Brandon and Kayla arrive with the pizza just as the boys are coming back from the play area and the mothers return from their fake visit to the bathroom. Last to arrive is Shirleen, followed by Graydon.
“Jennifer, there has been a misunderstanding. Graydon didn’t say it was the worst party he’s ever been to.”
“Yes, he did.” Max comes running back to me.
“He’s lying,” says Graydon. “He lies a lot.”
Whoa. Hold on there, bubble boy. You are in dangerous territory. I’m about to say something, but Max decides to come to his own defense.
“I don’t lie,” he says. “Almost never,” he adds with conviction.
“You lied about the one-armed man,” Graydon counters.
At this point, the entire room’s focus is on these two little boys. Even Shirleen is hanging back.
“I didn’t lie about him! He’s real. Zach B. saw him, too.”
Zach B. looks up and nods. He seems pleased to have been brought into the drama.
“Well, I don’t believe you.” Graydon folds his arms in front of his chest in an exact imitation of his mother. I almost burst out laughing.
“Wait a minute.” Garth steps in. I want to wave him off, but stop myself.
“Do you mean this one-armed guy?” He reaches into the gift bag he’s holding, pulls out a picture frame, and turns to the picture toward Graydon. From where I’m standing, I can see it’s a photo of Jack, from the day of the indoor mudder. He has his one arm around both boys, and they are all smiling.
“Yes!” Max yells as if he has won the lottery … or a good game of Lego Indiana Jones. He runs to hug Garth and takes the picture. “See, Graydon? I told you I wasn’t lying.” He is beaming.
“We told you.” Zach B. puts his arm around Max.
Graydon walks closer to the boys for a better look at the picture. After studying it for about ten seconds, he hands it back to Max.
“Cool. Mom, what can I eat here?”
If I was hoping for an apology, I was going to be disappointed. That “cool” was all the ground Graydon was ever going to give. I look at Garth.
“You are my hero,” I mouth to him. He nods and winks. Nina blows me a kiss.
The kids have already moved on and are scarfing down pizza like it’s the first and last time they will ever have it. I’m sitting with the moms, enjoying chicken Caesar salad and a delicious cup of smugness. Shirleen sits down beside me.
“Well, I’m sure glad the boys hashed that out. It’s good to get to the truth, I always say.”
Clearly, she doesn’t notice the slice of humble pie in front of her. There are many ways I could respond, but I go with a nod and a smile.
18
As the famous anorexic Karen Carpenter once said, “Rainy days and Mondays always get me down.” Man alive, we have had a lot of precipitation these past few weeks. It’s either rain or sleet or snow or hail that has me scraping off or digging out the minivan every day. Oh, well. At least the mail is getting delivered … or so they say.
On this particular freezing rainy Monday I’m meeting Asami (please, not the duck hat; please, not the duck hat) to unveil my master plan to get to the bottom of the Sasha and Nadine Lewicki mystery/Asami obsession. As I’m driving to Starbucks, my cell phone rings. I hit the Answer button on the steering wheel.
“Jen’s Nail Salon; how can I help you?”
“On a scale of one to ten, what is your mood right now?” It’s Ron.
“Is ten the best or the worst?” I ask.
“Whatever makes you happier.”
“Well, then, I guess I’d say I’m about a five, and you can do the math.”
“I just got offered tickets to watch the Roller Warriors play tonight.”
“Okay … the roller whats?” I can hear Ron’s eyes rolling on the other end of the line.
“Kansas City’s roller derby team.”
“You like roller derby?” I’m wondering how he got through the vetting process without this little nugget of information coming out.
“I’m trying to make a deal to supply all their skates for the next five seasons. The manager offered me tickets, so I think it would be good for me to go.”
“Why are you even asking me? Of course it would be good for you to go.”
“I kind of want to bring Max.”
“In God’s name, why?”
“I think he’ll really enjoy it. It’s a lot of fun to watch.”
I turn into the Starbucks parking lot and find a spot.
“I’ll have to take your word for it.” I smile to myself, thinking how many questions Max is going to have.
“So, when you pick him up from school, can you drop him at the store? I’ll get him dinner and we’ll go from here.”
“Sure, babe. I’ll see you in about an hour.”
“Perfect, thanks.”
I press the button on the steering wheel again to hang up and have a good laugh. Watch this be the sport Max falls in love with.
Starbucks smells like roasted coffee and something else … a croissant being baked? Asami and her hat are already on the love seat, patiently waiting for me.
I’ve had quite enough caffeine already today, so I opt for a calm tea and one of those yummy cake pops. I choose the one with nuts, reasoning that it is healthier.
As I settle in across from Asami, I can tell she’s dying to know what I have come up with, so I don’t waste time with pleasantries.
“So, remember when the FBI did that huge Mafia sting a bunch of years ago?”
“No.”
“Well, a bunch of Mafia guys had gone into hiding and the FBI couldn’t find them anywhere. So they sent out letters to the Mafiosos’ last known addresses, saying they had won some really big prize but they had to show up at a certain warehouse to claim it.” I’m pretty sure I’m fudging some of the facts.
“Did they go?”
“Yes. A lot of them did and were arrested. Maybe if Sasha thinks she has won money or something, she will show up to get it.”
Asami’s face is pinched in irritation.
“What’s wrong?” I tear into my cake pop.
“Well, it’s just so … simple. It’s such an obvious plan. I’m mad I didn’t think of it myself.”
It isn’t that obvious, I think but do not say. “So, do you want to try it?”
“Of course! What should we say she has won?”
“How about a car? Or fifty thousand bucks?”
“Perfect. You should send the letter out today.”
“Me? No, no. This is all you, partner.”
“Don’t you want to see who shows up?”
“I look forward to you telling me all about it,” I assure Asami.
I sit back and we sip our respective drinks for a minute.
“So is your daughter still dating the boy in Jeen’s band?” Asami is trying to make actual conversation with me. I’m touched.
“Travis, yes. They seem very fond of each other. How is Jeen doing?”
“Fine. He really loves school.”
“That’s great.”
Awkward pause while I realize we have both run out of small talk. That’s fine. It’s time to go, anyway.
“I’m heading out to get Max. Good luck with your Sasha hunt.”
Asami turns her determined eyes to me and nods. Whoever Sasha Lewicki is, I can’t help but feel sorry for her.
On my way out the door, I bump into Suchafox heading in. I haven’t seen him in ages—not even at pickup. He gives me a quick hug and the Polo wafts over me.
“So you really do drink coffee, just not with me!” he says lightheartedly.
“Ha, ha. Yes! How are you?”