Let Them Eat Fruitcake

by Melody Carlson

  Matthew smiled at Kendall. “Yours aren’t too bad either.”

  She brightened. “Why, thank you very much.”

  “Can I freshen that drink for you?” he offered.

  “That would be very nice.” Kendall watched as Matthew meandered across the crowded room and over to the bar area. With those broad shoulders, slim hips, and a walk that said he knew who he was, he was a seriously stunning guy. Not only that, but he thought she was pretty too—or something to that effect. Okay, it had totally miffed her that he and that stupid Aaron Stone were acting all gaga over Lelani in her pathetic little outfit of a sundress over a shirt and jeans.

  To think that Kendall had dressed to the nines for this party. Her shiny blond hair was perfection and her teeth were straight and whitened. Why couldn’t they imagine her face on the big screen? Lots of people compared her looks to Paris Hilton’s. And, while Kendall thought she was actually prettier than Paris, she didn’t like being compared to Lelani. In the past, she’d tried to get Lelani to go clubbing with her. Who could resist two gorgeous girls out on the town? Maybe it was time to rethink that plan. As Matthew made his way back through the crowd toward her, Kendall was extremely glad that Lelani decided to leave early. She smiled at Matthew and decided it was time to turn the charm factor up a notch or two. This guy was worth getting her hooks into.

  “Here you go, Kendall.” Matthew handed her a fresh martini.

  “Thank you.” She looked over the edge of the glass, giving him her best sultry expression and then frowned.

  “Is something wrong?” he asked with concern.

  She smiled now, tipping her head slightly to the right. “No, I was just thinking about Lelani … how it’s a shame she’s not into acting.” Kendall shook her head sadly. “It’s just not fair that some girls have all the looks and absolutely no interest in using them.” She sighed. “And then there are some who would do anything to make it in Hollywood.”

  His brow lifted slightly. “Anything?”

  She laughed as if she was embarrassed, then waved her hand in a dismissive way. “Oh, you know what I mean.”

  They continued to chat and he continued to “refresh” her drink, and before long it seemed that Matthew was the only guy in the room. She was captivated by him and, unless she was mistaken, he felt the same about her. It was almost magical … and definitely chemical. Every time his hand brushed against her skin, she felt like she was melting. She also felt like things were getting a little blurry and fuzzy, but even so, Kendall was having a good time. At least she thought she was. Then she realized that Matthew was speaking to her and she hadn’t even responded.

  “What?” she peered up at him, then blinked when it seemed he had two heads weaving back and forth.

  He nodded to the nearly empty hotel suite. “I think the party’s pretty much over and I was just asking if you have a way to get home?”

  “Home?” She tilted her head as if considering this concept.

  “I mean Lelani took your car, right?”

  “Lelani …” Kendall sort of nodded. “Oh, yeah.”

  “So … I could give you a ride … or I suppose you could crash in my room if you like.”

  “Your room?” She smiled slowly.

  “Okay, then.” He took her hand and they got on an elevator and went up or down, she wasn’t sure, but the next thing Kendall knew she was in another hotel suite—one that was neat and clean and quiet. And standing in front of her was this great-looking guy. Okay, maybe he did have two heads, but he was pouring her another drink and then they were kissing … and kissing … and kissing …

  Kissing was the last thing Kendall remembered when she woke up the following morning, and even that memory was foggy. She had a nasty headache and a rumbling stomach, and she was lying by herself in a strange bed—totally naked, it seemed. She lifted the sheet to make sure, then frowned. Yep, she was naked as a jaybird. And she didn’t even remember how she’d gotten this way. Oh, to be sure, it wasn’t the first time, but it was something that she’d been trying to put a stop to … something her roommates had warned her was not only stupid and dangerous, but just plain slutty.

  But this was different. She had spent the night with the famous actor Matthew Harmon. And he was really into her, and she was definitely into him. This was definitely different. In fact, she felt certain that this relationship would go the distance. This was the real thing—the guy she’d been waiting for. Okay, not waiting, exactly, but she’d been looking for, hoping for … and now he was here! Then she looked to the other side of the bed to see that, while slept in, it was vacant. So he wasn’t actually here-here, but he was in-her-life here.

  She sat up to look around the room, but this only made her head feel worse. The hotel suite was strewn with clothes, but no sign of Matthew Harmon. She sighed and smiled, hugging herself. She, Kendall Weis, had just spent a romantic night with a famous actor. This was a whole new beginning!

  Just then her stomach turned upside down. She rushed to where she hoped the bathroom was and soon found herself sprawled on the marble tile and hugging the toilet. Not a pretty sight, she knew, but before long it was over. And fortunately Matthew hadn’t popped in to find her worshipping the porcelain throne. That was something.

  She took a quick shower, then located a thick white terry robe and finally went to search for her purse. She’d caught sight of her face in the mirror only to see it was a disaster. No way did she want Matthew to see her like this. This wouldn’t be the face of the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with—which she knew he would. He had to be as into her as she was into him. Where was he, anyway?

  She snatched up her D&G bag, then returned to the bathroom, locking the door behind her while she attempted to put what was wrong right—or at least try. After a hard night of partying, it could be a challenge to transform blotchy skin, puffy eyes, and dark shadows into smooth, sleek perfection. But she’d had plenty of practice.

  As she worked to do damage control she pondered two regrets: 1) She couldn’t remember a single thing, past that last drink and kissing session, about being with Matthew last night, and 2) she didn’t have a fresh outfit to put on this morning.

  “Coffee, anyone?” called a male voice from the other room.

  Kendall took one final look at her face. Not perfect, but not bad. “Coming,” she called, trying to make her voice sound light although her head was still throbbing.

  “How you feeling?” he asked as she emerged from the bathroom.

  She smiled. “Pretty good … considering.”

  “Considering how wasted we got last night. I woke up with a severe headache. I took a walk and got some Starbucks.”

  “You’re an angel,” she said as she eagerly took a cup.

  “I wasn’t sure what you like,” he said. “I guessed mocha.”

  “Perfect.” She sat down in one of the club chairs by the window and pretended to enjoy a sip. The truth was she was feeling nauseated again, but hopefully she’d get past it before too long. She wasn’t about to let that or anything else spoil her day. She smiled as Matthew sat down in the club chair across from her.

  “You’re certainly easy to please.”

  Kendall laughed. “Really? Some of my friends accuse me of being high maintenance.”

  “I suppose it’s all a matter of perspective.”

  “It’s been so great getting to know you,” she said happily.

  “That was quite a party.”

  “It makes me wish I lived in LA,” she said dreamily.

  “Seriously?”

  “Oh, yeah.”

  “Why?”

  “I think I’d fit in down there better than I do up here.”

  “You don’t like Portland?”

  She shrugged. “It’s okay, but I grew up here, so I suppose it seems kind of
ordinary to me … a little boring.”

  “It’s a beautiful city, Kendall.”

  She brightened. Maybe Matthew would consider living here some of the time, and in LA some of the time when his career really took off the way she knew it would. And, of course, that would allow her to enjoy both places too, since she was feeling more and more certain that they had a future together.

  “Did you know that Portland was picked as the number-one city to live in for twenty-somethings?” she asked.

  “Really? Number one in the country?”

  “That’s what I heard.”

  “Wow, that’s pretty cool.”

  “Even so, LA sounds really good to me.”

  “Well, it is warmer down there.” He pretended to shiver. “Like just now I was outside and it was rainy and windy and—brrrrr—it made me want to go home.”

  She nodded. “I totally get you.”

  “Which reminds me … I should get busy.” He set down his coffee and slowly stood.

  “Busy?”

  “Packing. It’s already past ten and I haven’t even showered yet.”

  She frowned. “Packing? Does that mean you’re leaving?”

  He gave her a halfhearted smile. “Remember, Kendall, I told you last night that I was leaving today. The filming here is wrapped up. And my flight’s at one thirty this afternoon.”

  She tried to remember him mentioning this but came up blank.

  “I thought I’d have time to take you home in the rental car, but we slept in … and now I’m thinking that’s not going to work. I hope you don’t mind catching a cab.” He was stuffing things into a gigantic wheeled duffel bag as he talked, acting like this sudden departure was no big deal, like he spent the night with strange girls in strange towns, then took off the next morning all the time. And maybe he did. But somehow Kendall had convinced herself that this was more than that. At least she had hoped so.

  “You’re a great girl, Kendall,” he continued chattering. “And we had a fun time. You’ll have to give me your number for the next time I’m up here.”

  “When will that be?” she asked, knowing she sounded too eager. Or maybe it was too desperate. Whatever it was, she knew it sounded all wrong.

  He stood up straight and studied her with a blank expression, a pair of boxers dangling in his hand. “I, uh, I don’t really know …”

  “I mean, do you have another movie you’ll be doing up here?”

  “Not that I know of.”

  “Oh.”

  “My next movie is going to be shot down there—on the lots to save a few bucks, you know.”

  “Uh-huh.” She almost could feel tears in her eyes now. How could he be leaving her so soon? She had sincerely believed this had been something more than a one-night stand. She’d imagined them spending the day together … and then the night … and then who knew? How could he just leave?

  He smiled at her. And it was that gorgeous Hollywood smile that she’d admired on the big screen, those sweet wrinkles at the creases of his blue eyes, and his straight white teeth. “You’re not feeling bad, are you?”

  She took in a quick breath, then forced a smile. “No, no. Of course not.”

  He looked relieved. “Oh, good. I thought you understood.”

  Then he went into the bathroom and before long she heard the shower running. While he was in there, she got dressed, taking her time and hoping that she didn’t look as rumpled on the outside as she felt on the inside. Rumpled and dirty and used up.

  When he emerged from the bathroom, he looked clean and fresh in the other thick white bathrobe. He grinned as he toweled his hair dry. “Ah,” he said happily. “Much better.” Then he tossed the towel to the floor and stretched out his arms. “Come here, babe.”

  Feeling hopeful, like maybe he’d had a revelation in the shower, she ran straight into his arms and held on tight. He felt good, smelled good. Maybe he’d decided he couldn’t live without her after all. Maybe he wanted to take her home with him. Maybe he had an engagement ring for her in the pocket of his bathrobe, a little something he’d picked up at the jewelry shop downstairs, something he’d eventually replace with more karats once they got settled down in the land of sunshine. It could happen. Dreams really could come true!

  “It was a pleasure getting to know you, Kendall,” he said with a sense of finality. “You’re really a great girl.” Then he gave her a long kiss and released her. “Sorry I can’t stick around longer.”

  “You could come back up here to visit,” she said hopefully. “Or I could come down there to see you.”

  He frowned. “It wouldn’t work for you to come down there, Kendall. Not for me, anyway. Remember?”

  “Remember?” She frowned and for the second time wished she hadn’t drank so much.

  “I told you last night.”

  She blinked. “What was that?”

  “You know … that I’m married.”

  “Married? You told me you were married?”

  “Yes. You said it was okay.”

  “I said that?”

  He laughed. “Oh, yeah, that and a lot of other things.”

  “Oh …”

  “And I told you that I’m mostly faithful to my wife.” He looked slightly sheepish now, like he was embarrassed or uncomfortable, or his conscience was bothering him. Not that this made her feel any better. It did not. Not even a little.

  “I mean, it’s no secret that my marriage has had its share of problems,” he continued. “It’s hard when both partners have a career. Sometimes we pull in different directions. But we’re trying to work things out.”

  She was picking up her purse now, shoving some things inside and moving toward the door like a robot.

  “I’m sorry,” he said. “I didn’t mean to hurt you, Kendall. I thought you understood.”

  “Oh, I understand,” she said slowly, woodenly. “I understand completely.”

  Five

  Megan

  “Do you think you could’ve picked a colder, wetter, windier day to put these lights up?” Megan yelled down at Lelani. She strained to loop the string of lights around one of the hooks that they’d put in along the top of the porch. Rain was running down the back of her neck and the ladder was wobbling slightly.

  “I’m sorry,” Lelani called up from where she was supposedly holding the ladder, although Megan wasn’t so sure. “I thought we’d finish up before the weather changed on us. The Channel Two forecast said it wasn’t going to rain until later today.”

  “It wouldn’t be the first time they were wrong,” yelled Megan.

  “We’re almost done,” said Lelani.

  Megan finished hanging the strand, then hurried down the ladder. “I’m freezing,” she said as she stomped her wet feet on the porch steps.

  “Me too,” said Lelani. “Let’s get in—”

  “Who’s that?” asked Megan, glancing out to where a cab was pulling up.

  “It must be Kendall,” said Lelani.

  “Why’s she in a cab?”

  “Because I drove her car home last night,” explained Lelani. “But I didn’t realize she hadn’t come home yet.”

  Kendall ran through the rain up the walk and paused on the porch to study her soaked housemates. “What on earth are you guys doing?”

  “Putting up Christmas lights,” said Lelani.

  “In this weather?” Kendall shook her head as she opened the front door. “You’re flipping crazy.”

  They all went inside, and Megan and Lelani began to peel off their soggy outer clothes while Kendall watched with a deep frown. “I can’t believe you guys,” she said. “You couldn’t pay me to hang Christmas lights in the rain.”

  “It’s my fault,” admitted Lelani. “I wanted to get the li
ghts up this weekend, and it wasn’t raining when we started.”

  “When did you start?”

  “Around eight this morning,” complained Megan as she peeled off her wet socks.

  “I’ll make you some hot cocoa, Megan,” offered Lelani.

  “I’m taking a hot shower first,” said Megan.

  Megan took a quick shower, then put on sweats and fuzzy slippers. When she came back out, Lelani had dried off too and was just pouring cocoa into mugs. Kendall, it seemed, was capitalizing on Lelani’s peace offering too.

  “Do you forgive me?” Lelani smiled as she handed Megan a steaming mug.

  “I don’t,” said Kendall from behind her.

  “I wasn’t talking to you,” said Lelani.

  “Well, I don’t forgive you anyway,” said Kendall hotly.

  “Why don’t you forgive her?” asked Megan as she took a mug of cocoa. “What did Lelani do to you, anyway?”

  “Just abandoned me at the party last night,” said Kendall.

  “Did you really abandon her?” Megan asked Lelani.

  “Kendall told me to take her car,” said Lelani. “Besides, she was too drunk to drive.”

  “Kendall!” Megan frowned at her. “I thought you said you weren’t going to do that anymore.”

  “I just had a few drinks.”

  “She was plastered,” said Lelani.

  Kendall scowled. “Who even says plastered anymore?”

  “Wasted, snookered, inebriated, smashed, drunk …” Megan shook her finger at Kendall. “It doesn’t matter what you call it, it all equals the same thing—major stupidity.”

  “That’s right,” agreed Lelani. “And to let you drive like that would be even more stupid.”

  “Thanks a lot.” Kendall sniffed like she was about to start crying.

  “Sometimes the truth hurts,” said Megan in a gentler tone.

  “Seriously, Kendall,” said Lelani. “What about getting drunk is fun?”

  Kendall shrugged. “I don’t know.”