Lightning Strikes

by Cass Sellars

Chapter Twenty-one

  Sydney was awakened by a buzzer and she squinted into the dawning morning. Doorbell. Syd found Parker still sound asleep. They had only been down for four hours and the sound had not disturbed her. Syd jogged quickly to the bottom of the stairs, pulling on her jeans and a T-shirt at the landing. She slid the door open quietly and found an older couple peering through the lobby door. They seemed puzzled by the appearance of the barefoot stranger staring back at them.

  “May I help you?” Sydney asked as she held the outer door open.

  “Yes, although we may have the wrong place, we are looking for Parker Duncan,” the woman replied leaning back to search for some further confirmation of an address on the worn brick.

  “No, you’re in the right place. Please come in. I’ll just go get her.” Syd waited for them to follow her into the loft and gestured to a seat.

  “Be right back.” Sydney sprinted up the stairs, two at a time. She hoped they weren’t watching after her when she folded onto the mattress next to Parker in order to wake her.

  “Baby,” she whispered. “You need to wake up.”

  Parker groaned sleepily and rolled against Syd. “No more sex, I need sleep. You are insatiab—”

  Sydney clapped a palm over Parker’s mouth and shushed her urgently. Syd laughed at the realization that their guests had likely overheard their daughter. Parker’s eyes grew wide and now she was very much awake with a question she attempted to voice through Sydney’s fingers. Syd bent over her ear and whispered, “Remember how you said that your parents were nine hours away and had no intention of visiting?”

  Parker nodded as Syd cautiously removed her hand from Parker’s mouth. “Well, I think they changed their minds. If I’m not mistaken, they’re in the living room.” Syd jerked her head toward the open metal railing, which did little to acoustically separate the spaces. Parker’s eyes became saucers as Syd’s meaning became clear.

  “Here? Now?” Her whispered tone was incredulous. She instinctively checked her phone which displayed two missed calls from her mother.

  Syd nodded. “What do you want me to say?”

  “Tell them I’ll be right down. Stall. Make coffee. Make small talk. Oh my God. They would never just show up. They aren’t show-up people. Why are they here? I have not had enough sleep for this.”

  Syd smiled as she watched Parker slither naked across the head of the bed and crawl toward her closet to avoid line of sight to the living room.

  Syd pushed off the mattress and trotted back down the stairs where the couple spoke quietly to one another.

  “Parker’s just, uh, changing. She’ll be right down. I apologize for not introducing myself earlier, I’m Sydney Hyatt.” Sydney stepped toward them to shake their hands as they rose and accepted the gesture.

  “I’m Sylvia Duncan, and this is Patrick. We’re Parker’s parents.”

  “Yes. I can see the resemblance. May I get you some coffee?” Sydney walked backward slowly toward the kitchen and the couple followed, appraising the loft.

  “It’s so unlike our daughter to sleep late. Is she ill?” Sylvia glanced toward the space above the staircase again.

  “No, we were…she was up late. It’s been a really busy time for her so I was hoping she would sleep in.” Syd realized that it sounded like she considered them an inconvenience. “However, I’m sure she will be very happy about this surprise,” Sydney lied.

  “If you don’t mind my asking, who are you? I didn’t know Parker had a roommate. Are you visiting?” A sidelong appraisal of the stranger in their daughter’s kitchen accompanied Sylvia Duncan’s question.

  “No roommate. I actually own the loft across the hall.” Syd didn’t know how deeply she should explore the subject without Parker.

  “But you stayed over here?”

  Sydney was busy retrieving the ground coffee from the freezer drawer, kicking it closed with her bare foot. She pushed cream and sugar onto the island and was thoroughly grateful when she heard Parker’s own bare feet slapping against the concrete floor before she had to answer.

  “Mom? Dad? What in the world?” Parker hugged them and seemed to scan them both for chronic illnesses or injuries. “What’s wrong?”

  Parker’s father smiled. “Nothing’s wrong. We just wanted to surprise you. I was meeting with someone about doing some consulting work in DC and I suggested that we make a surprise visit to our only daughter in her new place.”

  “Wow. I have never known either of you to be so spontaneous. I am pretty impressed, I have to say. I see you’ve met Sydney since she’s making you coffee. Thank you, Syd.” Parker wrapped an arm around Syd’s waist and dusted a kiss over her cheek. Syd returned the hug, watching the Duncans out of her peripheral vision. Sydney knew the move was calculated. After Parker’s run in with Pamela, she didn’t imagine Parker would pick now to avoid unspoken questions or the exact nature of the situation.

  “Would you like the very quick grand tour? It might last about two minutes,” Parker joked as she tapped an imaginary watch on her wrist.

  “Of course, sweetie,” her dad said, following her to the back corner of the kitchen where Parker retrieved some pictures of how the place looked when she bought it.

  “So, as you can tell, it was just a shell and Allen helped remodel it all. He did the same upstairs.” Parker led her parents to the open metal staircase and Sydney quickly set the coffee table with full mugs and condiments. She could hear them complimenting the bedroom before the telltale clunk of their return trip down the stairs echoed again.

  “Great place, huh?” Sydney asked, happy to keep the conversation light.

  “Very nice. Parker always does her houses well.” Patrick Duncan stirred his coffee and relaxed into the club chair across from his wife.

  “I always think you are much happier when you live alone. Your spaces seem happier. And clearly there isn’t much room for a housemate.” Sylvia spoke to no one in particular, but her agenda was obvious. “Ms. Hyatt mentioned that you were out late. Doing anything fun?”

  “Ms. Hyatt and I went to a club. A bit of dancing, etcetera.” Parker said with amusement. The constructive distancing of Sydney was intentional and did not escape her notice. Parker was sitting very close to her which Syd knew was by design. Parker tucked her toes under Syd’s thigh as if to keep them warm. Syd draped her arm around Parker’s knee.

  “So, Mom, what are the plans? When do you have to go back or where’s your next stop?”

  “Well, we hoped we could visit with you, maybe take you to dinner? We planned to drive home in the morning.” Sylvia looked at Patrick for confirmation.

  “I told your mother that you might have plans,” Patrick spoke quickly. “We are perfectly fine to get a hotel room.”

  “No. Of course you can stay here. You can have my bed and I’ll stay with Syd. If that’s okay with you?” She turned to face Syd, using her body to block her parents from noticing her potential objection.

  “Sounds perfect. No problem.” She shot a wink in Parker’s direction, reassuring her that she would not desert her.

  “Okay with you guys?” Parker asked her parents.

  “Sure. But we hate to move you out of your house, dear.”

  “It’s fine. We stay at Syd’s a lot anyway. So, what would you like to do today and what did you have in mind for dinner?”

  “Your mother wants a quick visit to a few antique shops she found online today. As far as dinner, you pick, Park. This is your town.” Patrick sounded happy that they were making plans.

  “We’ll think about it while you’re doing the antique thing. Syd and I need to pick up my car today and I have a few other errands. How does six sound for dinner?”

  “Perfect. Thank you for the coffee, Ms. Hyatt,” Sylvia said.

  “Sydney, please.”

  “Fine. Yes. It was nice to meet you. Parker, we will call when we are headed back.” Parker’s mother pushed her mug back on the table and rocked herself out of the deep chair before followin
g her husband into the hall and out to their car.

  Parker watched them leave and fell against Syd. “How did our weekend descend into a bad remake of Meet the Parents?” Parker moaned into Syd’s chest.

  “I think they seem fine. Although I’m not sure your mother is ready to accept that I am more than your neighbor or perhaps your houseboy.”

  “Too bad. I will be much more direct if I have to be, but this late in life, I refuse to come out to my parents again. Neither of them are stupid. My dad couldn’t care less, but let’s see what my mom has up her sleeve. It could be challenging,” Parker warned. “And entertaining.” Parker raised her eyebrows at the potential trial.

  “I am happy to sit this one out, you know. I could go make nice with Steve.” Mostly she was teasing Parker but she would have stepped out if Parker would have felt more comfortable.

  “Ms. Hyatt.” Parker said formally and Sydney rolled her eyes at the delivery, “it’s Saturday night. We are together as we planned unless, of course, you can’t take my parents.”

  “After yesterday’s encounter with Pamela, I think I owe you one.” Syd slipped a hand around her back.

  “Good point. And besides, your latest conquest might be back at the Pride and I can’t risk you wandering off.” Parker was teasing her now and Syd knew it.

  “Well, that’s true. Given your similar taste in clothing and equal IQ, she could give you a run for your money.” Syd was pushing her back into the loft when she wheeled on Syd.

  Parker poked an angry finger at Syd. “You take that back right now or I’m taking Paula Tucker to dinner with my parents.”

  “Hmm, the choices. What will I do?” Syd smiled down at her, enjoying the shocked look on her face.

  “Enough, Hyatt. You are going to suffer with me,” Parker declared.

  “Of course I will, baby. I am with you. Why don’t we take them to the Rio? I bet Paul would squeeze us in if I call now. What do you think?”

  “That you are perfect.” Parker rolled onto her toes and kissed Syd gratefully.

  “Save your praise, baby. Let’s see how this goes, okay?” Syd was sure that the Duncans’ surprise was not the last of the weekend’s revelations.

  *

  Sydney waited for Parker and her mother to settle into the tight backseat of the Audi before taking her place behind the wheel. The Duncans’ car was filled with antique purchases from the day’s excursion so Parker’s car was their only choice for dinner.

  “You sure you’re okay back there? Do you need me to move my seat up or I can do the backseat?”

  “You cannot, love. You can’t drive any closer to the steering wheel and we would have to get a professional to unfold you if you tried to get back here.” Parker laughed. “To the Rio, James.”

  “Yes, madam.” Sydney attempted to sound deferential. Patrick Duncan laughed at their banter.

  “So that Carrera is really yours? How long have you had it?” He leaned back to eye the car in the side mirror.

  “About eighteen months. Really fun little indulgence, I have to say. You should take it for a spin before you leave tomorrow.”

  Parker noted the gesture, knowing how proprietary Syd was with her car, drunken pity parties notwithstanding.

  “Careful, that’s an offer I won’t likely refuse, Sydney.” He sounded thrilled at the prospect. “It’s a great little machine.”

  “It is. I still get chills when I put her in the wind. It used to be the greatest thing in my life.” Sydney sounded distant as she failed to expand on the statement. Sydney caught Parker’s eye in the rearview mirror to silently assure her that it was far from true now.

  “I can see why.” Patrick Duncan remained focused on the little black racecar as they drove away. Sylvia stared out the window, pointedly disinterested in the conversation.

  Sydney pulled into the valet lane in front of the Rio Madre and stepped out from the car. She moved the seat as far forward as she could and helped Parker from the tiny back compartment while Patrick did the same for Sylvia. Parker took Syd’s proffered elbow and waited for her parents to catch up before climbing the stairs.

  Paul moved from behind the maître d’ desk to greet Sydney, who wore a gray tailored suit over a military-style collared shirt. He caught Syd’s cheek with his and shook her hand as he welcomed her party.

  “It’s a pleasure to have you back, Ms. Hyatt. The table you requested is ready. Please let me know if I can do anything to make your visit more pleasant.”

  “You already did more than enough getting us in on such short notice. I owe you one.”

  “Nonsense. Please enjoy.” Paul gestured to a somber-looking host carrying four large menus who led them to the table.

  “I take it you come here a lot, Sydney.” Sylvia smoothed the wrinkles out of her narrow skirt before she sat. She seemed to pay more attention to the caliber of fellow diners and their level of interest in her dinner companions than the prime table with a view of the glistening lake.

  “Fairly regularly, but I helped Paul with a problem several years ago and he has always taken special care of me.” Sydney scanned the menu.

  “I didn’t know that. Full of surprises aren’t you?” Parker smiled in Syd’s direction.

  Sydney squeezed Parker’s hand under the table. “I preordered a fabulous Bordeaux I discovered on a recent trip to Philly of all places. I hope that’s okay to start?” Sydney asked when the waiter appeared and balanced a bottle over his arm for her approval. She nodded and tasted the sample he poured for her. She nodded again and closed her menu.

  “Isn’t this nice, Mom? Syd brought me here a while ago and it instantly became my favorite,” Parker gushed tucking her left hand over Syd’s thigh.

  “Yes. It’s very nice. Thank you, Sydney.” Parker’s mother seemed intentionally formal.

  “Of course.” Sydney raised her glass in a silent toast.

  “So what did you do in DC while Dad was working?” Parker asked Sylvia to hopefully relax the mood.

  Sylvia took the bait and the opportunity to regale the table with her apparently eventful days and avoid the awkward energy for which Parker thought she was predominately responsible.

  “Oh. Well, I had my hair done, went to the Smithsonian as always, and then I had a lovely lunch with David. Do you remember your cousin David? He’s part of that dance troupe in Washington.” Sylvia leaned forward and spoke to Parker as though she had been granted exclusive access to the world’s most valued secrets.

  “Of course I remember David, Mom, we email each other all the time and I see him pretty regularly.” Parker wondered if she was deliberately forgetful or if she just didn’t bother to remember things that didn’t pertain to her.

  “Well, he had the most gorgeous friend, Michael, who came along for lunch. Also a dancer. Muscles on his muscles.” Sylvia mimed fanning herself at the recall.

  “Syl, we talked about this,” Patrick whispered and shook his head at Parker and then Syd as if to apologize for what was to come.

  “Oh, don’t be silly. You never know.” Sylvia collected her purse from the floor and began rummaging through the muddle at the bottom. “It can’t hurt anything.”

  Given the tense look on her father’s face, Parker thought that was likely untrue. She accepted her plate of vegetarian pasta as the waiter delivered their meals.

  “Aha!” Her mother’s triumphant announcement was followed by the offer of a pale green business card with magenta print on the front, the words Michael Donovan, Professional Dancer entwined in the stem of a lotus flower. Parker accepted the card and scanned the writing. She pinched her tongue between her front teeth as she passed it to Sydney with an accompanying look of indignation.

  “He is just divine.” Sylvia held up her hand when Parker began to speak. “I know. I heard you when you said you weren’t ready to date for a while, but it couldn’t hurt to meet him for a drink or something the next time you’re in DC.” Her eyes were wide with hope and the promise of a straight daughter. />
  Syd watched her girlfriend cycle through her choices for next responses, amused by the expression on her face. Syd gathered Parker’s fingers into her palm and squeezed. She caught Parker’s father staring at the plate of pasta as if contemplating whether to choose reining in his wife or enjoying his dinner. Syd thought dinner won since it was certainly the most pleasant choice.

  Parker stabbed at her tortellini before glancing over at Syd as if to convey silent warning. She dropped her fork back onto her plate. “Mother, how did the conversation with David and Michael go? I mean, when you offered me up as the top prize on the matchmaker’s wheel?”

  “Don’t be silly. I did no such thing. I simply showed him the picture of you we took a few years ago at the nice riverfront bistro upstate. He said you were very pretty and David told him that he should give me his card to pass on to you. That’s all.” Sylvia spoke as she cut her chicken into very precise cubes.

  Parker threaded her fingers and locked them under her chin and seemed to give up any pretense of enjoying her dinner. “Okay, Mom. Here’s the deal. David has told Aunt Sarah this and I am going to tell you…again, for the last time.”

  “What dear?” Sylvia took a delicate bite of her meal and appeared to be genuinely perplexed by Parker’s impending revelation. Sydney knew she wasn’t at all.

  She held up the card as if making a presentation at a business meeting. She pointed at it theatrically as she spoke. “Your sister’s son, David Mark Bradley, is gay. I mean boa-wearing on Castro Street during a San Francisco Pride Parade gay. David thinks it’s funny that his mother and his aunt—you—conveniently forget that or think that it will magically go away if you only pretend you didn’t hear it. He encouraged Michael to give you his card as a joke. I know them. Yes, Michael is gorgeous, we meet about once a month for lunch. Michael and David have been dating for two years, Mom.”

  Parker sighed and reached for her fork before aborting the move once again. Syd chewed on her second bite of salmon slowly. The only thing better than the tender, seasoned fish was watching Parker put someone firmly in their place, something she had seen more than once this weekend. Patrick Duncan forked heaping spools of pasta into his mouth. Sydney briefly caught his eye and watched him fight the smirk that tried to form on his face.