Fat Fridays (32 page)

“Eight thousand dollars!”

“Oh, honey, that’s awful! Just awful!” Sukie shook her head, giving Betsy a thumbs-down sign.

“Sukie, he didn’t want to date me exclusively,” Carol Ann whispered, as if she couldn’t bear to say the words aloud. “He just wanted my money.”

Sukie ached for her. “I’m so sorry. Is there anything I can do for you?”

“Ed is going to help me sort things out. We may be able to press charges, if we can find out where the...the... bastard went.” Carol Ann lowered her voice. “Sukie, you wouldn’t believe how wonderful Ed has been to me.”

“That’s really nice,” Sukie said, and realized Carol Ann had just grown up a lot.

Betsy’s eyes were riveted on Sukie as she and Carol Ann murmured goodbyes. “Let me guess. John took the money for the furniture and ran off.”

Sukie nodded. “Bingo. Carol Ann has learned a hard lesson, but some good has come of it. She’s seeing Ed Pritchard in a whole new way.” 

“Good for her!” Betsy checked her watch. “I know how disappointed she must be. I’ll call her later. Now, I’d better be going.”

Sukie walked Betsy to the door. “Cam’s picking me up soon. We’re going to have dinner at Bea’s tonight. Mid-week break.”

“Karen and I haven’t gone there yet, but someday we will,” said Betsy with a determination Sukie admired.

###

S
ukie held Chloe’s hand as they entered Bea’s. When Chloe saw the lollipop basket by the cash register, she pulled away from Sukie and ran over to it. 

“No, Chloe. Not now. After dinner, maybe,” Sukie said quietly, taking Chloe’s hand and leading her away.

“No-o-o-o-! Now!” Chloe let out a rebellious cry and continued crying as the hostess showed them to a table by the window and seated them. Sukie buckled Chloe in her booster seat and turned to see Ted striding toward them.

Ted glared at Sukie. “What are
you
doing here? With him? And her?”

Sukie’s temper rose. “This isn’t your private club, Ted. If you need to talk to me, you can call me at home.”

Ted’s mouth worked as if he wanted to say something nasty, but he turned and walked away.

Sukie breathed a sigh of relief. Tension between her and Ted was at a breaking point. Unless he backed off, it wouldn’t be long before she’d have to take him to court.

“Be careful, Sukie,” Cam said quietly, after she was seated. “He’s really, really frustrated. No doubt he realizes what he’s lost.” Cam gave her a “but-look-what-I’ve-found” smile that warmed her insides.

As they sat looking at menus, whispers circled around them. Sukie ignored the sound of them, along with the cold stares Ted assailed them with like missiles of hate.  Her back straightened. She and Cam had every right to be together, in that restaurant, eating a nice Southern meal. The hell with what others might think of their relationship.

Ted left as Cam was paying the bill. Sukie watched him get into his car alone and was unable to prevent herself from comparing Ted to Cam—a comparison that wasn’t in Ted’s favor.

As Cam dropped Sukie off at her house, a Sheriff’s car slowly drove by. Sukie’s thoughts turned to the anonymous notes. Maybe Ted had been the one behind them all along, no matter what he claimed. The looks he’d given her at the restaurant were murderous. 

Cam leaned over and gave her a kiss. 

“Me, too, Sukie. I want a kiss,” said Chloe from her car seat in the back.

Cam and Sukie broke apart, laughing. Sukie blew noisy kisses to Chloe and got out of the car, waving goodbye until they’d driven too far for her to see.

Tiffany greeted Sukie at the front door. Her newly cut hair swung at her shoulders, giving her a carefree look. “Good news!” Tiffany’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “Karen’s moving in with Betsy and she said I could sublet her apartment. And it’s at a price I can afford.”

“Wonderful!” said Sukie. “When is this going to happen?”

“Sometime in the next couple of weeks. I have to take care of some legal issues with Beau first, but he’s not fighting me on this.” She clasped her hands together. “I’m so relieved.”

“Great.” Sukie gave Tiffany a quick hug, surprised by how fast everything was moving. It all sounded simple. Too simple.

###

C
am called as Sukie was getting ready to leave work Friday afternoon. “I’m at Glenn’s Gourmet. How does Beef Wellington sound? That, a salad and a bottle of good red wine?”

“Wonderful.” Sukie smiled happily. Cam liked good food and wasn’t shy about working in the kitchen. It was just one more thing to love about him.

Sukie drove directly to Cam’s house. As she pulled into the driveway, Cam was carrying a couple bags of groceries inside. His eyes lit up at the sight of her. “Chloe’s preschool teacher invited her to sleep over, so we have the whole night to ourselves.” He gave her that sexy look she loved.

She grinned, grabbed the last two bags from the SUV and followed him inside. Cam took the bags from her, set them down on the counter and took her in his arms. His blue eyes danced with pleasure. “I have something very special planned.”

“Oh? A special dessert?” Cam had a sweet tooth and Glenn’s Gourmet was known for its excellent pastries.

Cam grinned. “Not exactly.” He took Sukie’s hand and led her upstairs.

Her pulse raced with anticipation. It was so nice to be alone with him.

Cam opened the door to his bedroom with a flourish. “For you.”

Sukie’s breath caught. The bedcovers on his king-size bed were turned down. Red rose petals formed a trail from the door to the bed and lay scattered atop the sheets. Unlit candles were placed on the bureau and table tops. A bucket of ice containing a bottle of champagne sat on the floor near the bed. Two tulip-stemmed glasses rested nearby.

Clasping her hands together, Sukie fought tears. It was the sweetest, most romantic thing anyone had ever done for her.

“This was supposed to be for later,” Cam said, smiling at her. “But let’s not wait.” He swept Sukie up in his arms and carried her over to the bed. “They say Champagne tastes best before dinner and I know what I want for dessert.”

“Yes,” Sukie happily agreed. “Let’s skip the rest.”

Sukie woke up and stretched lazily in Cam’s bed, wondering if every morning with Cam would be as wonderful. Cam reached for her and she rolled toward him. She loved the feel of his naked strong virile body wrapped around her. It still amazed her that he found so much pleasure in hers.

“Sukie? What do you say you move in with Chloe and me?”

Sukie sat up in bed and stared at him. “Here?”

“Yeah. Ted is giving you a hard time about the house. Maybe it would be smart to sell it and move in here.” He grinned. “I want to wake up like this every morning.”

Cam put his arms around her and Sukie nestled against him, her mind trying to get comfortable with the concept of living together without a wedding. It was so against her nature to leave things open-ended.

After another bout of lovemaking and a quick breakfast, Sukie returned home. An unfamiliar car was parked behind Tiffany’s SUV. She immediately became wary.

At the front door, Sukie quietly slid the key in the lock and slowly opened it. Sticking her head inside, she listened. At the sound of a familiar voice coming from the back of the house, she grinned. Elizabeth.

“Mom!” Elizabeth, in a tee and pajama bottoms, hung up the phone, jumped up from the kitchen table and came running over to her.

Sukie threw her arms around Elizabeth. They rocked back and forth in a heart-warming embrace. “I tried to call you yesterday, but had to leave a message.”

Elizabeth laughed. “I was on my way here. It’s pretty obvious you didn’t expect me.” She nudged Sukie with her elbow. “I came home to find you were having a sleepover with your...friend.”

“Friend? I’ll have you know he’s asked me to move in with him,” Sukie retorted, not wanting Elizabeth to get the wrong idea about their relationship. This was no friends with benefits situation, no matter what others might think of their age difference.

“Ohh-h-h-h. So, it’s moving right along,” Elizabeth said. Her expression grew pensive. “Sit down, Mom. We’ve got a lot to talk about. Jeez, I leave for a few months and everything changes.” She tucked a strand of honey-blond hair behind her ear. “Okay, fess up. What’s he like? Madeleine says he’s hotter than hell.”

Sukie chuckled. “He is.”

“Yeah? Well, you’re looking pretty hot yourself. I love what you’ve done to your hair. Tiffany said she helped you with your wardrobe.”

“Yes. All the women in Fat Fridays have been a great support to me.”

“That’s nice, Mom, but let’s talk about Cam. Am I going to have to call him Dad if this goes any further?”

At her teasing tone, a nervous laugh rolled out of Sukie. God! It felt so awkward to be talking to her daughter like this—all topsy turvy, as if Elizabeth was the mother and she, the child.

Elizabeth’s laughter ended. “Speaking of Dad, I promised to spend the night with him and Emmy Lou. It’s a short visit; I have to leave tomorrow afternoon. But I had to come home to see everybody. I’ve been feeling left out.”

Sukie hid her disappointment. “Will you come to Sunday brunch tomorrow? I’d like you to meet Cam And, of course, Chloe.”

Elizabeth sighed. “Okay, but I’m not sure I like having all these little ones around the family. First, Dad. Now, you.”

Hating to be compared to Ted, Sukie forced a smile. “Wait until you meet Chloe. She’ll steal your heart. And she’s going to be thrilled to meet you. She wants a sister. I’ll just have to explain to her that you’re not a baby, like she wants.”

Elizabeth returned Sukie’s smile. “I went to see Jonathan last night. He’s so perfect. I can’t believe Rob and Madeleine are parents. They’re a real family now. Nice, huh?”

Sukie nodded. “So far, they seem to be doing well with him. He looks just like Rob at that age. It’s brought back a lot of memories.”

Elizabeth twirled a ring on her finger and looked up at her with a worried frown. “Mom? Do you think it’s a good idea for you to do this thing with Cam? He’s so much younger and it’s kinda like you’re starting a family all over again.”

Sukie clasped Elizabeth’s hand. “Nothing will ever take the place of the children I have, Elizabeth. And it will take a while for me to move in with Cam. I’ve got to sell this house first.”

Elizabeth’s eyes filled. “I know. It’s just that it’s going to take me time to get used to the idea of you being with him and all.”

Sukie leaned back in her chair, seeing things from her daughter’s point of view. She
was
starting all over again. And it was scary. In time, Sukie was sure she and Cam would have a more traditional situation. For now, she was taking a giant leap of faith. 

###

T
he next morning Sukie woke to unsettling weather. Gray clouds boiled in the sky, but left no rain. Warm summer air swirled in affectionate bursts around the flowers edging the patio. Not taking a chance on showers, Sukie set the table in the dining room. Maybe, she thought, a little formality was in order. It would be the first time her family—new and old—would all be together.

Cam and Chloe arrived early as she’d asked. Sukie added a blue bow to Chloe’s curls, while Cam grabbed a cup of coffee and stood ready to greet her children. Sukie sensed he was as nervous as she, but, as usual, his manner was calm.

Elizabeth arrived before the others. Sukie rushed forward to embrace her. “Glad you’re here. Come meet Cam and Chloe.”

“Are you my sister?” Chloe asked, looking up at Elizabeth with her big, blue eyes. “You’re so big.”

The guarded expression on Elizabeth’s face softened. She knelt before Chloe. “You don’t want a big sister?”

Chloe shook her head firmly. “No. I want a baby sister.”

Cam gave Sukie a look that implied he was ready to try for one any time.

Sukie’s cheeks flushed and then grew even hotter when she noticed Elizabeth gazing at the two of them with an amused expression.

The doorbell rang, shattering the awkward moment.

“I’ll get it!” Chloe shouted and ran out of the room. Sukie followed closely behind.

Madeleine came through the front doorway carrying Jonathan in her arms. Rob trailed her, weighed down by a diaper bag, a baby seat and an extra blanket. 

“It’s the baby!” Chloe exclaimed happily.

“And the baby’s packhorse,” said Rob, and they all laughed as they crowded around them.

Jonathan opened his eyes, let out a huge yawn and went back to sleep.

Rob shook hands with Cam, and leaned over and gave Sukie a kiss on the cheek.

While everyone chatted and fussed over the baby, Sukie finished coordinating things in the kitchen. When all the food was laid out, she called to everyone and took her place at one end of the dining room table. Cam waited until everyone else was seated and took a place at the far end of the table. Chloe sat beside Sukie, next to Elizabeth. Jonathan lay in his infant seat on the floor between his parents’ chairs, still asleep. They all held hands while Rob said a short grace and then everyone dug into their food.

Sukie automatically began to cut up Chloe’s egg and cheese casserole for her.

“No, Mommy!”

Chloe’s unexpected words split the air like a jagged bolt of lightning. 

“Where did that come from?” The look on Rob’s face told Sukie that while she might think of it as one big happy family, he didn’t.  Not yet.

“Wishful thinking on Chloe’s part,” Cam said apologetically.

“It’s so surprising to hear you called that, Sukie,” said Madeleine, saying what they’d all been thinking. 

Elizabeth nodded. “Yeah. Really weird.”

Sukie exchanged silent looks with Cam and decided to let the matter drop. It was too much, too soon. For everyone.

After the meal and clean up, Madeleine took the baby home. Cam and Sukie agreed Chloe needed a nap and he left with her. Rob and Elizabeth decided to visit their father together.

Sukie picked up a novel she was reading and went into the den, feeling very alone in the quiet house. Settling in her favorite comfortable chair, she let out a sigh that came from deep within her. Trying to blend families would take much more time and work than she’d thought. Rob’s silence and Elizabeth’s horrified expression at hearing Chloe call her Mommy were clear indicators how far they were far from embracing the idea.