“Do you? Because everything you just said is about other people. You’ve never asked for advice about your life or your career.”
“When you’re with your clients, you’re giving advice. When it comes to me it feels like you’re giving your opinion,” Elsie said honestly. “And it’s hard to be vulnerable when you went behind my back with Axel.”
Faye took Elsie’s hand. “I know and I’m sorry. I should have had your side from the start, which is why when he called the other day, I told him that while I still love him, I can’t be more than his ex-mother-in-law.”
Elsie swallowed past the emotion. “Thank you. It’s not that I want you to disown him, but—”
“You want me to disown him.”
Elsie laughed. “I do, but I also know how much you two love and care for each other, and I would never ask you to give that up.”
“There you are,” a zombie in a shredded suit, with half a head, asked. The guest had been following Elsie around all night. Asking her questions, offering to help, even assisting with putting together the wire fence that acted like a quarantine prison. He’d been overly attentive, something Elsie didn’t know what to do with. And while it set off some alarms, he was Claire’s brother, so she figured helping was part of his role. “I was looking for a partner to help me with some fresh brain matter.” He flashed his teeth which were more vampire than zombie. “Or maybe you need to join the infected. All it would take is one bite.”
“One bite,” Faye whispered to Elsie.
“Then how would I go back and forth to refresh the decorations?”
“We could break out of quarantine together, then go on a rampage. A real Bonnie and Clyde team. What do you think?” This time when he smiled it was sweet. Almost shy.
“Adorable,” Faye said.
“First, I have to make sure that the mannequins are moved around the quarantine area so that they appear to be trying to escape.”
“Well, I can easily do that while you take a moment to put your feet up.” He looked at their empty flutes and smiled. “Can I get you ladies a refill?”
“That would be lovely,” Faye said, then elbowed Elsie.
“Thanks, that’s sweet.”
“Isn’t it.” Faye nudged Elsie’s arm and gave aisn’t he cutewaggle of the brow. Elsie rolled her eyes.
With a bow, the zombie took their flutes and disappeared, moaning, and really playing the part as he made his way through the butcher freezer and across the back lawn.
When he had disappeared, Elsie asked, “So how do I reinvent myself?”
Faye beamed. “Well, first you have to let go of everything holding you back. Past hurts, past fears, all the things that creep into your mind at night. Once you get your fears under control, it leaves room for the kind of changes you want to make.”
“You make it sound easy. Like making pancakes. A cup of this, a cup of that, then whisk and voilà. You are your new and improved self.”
“I never said it’s easy, but it is simple. When you take away what you’re afraid of, what you want is clear as day.”
“How do I know what I want?” she asked, a pang of discomfort pressing against her chest. It had been so long since she’d wanted something for herself that she didn’t even know what it would look like or how it would feel.
“Isn’t that the question of the hour?” someone else said.
Elsie looked up to find another man, who inspired all kinds of feelings. Gone was the slick celeb from earlier and in his place was a Clark Kent of zombie hunters, complete with combat face paint and enough special effects make-up to disguise his identity. But one look at those deep blue eyes and Elsie’s nipples made it abundantly clear who was standing in front of her.
“Rhett? What are you doing here?” she whispered.
“You have my car.” He turned to Faye. “Hey, Ms. Dodd, it’s good to see you again.”
“Likewise.”
Elsie expected Rhett and Faye to get into talks of days past, but Rhett’s eyes zeroed in on Elsie instead. She felt a thin layer of sweat coat her palms. “I could have brought it home myself.”
“Home?” Faye asked, her eyes bouncing back and forth between the two as they spoke. “Well, isn’t this inspiring news.”
“It’s not like that,” Elsie said to her mom.
