Hank didn’t respond.
“I thought you went in there to tel her to change outta that dress,” Dad went on.
“No,” Hank replied.
“Herb –” Mom started but Dad’s eyes were bugging out of his head.
“She can’t wear that dress! It’s indecent. Her ass is hangin’ out.”
I looked behind me. I couldn’t see my ass because Hank’s arm was around me but I was pretty certain it wasn’t hanging out.
I turned back to Dad. “My ass is not hanging out.”
“It’s almost hangin’ out,” Dad replied.
“Almost and hanging are two different things,” I returned, beginning to get angry.
“Roxie –” Mom started again.
“Son, take my advice, you gotta get this girl in hand. You can’t let her run around with her ass hangin’ out. You al ow it once, she’l do it again. Trust me. I know,” Dad told Hank.
Good grief.
“My ass is not hanging out and Hank does not have to get me in hand,” I flared.
Hank’s arm tightened and he pul ed me deeper into his side.
“Girl, you were almost the death of me runnin’ around almost naked, your underwear showin’. I’m warnin’ your boy here before you become the death of him,” Dad flared back.
“Herb –” Mom said again.
“I didn’t run around almost naked!” I snapped.
“That’s not what Mrs. Montgomery said. Mrs.
Montgomery said you looked loose,” Dad snapped back.
Good God.
“Mrs. Montgomery also said that Ginny Lampard looked loose and she was president of the Youth Club at the Christian Church and wore button-down oxfords with a string tie every day of her life!” I shot back.
“Roxie –” Mom said.
“Herb, she isn’t changin’ her dress,” Hank cut in, his deep voice low and not inviting argument.
Dad stared at him, agog.
“She looks beautiful. We’re late. Let’s go,” Hank finished then moved us forward and opened the door, stepping away from me so we al could precede him.
Mom passed me, smiling.
Dad passed me, glaring.
I was trying hard not to do a cartwheel of joy.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Daisy Doesn’t Do Boring
“Holy cow.”
I was standing outside Marcus and Daisy’s house, understanding why it was cal ed “The Castle”, mainly because it was a castle, complete with moat.
Mom stood beside me, staring at the house.
“Is Daisy wealthy?” Mom breathed.
“Her husband must have a real good job. What’s he do?” Dad asked, standing beside Mom and staring up at a turret.
I looked at Dad then I looked at Hank who had secured the car and was approaching us.
“Um…” I said, not sure how much to share.
“Sales,” Hank replied, stopping at my side.
“He must be a slick talker,” Dad commented, clearly impressed.
I smiled at Hank, laughing under my breath. He grinned and took my hand.
“Sir. You can’t park there,” a valet was jogging up to us and staring at the 4Runner. Hank had parked beside two other cars, both of which I knew, Lee’s Crossfire and Eddie’s red Dodge Ram. They were the only cars that were parked near the house.
Hank flashed his badge to the valet.
The valet pursed his lips. “Go on in,” he relented.
“It’s good having a cop in the family,” Mom said, sotto voce, to Dad as we walked across the bridge over the moat.
“Yeah, good parking anywhere. That’s the reason it’s good having a cop in the family. Jeez, Trish,” Dad returned.
good having a cop in the family. Jeez, Trish,” Dad returned.
Hank squeezed my hand and I sighed, and for the first time in a long time, it was a happy sigh.
The front door was opened for us by a uniformed butler-type person and we walked down a long hal ; the wal s made of stone, a deep red, thick carpet runner down the middle. The hal was decorated in “Castle Chic” with sets of armor, torches and crossed swords.
Every once in awhile, there was a table displaying a fabulously expensive necklace or set of earrings, a glossy brochure depicting a sunny vacation spot, a shiny crystal vase or a glass sculpture and al of them had a silent auction bid sheet next to them. A quick glance showed al of the bid sheets had bids. Some of the tables had elegantly dressed people standing around them. They al turned to watch us walk in, most of them smiled at us (or, I should say, most of the ladies smiled at Hank, some of them just stared, wide-eyed and lustful).
At the end of a hal was a huge room with an enormous fireplace that had a roaring fire and more people standing around, drinking glasses of champagne. Uniformed waiters walked around with trays of champagne and hors d’oeuvres.
We barely made it into the room when I heard, “Yoo hoo!”
It was Tod and Stevie, standing with Indy and Lee, Jet and Eddie and Carl and Al y. Al the men were dressed like Hank, suits and open-necked shirts. They al looked heart-stoppingly, mouth-wateringly, unbelievably great. Indy had on a deep green, sheath dress with one shoulder bared.