by Judith Keim
“Uh, Mom? Madeleine wants to talk to you. Here she is.”
“Sukie?”
She tensed, wondering what her daughter-in-law had to say. It couldn’t be good if Rob was so upset.
“I just want you to know that Rob and I disagree on this being weird,” Madeleine said. “If you’ve moved on and found someone you’re interested in, I’m all for it. This idea that a difference in ages is wrong for a woman but right for a man is ridiculous.”
Sukie’s breath escaped in a rush of relief. Bless Madeleine. Sukie had always loved her.
“Don’t worry. Rob will come around. But, Sukie, I’ve never seen Ted so angry. He’s absolutely furious that you’ve embarrassed him.”
Sukie’s blood pressure rose in pounding pulses. Through teeth clamped together she ground out, “He has no reason to be upset with me. I’m the one who’s been embarrassed by him parading his pregnant girlfriend all over town.”
“Just a warning. Talk to you later.”
Sukie hung up the phone trembling with fury. She was still fuming over the unfairness of Ted’s behavior, when she received a call from Betsy. “Just checking. You and Cam are still coming for brunch, aren’t you?”
“Yes, but we have to bring Chloe. All right?”
“That’s fine. I’ve got plenty of toys here for her to play with. See you soon.”
Thinking of Ted, Sukie shook her head. If he knew of her support of Betsy’s relationship with Karen, it would send him into another tizzy. He’d become so full of self-importance in his role as bank president that somewhere along the line he’d lost the ability to be kind. Earlier, she’d accepted it as part of who he was, but now she couldn’t and wouldn’t condone it.
###
Betsy was all smiles when she greeted Sukie, Cam and Chloe at the door. Karen stood behind her wearing a look of uncertainty.
“Come in, come in,” Betsy said. “I’ve set up brunch in the sun room. It’s my favorite room in the house.” Her cheeks colored prettily as she ushered them inside. “Sukie Skidmore and Cam Taylor, I want you to meet Karen McEvoy, my... partner.”
Cam smiled and shook Karen’s hand, and Sukie followed suit.
“Hi, there, Chloe.” Betsy knelt on the floor and opened her arms. Chloe ran into them. “I’ve got some toys for you to play with. My granddaughter Caitlin keeps a whole basketful of them here.”
Chloe’s eyes danced. “For me?”
“For a while,” said Betsy cheerfully, rising and leading the way.
Sukie turned to Karen. “I understand you’re going to move in with Betsy. When?”
Karen’s eyes rounded. “Betsy hasn’t told you?”
Sukie shook her head.
Karen sighed. “Probably never. Richie called her yesterday. He and Sarah are having some problems, and he asked Betsy if he could move in with her for a while. I’ve gone ahead and rented an apartment nearby. There’s no way either one of us feels ready to spring our relationship on him. Not when he’s so vulnerable.”
“I’m sorry.” Sukie didn’t know what else to say. Betsy had a family to consider.
While Chloe played with the Barbie dolls she’d pulled out of a wicker basket, Sukie sat with the other adults at the round rattan-and-glass table. Betsy had loaded it with brunch items—an egg and cheese casserole, sausage patties, fresh fruit, sweet rolls and an assortment of pastries. As they ate, Karen talked about her work as an IT analyst. While Cam and Karen discussed a new program she was working on, Sukie turned to Betsy.
“Karen told me about Richie coming to stay with you.”
Betsy nodded. “I have mixed feelings about it. Naturally I’m disappointed Karen decided to rent an apartment nearby rather than move in with me, but I’m pleased Richie is taking a stand with Sarah. They need to work several things out. It’s about time he faced that.”
Sukie told Betsy about the phone call with Rob and Madeleine and how angry she was with Ted.
Betsy shook her head. “As Gloria Steinem once said, ‘a woman without a man is like a fish without a bicycle.’ Who needs’em when they pull stuff like that?” She nudged Sukie with her elbow. “So, how’s it going with Cam?”
Sukie glanced over at him, deep in conversation with Karen, and felt a flutter of excitement as she recalled him naked in bed with her.
“You don’t have to say a word,” Betsy whispered, beaming at Sukie. “It’s written all over your face.”
Sukie could feel herself blushing.
Betsy clasped her hand. “It’s okay, Sukie. You guys seem to be doing fine.”
“I hope so,” Sukie whispered.
Sometime later, the sound of the doorbell brought Betsy to her feet. “I wonder who that is?”
Chloe darted out of the room, carrying the doll she’d been playing with. Sukie hurried after her.
“Hey! She’s got my doll!” came a shriek Sukie recognized as Caitlin’s voice.
By the time Sukie reached the front hall, Caitlin was holding the doll and Chloe’s face was already streaking with tears. Sukie put her arm around Chloe as she began to cry in earnest.
Cam came up behind them.
Richie stood to one side, a hand on Garrett’s shoulder. He shot Sukie a look of surprise.
“Hi, Mrs. Skidmore. Whose little girl is this?”
“Mine.” Cam picked up Chloe and patted her back.
Betsy took the doll from Caitlin and handed it back to Chloe. “Next time, ask for it politely,” she admonished Caitlin.
“But it’s mine!” Caitlin wailed.
“How about a trade?” Sukie suggested. “Let’s go see the other toys.”
They all crowded into the sunroom. Sukie was able to persuade Chloe to let go of the doll in favor of a musical game.
“Well, now that that’s settled, how about more food for everyone?” Betsy announced. “Richie?”
He nodded. “Sounds good. I took the kids to their favorite place for lunch, but couldn’t force another burger down my throat. Meals have been on our own all week.” He slumped in a chair.
Betsy served him a heaping plate of food.
Watching Richie dig into his mother’s cooking with gusto, Sukie was amused. Sons were all alike. She looked around the room and saw that Karen had moved as far away from Richie as possible.
Between bites, Richie said to his mother, “I know Mrs. Skidmore. Who are the others?”
Betsy’s hands fluttered in the air nervously. “Oh, my! In all the confusion, I forgot to make the introductions. Cameron Taylor is a new neighbor. Chloe is his daughter. And this is Karen McEvoy, a special friend of mine.”
The tinkling notes of the musical game echoed in the silence of the room that followed. Richie stared from Betsy’s bright cheeks to Karen’s look of discomfort.
Sukie shifted uneasily in her chair.
Chloe whined and threw the game down on the floor.
Cam caught Sukie’s eye. “Time for us to get Chloe home for naptime.”
Richie’s eyebrows formed arcs of surprise. “You two are together?”
Cam gave him a thin smile. “Not really. We’re just friends.”
Sukie froze in her seat. Just friends? Elizabeth had told her all about friends with benefits. Is that what Cam meant?
“Are you sure you have to go?” Betsy asked.
Sukie realized Betsy was nervous to have Richie and Karen in the same room, but she needed some time to herself. She was so confused.
Outside, Cam gave Sukie a seductive grin. “We’ll walk you home—unless you want to help me put Chloe down for a nap and stay for a while.”
She swallowed hard. “Better not. I’ve got a lot of things to take care of before the busy work week ahead.”
Cam gave her a puzzled look and lifted her chin. “You okay?”
Sukie nodded, hoping he wouldn’t notice how mixed up she felt.
They came to a stop in front of Sukie’s house.
“I’ll call you this week.” Cam gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.
Wrapping her little arms around Sukie’s neck, Chloe gave her a hard squeeze. “Gimme a bear hug.”
“Grrr, love you,” Sukie responded, as she had to her own children years ago.
“My mommy.” Chloe gave Sukie another hug.
Aware of Cam’s steady, troubled gaze, Sukie said, “No, honey. We’re special, special friends, you and I. Okay?”
Chloe’s blue eyes seemed to fill her face as she stared at Sukie for a moment. “I want to get down.”
Sukie set Chloe on her feet.
Cam shook his head. “Sorry about that Mommy business. She really likes you and doesn’t understand why she can’t have one too.”
“I understand,” Sukie enjoyed the feeling of Chloe’s small arms squeezing her into a hug.
“Well, gotta go. She’s too far ahead of me.” Cam took off in a loping run.
Sukie watched him, her mind whirling. Her life had gone from a quiet, almost boring existence to one filled with so many ups and downs she couldn’t keep track of them.
Still upset over Cam’s statement about being just friends, Sukie changed her clothes and went out to the garden. The warm dirt in her hands, the colorful flowers, even the weeds she’d plucked from the ground all gave her a better sense of self. Chiding herself, Sukie decided her angst was due to existing between two different social worlds. She’d never give her body, her heart, her soul to someone without it meaning more than being just friends.
A car pulled into the driveway. Sukie tensed. She might have sorted out a few things but she was in no mood for company. Grumbling to herself, Sukie headed toward the front of the house.
Carol Ann greeted her halfway. “I’m sorry I didn’t call first, but I had to get out of the house. My parents are at each other again and I was going crazy. I knew I could find peace and quiet here with you.”
Sukie smiled. “C’mon! You can help me.”
Carol Ann laughed. “I thought we might end up in your garden so I wore my ratty old jeans.”
Suddenly, it felt good to Sukie to share her space with someone who had no expectations beyond conversation. She handed Carol Ann a trowel and set her to work loosening the soil around the plants she’d just weeded.
They worked in companionable silence for a while, with the sweet trilling notes of birds as background music. Sensing something was on Carol Ann’s mind, Sukie waited for her to speak.
Carol Ann finally broke into the quiet. “I’ve decided to date John again. You know, the guy from the insurance company. He called me last night.”
Alarm shot through Sukie. “Isn’t he the one who got rough with you in the parking lot?”
“Yes, but that was a one-time thing. He promised me it won’t happen again. He said he’d had way too much to drink and it made him crazy when he knew we didn’t have anywhere to go.”
Sukie shook her head in disbelief. “What’s going to be different now? You still live with your parents.”
Carol Ann flashed Sukie a triumphant smile. “He’s got a new apartment. One of the condos by the lake was up for rent.”
“That’s pretty expensive.” Ted and Emmy Lou lived there, and Sukie knew exactly how much they sold for. “When did all this come about?”
“He got a raise two weeks ago and decided to get out of his old place and into something more suitable for a manager.” Carol Ann spread her arms out. “Sukie, he’s good-looking, has a nice car and a great apartment. What’s not to like?”
Sukie studied her, uncertain what to say. They’d all told Carol Ann those weren’t the most important things to look for in a man.
Carol Ann clucked her tongue. “Oh, I know he’s not as handsome as Tiffany’s husband, or as rich, but living with him would be a whole lot better than living with my parents.”
“Wha-a-at! You’re already talking about living together?” Sukie couldn’t hide her dismay.
A blush crept up Carol Ann’s cheeks. “No, no. He doesn’t know I’ve been thinking about it, but it might be an answer to my prayers. Finding someone to share an apartment with, getting out of my parents’ house...” Her voice trailed off.
Sukie placed a hand on Carol Ann’s shoulder and gazed into her eyes, trying to understand. She didn’t know whether Carol Ann was just plain naïve or so desperate for a change she wasn’t thinking clearly. “I want you to promise me you’ll go slowly.”
Carol Ann nodded. “I will, though he seems pretty anxious to get together.” She clasped her hands together. “I’m so glad everyone got me started on Internet dating. I can pretty much pick and choose who I want to go out with. And John wants me. Just me, he says.”
“More reason to go slowly.” With encouragement from the Fat Fridays group, Carol Ann had emerged from her shell, had begun dressing differently, and was well aware of the different ways men were reacting to her. Observing her low-cut halter top that barely contained her breasts, Sukie wondered if they’d created a monster.
“Thanks for listening to me, Sukie.” Carol Ann gave her a weak smile.
Sukie’s heart went out to her. “Just be careful.” Time would help Carol Ann regain her equilibrium. Until then, Sukie would worry about her.
They finished working, and Sukie brought out sweet tea and cookies to the patio. Carol Ann stretched out on one of the lounge chairs and accepted her drink with a lazy smile. “Your house is so beautiful, Sukie. I can’t wait to have one like it.”
Sukie let out a sigh of frustration. “Carol Ann, it takes a whole lot more than material things to make someone happy.”
Carol Ann waved away her words. “I know, I know. But it doesn’t hurt to have nice things. Take a look at Tiffany. She doesn’t appreciate all that handsome husband does for her. She’s got it all and still she complains.”
It took all Sukie’s will power to keep from blurting out the truth about Tiffany’s marriage. She’d promised to keep the information to herself but it was hard not to tell Carol Ann how it really was for Tiffany. “Sometimes things aren’t what they seem.”
“I guess I shouldn’t criticize her. I know she’s been real sick with this baby. Still...”
“Still, we’re not going to judge her. Right?”
At the stern look Sukie gave her, color flooded Carol Ann’s face. “I’m sorry, Sukie. I really am.”
Sukie gave her a quick hug. “Let’s just relax and enjoy the last of the sunny afternoon. We’re due for some rainy days this week.”
Carol Ann left a short time later. Sukie sat outside, finding pleasure in the warm April weather, knowing it wouldn’t last. Her thoughts turned to Cam. A deep sense of loss knotted her stomach. If all he wanted was a “friend with privileges,” their relationship wouldn’t last.
CHAPTER TWENTY SIX
TIFFANY
Tiffany stood in front of her long bedroom mirror, rubbed her round tummy and turned from side to side. With morning sickness pretty much gone, she was in awe of what was happening to her body. “Who are you?” she whispered, sending the baby silent “boy” messages. Beau kept saying having a son was the one thing he would’ve finally done right to please his parents. She tried to tell him their baby might be a girl, but he didn’t want to listen.
She turned away from her image and sighed. The whole thing about the baby being a boy and Beau having to please his parents was pretty weird. She sometimes felt it was better to have been raised by a mother who didn’t really want her than to be raised by Beau’s parents who insisted Beau follow their rules.
“See you later.” Beau waved to her from the bedroom door. “Remember, I have a meeting at the club tonight so I need an early dinner. Have it set for me. Okay?”
Tiffany nodded and went back to searching her closet for a jacket. If only she and Beau could live far away from his parents, take on a different name, live a totally new life, she thought wistfully, things would be better. But then she wasn’t sure she even wanted to stay with Beau. If the baby w
as a boy, maybe Beau’s parents would be content to leave them alone until the little one was born.
###
Several days later Tiffany lay in bed, worrying. She’d find out the sex of the baby that afternoon and her life would take a turn for better – or worse. Rising, she flung off her nightshirt and went into the shower, wishing she could wash her anxiety away.
Tiffany was brushing her hair, when Beau came up behind her and nuzzled her neck. “I’m going to try to get home early. My father has bought a bottle of champagne to celebrate, so come right here after your appointment.”
“Beau...”
He held up his hand. “I don’t want to talk about it. I’ll see you this afternoon.”
Tiffany finished getting ready for work and went downstairs to the kitchen. She managed to swallow her vitamins but could hardly taste the dry piece of wheat toast she nibbled on between sips of orange juice.
Her morning at work passed quickly. The execs were caught up in preparation for an upcoming company-wide meeting and she was given a ton of work to do. It wasn’t until she was driving to the Fat Fridays luncheon at Bea’s that her heart kept skipping beats at the thought of having to face Beau’s parents with bad news.
Sitting at a table with the other women, she hid her anxiety and ordered a fruit salad as if nothing was wrong. But when she lifted her fork to eat her lunch, her stomach turned. She shifted in her chair, wondering if she should get up and leave the table.
“What’s going on with you?” Carol Ann asked. “Are you gonna be sick again?”
Tiffany took a deep breath. “No, but I find out the sex of my baby this afternoon. I don’t know what I’ll do if it’s a girl.”
Sukie frowned at her. “The important thing is the health of the baby.” She gave Tiffany a pat of encouragement. “This should be an exciting time. I hate to see you worry so, Tiffany. It will be what it will be.”
“Yeah. Too late for changes, hon,” Lynn said.
Tiffany nodded, attempting to calm her pulsing nerves. She was glad Betsy wasn’t there to give her one of her crazy sayings.