“You men are such boneheads, you know that?” Cheryl sounds mad.
“Thanks a lot.”
“I mean it. Instead of coming and talking to us, you make up your own minds like we women don’t have any say. That’s what my husband did to me. I’m not saying we could have worked things out, but he didn’t give me a chance to participate in the decision.”
“Claire and I aren’t married,” I remind her.
“You don’t just owe people loyalty when you’re married. You owe them loyalty if you care for them.”
I run my hands through my hair and grab onto the ends like I’m going to rip it out. “Look, Cheryl, I’m sorry about what happened to you. I really am. But I was honest with Claire from the start about my leaving. Being mad at me now is going to be easier than being hurt when I go. It’s my call, and that’s how I’m handling it.”
Cheryl walks out of the kitchen and I watch as she wrestles her coat off a hanger in the hall closet. When she puts it on, I say, “I’ll give you a ride home.”
“Don’t bother, I only live a few blocks away.”
“It’s raining,” I tell her.
“A walk in the rain is preferable to having you drive me.” She storms out my front door before I have a chance to respond. Look at me, making all the women mad.
After Cheryl leaves, I drink a few more beers and I still can’t quiet the thoughts in my head. I finally add a shot of whiskey to the mix just so I can fall asleep. It works until three in the morning when my eyes pop open.
Did I hear a noise? No, that’s not it. I try to remember what I was dreaming about, but I draw a blank. Then I remember Claire and the scene from last night.
I pick up my phone and text my brother.
Me: Alistair, have you ever felt bad about breaking a woman’s heart?
Al: What kind of question is that?
Me: I figured out of us three brothers, you’ve had more experience in that department.
Al: That’s hurtful. I love women, I don’t go out of my way to cause them pain.
Me: But you have, right?
Al: Maybe. But I don’t lie to them about my intentions. I tell them upfront that we have no future and that any fun and games we have are just that.
Oh my God, am I like Alistair? The thought causes a chill to rush through me.
Me: They’re probably hoping you’ll fall in love with them and make them a princess.
Al: It’s not my fault if they don’t believe me. Why are you asking me this anyway? Did you go back to Oregon and ask that girl out?
Me: Which girl is that?
Al: The one Chéri told the whole family you were hot for.
Me: Chéri needs to keep quiet.
Al: Yeah, well, too late. Did you ask her out?
Me: I did, and I hurt her.
Al: Que será será, my brother. You did the right thing. You can walk away without feeling responsible for her pain. She brought that on herself.
I put my phone down as a feeling of pure disgust washes over me. My brother is the biggest playboy. He looks out for number one and doesn’t worry about any devastation he leaves in his wake.
If I’m going to be different from him, then I’m going to have to figure out how to take responsibility for my actions and make things right with Claire. I just have no idea how to do that.
Chapter Forty-Three
Sharon
“Girl, get your butt in here!” Sharon says as her sister gets out of the limo that just pulled into Claire’s driveway.
Tooty rushes to her sister’s side and wraps her arms around her. Then she picks her up and shakes her up and down like she’s trying to get the ketchup out of the bottom of the bottle.
“Put me down,” Sharon laughs. “Just because you’ve got six inches on me doesn’t mean you can throw me around like a rag doll.”
“I’m just so happy to be here! I miss you! Why don’t you move closer to me?”
“Why don’t you move closer to me?” Sharon counters.
“What matters is that we’re together now. Where’s Claire?”
“She’s at the lodge. Her big weekend starts tomorrow night and she’s been practically living there.”
“How are things going with the man from Malquar?” Tooty wants to know.
“They’re not. Claire walked in on him with another gal.”
“Not again!” Tooty waves at the driver to bring her luggage up. Once he obliges, she pulls a fifty dollar bill out of her pocket and tells him, “I’ll let you know when I need a ride back to the airport.”
He tips his hat to her and practically bows in front of her before running back to the car.
Tooty looks at her sister and says, “You know my motto.”
“Tip ’em big and let the chips fall where they may?” Sharon answers.
“I have another motto that I’ve been working on, too.” She pauses dramatically before announcing, “Vengeance is mine, sayeth the forsaken women!”
“Come on in and I’ll tell you all about it,” Sharon says as she leans down to pick up her sister’s guitar. “Between you and me, I’m sure we’ll figure something out.”
Claire
It’s been four days since I’ve talked to Geoffrey. Not only has he not come over and tried to apologize—not that I would accept—but he stopped coming by to pick me up for work too—not that I would have gone.
I send messages to the kitchen via one of the servers if I have something to tell him regarding work. He’s not once responded with anything more than an “okay.”
As I fuss around the ballroom getting everything set up for tonight’s birthday dinner, Ruby walks in. “Hey, hon. I was thinking you might want to stay at the lodge this weekend. That way you won’t have to be going back and forth so much.”
“I only live ten minutes away,” I tell her.
“I know, but you’re not going to be getting a lot of rest with everything going on and ten minutes here and there can really add up.”
She has a point. Also, Tooty is coming to town today and while I’m happy to see her, she and my mom are so loud when they’re together a deaf person would complain of the noise. “That’s very thoughtful of you, Ruby. I’ll pick up my stuff this afternoon and get settled before tonight’s event.”
“Part of the party just checked in,” she tells me excitedly.
“What are they like?” I ask curiously. We still don’t have any idea who they are.
“They’re the fanciest people I’ve ever seen,” Ruby says. “Seriously, one of their employees did the checking in, but there was more Louis Vuitton luggage than there are residents in Spartan.”
“Did you find out their name?”
Shaking her head, Ruby replies, “Taylor is the only name they ever gave us. They just picked up their keys and went upstairs.”
“Will I have a chance to talk to the host before tonight?” I’m suddenly as nervous as I was when I threw my first party.
“I don’t know. I think you, me, and Geoffrey might be flying solo here. You guys have everything under control, right?”
“We’re fine.”
Ruby eyeballs me like she’s looking for fleas. “Okay. Well, I guess I’m off to the kitchen to check on Geoffrey. You have anything you want me to tell him?”
Oh, I’ve got things, but nothing that I want my boss to know about. “I’m good.”
When she walks away, I start to fume all over again. I’m mad at Cheryl too, and have made my mom do any grocery shopping that’s needed to be done. But Cheryl isn’t my friend so I can’t get too worked up over her. Geoffrey on the other hand …
I go home after lunch to pack a bag for the weekend and find my mom and Tooty practicing a new song in the living room.
Tooty lets out a holler loud enough to raise the dead when she sees me and then throws her arms around me and squeezes like she’s a boa constrictor and I’m her supper. “Look at you! Still as gorgeous as eve
r!”
“Thanks, Tooty. You look pretty gorgeous yourself.” And she does. Tooty is like Dolly Parton on a six-foot frame. She’s heavy on the makeup, feminine as anything, and over the top in all ways. I adore her.
“It’s going to be so crazy at the lodge this weekend that I’m going to stay up there,” I tell my mom and aunt.
“More like you’re going to hide up there, so we don’t keep you up all night,” my mom says.
“Yes,” I tell her. “But I’ll be back Monday night. Then I’m off until Thursday, so I’ll have plenty of time with you before you leave, Tooty.”
“I suppose,” my mom says, clearly not pleased. I don’t care though. I have too much going on to worry about entertaining my family. This weekend is a big deal for the lodge and I’m going to make sure I do everything I can for it to be perfect.
“Don’t you worry about us, hon,” Tooty says. “Shar and I have a load of stuff to keep us busy.” I have visions of them yodeling on the roof and the neighbors calling the cops.
I can’t worry about that though. “I love you both and I’ll see you tomorrow night for the dating event.” Then I run upstairs to pack my bag.
When I get back to the lodge, I check into my room and hurry to get ready for the festivities of the night ahead. I text Tara:
Me: Is the cake all set for tonight?
Tara: NO! I just dropped it on the floor!
Tara: Just kidding. Everything is fine. Quit worrying.
It takes a few minutes for my heart to resume its normal rhythm. I take a last quick look in the mirror and decide I look gorgeous in my black cocktail dress and stilettos. I even rubbed some yuzu oil on my legs to give them a little shine. There’s the added bonus that it makes me smell delicious, too.
I get to the ballroom thirty minutes before the guests arrive. While I’m making sure all of the crystal and silver has been buffed within an inch of its life, a beautiful blonde woman walks into the room. If I were to guess, I’d say she’s about fifty. Her dress is an outrageously stunning beaded silk, and her hair is in a low chignon at the back of her neck.
She walks toward me. “Are you Claire?”
“Yes, I am.” I take her hand and shake it. I wait for her to tell me her name, but she doesn’t.
“We’re so delighted you were able to accommodate us. We’ve heard lovely things.”
“Well, thank you. We’re delighted that you chose the lodge for your events. Is there anything special you’d like us to know that your party planner might not have already told us?”
“I can’t imagine, dear. I didn’t realize we’d made a lot of special requests.”
How could she not know that? There has been nothing but special requests.
“I hope you’ll be able to join us for supper tonight,” she tells me.
What does she mean, “join them for supper?” “I’ll certainly be in the room to make sure everything goes according to plan,” I tell her.
She reaches out and squeezes my hand. “How lovely you are.”
Why in the world is this woman being so nice to me? I’m already nervous and this degree of familiarity is making it worse.
Chapter Forty-Four
Ruby
“What?” Ruby asks Chris, whose mouth is hanging wide open.
Chris throws her hands up in the air. “I’m as surprised as you are.”
“How do you know this?” Ruby demands.
“How do I know anything? People magazine. There was a royal issue several years back and I have photographic memory for these trivial matters.”
“I wonder if I should tell Geoffrey. I mean, maybe he knows them.”
“How could he? I wouldn’t say anything until after dinner is over. You don’t want to make him nervous.”
“Should I tell Claire?”
Chris shakes her head. “That girl has raised the bar on ‘high-strung’ this week. Just let it be.”
Ruby walks out of the office in the direction of the kitchen. It’s more important than ever that things run smoothly this weekend. When she spots Geoffrey, she calls out, “How are you doing? You ready to shine?”
He smiles and gives her a short bow. “I’m always ready to shine.”
“Well, tonight you have to do it like Halley’s Comet.”
“I promise, Ruby; we’ve got this. It’s going to be a great night.”
Geoffrey
I’ve never seen Ruby so agitated about a party. She’s downright jumpy. After sending the first course out for the birthday party, I put the entrée plates under the Salamander heater to get extra hot. The distance between the kitchen and the ballroom can cool the food down if the plates aren’t practically smoking.
I’m about ready to get the entrées started when Helena comes running in carrying three plates. “What’s wrong?” I ask her.
“Three of the guests want a first course with no fish. They’ve sent their salmon cakes back.”
“What do they want instead?”
She shakes her head. “All they said was anything but fish.”
I signal the salad station and order three goat cheese salads for them. Then I pull the steaks out of the marinade. The vegetable terrine will be out of the oven in twenty minutes and I need to serve that quickly. Hopefully the salad eaters will be ready for their entrée by then.
After Helena takes the salads out, I put the steaks on the grill. I’ll get a nice sear on them before putting them in the oven at a low temperature until it’s time to serve.
If harnessed, the energy of a busy restaurant kitchen could fuel a rocket into space.
Once the steaks are in the oven, I ask my sous-chef Henry, “Do you have the herb butter ready for the steak?”
“Right here, chief!” He holds up a long log of butter wrapped in plastic. “I have the truffle gravy heated and I’ll mash the potatoes as soon as you give me the sign.”
I’m about to give him that sign when Helena comes back in with one of the goat cheese salads. “The smell is making one of the ladies sick. She asked for some soup.”
This night was supposed to be flawless. Of course, that assumption was based on guests who weren’t determined to cause trouble. “Give her whatever soup she wants, but we’re sending out the entrées in five minutes.”
Poor Helena looks horribly flustered. I’m glad the tip will be built into the check. Typically, pain-in-the-butt guests are not great tippers.
I pull six hot plates out of the Salamander at a time. Once they’re dished up, the first two servers carry them out. Six more plates go out every two minutes until the entire party is served.
After everything is out, I get to work on the forty dinner tickets that have come in from the main dining room. Ten minutes in, Helena is back. She’s carrying three steaks. “What now?” I practically shout at her, causing her to jump back.
“Three people want fish.” She looks like she’s about to cry.
“Are you kidding me?” I’m yelling again.
“I’m sorry, Geoffrey. I’m just the messenger.”
“I’ll make the fish, but while I do, go get Claire,” I order.
She runs out of the kitchen as I release a litany of angry words. I put three Steelhead fillets on the grill as Claire strolls in. “You asked to see me?” She’s standing so ramrod straight, she’d probably break in a strong wind.
“What is going on with that party of yours? I thought the menu was set, but it seems like that isn’t the case.”
“The menu was set, but there are obviously some last-minute changes. Are you saying you’re unable to accommodate them?”
I can’t stand how angry she sounds. This is the first time I’ve spoken to her since she left my house the night Cheryl was there. I’ve missed her so much it’s all I’ve been able to do not to break into her house at night just to watch her sleep.
“I can handle it,” I tell her. “I just need the substitutions to stop. We have a full dining room to t
ake care of on top of your party. No more changes.”
She walks away without saying another word. After sending out the fish, I wait anxiously for the next complaint. Happily, it doesn’t come. When the cake is ready to go out, Claire comes back into the kitchen and announces, “My party would like to compliment the chef. Please come out when you have a chance.”
“Stay right there,” I tell her before she can leave. Then I hurry around the corner to peel off my chef’s coat and put on a clean one on. She’s still standing there when I come back. “I’ll walk with you,” I tell her.
Tara jumps in front of us. “Wait for me. I want to get a load of these people.” So much for having a private moment to talk to Claire. We follow Tara who’s rolling the birthday cakes on a decorated cart.
The three of us walk down the hallway to the ballroom in silence, until Tara says, “Whatever is going on between the two of you, could you please work it out? You’re driving everyone around you crazy.”
Neither one of us answers. Claire opens the door to the ballroom and leads the way. As my eyes adjust to the dim room, she waits for our presence to be known and then announces, “This is Geoffrey Bere, our chef.”
The guests start clapping in thunderous applause, which is not something I’m used to. What’s going on here?
I look around the table and nearly swallow my tongue as the man at the head of the table stands up and declares, “Happy birthday, son! We decided to come early!”
I don’t have words. I’m so shocked I stand there like a stone statue in the palace gardens. Chéri jumps up and runs around the table and throws herself into my arms. “Surprised?”
“Yes,” I finally manage. “I thought only Mom and Dad were coming in a few weeks. I didn’t expect the whole lot of you, and certainly not this early.”
Aubrey comes over and gives me a hug of her own. “It’s a great surprise though, right?”
I nod my head, not sure if it is or not. I catch Claire’s eye and she looks as shocked as I am. “Claire, Tara, this is my family.” Then to the rest of my family, I add, “These are my friends Tara and Claire.”
It's My Party: A Royal Romantic Comedy (Seven Brides for Seven Mothers Book 3) Page 21