Out of The Box Regifted (15 page)

I shake my head, we all hug and Patti waves through the roof as she drives off.

When we arrive in our room, the bed is turned down and there are chocolates on our bed.

Ash is taking off his clothes and remarks, “I think tonight went well, don’t you think?”

“Mmm. I think so. Were you nervous about meeting her?”

“Not really. I knew if she was a friend of yours, that I’d like her. She’s really nice.”

We have another glass of wine and we get ready for bed. Ash pats the bed motioning for me to lie by him. He is shirtless and wearing a pair of silk boxers, sitting low on his waist. The sight of him makes me hungry to be next to him. I move close to him, our fronts facing, and he grins. “So what made you wanna play footsies at dinner? I liked that.”

I giggle. “Me too. I had a great day today, Ash.”

He puts my hair behind my ear and kisses my nose. “Yeah, today was pretty awesome, Sunshine. I’ve got an early tee time and you’re hanging with Patti tomorrow, so let’s get some sleep. You wore me out today.” He turns me on my side, and lovingly swats my butt.

Soft, easy listening jazz music is playing on the radio, as he snuggles in behind me, his arm resting on my hip, as we fall asleep. Early the next morning, my man is up and already has coffee delivered from room service. He’s reading the paper, when I wake at seven.

“Mornin Sunshine!” He says, as he’s pouring me a cup of nice hot coffee.

I yawn, stretch and breathe in. “Mornin to you too. Mmm the coffee smells great.”

I can’t wait to have lunch with Patti and catch up on things. It’s funny how we used to talk every single day without fail, but since I moved, things changed.

***

Ash and Kellan have an eight o’clock tee time, so he’s showered, dressed and ready to leave. He looks so handsome in his khaki shorts, a navy striped golf shirt and wearing a sporty visor, with his gray hair still wet from his shower. I can’t quit admiring him.

He holds his arms out, grins, and asks, “Ta da! How do I look?”

“Good enough to eat.” I say, with a salacious look on my face.

He puts his arms around me and picks me up, “On second thought, maybe I’ll tell Kellan I’m not feeling well and…” He’s interrupted by a knock on the door.

He gets a pouty look on his face, “Oh well, guess I’ll go play golf.”

I open the door and Kellan is complete smiles. “Hey Mom! Can I borrow your guy for the day?”

I cackle, “You betcha can. Have a good game.”

He playfully slaps Ash on the shoulder. “Ready Tiger?”

As they’re walking out, I call to Ash, “We’re going to dinner with Lainey and Kel still, right?”

He gives me a thumbs up, “Yeppers! Reservations are already taken care of. The car will be here to pick us up at seven.”

“Car?” I ask confused, “I thought we rented a car.”

He laughs, “Sunshine, one thing I don’t wanna get in Houston is a DWI...for the price of hiring a driver, versus attorney’s fees. Ya see where I’m going here?”

I shake my head and laugh. “Always thinking ahead.”

Patti picks me up at 11. She’s in a short short skirt, with a cute denim jacket and cowboy boots. I think to myself, that her outfit looks like something a girl Lainey’s age would wear. She’s my age, for God’s sake. I mean, she can pull it off with her figure, but geez!

I, on the other hand, am dressed conservatively in a pair of jeans, with a crisp white blouse and a navy blue blazer, with my Tory Burch flats. I laugh to myself, and wonder what people must think looking at the two of us together. We both decide on The Cheesecake Factory, one of our favorite lunch places when I lived here.

We’re taken to our table and order a mimosa to start. We toast our glasses to friendship, and talk about the rest of our day.

Patti gleefully exclaims, “After lunch, let’s go shopping. I’ve got Walt’s credit card and I’m sure you’re on a non-existent budget, so let’s put a dent in their wallets.” I shake my head.

“Why Patti Baker, you haven’t changed a bit!”

We order our lunch, and once the food is brought, Patti prods me for information about Alan and me. I fill her in on the basic facts, not really wanting to elaborate. She makes a comment, which hits me like a napalm bomb. Her words explode in my ears, “Liv, never in a million years did I think Alan would actually leave you for her.”

“Huh?” I ask with a look of shock. I haven’t told her what happened in full detail, yet she seems to know everything. The wind is sucked out of me, and I struggle to find the right words to respond. I can feel my heart beating really fast.

I lean across the table and look her dead on in the eyes. “Patti wait, are you telling me you actually knew Alan was cheating?” Realizing that her mouth has just gotten her in trouble, she retreats back into her chair and struggles nervously.

The guilty look on her face tells me she did know all along. Suddenly, I feel like the biggest fool in the world, as she tries desperately to change the conversation by asking about Lainey and the baby. I hold up my hand to stop the conversation, and stare her straight in the eye reiterating, this time slowly and authoritatively.

“Patti, I need to know. Did you know Alan was cheating? Did you know this and not tell me?” Suddenly my heart falls, and my stomach aches. I can tell by the look on her face that she knew. She doesn’t even have to answer. She knew it all along.

“Patti, tell me. Jesus Christ. You’re my best friend, or at least I thought you were. What the hell did you know?” My voice cracks, as I fight the tears.

“Liv, look. I’ll tell you, but you’ve got to promise me this won’t affect our friendship. You’ve gotta promise me, please. I know you’re upset, and I shouldn’t have said anything.”

I pound my fist on the table, startling her. “You’d goddamn better spit it out, and NOW!” I’m hurt and fuming mad. My face is hot and my heart is beating faster. People are staring at us, and Patti looks embarrassed.

She takes a deep breath, popping her knuckles. “Whew. Okay hon. I’m gonna tell you what I knew.” She leans across the table and speaks in a hushed voice. “There was a week when Walt was in New York on business, and Alan just happened to be in town also. They met up for dinner, and Alan brought this lady, a co-worker with him. Walt said he sensed by the way they were acting, that they weren’t just co-workers. He said they acted more like a couple. Alan told him about her, and Walt told me. He said they’d been seeing each other for a while, and Walt swore me to secrecy.”

I’m shaking my leg, and pinching the top of my thighs under the table, so I won’t break down in tears as I’m hearing this. My best friend knew all along, and didn’t so much as tell me. I’m devastated beyond words, as she continues.

“Liv, honey you’ve got to understand that Walt asked me not to say anything, and I didn’t. I mean, what good would it have done if I told you anyway? It would have just hurt you, and I didn’t want to hurt you, Liv.”

With a look of disgust on my face, I point my finger in her face, “So you knew, and didn’t feel our
friendship
meant enough to let me know?”

She takes a defensive tone, “Look Liv, what would you have done, if the shoe was on the other foot? Would you have told me?”

“Patti, I can’t believe you would even ask that! You’re my friend. I absolutely positively would have told you—hell yes, I’d have told you. What kind of person do you think I am?” I look up at the ceiling, thinking of what to say next. “Wouldn’t you have wanted to know if Walt was cheating on you? Wouldn’t you, goddamn it?”

She looks contrite and unsure.

Licking her lips, she responds. “Walt is my husband, and he asked me not to say anything. I didn’t want to start trouble. You’ve got to believe me. I thought it would pass, that it was just an affair. Once Alan was transferred, I thought the affair would end. You guys would start over, and there’d be no harm done. That’s why I didn’t say anything.”

I muster a disgusted laugh, “Well Patti my dear, the affair didn’t end, and I can see now that you were never a true friend. I guess I gave you too much credit.” I close my eyes and hold my finger up. “Tell you what… I’m gonna get up from this table and leave now.” I reach in my purse, grab some bills, and throw them on the table. “This should cover the tab.”

“Liv, please don’t do this. Don’t act like this. Please...I’m so sorry.” She attempts to give back my money. “I don’t want your money, Liv. Come on…please.”

I sarcastically laugh, “You mean this?” I ask, as I scoot the money back over to her. “This is nothing. Just like you are to me, Patti. N.O.T.H.I.N.G!”

Why do those involved, and those that knew, have the gall to tell me not to act like this? Alan said the same thing, the night he effortlessly told me he was in love with another woman. Right now, I’ve just got to get out of here. As I get up from the table, I stumble on the chair leg. The waiter is there, and helps me regain my footing. “Whoa! You okay miss?” He quietly asks.

Embarrassed and humiliated, I hold my head up proudly and respond. “Yes. Sorry, I just need to find the exit.”

He pulls my chair out and straightens it, as I leave as quickly as I can. I run through the mall, out to the front, and quickly hail a cab. Tears are filling my eyes, and I quickly put on my sunglasses. All I can think of is that I want to get back to our hotel, as quickly as possible. I tell the cabbie where to go, and tell him to hurry. I’m starting to hyperventilate, and I try to calm myself down. I take deep breaths and breathe out. I lean over the seat and remind him. “Hurry please, can you? There’s a good tip if you do.”

He drives like a bat out of hell, and in no time, he pulls up at the entrance to the hotel. I fumble in my purse, dig out a wad of cash, and stuff it in his hand. I have no idea how much I’ve just given him, and I don’t care. Surprised, he smiles, thanks me and asks if I need help. I politely waive him off, and run to the elevator, hoping no one rides up with me. The elevator doors open, and there is an elderly lady riding with me. I can’t hide my emotion, so I turn around, lean my head against the wall, and begin to sob.

“Sweetie, are you okay?” She touches my arm, and asks with concern.

I can’t look at her. “Yes, I’m fine thanks. I just got some very bad news.”

She lightly rubs my arm, “Sweetie, I hope everything works out for you.” The look on her face is genuine, and I see that she will get off on the seventh floor. As she exits on her floor, she turns to me and touches my arm again. “You sure you’re all right?”

I look at her with a half-smile. “Yes. Thanks so much. I’m fine.”

She exits and the doors close, none too soon. The rest of the ride is just me solo, thank God. I wrap my arms around myself and can’t control my emotions. I’m crying like a baby. My best friend deceived me, and it hurts so damn bad. I’m a fool. The biggest fool in the world. It seems everyone knew but me!

The elevator dings at the penthouse, as I exit and run to our room. Once inside I double lock the door. The sound of the latch clicking makes me feel safe. No one can come in, unless I let them. My phone’s been ringing and I know without looking, it’s Patti, but I can’t talk to her right now. I don’t think I can ever talk to her again.

I walk aimlessly around the room, wondering what to do. I don’t want to call Ash. He’s on the golf course, and probably wouldn’t answer anyway, so I decide to call Lainey, and she answers on the first ring.

Her perky voice makes me cry. “Hey Mom! How’s your day going? Ash said you and Patti were spending the day together, and I think it’s awesome. I’m actually kind of jealous. Having fun?”

I can’t speak. “Mom, are you there? What’s up?”

“
Lainey, where are you?” I ask.

“I’m at the office working. I’ve got some work to do before dinner. Why? Is everything ok?”

“Yeah…” I start to cry.

“
Mom
...what’s the matter? You’re scaring me. Something’s wrong, I can tell…”

I sniffle. “How long are you gonna work?”

“I’ve got probably another hour or so. Why? Mom, please. You’re freaking me out.”

I throw my head back. Why did I even call her? Now I’ve got her worried. “I don’t mean to scare you. It’s nothing bad, seriously. Look, when you’re done, will you just come to the hotel? I think Ash and Kel will be playing golf until later in the afternoon.”