“You convince Jon of that,” she said. She’d never told Seth how her mother had burned her. She knew all too well about white tennis balls—things that no longer existed—but the terror was still tangible.
“Alex, don’t worry.”
“I’m late for Daniel’s game,” she said. “Oh, what did you want to talk about?”
“Nothing.” Seth looked away.
“You’re an angel,” she said, appreciative of how, from the moment they’d partnered, their relationship had given her the freedom to attend all of her children’s activities. He was offered the same, but he only went to Arizona to see his children once a month.
She left the office.
Once in her car, she looked at her cell phone. Three messages. Fingers shaking, she dialed the house, only to be interrupted by an incoming call.
“Helen needs to ask you one question,” Rebecca said.
“Put her on,” Alex said, anxious to call the boys. She repeated everything she’d previously told Helen.
At 2:35, she called home. No answer.
Terrified something could have happened, she accelerated. She sped onto the on-ramp and braked, narrowly avoiding the car in front of her.
At five minutes before three, she opened the door and called, “Eric? Daniel?”
Silence.
She ran upstairs. Daniel’s uniform was gone. Fear gripped her. She rushed downstairs. There was a note on the kitchen table:
Dear Mom,
I couldn’t miss the game.
Eric called Dad, and he took us.
Love you,
Danny
CHAPTER 9
Since Gabe hadn’t called to tell her he still had Jon with him, she hurried to the nursery school to pick Jon up. Reluctantly, he took her hand, and they walked to the car. She secured him in his car seat and told him how sorry she was about the burns on his legs.
He put his hands over his ears.
She pulled into a parking spot at the field, got out of the car, and unbuckled Jon’s seat belt. As she tried to give him a kiss, he turned his head away. The minute they reached the field, he dropped her hand and ran to Gabe.
Alex climbed up onto the top row of the bleachers as far from Gabe as possible.
Daniel spotted her in the crowd and gave her a thumbs-up. Obviously, he’d forgiven her for being late. She watched Eric and Gabe share a laugh while Jon clung to Gabe, never turning to look at her.
After a team member made the final kick, everyone ran onto the field.
Eric walked over to Alex and tugged at her arm. “I’m hungry. Let’s get home.”
Accustomed to Eric’s demands whenever the spotlight was deflected away from him, Alex turned away and hurried to the field to join the other parents. She squeezed into place to make a victory tunnel through which the team members would run. Reluctantly, she reached across to take Gabe’s hands and help form the victory bridge. As she placed her fingertips on Gabe’s, connected yet distant, her chest tightened.
After the team ran through the tunnel, Alex and the boys left the field and got into her car. She looked over and saw Gabe was watching. He seemed to exude disdain, then anger. Then she saw his lower lip tighten, and a sinister look crossed his face. He had an expression she’d seen many times before—abject determination. When he wanted something, he made sure he got it.
Alex drove home for a night like every other night since Gabe had left: homework with the older boys, dinner, baths, and, finally, a bedtime story for Jon.
She entered Jon’s room.
“Mommy, my legs hurt,” he cried.
“I know, baby,” she said.
“I need Honey to lick my tears,” Jon said.
“I miss her too.” Alex sat down on the blue chair near the dresser. She turned on the Spiderman lamp, and Jon climbed onto her lap. She cuddled him close and began to read. At the end of each page, she waited for him to turn to the next one.
When she finished reading Green Eggs and Ham, Jon closed the book and looked at her. “I’m too hurted to sleep. Tell me a real story, Mommy.”
“All right, Cookie Face.” Alex told him a story about a little boy who was separated from his mother in a supermarket.
“What did the boy do without his mommy?” Jon asked.
“The little boy started to cry, and the store manager went up to the boy and asked him what was wrong. And the boy answered, ‘I lost my mommy.’”
Jon’s eyes widened. “Did he find her?”
“The manager told the little boy, ‘We’ll find her, but you must tell me what she looks like.’ The boy thought awhile and then said, ‘My mommy is the most beautiful woman in the world.’”
“Is that true?” Jon asked.
“You’ll find out.” She touched his nose. “The store manager looked all over the store but couldn’t find a beautiful woman. Suddenly, a lady with a hooked nose and a wart on her cheek walked up to the manager and asked if he’d seen her son. And just as the manager started to tell the ugly woman they hadn’t found her son, the boy yelled, ‘Mommy!’”
“Did they find the right mother?”
“Yes.” Alex patted his head. “To the little boy, his mother was the most beautiful woman in the world.”
“Are you the most beautiful woman in the world?” Jon asked.
She laughed, tousled his hair, and asked, “What do you think?”
“Not today.” Jon climbed down from her lap and got under the Spiderman comforter.
“Sweetie, I love you.” She kissed him, turned off the lamp, and went to the doorway. “Sleep tight,” she said, assuring herself that, in time, he’d be her giggly Jon once again.
Jon called after her, “Mommy, I don’t care what Daddy said today about how you burned me for purpose.”
She gasped, ran to Jon, scooped him into her arms, and asked, “Do you know what an accident is?”
“Okay, Mommy,” he said. “You’re beautiful.”
“Cookie Face, I love you.” She closed his door and went to the older boys’ room.
After kissing them good night, she went to her bedroom. How could Gabe have said I burned Jon intentionally? Why is he trying to turn the boys against me? Determined to keep the family unharmed, she opened her briefcase and reached for the agreement her attorney had faxed back without any changes. As she started to read the first of the twenty-five stapled pages, she stopped and stared at their names. Amid the bold black-and-white letters were two people who had loved each other. The beautiful family they’d created was proof of that.
Now, her life seemed to stop when the boys were at Gabe’s twice a week and every other weekend. The nights when the boys were gone were the most difficult. The house felt so empty. Nights were proof the dream had ended.
When the boys were with Gabe, Alex tried to fill the void by playing tennis. It helped a little. The tennis club, a haven from the loneliness of the childless house, became her oasis. And she knew this Friday night could be a much-needed diversion, if she dared.
As she thought about her impending date with Luke Jackson, the man who’d become her regular tennis partner, she felt a pang of excitement. Luke had joined the club last month. Since he’d won the member–guest tournament in his division, he was given a month’s membership dues as a prize. After playing at the club for the first month, insisting the whole time that he wasn’t going to join since the dues were too high, he’d joined the club anyway.
Almost from the time he’d become a member, the court director had paired Alex with him in matches. They’d played together several times, winning almost every time. Subtly at first, then more brazenly, Luke had started to flirt with her.
On the tennis court, whenever it was her turn to serve, he’d hand her the ball, allowing his fingers to brush hers. She’d take the tennis ball slowly, reluctant to break the connection.
Then, as they played out the point, they’d move together perfectly.
Playing tennis alongside him the past few weeks, she’d noticed how he’d prey on their opponents’ weaknesses. He moved with a feline grace, wearing down their opponents with strength and speed. Tennis seemed the perfect sport for him. After they’d win the match, he’d place his hand on the small of her back ever so lightly as they’d walk to the net to shake hands with their opponents.
When he’d asked her out, she hadn’t been expecting it and had agreed, partially because she was taken off guard. It had been twenty-five years since her first date with Gabe, and dating was completely foreign to her. She decided she’d talk it over with the women at the First Friday Book Club tomorrow and get some pointers from Meredith. But, she had to admit, she was attracted to Luke. He was handsome and charming, almost dangerously charming.
CHAPTER 10
Alex rushed to Waters Restaurant for the September First Friday Book Club meeting.
No one was there except Liz, thumbing through this month’s novel as she twirled her glistening strand of pearls.
“Are you okay?” Alex asked, wondering why Liz hadn’t returned her calls for the past two days. It was the first time she and Liz hadn’t spoken in that long. And Alex had really needed to talk to Liz about Jon’s burn and Luke Jackson. With Gabe no longer the holder of her dreams and foibles, Liz was the only one in the world she trusted with her secrets. But it wasn’t like Liz to miss a check-in with her.
“I owe you a call, but things haven’t been good with my dad,” Liz said. “I left work early yesterday to take my dad to his doctor, get him groceries, and take him to the pharmacy to pick up his medication. When we got to the pharmacy, he realized he’d forgotten his insurance card. He’s forgetting things lately. At the pharmacy, they refused to give him his medication without his card.”
“What’d you do?” Alex asked, concerned about Liz’s father, but even more worried about Liz.
“I told them I’m in insurance, and I know you don’t have to have a card to get your prescription. But the pain-in-the-ass clerk insisted upon some form of identification such as a driver’s license.”
“Does he still have one?”
“No, I took it away last year when he had the accident. So, the clerk asked my dad if he had another form of ID, maybe a Costco card. I told her, ‘He’s eighty-six. Do really you think he buys in bulk?’”
Alex laughed. That was what she loved about Liz—she could always find the humor in any situation.
Liz checked her phone. “Then, yesterday afternoon, my father had a meltdown from the stress. I had to keep him with me for the entire day, and he even had to stay overnight with us.”
“Yesterday, I called your office, and your dad answered the phone. He said now that I’m single, he’d take me out on a date.” Alex took off the sunglasses which Liz had given her last month and winked.
“Alex, he didn’t tell me you called. And anyway, you’re way too old for my dad. He likes them at twenty or thirty, max.”
“Well, maybe I’ll marry him just so you’ll have to call me Mom.”
Liz gave a throaty laugh. “He’s all yours. Take him.”
Alex took a breath, preparing to tell Liz about Jon’s burn. But she looked up and saw Terrie and Meredith approach. She wasn’t ready to talk about the burn with all of the book club women, especially not in front of Judi, who might repeat it to some of the wives whose husbands also worked at Gabe’s hospital.
“Look at the odd couple,” Liz said, pointing to Terrie and Meredith.
As Alex assessed them, she agreed: Terrie wore a long jean skirt, flowered blouse, and flats. She had a macramé purse slung over her shoulder. Meredith was perfectly coiffed and tailored in a blue pinstriped Chanel suit, crisp white blouse, and stiletto heels with red soles. She carried a Prada purse in one hand and her attaché case in the other.
Terrie hugged Alex.
Meredith looked around the table. “Where’s Judi?”
“She didn’t call me,” Liz said. “Don’t know why she’s always late.”
The waitress took their orders—as usual, Chinese chicken salads for everyone except Terrie, who had a rare burger and fries.
“Should we order for Judi?” Terrie asked.
“I’ll share with her when she gets here,” Alex said. “I haven’t been hungry lately.”
“You need to eat,” Liz said. “Your clothes are swimming on you.”
“As I said last month, we need an emergency shopping trip,” said Meredith. Then she extended her hand to Alex, motioning for the divorce papers.
Just touching the papers caused Alex’s gut to tighten. Divorce was so much like falling in love—when you’re barely able to function because the lover invades your every thought.
Liz held up the Los Angeles Times travel section and pointed to a picture of a sloth in a tree. “Look what I found in Sunday’s paper.”
“The Amazon?” Meredith glanced at the newspaper and then down at her French-manicured nails. “Any five-stars?”
“Only tents,” Liz said.
“I, Meredith Blackstone, do not camp.”
“It could be fun,” Terrie said.
Flinging back strands of her long dark hair, Meredith said, “Terrie, obviously your hairstyle does not require the use of a blow dryer like moi.”
“Well, I just might be too busy coiffing my hair to retrieve your mail while you’re away next week.” Terrie brushed her short brown bangs, shiny as a baby seal’s fur, across her forehead.
“Ladies,” Liz said, “the tents have mosquito netting.”
Meredith shook her head. “Tents, mosquitoes, and no Neiman Marcus. I’m out.”
Alex knew she’d never leave the boys for that long unless they had a trip planned with their father and the timing coincided, and she was certain that would be unlikely. She also suspected Liz might have decided a girls’ trip was just what Alex needed. She was sure Liz was trying to get her to do something fun, experience a change of scenery, and, most importantly, have a respite from her divorce. And that was exactly what had motivated Alex to accept a date with the exotically handsome Luke Jackson, the man who recently joined her tennis club and surprised her by asking her out.
But Alex also wondered why Liz’s husband wouldn’t want to join her on such an adventure. “Liz, what about your husband?”
“Stan’s arthritis wouldn’t do well in the humidity,” Liz said.
“Humidity?” Alex began to laugh. “This is sounding better and better.”
The waitress arrived with their meals. She placed the burger in front of Terrie and distributed the salads to everyone else.
“I’m worried about Judi.” Terrie dialed Judi’s number. No answer.
“So you’ll go?” Liz used the assumptive close that always worked when she sold insurance.
Picking up the ketchup and drowning the French fries, Terrie said, “Alex, you need some diversion.”
“Divorce is enough of a diversion,” Alex said, certain that diversion was the reason she’d agreed to go out with Luke. But maybe a trip to the Amazon was what she needed to take her mind off the divorce and distractions like Luke.
“Come on. You’ve got to decide right away so we can start the malaria medicine,” Liz said.
“Malaria?” Alex said. “Bugs, heat, and malaria are supposed to cheer me up? And aren’t there piranhas?”
“Piranhas are right here,” Meredith said. “I’ve been dating ’em, except for Warren.”
“Maybe she’ll meet a marvelous medicine man there.” Terrie’s eyes widened.
“Been there, done that, remember?” Alex said.
“But maybe the Amazon medicine man won’t have a receptionist to screw.” Meredith pursed her lips.
“I’m thinking of dating someone,” Alex said and picked at her
salad.
Liz looked surprised. “Have you been holding out on your best friend?”
They all turned to Alex. Her face reddened. “Liz, I called you several times over the past two days, but you didn’t call me back.”
“And I told you, if you left a message at the office with my dad, you shouldn’t have expected me to have gotten it,” Liz reminded her.
Alex reached into her purse. “I have the tennis-club newsletter with his picture somewhere in here.”
Terrie rubbed her hands together, preparing to hear a story. “Tell us all about him.”
“First, I have to see if he’s sexy enough.” Meredith reached for the newsletter. “I mean, this will be your first time, right?”
Terrie grabbed the newsletter, looked at the front page, and squinted at the glossy photo. “I see a woman’s face, but I can’t see the man.”
“Well, the picture is too … um … shiny.” Alex felt her heart pound. “It’s hard to see his face. He’s, um, dark.”
“Black?” Terrie asked incredulously.
“Bi-racial,” Alex said.
Meredith dabbed her mouth with her napkin. “And he’s a member of your tennis club?”
“He just joined the club,” Alex said.
Liz furrowed her brow. “How long has this been going on without telling me?”
“I’ve only known him a few weeks. Just tennis and, um, we did dance once.”
“You went to a dance without moi?” Meredith asked.
“Is he a doctor?” Terrie asked.
“He’s a plumber.”
“Seriously?” Liz furrowed her eyebrows. “As in toilets?”
“Then how did he wind up at your exclusive club?” Meredith asked.
Alex explained how there was a member–guest tournament at the club and one of the customers on his route had invited him.
“I always invite my plumber wherever I go.” Liz rolled her eyes.
The picture was passed around. Terrie studied it. “Alex’s dating Denzel Washington.”
“I think he looks more like Danny Glover,” Alex said.
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