Chapter 20
“Miss, we’re here,” the cab driver said, and Wanda startled awake.
She looked out the window and sighed. She looked at her watch and groaned and prayed she still had a room.
The door was opened, and a hand came forward to help her out.
She got out, and she saw that the cab driver was helping get her luggage from the back and someone was loading it onto one of those fancy carts.
She followed the bellhop into the hotel and was too tired to look around.
And she was freaking freezing. When she’d left Arizona thirty hours ago, it had been ninety-five degrees, sunny and she’d worn shorts and a tank top with sneakers, not thinking that she would be in New York at the beginning of November.
It seemed like she’d been in every airport from Arizona to New York.
She’d been rerouted so many times she’d lost track.
What was supposed to be a six-hour flight, turned into thirty hours.
“Is that snow?” She frowned at the bellhop.
“Yes, ma’am. Hope you have some winter clothes in these bags, we’re supposed to get a couple inches this weekend.”
“Crap, no, when I left home yesterday morning, it was ninety-five and sunny. I never thought about packing for cold weather. But I have someone here I can call. She might even be waiting for me inside. God, I’m so tired.”
“Where are you coming from?”
“Arizona. I left at six yesterday morning and just got into JFK thirty minutes ago. It seemed like we were rerouted to every airport on the east coast. I was supposed to fly into Chicago, then into LaGuardia. Didn’t happen.
” She stumbled into the hotel, and the bellhop had to grab her arm.
After a few seconds, she smiled at him tiredly.
“I’m okay. I just want to get checked in, take a hot shower, and crash for a couple hours. ”
She headed to the front desk and saw several people disembark from the elevators. She didn’t pay them any mind, she was focused on the front desk.
“Wanda?” She heard her name and looked up and saw a group of people converge on her.
“Oh my god. You must be freezing.” Her mother hurried up to her and rubbed her arms after hugging her.
She hugged her back and then her father, brother, sister, brother-in-law, and niece, and nephew.
When her father put his jacket around her, she sighed in relief.
“Sorry if you’ve been trying to get ahold of me, but my battery’s dead. I just want to check in, shower, and crash for a few hours.”
“No problem. You’ve been keeping one of us posted.
Let’s get you checked in. Your sister and I will help you get settled.
We’ve been talking to your friend, Gypsy.
After you’re settled, I’ll call her and let her know you’re here and resting.
I only say this because I love you, but you look like shit.
” Angie laughed. She linked her arms with her daughter and leaned in, and whispered, “Fern and Douglas still don’t know about you being Willow. Thought we’d surprise them tonight.”
“Thanks.” Wanda sighed and went to the counter.
“May I help you?”
“I hope so. I’m Wanda Perkins. I was supposed to be here yesterday, but my plane kept getting rerouted. I’ve been calling a Mr. Thomas to update him at each layover. I hope my room is still available.”
“One moment please,” the woman said, and picked up the phone, then suddenly a man was beside her.
“Ms. Perkins. Hello, I’m Mr. Thomas. I see you made it.
I’m sorry your trip was so long. Your room is still available, it was good that you kept me informed, I was able to keep the room for you,” Mr. Thomas said as he took over the computer and tapped several keys.
In ten minutes, he was handing her a room key and having her sign papers.
She handed over her credit card, and she was on her way. But he stopped her.
“Miss Halifax informed me that you would be coming in around this time. I’ve taken the liberty of having a pitcher of ice water with lime, delivered to your room. I took it there myself. If there’s anything, you need, please let me know.”
“Thank you, Mr. Thomas.” Wanda put her card back in her wallet and turned to her mother. “Okay, you can take care of me now.” She grinned and linked her arm with her mother. She saw that her father, brother, and brother-in-law were off to the side.
“How are you?” Fern asked in the elevator.
“Exhausted. I slept on this last leg of the journey, but I only want a hot shower and a bed. Crap, I forgot to tell Mr. Thomas that I wanted a wake-up call at five. That’ll give me five hours of sleep.”
“I’ll text Dad and tell him,” Fern said as she pulled her phone. “All done.” Fern frowned. “I’m surprised you have all your luggage with you.”
“Each layover was at least four or five hours, and my luggage was able to make it on the plane. Thank god,” she said, and followed the bellhop off the elevator on the eleventh floor. “Where are you guys?”
“We’re all on the seventh floor,” Angie said, and they followed the bellhop in. Wanda went to pay him, but he declined.
“The gentleman who gave you his jacket already took care of it,” he said, and unloaded her luggage and quickly left.
“Oh shit.” Wanda giggled and took off her father’s jacket and handed it to her mother. “Mom, if I give you my credit card, could you pick me up a jacket for tonight.”
“Sure, but you don’t have to give me your card. I’ll buy it. What are you wearing tonight?”
Wanda turned and saw that Fern had already unzipped her garment bag and was holding up the four dresses. “Please, tell me you’re wearing this black number.”
“I am. Tonight. I was thinking of the blue one tomorrow. Or maybe the red tonight and black tomorrow.”
“No, black then blue. The red is too sexy for some dry gallery. You’ll want to wear that for a date. Same with the green. What do you think, Mom?”
“I think the same thing. And how about a long maybe mid-calf trench coat in black?”
“Perfect. Now you go jump into the shower, Wan. Mom and I will unpack for you, and we’ll be back by six to help you with your hair and makeup. Do you need anything? A glass of water?”
“That would be wonderful.”
“Lime?” Fern asked as she poured it and handed it over.
“Yeah, believe it or not, the lemon was getting too sweet.”
“Wow, never thought that would happen. So, how did the blood test results come out? Last I heard, you’d gone in for your annual draw.”
Wanda laughed. “You make me sound like some vampire or something. But good. I’m still in remission and still accepting the kidney.
” Her sister and mother squealed and hugged her.
There was no way she was going to tell them she was pregnant.
Christopher needed to know first. She went into the bathroom and the shower, halfway through, her mom stuck her head in the door and said she and Fern were leaving and that they’d have a coat for her when they returned at six.
Wanda said okay and finished her shower.
She was asleep before her head even hit the pillow.
*****
She jerked awake when the phone beside her bed rang, at first, she was disorientated. “Hello?”
“Ms. Perkins. This is the front desk with your wake-up call.”
“Oh. Thanks.” She hung up and threw the covers back.
The first thing she did was pour herself a glass of lime water and then decided to take another shower.
She was glad she did because she had fallen asleep with her wet hair still in a towel and it had dried all over the place.
She just automatically rewashed it, and when she finished, she used her lotion and went out and donned her panties, bra, and stockings. She frowned at the knock on the door.
“Mom, you’re early.”
“I know. I told Fern I’d come up early. She’s finishing getting the kids ready. I have to ask how are we doing tonight?”
“What do you mean?” she said as she began brushing out her hair. She smiled when her mother sat her on the closed toilet and grabbed the dryer and started blow drying her hair. When she was done, she followed up on her question.
“Do you go to the gallery with us? Are you meeting Christopher? When will they introduce you as Willow?”
“I don’t know.” She frowned and then jumped when the phone she’d plugged in on the bathroom counter rang.
“Hello?”
“Wanda. It’s Gypsy. Where are you?”
“Sitting in my hotel bathroom with my mother getting my hair and makeup done.”
“Thank god you made it. What room you in?”
“Eleven Eleven.”
“See you in five.” She hung up, and three minutes later there was a knock on the door. Wanda let Gypsy in, and they hugged. “God, thank god, you made it. I’m so sorry it was so bad for you to get here.”
“It was nothing but chaos.” As soon as she said that she looked at her mother and they both burst out laughing. Waving her hand in front of her face she laughed. “That’s what Christopher always said about airports. That’s why he drives everywhere he goes.”
“Wow. I wanted to tell you how tonight’s going down. I’m assuming your mother knows you’re Willow?”
“Yes, but her sister doesn’t,” Angie said and looked at her watch. “She should be here by six, six fifteen at the latest. She’s going to do Wanda’s makeup.”
“Okay. I’ve ordered a car for you and your family.
Actually, two cars because there are eight of you.
I didn’t want to go all out and get a limo that would be too obvious.
” Gypsy grinned. “Trish still thinks you’re like I told you, she described you, and we both know that her description of you is a dead ringer for Magnolia.
” She looked at Angie and gave the description from months ago. They all shared a laugh.
“You have your tickets?”
“Yes.”
“No one gets in tonight or tomorrow night without a ticket. Gabby, the gallery owner, invited the crème de la crème for these two nights. Both nights are from seven to midnight. After tomorrow, it will be open to the general public, so anyone can attend. Around nine tonight, Gabby’s going to give a speech welcoming everyone.
Introducing Trish and then Trish is going to introduce each artist in front of their displays.
There are fifteen of you. Trish knows them all because she represents them.
If you would, I’d like you not to tell anyone that you’re Willow until she calls you up. ”
“I can do that. You know I don’t like to mix Wanda and Willow. Mom and Dad are the only ones in my family that know I’m Willow Raintree. So, you want me to arrive with my family like anyone else and just be myself, Wanda Perkins?”
“Yes. If that’s okay with you. I can’t wait to see Trish’s expression when you walk forward when she calls your name.
” She giggled. “Now, there’s going to be champagne, and hors d’oeuvres being served.
This is some very impressive high-end deal.
I know you don’t drink, other than lime water is there anything you’re going to need? ”
“No. Are there only champagne or other things, I don’t think my niece and nephew can drink that.”
Gypsy laughed. “There’s an open bar, and there’s going to be soda available. I’m going to go change and head back over. I should be there by the time you arrive. And just a small word of advice?”
“Yes?”
When Gypsy didn’t say anything, Wanda looked up with raised brows for her to answer.
“Be fashionably late. It’s a fifteen-minute drive from here. Your car is ordered to arrive downstairs at seven ten, if you’re all down there, that would get you there at seven thirty.”
“Okay.” Gypsy hugged her, and as Gypsy left, Fern entered. In no time her hair and makeup were done, and her mother and sister helped her with her dress.
“Damn, sis. You’re beautiful,” Fern said as she stepped back and looked at the whole picture of Wanda. “You know I never said anything, but I’m kind of jealous of that blonde hair.”
“Sorry. Just know that I would never, not in a million years, wish what I had to go through to get this blonde hair on anyone.” Wanda stuck her tongue out and stood back and looked at herself.
“Damn, sis, I do look good.” She grinned at her sister, and they laughed as they made their way from the hotel room, meeting the rest of the family down in the lobby.