by P J Gordon
Chapter 5
At 6:20 the next night, Manda and Katie were dressed and waiting excitedly for the car to pick them up. Katie had stayed over at Manda’s the night before and then the two had spent the day shopping for new outfits for the evening. With Katie’s input, Manda had picked out an expensive pair of slim black jeans, a black silk shirt layered over a deep blue tank and black boots. Katie wore a similar pair of slim jeans, but in faded blue, with a fitted tee shirt and brown leather jacket. Manda had vetoed the precarious high heels her niece had wanted, and instead bought her a pair of leather boots that matched the jacket. Katie had received special dispensation from her mother to wear more makeup than was usually allowed. “Just for this one night? It’s a special occasion!” she had wheedled. As a result, Manda, who always looked young for her age, and Katie, who with the extra makeup appeared considerably older than her 13 years, looked more like sisters than aunt and niece.
When Manda had picked Katie up the night before and given her the news about the concert, Katie had, not surprisingly, been ecstatic. Manda refrained from mentioning the backstage visit though. She knew David wanted to surprise Stacey, and suspected that Katie might let it slip in her excitement.
“Do I look okay?” the younger girl asked, peeking out the window yet again as they waited for the car to arrive.
“You look very pretty, and very grown-up—at least sixteen or...,” Manda didn’t get to finish her sentence.
“I think the car’s here,” Katie exclaimed, practically dancing with excitement.
Manda looked out the window as a sleek silver Mercedes pulled up to the curb in front of her house. She picked up her small black handbag and quickly checked her reflection in the compact mirror inside.
“You look awesome, Aunt Manda,” Katie assured her, bouncing impatiently by the front door. “Let’s go.”
Manda smiled indulgently, snapped the mirror closed, and slipped it back into her purse. The doorbell rang just as Katie flung open the door.
“I’m here to pick up Ms. Jensen and her guests,” the driver announced politely.
“I’m Amanda Jensen,” Manda informed him, “and it will just be the two of us.” They followed the driver to the car and slid into the spacious backseat as he held the door for them.
“It’ll be about a twenty minute ride to the arena. I have your tickets here.” He handed Manda a white envelope. “Please help yourself to anything in the bar and enjoy the ride.”
“This is cool,” Katie whispered after he shut the door. Manda winked at her and made a show of cuddling into the plush leather upholstery.
Katie’s explored the compartments around them until she found the soft drinks. “Can I?”
“Sure,” Manda answered. “Help yourself. And if there’s a bottled water in there, give me one, too.”
Katie handed Manda a bottle of spring water and took a can of cola for herself. She settled into the seat and stretched her booted feet out in front of her.
”If my friends could see me now,” she sighed.
Manda reached into her purse and pulled out a small camera. She snapped several quick shots of Katie before stashing it away again.
“You can at least show them the pictures,” she suggested.
“That’s a good idea,” Katie agreed. She chattered on excitedly about which Rain songs were her favorites, and speculated about which they would sing and how her friends would react when she told them about it. Manda nodded at the appropriate times but was really only half listening, instead mentally replaying her encounter with Richard the morning before.
Very quickly they arrived at the arena, where numerous vendors created a carnival atmosphere. Eager fans milled around outside the venue’s rows of glass doors, waiting impatiently to get in, though it was still very early. The driver pulled to the curb a few yards from the VIP entrance and walked around to open the door for Manda and Katie. Eyes turned to watch as the two emerged from the limousine, accompanied by a few wolf-whistles.
“Enjoy the concert,” the driver told them. “I’ll be here to take you home afterward. Just call me at this number when you’re ready.” He handed Manda a business card.
“Thank you,” Manda said appreciatively, tucking the card into her purse. She led Katie toward the glass doors, past the waiting crowds and through the VIP entrance. Manda leaned toward Katie and whispered conspiratorially. “I love this part! Straight to the front of the line!”
“Me, too,” Katie whispered back excitedly.
Manda handed their tickets to the gate attendant, who waved them under a scanner and then glanced at them cursorily, already beginning to wave Manda and Katie through with a polite smile. She stopped when she read the suite name, though. “Oh. You’re in the Aspen suite. If you’ll wait here for a moment, someone will escort you.” She motioned to a uniformed man several yards away. The man approached and the attendant gave him quiet instructions that Manda couldn’t hear. The man nodded and stepped away. He spoke quickly into the radio he wore and then nodded at the attendant and to Manda and Katie, and resumed his original position.
Katie looked at Manda quizzically, but Manda just shrugged and shook her head. She’d attended events in the suites a few times before, as thank you gifts from Mr. Aronson or clients, but she’d never been asked to wait like this. She hoped there wasn’t a problem.
Within moments a suited man appeared and took the tickets from the attendant. He smiled warmly at Manda and Katie. “Good evening. I apologize for the wait. My name is Jonathan and I’m the suite concierge this evening. It’s my pleasure to escort you up, if you’ll follow me.” He led them to an elevator that was tucked into an inconspicuous corner near the entrance. “You must be Ms. Jensen?” he said, half questioningly. Manda nodded and he smiled and nodded back. “Mr. Ellis and his guest have already arrived.” He took them up in the elevator and out onto the suite-lined concourse that encircled the arena. “The two Mr. Raines have asked that we get you anything you’d like, so please feel free to let me know if you have any requests.”
He stopped outside of a door marked as the Aspen Suite and passed their tickets under the scanner beside it before handing them back to Manda. The lock opened with an electronic buzz and he opened the door to let them in, entering behind them. David and Stacey were standing at the front of the suite overlooking the arena floor, each with a champagne flute in hand.
“Hi, guys,” Manda greeted, drawing David and Stacey’s attention when she spoke.
“Hey, M. Hi, Katie!” David called across the short distance.
The concierge stepped forward to address them all. “Dinner will be brought in shortly. Please help yourself to the hors d’oeuvres and beverages.” He paused with an uncomfortable look at Manda and Katie. “Mr. Raines has provided champagne for the evening, but....”
Manda smiled. He was very diplomatically trying to ascertain if they were old enough to drink. Katie, of course, wasn’t, and Manda had never developed a taste for alcohol. She let him off the hook.
“We don’t drink, but thank you. We’ll just have soft drinks.”
“I can bring you some sparkling juice instead of the champagne if you’d like?” he suggested, undoubtedly grateful to avoid an uncomfortable confrontation.
“That would be perfect,” Manda answered gratefully. “Thank you very much.” He slipped out the door then, leaving the four guests alone.
“Ha! More champagne for us!” David exclaimed with a grin, popping a morsel of food into his mouth. Stacey elbowed him playfully in the ribs and he half choked on the food before he managed to swallow it.
“Take off your jacket and get comfortable, Katie,” David said, when he’d recovered. “Have you ever been in one of the suites before?”
“No, not until now,” Katie replied, taking off her new jacket. She knew David well and had at one time had a crush on him.
“Then let me give you the guided tour. We can hang your jacket up back here in the closet.”
Manda left
David and Katie to their tour and sat down on a stool next to Stacey. “Happy birthday,” she greeted the other woman. “Did David manage to surprise you?”
“Completely!” Stacey gushed. “This is the best birthday present ever!”
“Whoa! Back up! I never said this was your birthday present,” David interrupted, distracted from his conversation with Katie. “We’ll get to your present after dinner.”
“You mean there’s more?” Stacey asked in delight.
“Of course,” David answered, smoothly pulling a small wrapped package out of his pocket. He sat the flat, rectangular box on the bar in front of Stacey. “But you can’t open it yet.”
Manda smiled, pulling Stacey’s birthday card out of her purse and setting it on the bar beside the box.
“Do I have to wait to open that one, too?” Stacey complained.
Manda glanced at David out of the corner of her eye and he nodded slightly. Manda hadn’t intended to make Stacey wait, but was willing to go along with David.
“Yep. Not until after dinner,” Manda told her.
Stacey turned to Katie and addressed her mournfully. “These guys are just mean!”
Katie laughed, and Stacey, unable to maintain her hangdog expression, joined her. There was a firm knock on the door, and it opened to admit several servers and two carts laden with serving dishes. The concierge, Jonathan, followed them in and supervised the transfer of the food onto the serving table that sat against the sidewall of the suite. When everything had been set up to his satisfaction he ushered the servers out and addressed David.
“Please help yourselves. When you’re ready for dessert, or if there’s anything else you need, let me know. I’ll be right outside.” He indicated an additional bottle that had been placed on ice beside the champagne. “I’ve had them bring some sparkling white grape juice. If you need more of that or more champagne, just ask. Enjoy your dinner.” He smiled and left, closing the door softly behind himself.
“It smells delicious,” Stacey declared, inhaling deeply.
David started peeking into the dishes, savoring the aromatic steam that escaped. “When I told Richard you liked Italian food, I didn’t think he’d send all the Italian food in the city! There’s some of almost anything you could want here!”
“When did you tell him that?” Manda asked, puzzled. She didn’t recall David ever mentioning anything of the sort.
“I ran into them downstairs when I went out at lunchtime yesterday,” David explained absently, still checking the covered dishes. “They invited me to have lunch with them but I’d already grabbed something after I picked up Stacey’s present. They asked about you too, but I told them you were working through.”
Manda opened her mouth and then closed it again soundlessly, struggling to keep the disappointment she felt from showing on her face. “Oh,” was all she finally said.
Stacey, however, was more vocal in her shocked dismay. “Why did you do that? I’m sure Manda would rather go to lunch with them than eat at her desk! I’d certainly play hooky from work to meet Richard and Joshua Raines!”
Katie was looking at David in horror and disbelief as well, as if unsure what kind of person would pass up a lunch invitation with her idols. David looked around at the disapproving females in bewilderment.
“But I asked you if you wanted to run out and pick something up with me and you said no!” he defended.
Stacey put her arms around David’s waist and kissed him on the cheek. “Take my word for it on this; it’s not the same thing at all.”
David cast a penitent look at Manda. “I’m sorry if I screwed up, M. Stacey doesn’t have me fully trained yet. It’s her fault.” He pulled Stacey closer so she couldn’t get a good angle on her retaliatory punch and she chuckled.
Manda shook her head. “It’s fine. I did tell you I didn’t want to go out. But right now the food is going to get cold, so let’s eat.” Manda firmly pushed away her disappointment over the lost opportunity to enjoy a leisurely lunch with Richard—but it was more difficult than it should have been for a supposedly level-headed person.
They let Stacey fill her plate first, in honor of her birthday. Manda sampled a little of everything and was too full by the time she did that to go back and try more of her favorites.
“That was so good,” Stacey raved, pushing her plate to the side.
“What’s for desert?” Katie asked enthusiastically, eliciting groans from both Manda and Stacey.
“Let’s find out,” David suggested. He walked to the door and stuck his head out. Manda could hear him talking in a low voice, and then he shut the door and returned to his stool. “They’ll bring it right in. Anybody want some more champagne or juice?” he asked, refilling his own glass.
“I’m good for now,” Manda refused, but Stacey and Katie each took refills. Manda strolled to the front of the suite and looked out over the arena. The seats had filled up while they were eating and the noise level had increased accordingly. She checked her watch and anticipation fluttered in her stomach. Katie came to stand beside her, a glass of sparkling juice in hand, and examined the round stage in the center of the arena floor.
“These are awesome seats, Aunt Manda. We’ll be able to see everything. How much longer until it starts?”
“About fifteen minutes,” Manda replied. She heard the door open at the back of the suite and looked over her shoulder to see Jonathan directing one of the servers to place a small but elegant birthday cake onto the bar.
“Is there anything else you need right now?” Jonathan asked.
“No, we’re fine, thank you very much,” David assured him, and Jonathan excused himself and slipped out.
“Can I open my presents now?” Stacey pleaded, picking up David’s present.
“Yes, now you may open your presents,” David intoned, like a king granting a favor. Stacey wasted no time ripping the paper from the package to reveal the black velvet box inside. David had shown Manda the gift the day before, right after he’d picked it up. Stacey flipped open the lid and delightedly turned the box around to show Manda and Katie the gold charm bracelet in the satin-lined box.
“It’s beautiful! Thank you!” Stacey gushed, removing the bracelet from the box and fastening it around her wrist. She kissed David enthusiastically, and then admired the bracelet on her arm again.
“Open Aunt Manda’s card now,” Katie prompted eagerly, handing it to her.
Stacey, happy to comply, slid her finger under the flap and tore open the envelope. She smiled as she read the comical card Manda had made for her, and then opened the smaller envelope that held the gift card to a boutique that Manda knew she liked. Her eyes widened when she saw the amount on the card and she hugged a startled Manda.
“Oh, you shouldn’t have! You really, really shouldn’t have, Manda!”
“I figured you deserved it for putting up with David,” Manda joked, downplaying the gift. “Happy birthday.”
“Thank you,” Stacey replied earnestly. Before she could continue the crowd in the arena roared and the group in the suite turned as one toward the stage.
The opening band had just appeared. It was a group that Manda had heard of but wasn’t very familiar with. David, Stacey, and Katie knew them well, however, and dessert was forgotten while the band played.
At the end of the performance, as the group left the stage to the sound of enthusiastic applause, Manda stood and stretched. She had, it turned out, recognized several of the group’s songs. David had occasionally played them at work.
“They were great,” David enthused.
“Yeah, they were pretty good,” Manda agreed. “Shall we cut the cake now?”
“Yes, definitely,” Stacey said. “It’ll take them a while to reset the stage anyway.”
Katie groaned unhappily. Manda sympathized. Rain couldn’t take the stage soon enough for her. Her appreciation of the opening band had been diminished by her eagerness to see Richard and Josh perform.
“Come help me
cut the cake,” Manda suggested to her niece. The busier they stayed the quicker the time would pass. Katie jumped up to join her, taking pieces to David and Stacey as Manda cut them. Katie took a large piece for herself and Manda took a small one. After two bites she found she wasn’t hungry and pushed the cake around on her plate idly until David finally took it away from her and threw it in the trash.
“For Pete’s sake, Manda! You’re worse than Katie,” he accused. Katie was prowling the suite like a nervous cat. She’d eaten her cake quickly, and then returned to her seat in the front box. After a few minutes she’d grown restless and wandered to the bar, where she’d flipped through the channels on the flat screen television there before returning to her seat. Now she was alternating between surfing the Internet on the suite’s computer and sitting restlessly, watching the crowd.
“But I’m just sitting here quietly,” Manda protested.
“Exactly. We’ve been talking to you for the last ten minutes and you haven’t heard a word,” he told her, exasperated.
“Sorry,” Manda apologized sheepishly. “What were you saying?”
“I was just warning you that two of the guys in the next suite are checking out Katie.”
“Hmmmm” Manda responded with a frown. She dropped her chin and tilted her head, letting her hair swing forward to hide her face from the occupants of the adjacent suite. She peered through the curtain of hair, watching as two men in their early twenties leaned on the low wall that divided the boxes at the front of the two suites. Katie was focused on the stage, waiting for Richard and Josh to appear, and was as yet unaware of the men’s interest. She wouldn’t remain oblivious for long, however, as one of the men was apparently badgering the other to speak to her. “I’ll go run interference,” Manda growled, all of her protective instincts toward her niece coming into play. She strolled to the front row and took the seat beside Katie, between her niece and the two men. She very casually ignored them, angling her body toward Katie and engaging her in conversation.