Up & Out - Ariella Papa [78]
“We were down by the pool,” I say. “But we’ve been back here for a while. Where have you guys been?”
“We’ve been around.” She is acting much friendlier, almost too friendly. She keeps patting my hair. “Oh, I brought you the sarong. I forgot.”
Although it’s too late for me to strip completely to my bathing suit, I am touched she remembers. I look across at Jordan, who is talking to Tommy and Jill. I can see from Tommy’s expression that Jordan isn’t making much sense. He’s embarrassing himself in front of Owen and Jonathan. Jill gets up and leaves the table. I suspect it’s because Jordan is yelling in her ear.
I continue my conversation with Owen and Jonathan while Tommy tries to understand Jordan. Beth keeps loudly interrupting the conversation and not really making much sense. But I’m getting drunk, too, so maybe it’s my fault that I can’t understand her.
Someone sets up an ice-cream sundae bar and we all gather around and make sundaes. Beth makes a really impressive one with three scoops, all the toppings and a ton of whipped cream, but she doesn’t eat it, except to lick whipped cream off her fingers.
Tommy and Owen want to take another swim, so we head back to the pool. Instinctively, I hold on tight to Beth, who refuses to sit in one of the lounge chairs.
Jordan does cannonballs into the water and screams. He splashes everyone and Beth laughs hysterically. Jonathan says he is going to bed and Owen joins him. Owen repeats his offer, but we decline.
“I want to go in the pool, too,” Beth says, making her way to the edge. She and Jordan don’t seem to be slowing down at all.
“C’mon in!” Jordan yells. I’m still holding on to her. I just don’t think it’s a good idea.
“No, Beth, we’re leaving,” Tommy says. “C’mon, we’re tired and it’s going to take a couple of hours to get home.”
“Okay, Tommy.” We go back up to the house and wait while Beth says affectionate goodbyes to everyone.
Finally at the car, Tommy and Jordan fight over who is going to drive home. There is no way I’m getting in a car with Jordan driving and I know that Tommy hasn’t had a drink in five hours. I stay out of it, because he can make a better case for it than I could.
“C’mon, J., you said I could drive it.”
“I know, man, but I’m okay.”
“Yeah, you are,” Tommy lies. “But when else am I going to get a chance to drive it? You can work the remote.”
Jordan agrees as I pat Tommy’s shoulder before we take off. Then, in spite of the music, I pass out. I wake up when we are going back through the Midtown Tunnel. Beth is still talking really loud, but Jordan seems to have calmed down. I’m the only one who fell asleep. Tommy turns to drop off Beth.
“I can drop her,” Jordan says. “I’m okay to drive and I can drop you guys off Uptown.”
“No, it’s fine—it’s on the way,” Tommy says. It really isn’t, but he is very firm. I see Jordan turn and glance at Beth, then address me.
“Did you have a good sleep?” I think it’s the first time he’s looked at me all day.
“You have a very comfortable car,” I say.
“I know,” he says. I suspect he wants me to tell Lauryn how well he’s doing. For some reason, the way Beth slams the door when we get to her building makes me think she suspects that, too.
16
Lie in Our Graves
Kathy calls me during Port Charles on Monday. I was never one for soap operas, but I think they set up summer storylines for kids on break and unemployed women to get sucked right in and I do. I mute it because Kathy sounds like she’s been crying.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
“Nothing. Is this a bad time?” A couple is having sex on screen. I think this is crucial, but I thought they were brother and sister. I’m never going to figure this all out.
“No, not at all.” I switch the TV off. What am I becoming? “Are you at work?”
“No.”
“Oh, my God. Did you get up and outed?”
“No, I called in sick.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know.” Her voice shakes.
“Shit, Kathy, is it Ron?”
“No, well, sort of.”
“What?” Is the wedding off? Do I dare ask?
“I don’t know. I don’t know.” She stops and it sounds like she’s crying a little.