Embittered Ruby

by Nicole O'Dell

  Banging came from the family room, followed by a loud crash. Footsteps pounded down the hallway and stopped right outside Carmen’s room before the door flung open, the doorknob banging on the wall, fitting right into the hole a previous renter had left behind from an apparent fit of rage.

  “She won’t stop throwing the pillows at my head.” Kimberley shoved her finger in Harper’s face.

  “Well she’s making fun of my movie.” Harper whopped Kimberley with a bed pillow.

  “Only babies watch Finding Nemo.”

  Great. “Hang on, Nate.” Carmen covered the phone receiver and glared. “You two better get out of here right now. I’m dead serious.”

  “Or what? This is my room, too, you know.” Kimberley jutted out one hip and put her hands on her waist. “In fact. Come on, Harper. Let’s play a game up here.” She climbed onto the top bunk and reached down.

  Harper dropped the pillow and tossed her teddy bear up onto the bed then clasped Kim’s hand and scrambled to get onto the bunk, suddenly united with her sister in joint purpose to torment Carmen.

  Wonderful. “Nate, I’m going to have to go. The urchins have made their move.”

  “Okay. Call me before you go to bed if you want to.”

  Their tradition. Carmen loved the sultry, raspy whispers into her cell phone under the covers before she drifted off each night. But everything had changed. “It depends if Kim falls asleep before I do or not.” Carmen couldn’t have those conversations with Nate with her sister listening in from three feet above her.

  “True dat. I’ll be around if she does.”

  For now, but how long would his patience last? Gorgeous college hunks didn’t have to deal with all the hassles of dating someone younger. One day even Nate would tire of it.

  “Love you.”

  “Love you, too.” Carmen clicked the phone off and pried herself off her pillows. She didn’t want to hang around in there with the two stooges.

  “Ooh. Love you, snookum.” Kim smooched the air.

  “Love you, too, pumpkin.” Harper kissed her teddy bear.

  “You two need to grow up.” Carmen slammed the door behind her, not quite sealing off the giggles.

  She grabbed a Coke from the ancient gold refrigerator—used to industrial-size stainless steel appliances, Carmen hadn’t seen one so old except on reruns of The Brady Bunch—and settled on the sofa with her computer. The sounds from the bedroom had diminished to a semi-ignorable roar, so Carmen flipped open her laptop and went right to Google.

  What happens if I miss four birth-control pills? While she waited for the page to load—thank you dial-up—she walked to the window. But wait…she felt crampy in her lower abdomen. Come to think of it, she’d had dull cramps for a few hours. But her period wasn’t due for another couple of weeks yet. Could the missed pills have started her cycle early?

  A trip to the bathroom to confirm her suspicions and a Google search later, Carmen had a plan. According to the online birth-control gods, she could stop looking for the old pack, wait a couple of days, and just start a brand-new one. Which was perfect timing. She’d pick up her new pack from the Value Drugs in Briarcliff Manor and then start it on Monday night. The articles said she and Nate would have to be extra careful for the whole month—which meant she’d have to tell him. Small price to pay for relief, though.

  Phew. Definitely a crisis averted—though Nate might not see it quite the same way after all of his careful planning for their special romantic night tomorrow. But what if she’d gotten pregnant? A pregnancy would be horrible under the current circumstances. Having a baby with Nate one day sounded wonderful—but not anytime soon. He’d just have to get over the disappointment.

  Carmen thought back to the day Dad took her to the clinic to get The Pill. She’d been trying to work up the nerve to ask for months. But one day, totally out of nowhere, he approached her and said, “I’m not stupid, Carmen. I know you’re going to have sex. I’m sure you and Nate already are. So we’re going to keep you safe.” She’d been so afraid he’d ask her to confirm his suspicions, but he never had.

  Ugh. He did proceed to talk to her about STDs and how the pill didn’t prevent those. Duh. Sex Ed and a bit of logic taught her that. Still, she had to listen to his spiel if she wanted him to follow through with the promise to get her on the pill.

  Uncomfortable conversation, to say the least. But she had her protection.

  Mom would have a stroke if she found out her daughter was on the pill and had been for a long time. Well, she couldn’t find out. Simple.

  Carmen snaked an arm from under the covers and fumbled for the alarm clock she’d placed on the floor near her bed. The SNOOZE button did its job for the third time. She’d better make it the last one or Dad would have to park and come up to the apartment to wait for them.

  Hey, maybe that wasn’t such a bad idea. If he came up, Mom would have to talk to him, and he’d be forced to see where his daughters had been sentenced to live while he played lawyer games. But what if Mom wore her ratty navy-blue bathrobe and had bed head? That kind of disaster might set the cause back even further. Besides, Carmen didn’t want to miss her tennis lesson.

  What would Kim and Harper do while Carmen played at the country club? Mid-September was way too cold to swim, and they hated golf. They’d be stuck home alone with Dad and his bimbo. Carmen lifted a leg, pressed her foot into the springs, and jiggled the top bunk. “Yo, Kim. Want to stay and hang out with me at the courts today?” Her little sister used to beg for the privilege, and it had to be better than going to Dad’s, where Tiffany reigned as queen. Anything beat being around her.

  “What? And watch you flounce around the tennis court like Captain Jack Sparrow? I’ll pass.” Kimberley leaned over the top bunk. “Besides, Tiff is going to show me some cheer moves and let me try on her Eagles uniform.”

  “Tiff? Since when do you call that…that…oh, whatever.” Gross. If her little sister wanted to kiss up to their own private home-wrecker, she would have to do it alone. Carmen wanted no part of it. “And when did you make these plans? Have you talked to her?”

  “Tiffany? Sure I’ve talked to her. We text. Jealous much?” Kimberley laughed. “Oh, and I’m pretty sure I’m going to beat you to the bathroom.” She flung her legs over and lowered herself until her toes touched the carpet.

  “Fine,” Carmen muttered into her pillow. “I’m going to beat you to the front seat.” Why did she let Kimberley bring out the immature brat in her every single time? Carmen had had it. She climbed from her bed with her sights set on forty-five minutes in a car with Dad sans Tiffany. That woman…needed to get lost, and Mom and Dad had to get back together. But how?

  An idea began to take shape. Carmen loped the few steps down the hall to the room Mom shared with Harper. “Hey. Dad’s picking us up in about an hour, and I have a date with Nate tonight. Any chance you could show me how to use your makeup? Maybe demonstrate on yourself so I can do it to myself later?”

  Mom’s tired eyes perked up. “Really? You hardly ever want to wear makeup. How exciting. Let me get my cases.”

  Brilliant. The ruse would get Mom all pretty before Dad got there. But then how to get him up to the apartment? Carmen flipped open her phone and texted Dad: CAN U COME UP WHEN U GET HERE? HAVE LOTS TO CARRY.

  Perfect. Now to deal with Mom’s clothes.

  Fifty minutes later, expertly made-up and unknowingly dressed to accentuate her curves, Mom went to make coffee.

  Dad had never texted back to say no, so Carmen’s plan was a go.

  Carmen selected a black tennis skirt and a red hoodie from the pile near the tiny closet and slipped into it. She looked dressed for the club. Well, kind of. She smirked into the mirror. No pink, green, or navy for her, country-club rebel that she was. She grabbed her racquet, tennis duffel, and overnight bag and hurried to the hall.

  Harper looked all ready to go, backpack and all. She perched on the couch with her Nintendo DS, thumbs going like crazy.

&nbs
p; Kimberley came from the bathroom dressed in an outfit no doubt intended to please Tiff, and Mom peeked out the window to the street below. Looked like no one wanted a confrontation. Little did they know Carmen had already asked Dad to come up.

  “Girls,” Mom called from the window as she looked down onto the street “Time to go.” “Your da—um…your ride is here.”

  Chapter 4

  Uh-oh. Why had mom sounded so strange? Carmen tripped over Harper’s unicorn Pillow Pal as she hurried to the open window and peered down to her biggest nightmare.

  A sleek, black convertible BMW decked out in chrome everything sat roaring its money and power for all of Hackensack to see…and hear. Tiffany flipped her blond waves from under the collar of her white leather jacket then slid her chunky black sunglasses up her forehead and back over the top of her head. How was it Tiffany managed to create a halo of perfectly highlighted gold framing her face, but whenever Carmen tried that move, she had hair sticking up in every direction? Tiffany must practice it in the mirror. Or maybe grace came naturally to people like her.

  Bracelets slid to her slender elbow as Tiffany’s long arm reached up through the open roof to wave. Judging by the people leaning out their windows, Tiffany’s shiny black convertible drew more attention than Dad’s car would have. Or was it Tiffany herself who commanded the stares of the onlookers? Either way, the combo was unstoppable.

  “Your dad said you needed help with your things. But I just got my nails done. Mind making two trips?” Tiffany spoke barely loud enough for Carmen to hear, then pulled her hand close to scrutinize her nails.

  “I get shotgun.” Kimberley darted past Carmen and bounded down the stairway to the street.

  I’d like a shotgun.

  Mom’s ruby-painted lips parted slightly as she watched her middle daughter run from the apartment without even a backward glance.

  Harper slipped on her Selena Gomez hoodie and reached up to hug Mom.

  Mom stooped down and clutched Harper’s tiny shoulders. “You be good.”

  “We’ll be back tomorrow, Mommy. Don’t be lonely, okay?” Harper’s wise green eyes glistened.

  “I’m going to be fine, little bug. You go have a good time.” Mom squeezed Harper and then patted her behind as she scampered out the door.

  Carmen gazed into her mom’s eyes. It must be torture to watch as her daughters climbed into the car with the woman who destroyed her marriage…the woman who now lived in Mom’s home and slept in her bed. Carmen took a deep breath. Why hadn’t she even considered Mom’s feelings before? The situation was difficult for Carmen, sure. But what about her mother? She’d lost even more than Carmen had. “Mom. I’m sorry I’ve been so selfish. This can’t be easy for you.”

  Her mother gulped back a sob and nodded. “Thanks for thinking of me—it means a lot. Now really, put all the sad stuff out of your head, and try to have a good time with your father.”

  Well, Dad was a no-show apparently, and having fun with Tiffany was out of the question. But at least Nate was a sure thing. Unless…Did Mom need her to stay behind for the weekend? “You positive? I don’t have to go. We could hang out and stuff. Maybe explore the town.” Mom would say no—she had to. But if she didn’t, if Mom needed Carmen’s company this weekend, she’d stay. Nate would probably hate her, but she could—

  “No, no. You go on. I really appreciate the offer.” Mom rolled her shoulders back a few inches like she always harped on Carmen to do. “I’m going to be just fine. Now scoot.”

  Carmen hid her relief as best she could. “As long as you’re sure.”

  A horn blared.

  The back of Carmen’s neck bristled, and she gritted her teeth. Tiffany had just honked at her? Seriously? Who did she think she was?

  Backpack. Laptop. Cell phone. Carmen gathered her things as slowly as possible. Kissed her mom on the cheek and sauntered down the stairs. She wouldn’t hurry for Tiffany, no matter what.

  Tiffany drummed her fingernails on the dashboard.

  Nails suddenly dry, Tiff? Or were they never wet and just some excuse she gave so she didn’t have to move? “Careful, you’ll mess up your nails.”

  Frowning, Tiffany pulled her hand closer and inspected them.

  Kimberley leaned forward and flipped the seat up so Carmen could climb into the back. For once, no argument from Carmen. Kim could sit in the passenger’s seat.

  “How’s it going?” Tiffany flashed her best rah-rah grin.

  “Fine. Where’s my dad?” Carmen had no intention of making this easy for her.

  Tiffany flinched. “His trip ran a little long. I’m going to drop you at tennis. He should be home by the time you’re done.”

  Carmen crossed her arms and gazed out the window. “He’d planned to fly in last night and be here this morning.”

  Tiffany shrugged. “Things change. You know how it goes.”

  “It had already been changed from the original plan,” Carmen muttered as she slouched below the gust of pollution swarming the car as they sped along the streets of New Jersey. Maybe if she pretended she was asleep they would all leave her alone.

  Harper, bless her, snoozed peacefully against the window. Oh, to be so innocent and trusting. Not a care in the world. Little did she know.

  The road sounds blended with Kimberley’s incessant chatter about makeup and clothes. Tiffany lapped up the chance to spew her wisdom. “With those big blue eyes of yours, you should use a little bit of eyeliner. But if you do…”

  Carmen opened her eyes, and they were already crossing the Tappan Zee Bridge. About twenty more minutes to the Sleepy Hollow Country Club and her handsome tennis pro, Zach Stafford. Was there any such thing as an ugly tennis pro? Carmen chuckled.

  Nate harbored a little jealousy toward Zach even though he’d never admit it. How could he not? Gorgeous and athletic, Zach was a force on and off the courts. But his beautiful wife and two kids put him a bit out of reach for Carmen. Not to mention he was like twenty-something, maybe even close to thirty. Nate had nothing to worry about.

  “You awake, Carm?”

  Carm? No one ever called her that, and the last person she wanted a nickname from was Tiffany. She refused to dignify her weak attempt at relating with a response until Tiffany used her full name.

  “Carmen?” Tiffany’s voice dropped from proud lioness to plaintive kitten.

  “Hmm?”

  Tiffany flashed a hesitant grin into the rearview mirror. “Hey, I was just thinking. We should work out together sometime. You know, go for a run, whatever. Seeing as how we’re both athletes and all.”

  Athletes? Cheerleaders bounced around in short skirts and posed for a calendar once a year. “Don’t you think there’s a little difference between what we do? I mean, tennis is a real sport. With sweat and everything.”

  Tiffany’s eyes narrowed. “I know you think pro cheerleaders are idiots, but we work really hard. You have no idea. And it’s highly competitive.”

  “Oh, I know. I’ve seen the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader reality show. No body fat, great highlights, cute in the uniform. Sounds like a sport to me. Besides, aren’t you retired?”

  “Cut it out.” Kimberley shot a glare toward the backseat.

  Good. Carmen had gotten to her, too.

  Tiffany took a deep breath, her fingers gripping the steering wheel. “I’m not retired from everything. It’s not like I sit home every day eating doughnuts and watching soap operas. I left the Philadelphia Eagles cheerleading squad to move on to other things.”

  Yeah, my dad. “I’m sure it does take a lot of work to get your hair and makeup just right every day.” Carmen’s gut twinged with a touch of guilt at her snark—but not enough to apologize. “Oh look. We’re here.”

  They drove between the stone columns and through the massive iron gates at Sleepy Hollow Country Club. Like right through the pearly gates straight into heaven. Only three nights in Hackensack and already her home away from home in New York felt like a distant dream.

  D
id she even belong there anymore, or was she nothing more than a temporary guest? A visitor in her own home? An alien in her old life? Only time would tell.

  Carmen climbed out from the backseat and hurried past the golf-course entrance. She passed through the locker-room doors, blazed past the attendant at the sink, ignored the ladies gossiping by the lockers, and exited right onto the courts. Her tennis racquet bounced against her knee as she jogged out to her position.

  “I see we’re skipping the small talk today?” Zach chuckled.

  Love you, but not in the mood. “Yeah, let’s just play.”

  Zach threw a ball into the air, reared back his racquet, and skimmed the ball right over the net in a perfect serve.

  WHAP!

  WHOP!

  Carmen returned volley after volley with a vengeance. She raised her arm high above her head in a serve so powerful it lifted both her feet off the ground.

  “Wow, girl. Go easy on an old man, will you?” Zach rubbed his face with a towel and guzzled some water. “What’s gotten into you today? You’re playing like you have something to prove.”

  More like someone to destroy. “I don’t know. Just getting out some frustrations. Feels good.” Carmen hunched down and shifted from side to side, spinning her racquet in her hands.

  “We’ll have to get you worked up more often. Before tournaments, if possible.”

  “The way my life’s been going, it shouldn’t be a problem.”

  A fifty-something club employee in a sharply creased uniform stepped onto the court with a clipboard in hand. “Excuse me. Are you Carmen Castillo?” She overpronounced the Spanish accent, and her upturned nose gave away her distaste.

  What does she want? “Yeah. That’s me. What’s up?”

  “I’m Corelle, the membership manager.” The woman’s nose twitched. “I just wondered if your father has signed you in as a guest for today. I don’t have record of it.”