Victoria looked at Elly, aghast. “My daughter would do no such thing. I’ll have you know that she is very highly regarded in her class at Little Tots Montessori School.”
Elly stared blankly at the horizon, trying to hold in a laugh. “She does seem very smart.”
Victoria continued. “I think it would be a special memory for her. She has great reflexes.”
Elly cast her eyes downward. “Well, then, why don’t I just leave you the flowers right here, and then you can have her put them on the cake as you see fit?”
Victoria was lifting Genevieve out of her high chair. “That sounds great. Thanks, Elly, the flowers are gorgeous! Can I book you for her third birthday?”
Elly smiled. “Absolutely!” Only if your budget is either the same or higher…. “Is it okay if I use your restroom really fast?” she inquired. “I drank a ton of water on the way over.” Why did I tell her that?
Victoria gave her a puzzled look. “Sure, it’s just inside the door. Have you seen Brad? He needs to take the picture. Braaad!”
Before Elly headed for the massive stone house, she gave Genevieve a sympathetic look as the child mashed a fist into her mouth. Seeing Anthony on the way in, she asked him, “All done?”
He gave a curt head shake. “Just gonna spray down the centerpieces one last time, and then we should be ready to go. I’ll bring the van around to the front.”
“Thanks.” Elly huffed up the hill, the long Serengeti grasses (planted ahead of time for the party!) brushing her ankles. At the top of the hill, she walked around a large antelope arguing with a shorter chimpanzee. “There is no way that Kate is going to go to prom with you. She’s already going with Jack.”
The chimpanzee shook his head. “No way. She broke up with him because he took her to that horror movie because he was all like, ‘I love when they run in the tank tops.’ So she’s going with me….”
Elly withheld a loud chuckle as she passed them on the porch. Teenagers were hilarious, especially in jungle outfits. She momentarily missed Snarky Teenager, who had the day off today. Stepping inside the house, she welcomed the cool blast of air conditioning on her damp forehead. Looking around, she spied a long hallway to the left and a sign that read Bathroom. She headed down the hallway, undoing her apron as she walked. Just before she reached the door, a shadow stepped out of the door across from the bathroom. Elly jumped. It was Brad, his long torso blocking her way, a beer in his hand. “Well, hey there! Didn’t expect to find you in here.”
Elly gave a shy smile. “Just using the facilities, but if that’s a problem….”
He placed a hand on her shoulder. “No worries, that’s fine. Where is Victoria?”
“She’s outside with the baby. She was looking for you to take some pictures as Genevieve decorates the cake. You might want to head out there.”
“Ginny is decorating the cake?” He looked shocked. “That cake was two grand. She’s not going to touch that effin’ thing.”
Elly shifted uncomfortably. “That’s what I thought, but I’m sure it will be fine. This is her party, after all.”
Brad looked as if he was about to step out of her way, and she was about to let out a breath of relief when he said, “My wife is so crazy. Look at this crap!” He picked up an embroidered khaki vest from a large wicker basket, a take-home favor for the men attending this soiree. “Sometimes I think I needed to marry someone with a better head on their shoulders. Or,” he muttered drunkenly, “I just need to have a little fun on the side. Nothing is fun anymore.” He looked at Elly, tilting his head sideways before he casually draped his arms around her waist. “We could have just a couple minutes of fun, you know, if you are up to it.”
Elly stood frozen, her heart pounding so loud that it resonated in her ears. She was sure the entire house could hear it, the entire party outside, the kids in their jungle outfits, Victoria and Genevieve and Anthony. She raised her eyes to look at Brad, terrified. His face leered down at her with a lupine grin. Just ignore him, she thought. But then she thought of Keith. A fire ignited in her belly as she pushed Brad out of the way. “You pervert. Your wife is out there planning an amazing birthday party for your gorgeous daughter, and you are in here trying to hook up with the help? Shame on you. Have some class next time.” She stepped around him, but not before she grabbed his beer. “Quit drinking, go outside, and watch your daughter destroy an expensive cake. Now, if you will excuse me, I have to pee.”
Brad stared at her for a minute through glassy eyes before stumbling to the door. “But,” he moaned drunkenly, “I love curvy women. And I never get to have them.”