“Oh shut-up!” She screamed and threw the phone back into the glove compartment, started her sports car and sped away.
Lana was visibly upset as Kay led her to the front door. Cackles of laughter could be heard coming from the kitchen. “Pay no attention to them,” Kay said wearing a disagreeable face.
“Kay, meet me for lunch at Valentino’s tomorrow. Please.”
“I promise, Lana. I’ll be there at 12:30.”
***
As soon as Norman arrived home he called out for Gloria and Melanie. He had stopped on the way home and bought two bouquets of flowers, one for mother and daughter. They were a bit reluctant to greet him because only just an hour ago he had stomped out of the house grumbling and slammed the door. Both mother and daughter quietly came downstairs to see Norman. The grandkids were already asleep. Norman held the flowers behind him.
“What is it? Did everything go okay at Gavin’s place?” Gloria asked.
“It went better than okay,” Norman cheered.
“Oh so you’re going to move then?” Gloria assumed solemnly.
With that, Norman held out both bouquets and outstretched arms.
“Norman, what are these for?” Melanie questioned as if he had lost his senses.
“They’re for my two favorite girls. I’m so sorry for what I said. Can I stay with my family?” He choked on his words.
“Oh Norman! I love you!” Gloria burst with emotion. One bouquet was crushed between them as she held Norman. Norman extended his other arm toward Melanie to include her in the embrace.
***
The last thing Lana needed was a confrontation with Max. He was waiting for her in the main hall when she entered. He motioned for the driver to leave. As soon as the driver was gone, Max rushed up to Lana shaking her by each shoulder with such force that her knees buckled bringing her to the floor.
“Are you trying to end my business or are you just stupid?” He asked her. “What were you thinking when you went to Kay Murphy’s house this evening?”
Lana leaned forward then back onto her feet. She stumbled to the staircase remaining silent which only infuriated Max more. Once a safe distance from him, Lana shouted from the upstairs landing, “I’m making a good friend. Remember, we’re cultivating Kay and Gavin. Isn’t that what you do with Potterbottom?”
“Go to sleep,” Max answered with disgust. His cell phone rang again. It was Gail again.
“Is she home yet?”
“Yeah, she’s just gone to bed.”
“Good, come over. We need to talk,” she said.
“Not tonight, I have work with overseas shipments.”
“I said, we…need… to…talk,” Gail repeated and quickly disconnected the call.
***
Gavin’s return after the committee adjourned was a welcome sight for both Kay and Cody. She was clearing the last of the coffee cups from the table when she felt both of them nuzzling her.
“Did Norman come to his senses?” Kay wanted to know right away.
“Yes, I let him have it and told him he was making a big mistake walking out on Gloria.”
“Well now may be Norman can help you sell your Pearl River home,” Kay suggested.
“Now that would be a bigger mistake,” Gavin replied. “So how did your thing go tonight with the committee?”
“Well, there was some drama between Gail Potter and Lana Berkin.”
“Really?” Gavin said grabbing leftover cookies. “I didn’t know Lana was on the committee.”
“She’s not.”
“So why was she here?”
“Because,” Kay sighed tired from the whole scene. “Because, there’s something going on between Lana and Gail, but I’m not sure what it is.”
“Well, I’m sure you’ll find out, Miss Marple.”
Kay slammed a cup down. “I’ve told you never to call me that!”
Gain wiped the crumbs from his mouth and turned Kay toward him. “I’m very sorry. I was only joking.” Gavin kissed her nose. “I’m really sorry, Kay.”
“It’s OK, I’m over it. Anyway, Lana wants to meet me at Valentino’s tomorrow for lunch and I really don’t want to go.”
“Well if you want to find out what the bad blood is between Lana and Gail, that may be the way,” Gavin coaxed her.
Kay’s thoughts raced at 80-miles an hour when she settled into bed. Her next day’s demands called out to her like children: finish the gardening, laundry needs to be done, promised to meet Gloria and Peggy for a walk in the morning, and lunch date with Lana. It was times like this that Kay wanted to escape to an island without an address. She was an only child who valued her alone time, her photography and gardening. Her eyes welled-up with tears. Gavin was already snoring, but Cody came closer to comfort Kay. Before long, the three were asleep.
***
Gail’s condo buzzer sounded. “I have to go, he’s here,” she said to someone on the phone. Quickly she buzzed Max in, primped her hair and lipstick. She wasn’t really angry at him as her tone implied on the phone. It was the way she took control of all relationships and it worked.
“Darling,” she blurted and hugged him. “Thank you for seeing me.”
“Did I have a choice?”
“Oh Max, Max, don’t be angry with your little Gail,” she cooed while running her hand through his hair. “I just can’t believe the scene Lana made this evening. It really upset me. We all want the same thing, for the Wine & Roses event to go smoothly.”
Max grabbed her wrists and forced Gail’s arms to his side. “Stop this prattle.”
“Prattle?” Gail arched her eye-brows. “Since when is a death threat prattle?”
“What are you talking about?”
Gail took out her phone to show Max the text message she received while at the committee meeting.
“Did you call the police?”
“No, what are they going to do, there’s no traceable phone number,” Gail replied, rubbing her shoulder against Max as they sat together. He leaned closer to kiss her cheek.
“May be it’s a prank,” he assured and kissed her again.
“Excuse me for a moment,” Gail whispered and walked to the bathroom.
Max removed his jacket, went to her bedroom to wait and placed Gail’s cell phone on her nightstand. He was about to undress when he spotted Gail’s phone light-up. There was a new text message. Max could hear the water running in the bathroom sure that he could take a quick glance. He grabbed the phone and read: Let me know when he’s gone. Barnaby.
That set him off all over again. He grabbed his jacket and was ready to leave when Gail returned naked with just a gold chain around her neck.
“Leaving already?”
“Yeah, like I said, I have business to take care of at home.”
4
Like a shotgun start, Kay awakened before sunrise. Her sleep was fitful but in spite of that she was ready for the day. With just a mug of black coffee in hand and her spade in the other, both she and Cody went to the back yard. He romped about, chasing birds, rolling in the grass and doing whatever he could to catch Kay’s attention. But today Kay was on a mission to finish prepping her garden, planting annuals, meeting her friends for a walk, and seeing Lana at Valentino’s.
Gavin was looking down from the bedroom window when he noticed her down below. “Ahoy there, mate.” he called. Kay laughed to herself and shook her head at is greeting.
“Gavin, you’re going to wake the neighbors. Just make some breakfast for us.”
In less than two minutes Gavin was beside her. “Reporting for duty, captain.”
“You can start by cleaning Cody off and kissing me good morning.”
“I think I’ll do you first and him second.” The two kissed. “Why are you up so early?”
“It’s this whole thing with Lana,” Kay whined.
“I think Lana needs a friend right now and you’re it. I’ll go make breakfast, oatmeal?”
“No, just buttered toast.”
/>
Damn it, why can’t Gavin just give me permission not to meet Lana? Why can’t I take myself off the hook? Kay’s thoughts were on high-voltage again. I better skip any more coffee.
Once at the breakfast table, the two discussed their plans for the day.
“You know, I think you’re right, I will talk to Norman about selling my Pearl River home. I’m tired of paying the taxes and upkeep. I have a new life.”
Kay beamed at Gavin with approval. It nagged at her on-and-off why Gavin hadn’t sold the house yet. She viewed it as his security-blanket in case their marriage failed.
“Then, I’m going to send out some email queries for articles, may be work on a chapter of my novel.”
“Lucky you,” Kay remarked.
“I don’t think your day is so bad,” Gavin countered. “You’re doing what you want to do.”
“Oh? Do you think I want to meet Lana?”
Gavin rolled his eyes and finished his oatmeal. “I’m going to take Cody for a walk.”
As soon as Cody heard those words he ran for his leash and back to Gavin with the leash clenched between his teeth.
“Love you,” Kay called out.
“Love you too,” Gavin replied.
Kay gathered the breakfast dishes when a tattered business card beneath the kitchen table caught her attention. It read Galaxy Distributors with a phone number: (203) 555-7707. “Who is this from Connecticut?” Kay asked aloud, picked up her landline and dialed forgetting to block her own phone number. It went straight into voicemail, “Thank you for calling Galaxy Distributors, Barnaby here. Sorry I missed your call, leave a message.”
***
Later that morning, Lana soaked in a luxurious hot bath while sipping on chilled Veuve Clicquot Champagne. She found the contrast in temperatures a combination that never failed to rejuvenate her. Today the warmth sooth her shoulders where Max had grabbed her and the sparkling wine eased her hangover. With two aspirin and a Xanax she was feeling so much better and able to face her day.
Her sunken indoor hot tub overlooked the expansive property. She could see the gardener weeding and trimming, but she was safe where no one could see her. She kept the door to her bath locked so that Max wouldn’t disturb her. Lana closed her eyes allowing her thoughts to wander the back roads of her memory when she and Max met.
She was an executive at her father's company, Chateau Wines, a small concern that her father, grandfather, and great-grandfather grew from the vineyards in France since 1830 and made it flourish to an international wine distributor based in mid-town Manhattan.
Chateau Wines were unstoppable, and Lana was sure to inherit the business and be crowned the new CEO. All that changed when Max Berkin, a successful entrepreneur, made it his primary goal to convince Lana's father that wine was a man's business while he courted Lana at the same time. The old man appointed Max the acting CEO when he became ill. In a matter of months Lana’s father passed, and Chateau Distributors dissolved and was reincarnated as Berkin Wine Industries. “I detest that name.” Lana complained aloud.
She became an ornament on the arm of Max at events, to help woo customers, to charm the rich and the wannabes. She was trusted because many people knew her father. They admired her intelligence and poise, how she spoke fluent French and Italian. But over the years Lana changed, little-by-little, her self-esteem chipped away until only a shell of her true self remained. Everything is a facade. But at least the wine is still authentic. Lana consoled herself.
***
The female members of the Gold Trotters had an emergency walk around Wood Dale Park. It was called to order by Kay who was desperate to talk to her down-to-earth caring friends. She would later meet Lana at Valentino's for lunch and knew a walk would help clear her concerns.
“I can’t thank Gavin enough for talking to Norman last night,” Gloria said raising her arms up to the sky as if ready to shout halleluiah. Kay patted Gloria on the shoulder and took Peggy by the arm.
“You’re so touchy-feely this morning,” Peggy commented. “What’s up?”
“I’m just so glad to be with my two best-est friends in the whole world.” Kay answered unashamed. “I don’t know what I would do without you two ladies.”
“Oh me too,” Gloria chimed. “You and Peggy are a blessing in my life.”
Peggy joined in with the camaraderie and interlocked her arms with both Kay and Gloria.
“So how did the planning meeting go last night?” Peggy asked.
“It could have been better, and I suppose worse.”
“What’s the dirt?” Gloria quickly asked.
“Yeah, what’s the scoop?” Peggy added.
“Oh my goodness, you two are worse than Gavin!” Kay scolded. “Okay, okay, this is what happened.”
Kay first explained how she felt uncomfortable with the committee members. She described them as Gail-zombies who agreed to every word that Gail Potter said. Kay whined about their drivel on spas and Botox, and their next holiday getaway.
“It was sickening,” Kay lamented. “I don’t think any of them have a real interest in flowers or the college scholarships.”
“That’s it?” Peggy said. “I thought something really big happened.”
“Well, something did,” Kay continued. “About half-way through the meeting, Lana Berkin showed up uninvited and drunk as a skunk.”
“Oh my goodness!” Gloria gasped. “Isn’t she the wife of our wine merchant?”
“Well, I guess drinking heavily goes with the business,” Peggy chortled.
“I don’t know, but whatever is going on, it’s toxic between Gail and Lana. Lana called Gail ‘Potterbottom’ and glared at her.”
“Potterbottom!” Peggy and Gloria hooted with laughter.
“I know it’s really funny,” Kay agreed while laughing. “That’s definitely a putdown of some sort. May be when I meet Lana at Valentino’s for lunch today I’ll ask her.”
“Oh?” Peggy inquired with a tone of envy.
“That’s not too shabby,” Gloria remarked.
“Then one of you meet Lana because I really don’t know what to expect.”
“Oh Kay, it’s just a lunch date. It will be good public relations for the garden club. And the food and ambience of Valentino’s are very special. Enjoy!” Gloria coaxed.
Kay shook her negatively but knew there was no use in fighting this. She hugged both her friends and made her way back home to shower and change.
***
When Gail awakened her first thought was about the threatening text message. Her boss was not particularly sympathetic, and Max shrugged it off as a prank. Maybe it was simply a fluke. But there was no mistaken that Max was angry about the text message he saw from Barnaby. She recalled leaving her phone on the couch, but Max must have placed it by her bedside before he left. The several shots of vodka she had to fall asleep weren’t any help to her memory this morning, but when she re-read Barnaby’s text message she quickly contacted him.
“Well, it’s about time you called,” Barnaby snarled.
“I’m sorry, I got a little boozy last night. Those garden meetings are a bore and that bitch, Lana, had the nerve to crash it.”
“Lana? What did she want?” Barnaby asked with concern.
“She wanted to make a fool of herself and she succeeded,” Gail answered.
“Watch your back, Gail,” he advised.
“What do you mean? What do you know about Lana?” Gail pressed for more information.
“Never mind, just don’t mess with Lana Berkin. That drunken persona is a façade. Watch your back.”
“OK and you watch yours,” Gail sniped.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Barnaby
“Just kidding, see you later,” Gail chirped. Click.
***
While Gloria was out on her Gold Trotter walk, Norman had an opportunity to be alone with his step-daughter, Melanie. Her two pre-school children sat quietly watching television. Melanie looked like a ship wreck
without a lifeboat. Her appearance had slipped as much as her posture slumped. She held onto her coffee mug as if it would keep her buoyed above the tide of tears. Norman poured himself a cup of coffee and joined her at the kitchen table.
“Good morning, Melanie,” he greeted quietly. She looked up briefly, then, lowered her face. “Can we talk?”
“I’m sorry, I can’t think straight,” she replied.
“I’m sorry if this seems blunt,” Norman began who always cut to the chase. “But what happened between you and your husband?”
Melanie’s lower lip trembled and she began to sob uncontrollably. This frightened Norman. Uh-oh, did I say something wrong? He panicked. Remember she’s a woman. He reminded himself. Do what you would normally do, well almost what you would do for Gloria. With that thought, Norman leaned toward Melanie and rested her head against his shoulder. She shook and sobbed more.
“Melanie, whatever happened can be fixed,” Norman consoled. He kissed the top of her head. Finally, she stopped crying and looked at Norman.
“You really think so, Norman?”
“You and your husband have to talk face-to-face. Communication is what any relationship is about.” Something even Norman needed more practice with.
“My mother is so lucky to have you,” Melanie said.
“No, I’m lucky to have her,” Norman replied. “I wish we could talk more, but I have to get ready for the office.” He gently squeezed her shoulder and left.
***
Max came to Lana’s bedroom to find her dressing for her lunch date with Kay. He stood for a minute taking an inventory of his wife. He still loved her, she still turned him on, sure her dark hair had more grey, but her figure was still toned, and her sculptured cheek bones were something he never tired of seeing. She wore a periwinkle sweater dress that gracefully graced her curves perfectly.
“Going somewhere?” He asked.
“Like you care,” she replied while applying lipstick.
He walked toward Lana, both stood in front of the mirror with him behind her.
Wine, Roses & Cheats (Gold Trotter Mystery Series Book 5) Page 3