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“Eleven. I made it a brunch instead of a breakfast. Kennedy made all the necessary phone calls for me. I guess she missed two.”
“Mrs. Shaw, you do know this was meant to be a surprise, right?”
“Hope, I know what the intentions were, but I don’t think I can take another one of his surprises. Besides, things have to happen the way they need. Let the chips fall where they may. I’m going to go settle on the deck. Guests should arrive in the next hour. Just signal me when things are settled.”
I lean against the doors. Banging the back of my head once into them, I make my decision. Pushing off the large, wooden panels, I set things in motion. It takes me no time to get showered and dressed. Or so I think.
When I exit the bathroom, I notice all the clothes that had previously occupied any open floor space are gone. My sheets are as well. I’m guessing Patrick is here along with the guests. Patrick is the first male housekeeper I’ve ever heard of in my life. I’d mentally hired him on the spot for that alone. When his references came through, I immediately made him an offer. He’s been one of the few employees who has been with me for the full six years I’ve called Savannah home.
Home is where mother is.
Having that thought fresh in my mind, I exit my bedroom for what my mind believes is the second time for the day. I’m ready and prepared to head back to the main floor to face the music. I walk down the stairs to complete silence. For a place that’s supposed to host a “surprise” party for my mother’s sixty-fifth birthday, it’s awfully quiet. All the prep that was happening in the kitchen has ceased and not one soul is around.
Even Graham and Hope have disappeared. I walk through the rooms of the downstairs level wondering what happened to the party that I put in motion. Nothing. No one. Not one streamer. Not a balloon. Not a plate or a napkin are in sight. Not even the glass I’d used for my orange juice earlier.
I search for my phone. It takes me a minute to find it. It’s in an obscure place. It’s out on the deck on one of the sun chairs. I’m shocked to find I have missed calls and notifications. Hundreds of each. When I open the texts, I can’t make any sense out of what I’m reading.
The messages are asking if I’m doing okay. Offers of getting someone to help with my “issues” are made. Messages from Graham and Hope are the most upsetting. They both want to know “why”. They want explanations for my behavior at my mother’s party. What they are saying makes no sense.
A couple messages have pictures to go along with them. I don’t recognize anything from the photos. What throws me off the most is seeing the date on my phone. For a second, I think I’ve lost my mind. It’s not until I check a few online calendars that I see I’ve lost two days.
April 10– Monday
What the hell?
How the hell did I lose two days? Forty-eight hours gone. Did I enter into some messed up vortex today? I stepped into the shower and took a swig of whatever was in the bottle in my bathroom. Fuck if I know what was in it. Whatever it was made me feel really good. Looking back on it, I probably shouldn’t have had that last drink. I’m one thousand percent sure it hadn’t been something I’d been drinking.
Given how I’m feeling, I can see why the two women I do remember being in my home suddenly weren’t here any longer. There are pictures of me with the faces of two females from my scattered memory. Other photos and video show me showing my “natural ass” as Graham would say.
I am sitting at the island in my kitchen with my head in my hands when I hear footsteps. Even if I hadn’t recognized the stride of his walk, I’d recognize the scent of his cologne. I know it because it was once one of my favorites before he stole my bottle as payment for making him wait an entire day for me to return home. That day, I’d apparently had meetings scheduled with some very important people who were supposed to be throwing a lot of money my way.
Graham covered my ass that day. It’s been something he’s had to do far more often than not. I don’t know how he does it or why he’s stuck by me all this time.
“This one was one for the record books. I never would’ve believed I’d see you do what you did the other day. You ready to get some clarity and stop fucking shit up?”
If I hadn’t already seen the photos and videos, then I’d be confused. I’d also be ready to get into Graham’s face. Since I’ve been painstakingly made aware of my own dumbassery, then I don’t need a recap.
“If you came to tell me just how much I fucked up then you can save your breath. I don’t need you to clue me in any further. I watched it all go down on my phone.”
He grunts, nods, then takes a seat not too far from me.
“So, you know Doc’s been here?”
Quickly lifting my head, I focus all my attention on the man who is more like a big brother to me than an employee. He shoots me a knowing grin before taking a sip of whatever is in his “to go” cup. Today, he’s rocking a t-shirt, jeans, and sneakers.
“When was he here?”
He chuckles before he takes another sip.
“He’s been here every day since the incident. Your mother said something about your eyes being off the one time you looked directly at her.”
“What? How did I look?”
“Your mother said you looked like a crazed man. We all know there was only one other time when you’ve ever looked out of your mind. Doc came over, took some blood, and checked you out. He told us that you were either doing drugs or were drugged.”
“I’m not doing fucking drugs. I haven’t touched them in forever. That one time was one too many.”
“Yeah, I know.”
