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The return trip up the beach was a completely different experience for Pam, who laughed, pushed Dan when he said something ribald, and ran backwards so she could face him while they talked.
Kassandra saw Pam on the beach again, this time with Dan, and it made her miss Tony so much, she called him again.
“Where are you?” she asked him.
“Sitting in my empty condo, wondering why I’m such a douche.”
“Come to Babylon and run on the beach with me.”
“I’ll be there in an hour.”
Chapter 15
By nine o’clock the night before Thanksgiving, Kassandra had everything ready. The house was sparkling, tables set, all the food prepared and ready to bake. Thankfully, there were two ovens in the kitchen, and she had a timesheet printed out stating which items would go first. The turkey and casseroles would go in at 9:00 a.m., and once they were removed, the pies would take their place.
The bar in the dining room was stocked with juices, soft drinks, flavored sparkling water, and cider. Early that week, she’d had a large banner made that stated Help Yourself Beverages! If it was tacky, she didn’t care. The day was going to be all about her guests’ comfort and making it as easy as possible so she could enjoy the party.
She went to bed early, setting her alarm for seven o’clock. It would make for a leisurely, albeit constant, workday.
The first guests to arrive were Pam and Dan and Andy and his family, followed by Tony. They sat around the living room. The oven timer beeped. Round one was cooked, round two ready to go into the ovens.
Lisa, Zach, the nannies, and the children arrived, with Alison, Max, and her family bringing up the rear. Ryan and Betsy came next with Laura and Will.
Pam and Sandra insisted on helping, and both exclaimed on the perfection of Kassandra’s schedule. They placed the food outin warmers on the buffet table, ready to serve. Will volunteered to carve the turkey.
“Unless you want to,” he said to Tony, holding out the knife and fork.
“No, I’ll butcher it. You’re a pathologist, right? You carve.”
“Oh, God, that’s awful,” Kassandra said, laughing.
While this was going on, Tony noticed Max for the first time.
“Bro, am I seeing things, or are you dressed up?”
“I’m dressed up,” Max said, his arms out at his sides. “What do you think?”
Max’s beautiful blue eyes sparkled with light pink eye shadow. Blue-black curly hair framed his handsome (beautiful) face, every hair in place. The pink silk shirt he wore, tucked into satin slacks, highlighted his complexion. And on his feet were sequined ballet slippers. Rhinestone turkeys hung on his earlobes.
“You’re gorgeous,” Tony said sincerely. “I don’t care for the earrings, but everything else is perfect.”
Dan came over and sized up his friend. “I don’t know if this is tacky or not, but I’m not attracted to you.”
Max barked out a laugh. “Well, that goes two ways, buddy. You’re too hairy for me.”
“What are you going to do if we get a football game going? You’ll ruin your fancy shoes.”
“I brought clothes to change into,” Max answered.
“I’ve always been attracted to Max,” Ryan said, making the others laugh, Betsy swatting his arm.
“So, you are yourself and the earth didn’t stop turning,” Alison said, a couple of others in the immediate vicinity agreeing.
“Andy and Will said nothing,” Max replied. “Silence speaks volumes.”
“Will, what do you think of Max’s new look?” Dan asked.
Will looked up from the turkey carcass, piles of white meat on the platter next to it.
