Chapter 22
It wasn’t until the guests had departed, and Riva’s housemates, other than Windy, had shuffled off to bed, that Riva got to hear details about what had transpired out on the patio while she and Marcus were talking.
All she knew was that as soon as they emerged from the library, a mass exodus appeared to be taking place.
She and Windy politely thanked their guests for coming and told them goodbye.
Then, seeing they were alone in the foyer, she turned to Windy. “What happened?”
“Privately?” Windy asked.
“Come to my room,” Riva told her. Then with Windy in the chair and Riva perched on the end of her bed, she listened as Windy gave her the report.
“So we were having a really nice time. We missed you and Marcus, but we figured you guys were talking. And that’s cool.
Anyway, the six of us were enjoying ourselves .
. . until Kitty decided to make an appearance.
” Windy frowned. “I don’t like to say it, but we all felt pretty sure she was snookered. Drunk as a skunk.”
“Oh, dear. I know she’d been drinking with girlfriends earlier, but I hoped having some food in her stomach would help.”
“Laurel is certain that Kitty hides alcohol in her room and that she’s been up there imbibing.”
Riva wasn’t too surprised but didn’t know what to do about it.
“Laurel and I took turns dancing with Wes until the band got tired of playing and Fiona put some music on her speaker. Her plan was to teach us an Irish folk dance. Anyway, we were learning some new moves, just laughing and having fun, and then Kitty showed up.”
Riva imagined the scene from The Wizard of Oz when the Wicked Witch of the West crashed a Munchkin celebration. “What’d she do?”
“Oh, you know, it was typical bad Kitty behavior. She was loud and obnoxious, attention seeking, and flirting with every male out there. First, she wanted to know Marcus’s whereabouts, but no one seemed to know, so she set her sights on Wes.
Fiona had just been teaching us a tricky spin, and Wes and Laurel were trying it.
” Windy’s eyes widened. “Kitty told us she wanted to dance too and pretty much shoved Laurel aside to claim Wes as her partner.” Windy shook her head. “Well, Laurel was not having it.”
Riva cringed. “That must’ve been interesting.”
“Honestly, it looked like it would turn into a big hot mess.”
“A real Kitty fight?” Riva attempted a weak smile.
“For sure. Laurel was so enraged, I thought she might flatten Kitty.”
“But she didn’t, did she?”
“No, no . . . thank goodness. Laurel was frothing, but she didn’t say anything.
Just stormed out. I checked on her a little bit later.
That might be when the party started to dissipate.
Laurel was getting ready for bed, but she’s still furious.
She told me in no uncertain terms that if Kitty doesn’t go, she will. ”
“I don’t want Laurel to leave.”
“None of us do. Well, aside from Kitty. I suspect she wants Laurel to move out. I don’t even know why.
I mean, it seems like it’s about the men and jealousy.
But, really, I don’t think Kitty sees Laurel as real competition.
” Windy’s brow creased. “So I sort of took the bull by the horns. The musicians were already packing up to go so I pulled Kitty aside to talk. I didn’t get angry.
I just explained how she’d really hurt Laurel’s feelings and that it wasn’t the first time she’d stepped on Laurel’s toes.
Then I told her that Laurel was threatening to move out. ”
“What did Kitty say?”
“She said ‘dibs on Laurel’s room.’” Windy shook her head. “She honestly thinks she deserves the ensuite. She even used the word deserve.”
“How in the world did she draw that conclusion?”
“She claimed it’s because of her work. To keep up her image, she needs a better space to fix up. She says Laurel doesn’t work so she doesn’t need it.”
“But Kitty has the hall bath pretty much to herself.”
“She doesn’t like that Fiona and I take showers there. Not that we enjoy it much. The bathroom is a pigsty.” Windy frowned. “I hate saying this, and I hope I’m wrong, but sometimes it feels like Kitty is trying to drive us all out.”
“Wow.” Riva pursed her lips, trying to think. “Well, I’ll read the rental contract tomorrow and try to find a way to gently evict her.”
Windy looked amused. “A gentle eviction? Sounds like an oxymoron.”
“And until we figure out the Kitty problem, I’d like to boycott male guests. It just seems like it always stirs up trouble where Kitty is concerned.”
“It’s been fun having dinner parties, but I get what you’re saying. I think that’s a good idea, Riva.”
“It’s just not worth the stress. And I don’t know about you, but I don’t need to have guys around. It’s like some women think they’re not enough without a man in the picture. But I don’t feel like that. And I don’t want to.”
“I don’t either.”
“We’re enough, right?” Riva looked into Windy’s eyes. “Comfortable in our single-woman skin?”
“I am.” Windy nodded firmly. “And I think Laurel and Fiona are too. At least, Fiona is. I don’t need a guy upsetting my applecart. Especially since I’ve been really enjoying my new home here with you . . . and with the others. Well, most of the others.”
“I’ll try to get Kitty to understand what’s up tomorrow. In the meantime, if you see Laurel, please, assure her that I’m on it. I don’t want to lose her as a housemate or as a friend.”
“What if she still gets jealous over you and Marcus?”
Riva blinked. “I don’t see why that should make her jealous. Your brother and I are only friends. We were just talking about some of the grief stages we’re still working our way through. That was all. Friends. Just friends.”
Windy held up her hands in a defensive gesture. “I know, I know. Trust me, I’m not the one who was worried.” She smiled. “Not about you, anyway.”
“Sorry. I suppose I was talking to myself too. Being friends with the opposite sex is still new for me.”
“It sounds like a healthy step.” Windy stood, placing a hand on Riva’s shoulder. “And it’s the best way to start any kind of relationship. As friends.” She stifled a yawn. “I’m exhausted, but thanks for listening.”
“Thanks for putting me on the same page. I promise to talk to Kitty first chance I get. Hopefully by tomorrow.”
But Riva didn’t get the opportunity to talk to Kitty the next day, or the next. In fact, no one in the house seemed to have spoken to her for several days. They’d heard her coming and going, but no words were exchanged.
“I texted her to let her know I wanted to talk,” Riva said, “but she hasn’t responded.”
“I think she’s embarrassed,” Windy said. “She’s deliberately keeping a low profile.”
“Works for me.” Laurel opened the door to the patio. “The less I see of that woman, the happier I’ll be.”
The three of them had adopted the habit of sitting outside with their coffee. After Fiona and Kitty went to work, they’d regroup to catch up and get their daily vitamin D out in the morning sunshine.
“I feel sorry for Kitty,” Riva confessed. “She’s like her own worst enemy.”
“Then she’s well matched.” Laurel adjusted her sun hat. “And just for the record, if Kitty pulls any more of her drunken stunts, I will be giving my notice, Riva.”
“So you’ve mentioned.” Riva wanted to add “at least a dozen times,” but she held her tongue. “And in case you choose to go, I’ve already offered the ensuite to Fiona.”
Laurel scowled. “Not even going to wait until the body gets cold, eh?”
“Oh, it’s not like you’re dying, silly. You know I don’t want you to go, but just in case things unravel, I want to ensure that Kitty doesn’t sneak in there.”
“Then you might want a better lock on that door.” Laurel sniffed.
“Speaking of locks, did you notice Kitty has a new lock on her door?” Windy asked Riva. “I knocked this morning to remind her to get her dirty laundry out of the bathroom, but I was surprised to see she’s got a deadbolt.”
“Seriously?” Riva blinked.
“Did she get permission from you?” Laurel pointed at Riva.
Riva grimaced. “No.”
“That should be grounds for eviction.” Laurel’s tone sharpened.
“Possibly . . .” Riva sipped her coffee, wishing Paul were here to give a legal opinion. Of course, if he was here, she wouldn’t be in this situation. “I wonder how she put the lock on.”
“She doesn’t seem like a real DIY gal to me.” Laurel chuckled. “Not with those long nails of hers. Did you see that lime-green nail polish she had on?”
“More than who installed the lock, I’m curious why she installed it,” Windy said. “Is she trying to keep someone out? Or something in?”
“Or both?” Laurel added.
Windy pushed a strand of red hair behind an ear.
“I didn’t want to say anything to anyone, but the other afternoon, I was alone in the house and when I went down to the bathroom, I overheard voices .
. . Kitty had a guest in her room . . . a male guest. I didn’t want to mention this, but, uh, it smelled like weed. ”
“Oh my.” Riva leaned back, staring up at the cloud-dappled sky. “That’s just great.”
“More reason to evict her,” Laurel proclaimed. “The contract states no smoking or burning of candles or incense. And what about the smoke alarm? Why didn’t it go off?”
“I don’t know.” Riva cringed to think of the fire hazards in an old house like this.
“Seriously, that’s like three strikes right there, Riva.” Laurel held up three fingers. “And no alcohol in the room makes four. Surely there must be a line about not making modifications without owner permission.”
“I remember that one,” Windy said. “That’s why I got permission to install my AC in the loft.”
Riva knew they were right about Kitty breaking the contract, but at the moment she was fixated on the new deadbolt lock and the sudden urge to inspect Kitty’s room for safety. “I wonder how she got that lock put on without anyone knowing.”