Hungry for Love (61 page)

Wimp shrugged. 
“
Gotta be twenty or thirty.  Woah how could she gain so much so fast
?”

“
Curry
?”

“
She
’
s seeking asylum in
India
too.  How about that.  Do you think she
’
ll be on our tour
?
  That could be awkward.
”
  Wimp mulled this over.  At least there was no sign of Bill. 
“
Oh my God
,
do you think Bill is here
?”
  Wimp held his hands over his face and rose
,
peering in every direction
,
then grimaced at Butch and sat back down. 
“
No sign of him.
”

“
Maybe they
’
re not gurus but all Bill
’
s wives
,
a coven or something.  A whole herd of wives
,
running away
,”
said Butch. 
“
It
’
s about time someone taught him a lesson.  Who
’
s gonna do his laundry now
?”

Candy pulled Bill aside and said seriously
,
“
You really have to talk to Will.  He can
’
t use his manners tonight.
”

Bill laughed and asked
,
“
What
’
s wrong with him using manners
?”

“
He only has bad ones
,”
said Candy. 
“
And our cousins will be here.
”

“
What
?”
said Bill. 
“
Aunt Ruth didn
’
t tell me she was coming for a visit.
”

“
Not those cousins.
”
  Candy gestured toward next door
,
saying
“
The cousins we
’
ve never met. They
’
re coming to the party.
”

“
I know how much you love Mrs. G
,”
said Bill
,
“
But you do know we
’
re not actually related to her
,
right
?
  And her grandkids aren
’
t your cousins.
”

“
Please!
”
said Candy with visible exasperation. 
“
Is this really the time for that kind of talk
?”

Bill laughed.

“
Now
’
s the time to focus.  I need you to take my pictures with your cell phone and put them on the computer.
”

“
Pictures
?”
asked Bill.

“
I have to try on some outfits and need to know which looks best.  So that way I can look at all the pictures and decide.
”

“
Where
’
d you get a crazy idea like that
?”

“
Duh!
”
said Candy
,
“
Clueless
of course.
”

“
Don
’
t you have a new dress just for the party
?
  Didn
’
t Aunt Laura take you shopping and get you a bunch of stuff
?”

“
Daddy!  You
’
re lollygagging around
,
not even dressed
,
Will for all we know is up to his ears in slime
,
and I
’
m the only one paying attention and now you want to discuss shopping
?
  Focus
,
Daddy
,
focus!
”

Bill shrugged
,
“
Okay
,
go put on the outfits.  Camera right here.
”

While Candy was dressing
,
Will appeared
,
saying
,
“
What
?”

“
What what
?”
asked Bill.

“
Candy said you wanted me.
”

“
That kid will end up president one day
,”
muttered Bill. 
“
You ready for the Gold
’
s anniversary party
?
  Better get dressed.
”

“
It
’
s an outside party. I am dressed.
”

“
It
’
s a garden party
,
yes
,
but not a jeans party.  Go put on nice slacks and a clean shirt.
”

“
Oh
,
crap
,”
said Will.

After the normal amount of nagging on Candy
’
s part
,
grousing on Will
’
s part
,
and some relief on Bill
’
s that he could once again fit perfectly into his clothes
,
they walked together across the lawn to the Gold
’
s back yard
,
Bill carrying a large box containing a nice present onto which Candy had taped a card she
’
d drawn herself.

“
Remember Will
,
try not to make anyone hate you right away
,”
admonished Candy.

“
Nobody hates me but you
,”
Will answered.

“
I
’
m the only one who really knows you
,”
said Candy.

“
Stop it
,”
said Bill sternly. 
“
Nobody hates anybody.
”

“
Gramma!
”
shrieked Candy as Sophie walked over to greet them. 
“
Happy Anniversary!
”

“
Thank you!  You put in your time and you get the good stuff
,”
said Mrs. G
,
holding out her arm to show off a new diamond tennis bracelet.

“
Bling!
”
said Candy. 
“
So
,
where are these cousins
?”

Sophie laughed and said to Bill
,
“
Could you put that inside
?
  There
’
s a table near the kitchen.  Never expected so much loot.
”

Bill laughed and nodded as the kids followed behind Mrs. G toward a group of youngsters playing at the back of the yard.

The house was quiet and seemed to be empty
,
but as Bill went to set his gift upon a table that was about to overflow
,
he heard someone enter
,
but didn
’
t look up. 
“
This could be the straw that breaks this table
,”
he joked.