Summer Fling

by Jean Copeland

  Didi glared at her. “She’s not that fond of me anymore either, thanks to you.”

  “I told you I was sorry for that.”

  “Ugh. Listen to us,” Didi said with a sigh. “We’re best friends. We’re supposed to be each other’s support system, not wrecking crew.”

  “Didi’s right.” Kate grabbed their hands. “I’ve been the worst offender lately. Viv, I owe you an apology for constantly ridiculing your decision to go back with Maia and showing absolutely no faith in you in your effort to become a better person.”

  Viv regarded Kate as though she’d shown up wearing a pair of mom jeans. “How long have you felt that way about me?”

  “And, Didi,” Kate went on. “I’m sorry for judging you about seeing Rhea. You’re a grown woman who’s smart and experienced enough to make your own decisions, and as your oldest and dearest friend, it’s my role, no, my obligation to stand by you.”

  Didi clutched Kate’s hand. “Aww, Kate. I think I’m gonna cry. This signals such profound personal growth in you. Do you really mean it?”

  “No. I think you’re bordering on incoherent for getting involved with Rhea again, but I love you, both of you.” She grabbed Viv’s hand again. “And I’ll always be there for you no matter what. Even if it kills me.”

  Didi glared at her. “You keep on apologizing like that, and it just might.”

  “Aww, let’s give her a pass, Didi,” Viv said. “It’s not every day that a stubborn, crotchety know-it-all like Kate has this kind of epiphany.” She draped her arms around them. “It’s a momentous occasion that she’s realized what a douche she’s been to us and wants to apologize for it. We forgive you, Katie.”

  “We’re having a real moment here, girls,” Didi added. “We’re all experiencing epiphanies in our lives together. Think about it. I’m living my renaissance as a recovering straight woman. Viv, you’ve got a second chance to make things right with Maia. And, Kate, you’ve actually proved you’re not too bitter and twisted to at least take another crack at relationships, even if they do fail miserably.

  “Life, love, it’s all a journey, man, a crazy ride on a mystical carousel. Who said we only get to go around once?”

  Kate smiled at her friends and lifted her beer. “Here’s to twice around.”

  Three drinks met in the middle, and on the next run scored by the Yankees, everyone stood and shouted in exuberance.

  * * *

  Despite the Yankees’ win and a much-needed female-bonding session with Didi and Viv, Kate lay balled up in bed recapping the earlier part of the day when she’d run into Jordan. As the lights from the television dilated and constricted her pupils in fits, the vision of Jordan’s face, cold and tight with disappointment, flickered whenever she closed her eyes. Just as the image of her face when Kate had broken up with her had begun to lose its edge, Jordan appeared to hone it back to a razor-sharp point.

  She flipped over on her other side as the digital clock blipped to one thirty. Before Didi commandeered her personal life, she’d never experienced sleepless nights or agonizing confrontations with mortally wounded ex-lovers. She observed one thirty only during daylight, and confrontations arose only within the structured confines of courthouses and conference rooms.

  She flopped back to her original position and stroked Ruby’s tail as the cat slept beside her. She pulled Jordan’s New England Patriots T-shirt out from under her pillow and balled it against her face, consuming the fading remnants of her scent.

  Jordan wasn’t the only woman in New Haven County nursing a broken heart. She could sleep in something else tonight.

  Chapter Twenty-one

  The Epiphany

  Kate returned to the office from court after five o’clock, so Didi was already gone for the day. As she settled in at her desk, she noticed a sticky note on her flip calendar with Didi’s chicken-scratch handwriting.

  “What the hell does this say?” she said out loud. She slipped on her reading glasses and held the paper farther away. “Check Jordan’s page.” Kate sighed and then mumbled, “Sure. Let me twist the knife in my heart and carve it out while I’m at it.”

  She fired up her laptop, itching with curiosity. What could be there that Didi wanted her to see? Probably pictures posted of Jordan and Alexandra, the new functional May-December couple, in various gross, narcissistic poses. A little backhand-to-the-face tough love to help Kate stop mooning over her and move on with her life. Thanks, Didi.

  She clicked on Jordan’s Facebook page, braced for the worst. The most recent post was a YouTube video of Jordan performing a song titled “Jaded.” Kate gulped down air as she stared at the frozen image of Jordan and her guitar, petrified to click Play. Dear Lord, was this song about her? Of course, it was—a parody of her written as the ultimate revenge by a scorned ex-lover. It already had over two hundred views. Her heart pounded wildly as she recalled her embarrassment during Jordan’s passive-aggressive rendition of “You’re So Vain” at the fund-raiser. Imagine what havoc would ensue when everyone she knew recognized her in the song? No wonder Didi had left her a note. She hadn’t wanted to bear witness to Kate’s thorough humiliation.

  After she stretched her arms and cracked her knuckles, she summoned the courage to press Play.

  The song began with a few measures of mellow chords. Hmm, this isn’t so bad, Kate thought as she watched the video that looked professionally produced.

  She’s a woman of dimensions, fearless and bold,

  With a world of stories that haven’t been told.

  She believes in the fight, even if she’ll fail,

  Reads self-preservation like the Holy Grail.

  Her passion for love, it hasn’t faded,

  She’s got the soul of a true romantic.

  Such a shame she’s jaded…

  When the song ended, Kate stared at the computer screen trying to process it all. She couldn’t believe Jordan wrote such a beautiful song, and even more unbelievable was that it was about her.

  Suddenly, tears streamed down. She was madly in love with Jordan, no matter how hard she fought to convince herself they were wrong for each other. She missed her desperately, regardless of their age difference and future aspirations. What sense did it make to stay away from her? To keep her heart protected from sadness? It was too late. Jordan already owned it.

  She called Jordan’s cell with no idea what she’d say when she answered. She just knew she needed to hear her voice, to finally admit to her that she’d made a foolish mistake letting her go. After several rings, when the call went into voice mail, Kate touched End.

  On second thought, a face-to-face was the way to go. No great love story ever ended with a voice mail.

  * * *

  As Kate approached Jordan’s apartment door, the unflappable resolve that had propelled her there abandoned her for a fluttering heart and rubbery limbs. Bounding down the hallway clutching a bouquet of roses determined to win back her love felt a little more 1950s movie musical than she would’ve liked, but if she really was serious about making the second act of her life a success, a new, innovative attitude was in order.

  She cleared her throat and knocked with authority on the door. Her heart pounded in her ears as the sound of approaching footsteps across the wood floor grew louder.

  “It’s you.” William actually sneered at her. “If you’re looking to tear out someone else’s heart, sorry. That’s already been done to mine.”

  “William, where is Jordan? I need to talk to her.”

  “She’s not here.”

  “Where is she?”

  “I don’t know.” He shrugged with attitude. “Probably out buying packing boxes.”

  “Packing boxes? Why does she need those?”

  “Why do you think?” he said, gesticulating wildly. “She’s flying the coop.”

  “What do you mean?” Kate demanded. “Where’s she going? Back to Boston?”

  He threw a hand on his hip. “Not quite, your wickedness. She’s headed out t
o the City of Angels.”

  “Los Angeles?” Kate ran a hand through her hair as she considered her options. “How could she just go? Her business, her clients are all around here.”

  “Like she’d have a problem reestablishing herself anywhere. I’m the one who should be devastated. I finally get my life-long BFF back within reasonable visiting distance, and then you come along and ruin everything.”

  A wave of dread crashed over her. “Is she going out there to be with Alexandra?”

  “Maybe. Maybe not,” he said with a look of spite. “They make a handsome couple, and Alexandra doesn’t seem quite as anal about age as someone I know.”

  “When will she be back? Text her and ask her where she is.”

  “Why should I? You broke her heart, you evil temptress.”

  “If you don’t tell me where she went, how can I go unbreak her heart?” Kate said reasonably, her patience running on fumes.

  “Ooh, Toni Braxton. I love her,” he squealed.

  She grabbed him by his crisp oxford shirt and yanked him up to her nose. “Look, I’ve never been the kind of person who resorts to physical violence,” she said through a clenched jaw, “but you’re making me rethink my position.”

  He flinched. “Not the face, not the face.”

  She released her grip and smoothed out the fist wrinkles on his shirt. “Now let’s try this again like rational adults.”

  “You are so butch.” He fished out his cell phone from the man purse slung across his torso and began thumbing a text to Jordan. “I want it noted on the record that I’m doing this for you under duress.”

  “Duly noted,” she said. “Ask her to meet you for a drink somewhere.”

  He glared at her peevishly and swung his phone away from her when she lurked over his shoulder trying to read Jordan’s response. “She’s at some company in the Branford industrial park.”

  “Perfect. Ask her to meet you at Nellie’s in an hour.”

  “Ooh. I’ve heard that place is great.”

  “William, focus. Make sure she goes there and doesn’t know we spoke. Got it?”

  He retreated slightly. “Got it.”

  Kate cradled the wilting flowers in her arm as she headed to her car. She considered the chance she was taking and prepared for the possibility of rejection. Even if it was too late, even if she and Alexandra were exploring their options, she couldn’t let Jordan move away without first hearing her out.

  * * *

  Speeding down the interstate in her BMW toward the restaurant, Kate rehearsed what she’d say. If she’d had the time, she could’ve composed a stellar closing argument that was sure to dazzle Jordan right back into her arms, but seeing that she had less than forty minutes, a few carefully chosen notes on a cocktail napkin would have to suffice.

  With the key points jotted down, Kate neared the bottom of a glass of chardonnay. She checked the time on her phone as her knee bobbed on the barstool like it needed an exorcism. It was after six thirty. Jordan should’ve been there by now. William must’ve filled her in after Kate had finished manhandling him. Well-played, William, well-played.

  She caught the bartender’s attention and pointed to her empty wine glass as she called Didi’s cell.

  “How’d you like the song?” Didi asked without saying hello first.

  “I’m still speechless. Where are you?”

  “Just leaving Kohl’s.”

  “I’m down the street at Nellie’s,” Kate said, her elbow digging into the wilting roses as she pressed her face against her fist. “I need someone to drink with.”

  “Save me a seat.” Didi ended the call.

  With an order of dinner salads and a fried calamari app, Kate and Didi moved on to something stronger than wine. Didi licked a few grains of salt off her margarita glass, took a sip, and exhaled.

  “I don’t get it. The summer started off so promising.”

  Kate shrugged. “Yet it ended just as I’d predicted—horribly.”

  “And you’re proud of that?”

  “No,” Kate said. “But I’ve always been the realist in this friendship. And when you think about it, the warning signs were there. We just chose to ignore them. It’s that damn Frank Sinatra ‘Summer Wind’ curse. We saw our relationships through rose-colored sunglasses.”

  “I don’t regret one moment of it,” Didi said. “I had a good time with Rhea…until I learned she lied to me. And that she’s married. To a man. That kinda let the wind out of my sails.”

  “Maybe she’ll drive that stupid Mini Cooper off a bridge, so you can at least find a little solace in that.” Kate smirked before sipping her drink.

  “That’s not nice,” Didi said, trying not to smile. “I’m staying friends with her. Despite her shortcomings, she’s a quality human being.”

  “Lying and cheating are shortcomings? That’s rather generous of you.”

  “Shame on you. Yes, Rhea was dishonest in her approach, but we’ve talked about that, and she’s apologized several times. I can empathize with her. I came out late in life, too. It was difficult for her. Her snooty friends weren’t very supportive, but luckily her husband is. She’s not cheating if he knows. But I’ve made it clear I can’t share anyone I have feelings for, and she’s cool with it, so why not?”

  Kate smiled like a proud big sister. “You impress me.”

  “I do? How?”

  “In one summer, you’ve managed to graduate from a needy, menopausal adolescent, entirely bankrupt of self-confidence and lucid judgment, to a woman of towering strength and wisdom. You’ve become me.”

  Didi laughed as they raised their forks and touched calamari rings in celebration.

  “What can I say?” Didi said. “I surround myself with quality people. So, what are you going to do about Jordan?”

  “What can I do? I’ve played my last hand. I told William to get her here. I’m sure he informed her why, and the fact that she hasn’t shown up tells me she’s over anything I have to say. Besides, I have a feeling that nasty Kris Kardashian knockoff already has her on the hook.”

  “That’s ridiculous. Maybe he never even told her.” Didi grabbed her phone. “Let me text her.”

  “No, don’t. I’m sure he relayed the message, and I’m even surer she doesn’t care anymore. She was so hurt. I’ll bet she can’t wait to get on that plane and fly three thousand miles away from me.”

  Didi grew animated. “Find out when she’s leaving and meet her at the airport, beg her not to go. How romantic would that be?”

  “Not nearly as romantic as it was all the times it was done in a hundred different rom-com films throughout time. I’m going to send her a long text before she leaves and explain everything I was feeling—in case she never comes back. I do much better writing it all down first.”

  “Yes, you are the sovereign of the succinctly worded closing argument,” Didi said. “But that’s the dullest, most unimaginative attempt at winning someone back I’ve ever heard. It won’t work.”

  Kate sighed and borrowed from Jordan’s philosophy that everything did indeed happen for a reason. If nothing else, it was convenient. “If it doesn’t work, then it’s not meant to be. Maybe it’s all part of the universe’s plan. She needs to be free now to pursue her music.” She looked away as her eyes welled with tears. “I should start accepting that.”

  “This is pathetic, watching you surrender like this.”

  Kate had to look away. If she tried to defend herself, she would’ve broken down right there in the restaurant.

  While Didi was in the ladies’ room, she tried to regroup from the burden of sadness and defeat suddenly bearing down on her. Was she surrendering? Jordan refused to meet her there, and she couldn’t blame her. Jordan had worked so hard trying to build something meaningful between them while Kate fought it and minimized it at every turn. A good woman would only take so much of that before cutting her losses and moving on, especially when a glamorous city like Los Angeles and an opportunity of a lifetime came call
ing.

  Didi returned to the table reading her phone. “Jordan’s flight is at 8:20 out of Bradley tomorrow morning.”

  “How do you know?”

  “I texted her in the bathroom, wishing her well on her journey, and just casually asked when she was departing for her new adventure.”

  Kate rolled her eyes. “Not too obvious.”

  “It worked, didn’t it? Look, I’m not suggesting you go there and pull some heroic Nora Ephron movie stunt. But instead of sending her a text, give her your closing argument in person. I know you, Kate. In the long run, you’ll feel much better for having done it the right way.”

  Kate sat back in her chair and sighed as a cautious grin tickled her lip. “And if I don’t go?”

  Didi grinned back. “That glimmer in your eye tells me there’re no ifs about it.” She raised her glass to Kate and polished off the rest of her drink.

  * * *

  The next morning, Didi pulled into the temporary parking lot at Bradley International Airport acting as though she were transporting the secretary of state to the most important political negotiation of the twenty-first century.

  “Ready, Counselor?”

  Kate downed the last of her coffee and poured a mouthful of Tic Tacs into her hand. “This sounded much more like a genius plan last night when we were buzzed.”

  “Every idea sounds like a genius plan when you’re buzzed. You’re doing the right thing, Kate. Even if Jordan shouts out to the entire terminal that you have a bomb strapped to your Spanx, at least you’ve tied up the loose ends that would’ve left you a wretched old woman haunted by regret.”

  “You have quite a way with words,” Kate said, crunching the Tic Tacs. “But you’re right. She deserves better than a text.”

  “Atta girl.”

  Once in the terminal, Kate marched with purpose toward the security area, with Didi and damp armpits her constant companions. Come what may, she would pour her heart out to Jordan so she’d know, beyond a doubt, that what they’d shared meant as much to Kate as it did to her.