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Sighing, I backed out of Kylie’s driveway and drove home as quickly as possible. Not above the speed limit, but close. When I reached the gates of my neighborhood, Roger let me in with a quick nod of his head. I waved at him and then took two lefts before reaching Xylon Drive, my street.
Putting the car in park, I hopped out in a bustle, collecting my keys and dashing for the door. I could have blown this whole thing off, but the thing is even though I could hardly stand my mother sometimes, my Dad was the one I wanted to please.
Mom told me about the books and tea thing and I declined without even giving much thought to it.
But then Dad came up to my room all sweet and calm and smiley, and I had no choice but to tell him yes. Of course he went to Mom and told her right away that I would be there, allowing her to take charge of things again, including my whereabouts.
Entering the house, I kicked the door shut behind me and dropped my keys on the nearest table. “Dad?” I called as I neared the staircase. “Mom?”
No one responded. I zoomed up the marble staircase, rounding the corner and clumsily bumping into someone. Sue, my beautiful Russian housekeeper, gasped, plucking out her earphones as she caught my upper arms and helped me keep my balance.
My head rattled, the mild run-in causing major harm to my hung-over state of mind. “Oh! Jenny Penny!” She was surprised to see me, those light-blue eyes shining bright.
Sue loved me, and I loved her. I had more of a bond with her than my own mother. Sad, but Sue had been around ever since I could remember. When I was little, I loved her curly blonde hair and brown lipstick; when I got older, I kind of grew to hate the brown lipstick on her, but only because it didn’t look so good with her bright hair.
“What’s going on?” she asked. “I thought you were going to the tea party with your parents?”
“Yeah, about that,” I put on a tight smile as I walked around her. “Kinda in a hurry. No time for chit-chat right now.”
Sue put a hand on her hip, her accent thick as she said, “They are expecting you, you know? And you look really, really bad.”
“Late night. Early morning. Bad mix,” I sighed, entering my bedroom. I cracked the door behind me, hitting my closet for the dress I’d already picked out.
It was simple. A light pink halter dress and a white cardigan. I stepped into my pink wedges, brushed my hair up into a tight bun, and then I brushed my teeth. A totally backwards routine but this morning was already disorderly.
I flipped my wrist. I had thirty minutes to make it to Leighton Cove Club or I was screwed. Well, shit. I was already screwed because it took exactly forty minutes to get there. It started at 11:30.
I bathed myself in perfume and then I was out of the door, shouting a quick goodbye at Sue before rushing out.
In the car I went, on my way to Leighton Cove, all with forty minutes in my pocket and frustration overwhelming me.
* * *
I pulled up to Leighton Cove, snatching out my clutch from the passenger seat and slamming the door behind me. I tossed the valet my keys and clomped up the half marble, half cement steps that lead to the spotless glass door.
The door was yanked open, I checked in, picked up my name tag, and finally I reached the door to the books and tea brunch.
As I walked in, a woman with curly red hair, a barely-there neck, and boobs pushed up to her chin, was at the front of the room standing behind a podium, holding up a book with a white and red cover. A smile plastered her face, her eyes giving away her true motive for this meeting…money.
I looked around, spotting Mom and Dad at a table in the far corner. Right beside the window. Perfect. I could daydream, stare out towards the lake and ignore everyone playing this friendly charade.
Eager, I made a quick beeline through the tables, bumping into a few chairs and letting out some quick apologies to those who were clearly irritated.
Dad lifted his head, spotting me coming towards him. A smile graced his lips, and I started to smile back, until Mom looked my way with dipped eyebrows and pursed lips.
When I sat down beside Dad, she glared at me then picked up her cellphone. “We have been calling you all morning,” she hissed across the table.
“My phone was dead.”
“Quit your lying, Jennifer. God,” she said as she looked around, “you’re such an embarrassment.”
“Calm down,” Dad butted in before I could respond with what he knew was going to be a rude retort. “All that matters is that she’s here now. No need to be so upset.” He cleared his throat as quietly as possible, looking discreetly at a few people around us, now gazing in our direction, quickly averting their eyes when one of us tried to make contact.
