Too Big To Miss (24 page)

Chapter Thirty-One

DOROTHY IN
THE Wizard Of Oz
was right—there's no place like home. Didn't matter how humble, or where, or even if it was a farm in the middle of twister country, home was home...period. There's also nothing like the sandpaper tongue of your very own avocado green cat licking your chin at five in the morning, either.
    After being discharged from the hospital, I went to stay at Casa de Washington for a few days. It was nice, though Zee killed me with excessive care, the kids drove me around the bend with questions, and Seth did me in with lectures and warnings.
    It's so nice to be loved.
    Jacob was tasked with riding his bike over to my place every day to feed and play with poor Seamus. He wanted to bring him home, but his dad, allergic to cats, nixed the idea. Greg had offered to take him while I convalesced, but I didn't think that was a good option, either. I planned on getting Seamus and Wainwright together again, but only when I was there to referee. Greg is more than capable of taking care of himself and running a successful business, but a wheelchair is no match for a headstrong feline in a catch-me-if-you-can mood.
    Per doctor's orders, I could return back to work two weeks after the shooting. That time would be up in four days, and I was looking forward to returning to the grind. Being away from work gave me too much time to think about everything that had happened. Mostly, I thought about Sophie.
    Sophie London, my friend, was in the sex business. That was a fact. Zee and I discussed this, as did Greg and I. I understood how she got into the lifestyle, just not why she stayed so long. It could've been for a multitude of reasons, but we'll never really know. Greg had said Sophie got an emotional lift from the web site. The members, as well as the others who paid her and showered her with gifts, had accepted and adored her just as she was. To them she wasn't fat, stupid, lazy, or slovenly—all the attributes usually assigned to the overweight. In their eyes, she was womanly perfection.
    Honestly, that would be enough to tempt me.
    Reality Check would go on, and with me at the helm. We had a meeting last night at Zee's. It was the first one since Sophie's death. Almost all of our regular supporters were there. They had come out in droves to voice their support of the group, its work, and me. It had been an emotional and overwhelming evening.
    It was agreed I should pick up and carry on the work begun by Sophie. I consented, but not because of any sense of obligation to Sophie's memory. Reality Check was capable of creating change—woman by woman, life by life. It was a chain reaction with an exciting future.
    In the end, I did it for me.

AFTER PARKING MY car under one of the few shade trees in the parking lot of Fashion Island, I walked into the open air mall. My wounded haunch was still stiff and sore, but it felt good to move and exercise it.
    Hannah Washington's eighteenth birthday was Sunday. Seth and Zee were having a birthday brunch for the family and close friends. While recovering at their house, Hannah had dropped numerous hints about an outfit she wanted. Unfortunately, it was at the dreadful store where I'd last been humiliated. Zee told me to get her something else, but I said no. What are aunties for? Especially honorary aunties who'd just had a near-death experience.
    I walked into the uptight establishment, telling myself to just buy the item and leave. Making my way to the young women's department, I spotted the skirt and matching top almost immediately and easily found the color and size Zee had given me. So far, so good.
    The cash register island was just a few steps away. Manning it was the same girl who had sneered at me the last time, the charming Jody. Sheesh, what were the odds?
    She was standing with another clerk, who wore so much dark eye makeup she looked like she'd just been released from the clutches of the underworld. The two were chattering away. I placed the garments on the counter and waited to be helped. Both salesclerks glanced my way, then turned their backs to me, continuing their conversation.
    Another customer walked up. From her skin, I guessed her to be close to my age, but she was dressed like a teenager in an immodestly short skirt and a tube top showing off unnaturally perky breasts. Around her neck hung pounds of gold. Her hair was dyed blonde and worn very long, down past her shoulders. Immediately, the two clerks stopped talking. The one with the heavy eye goop left, while my favorite clerk turned to help the aging Barbie doll.
    Impatiently, I shifted my weight to my good side and waited. Snide comments were waiting in line inside my mouth, eager to be released.
Be nice
, I told myself.
Don't agitate yourself for no good reason.
    The customer and Jody were knee deep into a conversation about which designer was still in and which was—God forbid—passé. I looked around for the other clerk, but she'd disappeared. Probably attending a séance on her break. I scanned the place for another nearby cash register, but noticed none. Guess the stuff was free.
    Finally, Jody rang up the woman's purchases. I scooted Hannah's birthday present across the glass counter in her direction. She looked at the garments, then proceeded to help two bubbly young women who had just walked up. Jody greeted them like old friends. I stopped her.
    Ignore me once, shame on you. Ignore me twice, look out.
    "Excuse me, but I was next," I told her pleasantly, with a smile even.
    Jody rolled her eyes at me. "You'll just have to wait your turn." She turned back to the young women, whispering something. They all giggled.
    "I don't think so," I said, pushing the garments closer to her. "I've been standing here all along and you know it. I was even here before that last customer."
    She cast a sneer my way. "So what, Orca. Shop somewhere else if you don't like it."
    They all giggled.
    I gave the two young customers a look that made them back up, telling Jody they'd see her later. As they retreated, I eased my bulk over, positioning it to the side of the cashier area, right next to Jody. My butt hurt like hell, making me dangerously close to insane.
    "I'm shopping here and I'm shopping now," I said in an even tone, locking eyes with the insolent brat. "So why don't you just call your supervisor over and we'll get this problem squared away."
    She picked up the garments and started sorting through them, looking for the tags, almost tearing the fabric in the process. I placed my hand on top of the clothing, stopping her.
    "Get your supervisor," I told her again. "Now."
    "She's not here."
    "Then get her manager."
    "He's not here, either."
    "So," I said, starting to enjoy the little game in spite of my physical discomfort, "you're telling me that you're the top dog in this large and noted establishment at this very moment?"
    She looked at me with pure hatred, then I saw her glance in the direction of a professional and stylish looking woman across the way in the next department. Something told me this was the elusive supervisor. And something about the way Jody looked at her told me that Jody feared her...and possibly unemployment.
    "That's your supervisor, isn't it?" I asked, indicating the woman and stepping even closer to Jody.
    When Jody didn't say anything, I gently put my foot over the toes of one of her high-heel clad feet, and applied a teeny-weeny bit of pressure.
    "Ow," she said and tried to pull her foot out from under mine, but I held it by applying more weight.
    The woman across the way noticed us and took a few steps in our direction. She was dressed in an expensive and classy suit. She smiled at me, then looked at Jody. There was a slightly weary look in her glance at the clerk.
    "Finding everything you need?" she asked me.
    "Yes, thank you," I replied sweetly. "Jody here is showing me the care tags on this garment." My foot pressed down a little more and I felt the girl's body tense. "They put them in the oddest places these days, don't they?"
    The woman gave me a gracious smile, then tossed a worried glance at Jody. "I'm glad Jody is being so helpful," she said pointedly before wandering off.
    "Jody," I said, once her supervisor was out of earshot, "the next time I come in here, I'm going to make sure I come to your register."
    The girl looked at me with undisguised fright, the cockiness gone.
    "No matter what I buy," I continued, "in fact, even if I'm just window shopping, every time I come into this store I'm going to seek you out to help me."
    I gave her toes one last squish and released them. She let out the breath she was holding and hopped lightly on one foot.
    "Remember, Jody, you are now my favorite clerk and I am now your worst nightmare...a customer who is too big to mess with."

Sue Ann Jaffarian

Like the character Odelia Grey, Sue Ann Jaffarian is middle-aged and plus-sized. She lives in Los Angeles and writes mysteries and general fiction, as well as short stories. In addition to writing, Sue Ann is sought after as a motivational and humorous speaker, and through Fat Chance Promotions, provides editing services and marketing and promotional coaching for writers of all genres. She is a member of Mystery Writers of America and the current president of the Los Angeles Chapter of Sisters In Crime, an international non-profit organization dedicated to the mystery genre.

eBook Info

Identifier:

0759943605

Title:

Too Big To Miss

Creator:

Sue Ann Jaffarian

Date:

9/01/2006

Copyrights:

2006 Sue Ann Jaffarian

Publisher:

Hard Shell Word Factory

Subject:

Mysteries

Description:

Too big to miss-that's Odelia Grey. A never-married, middle-aged, plus-sized woman who makes no excuses for her weight, she's not super woman - just a mere mortal standing on the precipice of menopause, trying to cruise in an ill-fitting bra. She struggles with her relationships, her crazy family, and her crazier boss. And then there's her knack for being in close proximity to dead people . . . . When her close friend Sophie London commits suicide in front of an online web-cam by putting a gun in her mouth and pulling the trigger, Odelia's life is changed forever. Sophie, a plus-sized activist and inspiration to imperfect women, is the last person anyone would ever have expected to end her own life. Suspecting foul play, Odelia is determined to get to the bottom of her friend's death. Odelia's search for the truth takes her from southern California strip malls to the world of live web-cam porn to the ritzy enclave of Corona del Mar.