The Chanel things had come from Stacia. Essie knew that much. She turned up the volume. “Another beautiful day here in South Beach. I’m headed out to lunch at Arrista with my squad.”
She fluttered her lashes and her fingernails. “We’re going to have some cocktails and practice being baddies.” She laughed. “Not that we need the practice.”
She did a little half turn to each side. “What do you think about my look today?” Her expression turned serious, and she touched the Chanel necklace. “I’m keeping my mom close to me today. I miss her so much. I think about all the events she’s not going to get to be a part of in my life, but having her amazing things with me, like this killer necklace, makes it feel like she’s still with me in a small way.”
Her smile returned, softer and just a touch sad. “I was so blessed to have a mother with such great taste. I hope I make her proud.” She kissed her fingers and raised them to the sky.
Then she leaned in like she was about to share a secret. “Who knows? Maybe if I keep representing my mother’s classic sense of style and taste, some of it will rub off on you-know-who.”
Again, she laughed like she’d just told the funniest joke in the world. Barely able to get words out, she managed, “I think we all knowthat’snever going to happen.”
She wiggled her pointy French tips at the camera. “Toodles.”
The video ended.
Feeling hurt and sad, Essie closed the app. What was wrong with the way she dressed? She was wearing white capris and a loose chiffon top in a green and white leaf print. Both had comefrom Amazon. No, that wasn’t true. The capris had probably come from Walmart.
But what was wrong with that? Did clothes have to cost a thousand dollars to be wearable? That was ridiculous.
When she’d been a principal, her wardrobe had been three things: professional, practical, and mostly machine washable. She’d learned the hard way that working with middle-schoolers meant you never knew what the day would bring. She’d even kept a pair of sneakers in her office, along with a change of clothes, just in case.
She’d used that change of clothes more than once. Like the time Tim Branford had slipped in the hall and cracked his head open. She’d held him and comforted him while a teacher had gone to get the nurse.
By the time the nurse had arrived, Essie’s petal pink pants had been splotched with blood.
Or the time she’d had to intervene in a food fight in the cafeteria on spaghetti day. That had been the wrong day to wear a white jacket. Lesson learned.
The oven timer went off at the same time that her phone vibrated. She ignored the phone to take the casseroles out. It was her famous French onion chicken casserole and although she’d made it many times, she wanted it to be perfect for Althea, since one of them was going to her. The other was for Essie and Frank.
Cooking for someone you didn’t know and wanted to impress was a daunting task, but Essie was up to it. This casserole was tried and true, and always a hit whenever she made it.
She set it on the stove top, took the oven mitts off, and went to check her phone.
A text from Liliana.She did it again.
I know,Essie texted back.I saw it.
Flaunting that Chanel crap like it means she’s somehow better than everyone else. That her mother was better. I cannot stand her.
Essie shook her head. Liliana was more upset by this than she was.
Liliana went on.You know designer clothes don’t make you anything but poorer.
Essie smiled.Does that mean you don’t like the Gucci purse I bought you for your birthday?
No, I love that purse. You know what I mean.
Still smiling, Essie nodded.I do.
You really need to show Frank what she’s up to.
I think it’s best to let him find out on his own, sweetheart. It’s not hurting me in any way.Not entirely true, but Essie wasn’t bothered enough to open a can of worms over it.I have to run. I’m taking a casserole to a friend’s house. Her husband is in the hospital.
French onion chicken?
Essie sent a smiley face back.
Lucky. But I hope her husband’s okay.
