Fat Fridays

by Judith Keim

  FAT FRIDAYS

  by

  Judith Keim

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, public or private institutions, corporations, towns, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

  No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems without permission in writing from the author, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review. This book may not be resold or uploaded for distribution to others.

  Wild Quail Publishing

  PO Box 171332

  Boise, ID 83717-1332

  ISBN# 978-0-9964350-6-2

  Copyright ©2015 Judith Keim

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  For All the Women Whose Friendships | Have Meant So Much to Me | Love You!

  CHAPTER ONE | SUKIE

  CHAPTER TWO | BETSY

  CHAPTER THREE | TIFFANY

  CHAPTER FOUR | LYNN

  CHAPTER FIVE | CAROL ANN

  CHAPTER SIX | SUKIE

  CHAPTER SEVEN | SUKIE

  CHAPTER EIGHT | BETSY

  CHAPTER NINE | SUKIE

  CHAPTER TEN | LYNN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN | SUKIE

  CHAPTER TWELVE | SUKIE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN | CAROL ANN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN | SUKIE

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN | BETSY

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN | SUKIE

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN | TIFFANY

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN | SUKIE

  CHAPTER NINETEEN | LYNN

  CHAPTER TWENTY | SUKIE

  CHAPTER TWENTY ONE | SUKIE

  CHAPTER TWENTY TWO | BETSY

  CHAPTER TWENTY THREE | SUKIE

  CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR | CAROL ANN

  CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE | SUKIE

  CHAPTER TWENTY SIX | TIFFANY

  CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN | SUKIE

  CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT | SUKIE

  CHAPTER TWENTY NINE | CAROL ANN

  CHAPTER THIRTY | LYNN

  CHAPTER THIRTY ONE | BETSY

  CHAPTER THIRTY TWO | SUKIE

  CHAPTER THIRTY THREE | SUKIE

  CHAPTER THIRTY THREE | CAROL ANN

  CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR | SUKIE

  CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE | SUKIE

  CHAPTER THIRTY SIX | BETSY

  CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN | SUKIE

  CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT | TIFFANY

  CHAPTER THIRTY NINE | LYNN

  CHAPTER FORTY | SUKIE

  CHAPTER FORTY ONE | LYNN

  CHAPTER FORTY TWO | CAROL ANN

  CHAPTER FORTY THREE | SUKIE

  CHAPTER FORTY FOUR | CAROL ANN

  CHAPTER FORTY FIVE | SUKIE

  CHAPTER FORTY SIX | SUKIE

  About the Author

  For All the Women Whose Friendships

  Have Meant So Much to Me

  Love You!

  CHAPTER ONE

  SUKIE

  Life was good Sukie Skidmore thought as she returned home from an early Christmas shopping day in Atlanta. Her daughter was doing well in college and her son and daughter-in-law would present her with a grandchild in the next few months. Ted, her husband, hated the idea of becoming a grandfather but Sukie, even as young as she was, loved the idea of a little one in the family.

  Surprised to see her husband’s BMW in the driveway, Sukie hurried inside and up the hallway stairs to see if he was all right. He’d complained earlier of coming down with a cold. The door to their bedroom was closed. She stepped closer. At the noises she heard from inside it, she realized something was wrong. Very wrong.

  She flung open the door.

  Ted’s bare bottom was moving rhythmically on top of Emmy Lou Rogers, her Pilates instructor. Seeing Sukie, Emmy Lou shrieked, pushed Ted away, and scrambled to her feet. Taking itty bitty steps that bobbed her ample breasts up and down in a comic dance, Emmy Lou hurried to reach her clothes strewn on the floor.

  Ted faced Sukie, his manhood standing tall. “Get out of here!”

  His snarling words shredded Sukie’s attempt at composure. She let out a howl, reached for Emmy Lou, who was trying to edge her way out of the room, threw her to the floor and pinned her down.

  “Your boyfriend, the one you talk about in class, is my husband?” she shrieked at Emmy Lou.

  “Stop it!” Ted grabbed hold of Sukie and pulled her off Emmy Lou.

  Outraged, Sukie fought him with all her might. She didn’t realize while she and Ted were scuffling, Emmy Lou was calling the police.

  ###

  Now, sitting in her car outside of Anthony’s restaurant, remembering the humiliation of facing the police chief in such mortifying circumstances, Sukie’s body hummed with indignation. During the past few months, her personal situation had become even more of a public nightmare as Emmy Lou eagerly spread her version of the sleazy details, making Sukie seem a pathetic woman who couldn’t keep her husband happy.

  Sukie let out a sigh. She’d promised to meet a friend for lunch and though she hated the thought of being out in the community, she couldn’t let Ted and Emmy Lou’s actions force her to continue hiding in her house. No more, she vowed, climbing out of her car. But crossing the parking lot toward the popular restaurant, she felt as if she’d swallowed a whole colony of ants. Anthony’s was one of the busiest places in town, and she despised being the cause of small town gossip in Williston, Georgia.

  She entered the restaurant then paused. Trying to ignore the stares and whispers cast in her direction, she searched for Betsy Wilson’s friendly face. The delicious aroma of garlic and tomato wafted around her. Anthony’s wasn’t fancy, but it was known as the best place in town for pizza.

  Sukie followed the sound of Betsy’s distinctive laugh to a back booth where Betsy sat with three other women. Seeing her, Betsy smiled and patted the empty space beside her. Sukie gratefully slid into the oversized booth onto the soft, red plastic-covered seat.

  “I’m so glad you came!” Betsy gave her a grin that eased some of the tension from Sukie’s shoulders. “I want you to meet my friends. And this, dear ladies, is Sukie Skidmore.”

  Curious about Betsy’s companions from work, Sukie nodded to each woman as introductions were made.

  Lynn Hodges reached across the table to offer Sukie her hand.

  Studying her, Sukie shook it. Lynn was as well-padded as Betsy. Her short, no-nonsense haircut showed signs of gray, making her the oldest of Betsy’s three friends. Intimidated by Lynn’s frank, blue-eyed stare, Sukie picked up a menu.

  Betsy turned to the others. “I told Sukie ‘be there or be square’.”

  Sukie couldn’t help rolling her eyes, and everyone laughed.

  “There’s no stoppin’ her.” Lynn’s features softened with affection, momentarily erasing the deep worry lines etched across her brow. “But it’s great, us, getting together every Friday, taking an extra-long lunch hour from work.”

  “We order anything we want—no calories counted,” Betsy explained. “That’s why we call them Fat Fridays. Right, girls?” She winked, and Sukie laughed. It was another of Betsy’s fun ideas.

  “Yeah, and when Betsy brings her famous cupcakes to work, it’s even better,” said Lynn.

  Tiffany smiled at Betsy. “I love the strawberry the best. The ones with the pink icing and hearts.”

  Clasping her hands in front of her primly, Carol Ann Mobley turned to Sukie. “So, how do you know Betsy? She told us you’re old friends, but you don’t look so old to me.” Carol Ann’s eyes widened. “Oh, Betsy, I’m sorry...I didn’t mean...”

  “No problem, hon.” Betsy gave Carol Ann a good-natured
smile. “While Sukie and I have sons the same age, she started her family much younger than I. We’ve been friends ever since she moved into the neighborhood several years ago.”

  “We’ve already ordered the pizza—sausage and peppers,” said Tiffany Wright. She was baby-doll beautiful, with blond hair and a body that wouldn’t quit, as Sukie’s son Rob would say. Her dark brown eyes held a vulnerability Sukie found intriguing.

  “Is that okay, Sukie? I mean, the pizza choice?” Carol Ann’s gaze darted uncertainly from her to the others.

  Sukie gave her a reassuring nod. “It’s more than okay.” She struggled to temper the bitter edge that crept into her voice. “It’s time for me to have a little fun.”

  Betsy gave her a sympathetic look, but Sukie vowed not to feel sorry for herself. She didn’t want to stay stuck on that pitiful merry-go-round. Ted Skidmore wasn’t worth it.

  “’Heard about your divorce. Been there, done that.” Lynn’s gravelly voice matched her brusque manner. “Best thing that ever happened to me. My husband, the son of a bitch, was a real asshole.”

  Sukie’s breath caught with surprise. She’d thought those things of Ted plenty of times, but she’d never voice it in front of people she didn’t know. But it didn’t seem to bother Lynn one bit. Or else these women were closer than Sukie had first thought.

  “Well, y’all, I don’t care what you say, I’d sure like to be married someday,” Carol Ann said. “But I haven’t met the right man. I want someone handsome and rich.” She nudged Tiffany. “Like Beau.”

  Annoyance flashed across Tiffany’s face and disappeared as quickly. Her cheeks turned a pretty pink. “He is cute, isn’t he?” Her lips curved, but Sukie knew Carol Ann’s remarks had bothered Tiffany, and she wondered why.

  The pizza arrived. Betsy slid a large, crisp slice onto each plastic plate and handed them out. “Okay, ladies, enjoy! Here’s to another Fat Friday!”

  “Hear, hear!” Lynn took a large bite of pizza, and murmured satisfaction as she swallowed.

  Sukie’s first bite of pizza was wonderful—cheesy and warm, almost sinful. Since the divorce, she’d studied her image in the mirror, forcing herself to acknowledge every flaw, every bulge. Truthfully, for a woman in her early forties, she wasn’t in bad shape. More than that, she’d been a good wife and a good mother. That had to count for something more than a voluptuous figure.

  “You doing okay?” Betsy’s voice startled Sukie out of her thoughts.

  Sukie nodded. “I’m learning how to operate all the equipment around the house—things I’d ignored before. The lawnmower gave me some problems, but I finally got it started. It’s a whole new thing for me. That, and handling all the financial stuff Ted used to insist upon doing himself.”

  “Is your ex a know-it-all, control freak like mine?” Lynn said. “Bet he thought of you as the little lady or somethin’ like that, huh?”

  Sukie started to shake her head and stopped. Ted had sometimes wanted to know every moment of her day and had often quizzed her on how she’d spent each penny. He’d stated his need to know was merely part of his banking persona. What a load of B.S!

  Lynn gave her a satisfied smile. “You’re gonna surprise yourself by takin’ hold of your life. I swear it’s gonna make you happier than you’ve ever been.” There was no judgment in her rough voice, just encouragement.

  “Hey, Sukie,” said Tiffany, “we’ve wanted to add to our group.” Her dark eyes shone. “Why don’t you see if you can get a job at MacTel? They need another admin.”

  “Admin?”

  “Yeah, you know, an administrative assistant. A secretarial type, like us,” interjected Carol Ann. “Any friend of Betsy’s is a friend of ours. Right, y’all?”

  After having so many of her so-called friends drop her socially, Sukie’s heart warmed at their easy acceptance. “My daughter Elizabeth has been after me to take computer courses, but I told her I need to have time to pull myself together emotionally. I’m going to have to earn money, though.”

  Tiffany nodded. “Maybe later, when you have more training, something will open up. We’ll keep an eye out for job postings.”

  “In the meantime,” said Betsy, glancing around the table, “let’s vote Sukie into the Fat Fridays group. What do you say, girls?”

  Tossing her blond hair over her shoulder, Tiffany gave Sukie a thumbs-up sign.

  “You betcha.” Lynn added.

  Carol Ann clasped her hands together and smiled shyly at her. “Of course!”

  “You in?” Betsy pinned her with a steely gaze that made Sukie squirm.

  Feeling as if she’d just been accepted into the most popular sorority on campus, not a group of relative strangers, Sukie embraced the idea. “Why not? It’s the best offer I’ve had in a long, long time.”

  Sukie answered the questions the others had about her and her family, happy to discuss her children and the grandchild on the way.

  “You’re much too young to have a grandchild,” said Carol Ann, leaning over for a closer look. “And so pretty.”

  Sukie remained quiet. She might never have married Ted if she hadn’t gotten pregnant in her freshman year of college.

  After enjoying a bite of Lynn’s shared dessert, Sukie left the other women feeling more upbeat than she had in some time. It was a diverse group, but she felt freer with them than she did with her old friends, who knew or had imagined every wretched detail of her humiliating situation.

  She climbed into her Camry and headed over to the local World Foods store. Turning on the car radio for the first time in months, she thought about the group she’d just joined. Betsy was a fairly recent widow, Tiffany a young beauty, Carol Ann, an unsophisticated sweetie, and Lynn? Lynn was a tough puzzle. Sukie wondered about their stories. Everyone had one.

  Sukie’s hands tightened on the steering wheel as she pulled into the World Foods parking lot. Everyone in the neighborhood shopped there on Fridays. She drew a couple of deep breaths and parked the car. She had no choice but to go inside. Her refrigerator was empty and she was tired of sneaking into the store during off-hours.

  She grabbed her purse. It was now or never, she told herself, even as that old feeling of inadequacy threatened to overwhelm her. Ted’s betrayal had made her feel so ugly, so unlovable, so...so...stupid!

  Like a frightened child on her first day of kindergarten, Sukie timidly entered the store. Fresh strawberries, straight from Florida, greeted her in a rosy display. She picked up a small basket of them and walked into the produce department, bypassing the colorful flowers that seemed to shiver each time the front doors opened, blasting cold February air over them.

  She was evaluating the freshness of the romaine lettuce when a familiar voice rang out behind her.

  “Sukie, bless your heart, how are you? I haven’t seen you in a dog’s age.”

  Her blood turned cold. She turned to face Katy Hartmann, the president of the neighborhood women’s association. Katy thrived on a steady diet of gossip, no matter who or what the occasion.

  Sukie forced a smile. “Hi, Katy. I’m fine, thank you.” She crossed her fingers at the white lie. “Just stocking up on my fruits and veggies.”

  Katy’s overly-bright smile faded into an exaggerated show of sympathy. “I’m so sorry about you and Ted. Not that I was surprised, mind you. He was forever flirting with me. And, Emmy Lou? Obviously she did a whole lot more than coach at the local gym.” Fishing for more information, she leaned toward Sukie eagerly. “I had no idea you had such a temper, Sukie. I say good for you. We women need to stand up to our naughty men!”

  Hiding a shudder, Sukie stepped back. “How was the Valentine Party? Betsy Wilson told me the club did a beautiful job with the luncheon.”

  Katy shook her head. “That Betsy. She’s such a character. You should have seen her tackle her food.”

  Staring at Katy’s rail-thin body, anger built inside Sukie. “It’s nice to know she’s secure enough to eat what she wants.”

  At Sukie’s sha
rp tone, Katy’s eyes rounded. “Well, that’s one way to put it.” She wiggled her fingers hello as a woman came into the store. “Oh, I’ve got to go! Debbi is in charge of our next meeting, and I need to talk to her.” Katie’s smile wavered. “Are you going to be able to attend this one, Sukie?”

  Sukie shook her head, struggling to come up with an excuse. “Probably not. I’m taking courses at the library.”

  “Courses?” Katy perked up. “Why, bless your heart, that’s wonderful! Which ones?”

  “Computer courses,” Sukie blurted uneasily, caught in another white lie.

  “Good luck. I’ll tell the others.” Katy all but flew to Debbi’s side.

  “You’ll tell everyone,” Sukie muttered, grinding her teeth together.

  Bless her heart!

  ###

  Sukie carried the groceries inside her house and set them down on the kitchen counter. It hadn’t been that long ago when doing so would have brought her a great deal of satisfaction. But cooking for one had taken the joy out of creating meals her husband had once loved.

  She set to work putting away the groceries. She’d heard Ted and Emmy Lou ate out together every night. In a small, growing suburban town like Williston, with just six local restaurants including the Dairy Queen, that meant strutting their stuff all over town. Back when Sukie had attended Pilates class, Emmy Lou had bragged about not being able to cook. Sukie shook her head. After all her sumptuous meals Ted had loved so much, he’d taken up with a bimbo who couldn’t even put together a simple supper.

  Sukie opened the cupboard where she’d hidden the chocolates she’d gorged on through the tough times and tossed the few remaining pieces into the garbage. No more self-indulgence for her! She stopped, retrieved one over-sized chocolate bar, and tucked it behind the vinegar. An emergency might come up. Better safe than sorry.

  Outside, blue sky and bright sunshine beckoned. Sukie grabbed her coat and headed out the door. It had been ages since she’d walked the neighborhood. Spring – her favorite time of year - was on its way, about to nudge winter from the scene.

  She stood a moment, admiring her surroundings, so full of promise. Plantings of various sizes and shapes filled the landscaped spaces between the large houses and served as a playground for the birds flitting among the budding branches. The trees would soon leaf out in pale green glory. Bradford Pear trees were about to blossom, and then their white flowers would coat the branches like fallen snow. Redbud trees would soon add patches of brilliant pink, making the world seem a fairyland of spring colors.