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“And?”
“I don’t know, Miss Social Worker, why don’t you just tell me?”
“To show the Montgomery family what he has become. He will insist on calling your parents, even if Dan doesn’t bring it up again.”
“I’m sorry you don’t like him.”
Charlene shrugged. “Don’t be silly. I’m not the important person here. I’ll be nice to him because he has made you start smiling again. I also admire him. I hope that at least one of the kids I deal with every day finds his way out of the ’hood. I just want you to take off the rose-colored glasses and deal with the man he has become. Not the Oliver Twist he used to be.”
Adrienne mixed the salad. Charlene’s words made sense. There was a lot she still didn’t know about Lloyd. She would think about all that later. In the meantime, where was Mel?
Dan suddenly appeared in the doorway. “Hey, we’re dying of thirst out here.” He smiled.
Charlene handed him the ice bucket, tongs, and a bottle of vodka. “I’m right behind you with the juice and beer.”
“Dan, what do you think?” Adrienne whispered.
“He’s a little conservative but okay.”
The two went back out into the living room. Adrienne laughed to herself, wondering why she had even bothered to ask Dan’s opinion. Her brother could find a soft, cuddly side to a serial killer.
The salad was ready. The spaghetti was cooked. The three of them sat drinking and chitchatting while waiting for Mel to arrive with the shrimp.
Dinner was supposed to be at seven. Shrimp scampi, pasta, and salad followed by Charlene’s homemade brownies for dessert.
By eight, an uncomfortable silence had settled on the group. “I don’t know what happened to Mel,” Adrienne said finally, “but I’m hungry.”
Charlene muttered an assent, and the two women hustled into the kitchen. As Charlene warmed up the food, Adrienne snatched plates, glasses, and silverware from the cabinets and drawers.
“I should have known Mel would pull a stunt like this. He didn’t want to come in the first place.”
“Maybe something happened to him.”
“Unless he’s dead, there is a phone nearby,” Adrienne said as she slammed a glass down on the countertop. “He could have called. God only knows what Lloyd is thinking. This is so humiliating.”
Adrienne glanced into the living room. Dan and Lloyd were engaged in an earnest conversation, but she couldn’t make out what they were saying over the music.
Charlene and Adrienne carried bowls of salad and plates of spaghetti into the dining room, and everyone took a seat at the table.
Adrienne felt uncomfortable because the conversation was strained and everyone was so determined not to mention Mel’s absence.
When dinner was over, Dan said, “Let’s eat the brownies.” His voice was tight.
Just then, the downstairs doorbell rang. Adrienne flew to the intercom and pressed the Talk button. “It’s Mel,” said the male voice.
Adrienne avoided Dan’s and Charlene’s gazes as she stepped out into the hallway. She heard the elevator door open, and then Mel came swerving around the corner. He held on to a wall all the way down to the apartment, grinning steadily at his wife. By the time he reached her, she could smell the gray, stained sweat suit that he had on. She wrinkled her nose in distaste and stood in front of the closed door with her arms folded.
“Let’s go home, Mel. You’re drunk.”
“Girl, what you talkin’ ’bout?” With that remark, Mel pushed her aside and stumbled into the apartment. Adrienne followed him and saw Dan and Charlene leap to their feet.
“Adrienne,” he yelled while turning to face her. “Baby, I
got the fish.”
He held up a smelly, wet bag for her to see. He stumbled backward and then propelled himself forward again. Somehow, he made it to the sofa. He put the smelly bag on his lap and squinted at each of them.
Lloyd hastily wiped his mouth with a napkin and pushed his plate away. “I think I’ll be going now. It was good seeing you, Dan. Nice to meet you, Charlene.” Lloyd’s hasty retreat was lost in the hubbub.
