not like this house is his personal harem.”
Riva smirked. “Is that every man’s secret dream? To have a houseful of women fawning over him. Not that we all are. But maybe it feels like that to him.”
“To be fair, I can tell he hates it as much as we do. It’s like he’s stuck between a rock and a hard place.”
“He’s not the only one.” Riva frowned. “Well, it seems clear that Kitty is the spoiler. If she didn’t live here, I think we’d be okay. The question is, how will I get rid of her?”
“That’s a good question.” Windy let out a yawn. “Why don’t we sleep on it?”
“Good idea. And I need to pray on it.” Riva stood.
Windy got to her feet. “And don’t forget you promised to go to drumming session with me tomorrow.”
Riva cringed. “Tomorrow?”
“Think of it as therapy. It’ll help you break out of your shell and escape your inhibitions.”
Riva held back an eyeroll. If anyone else mentioned her inhibitions tonight, well, she might just let loose and deck them. And then she’d see how they felt about her being overly repressed!
Chapter20
For the first half of Windy’s drumming session, Riva felt awkward, out of place, and tempted to sneak out. The problem was she’d ridden with Windy, and it was about a five-mile walk back into town—and more than ninety degrees outside. Not that this old barn was much cooler, and it was getting warmer by the minute. She wondered how these other women, about fifty of them, weren’t overheating as they danced around the barn, chanting and singing and playing their drums. Windy’s cheeks were flushed and her brow glistened, but she appeared to be having the time of her life.
Riva suspected if Fiona had come, she’d be enjoying it too. But she’d been called to work at the last minute. Riva hadn’t even left the folding chair she’d sat in when they first arrived. The chairs were still circled, but very few were occupied. Instead of feeling like a wallflower, she was starting to feel conspicuous for not participating. But like Windy had told her, she was supposed to do only what she was comfortable with.
Realizing she might feel more at ease mixing with the women, she abruptly stood and joined the throng. After a few trips around the circle, she began to relax some. She beat her borrowed drum with more enthusiasm. And after several more loops, she startedto enjoy the sound and movement and music. Was this what it felt like to cut loose and not worry about what others thought of her? She used to be free-spirited and easygoing back in her youth. But after marrying young, having kids, and reinventing a career track, well, her grown-up responsibilities had taken over and changed her. Finally, caretaking for Paul had sealed the deal. Drained of any ability to simply have good old-fashioned, unrestrained fun, she’d resided to growing old. Gracefully? Or truth be told, she’d given up.
Riva paused from drumming to really see the women around her. From gray-haired earth muffins to young women in yoga pants, they were all from different walks of life, but they seemed to share one thing—a happy abandonment. She wanted that too. So if dancing around, beating a drum, and howling like a she-wolf could free her from her “inhibition” trap, she’d try it. Maybe it was just what the doctor had ordered.
By the time the session ended, Riva knew she would come back again. She felt strangely energized and refreshed and more connected to her heavenly Father. “That was amazing,” she told Windy as they got into her VW Bug later on. “Thank you for bringing me.”
