Chapter 6 Beth
Beth
I turn to look out the front door past Roxy and spot Amelia Dell, looking as glamorous as she was in college, and, I’m sure, as rich with her family’s generational money and her newly deceased husband’s estate.
She was a legend back in the day, with the highest weekly allowance of any of the sorority sisters.
And with her red hair, still long and styled in waves, her classic designer wardrobe, porcelain skin, and her willowy height, she demands attention wherever she goes.
Now that she’s a widow, with all her husband’s money to spend since his untimely death from a heart attack, she has more power than ever.
“Hey, Amelia,” I say with my rush smile. “I’m so sorry about your husband. But it is good to see you.”
She laughs and gives me air-kisses near both cheeks.
“Well, yes, it was a shock when he died like that, but he had become rather bothersome, to be honest. So, well, that settled itself. I guess you’ve been there, Beth, with that husband of yours dying so young.
Maybe that was a blessing after all. It’s good to see you.
Ryan, you’re looking as handsome as ever, you devil. You don’t age. What’s your secret?”
Ryan flushes with the overt flirting. “Good to see you, too, Amelia.”
“Look at the all-important doctor. Come over here for a hug,” Amelia says. Jamie grins and they share a hug.
“You remember my husband, Greer,” Jamie says as Amelia and Greer shake hands. It’s clear Amelia doesn’t remember Greer, not at all.
Roxy’s hands are on her pointy hips. “Amelia, you were not invited here.”
Oh my God. Amelia is crashing the party. Unbelievable. I cover my mouth with my hand so no one can see my smile.
“Oh, Roxy, don’t be silly. I’m sure my invitation got lost in the mail,” Amelia says, wrapping Roxy in a hug. “That’s better, sister of mine. Theta Gamma for life.”
Roxy’s speechless for a moment as she steps away from Amelia.
“I’m assuming a plus-one is OK with you too,” Amelia says, pointing behind her. He’s coming along right behind me. “Since my invite was lost, I presumed it was OK.”
Roxy shakes her head. “You really are something.”
And then I see him, a guy farther down the path, struggling to manage her three large pieces of Louis Vuitton luggage. I look at my beat-up carry-on suitcase against the wall in the foyer and shake my head. I’m so out of my league.
As he comes closer, I realize her luggage valet and date looks vaguely familiar. Or maybe my déjà vu about the house is coloring everything I’m seeing now.
“Well, here he is. You two remember Brett Logan?” Amelia says after air-kissing her now sweating date.
“We ran into each other at a bar not long after my husband died, and he’s been such a comfort to me.
Life has been a whirlwind, as you all can imagine.
I have the kids to worry about. Their grief over their dad, and my own, of course.
It’s all so complicated. But as I always tell the kids, nothing that comes easily is worth having. ”
Ryan and I nod along with Amelia’s life story, while I watch Brett. He’s definitely familiar, but I can’t place him.
“Anyway,” Amelia says, finally taking a breath and seeing us again, “since this is a mini-college reunion, I thought, why not bring a fellow Southern California University grad? Brett, do you remember Roxy, Beth, Jamie, and Ryan?”
Roxy doesn’t make a move to welcome this additional guest. And if looks could kill, well…
Seemingly unfazed by the icy reception, Brett manages to set all of Amelia’s luggage down before extending his hand. It’s damp with sweat.
“Nice to see you again,” he says to me. He puffs out his chest and seems to flex his well-defined biceps.
He must have been a college athlete. I’d guess football.
His hair is cropped short, with a touch of salt and pepper.
He exudes jock vibes, someone who has maintained his physical prowess and is proud of it.
“Were you in our class?” I ask. Brett looks smug, in that way in which a guy who has always been handsome is. Like he’s above us all.
“I was a little before your time. Not much. I was on the SCU football team, the squad that won the championship.”
“Nice,” Ryan says. Because what else do you say to an achievement decades old? Someone’s clearly still trying to relive his glory days.
Amelia swoops in, sliding her arm through his, making her claim.
“Anyway, Brett was my TA way back in the day, when I took a prerequisite science class. We reacquainted ourselves at a bar in DC when he was in for a meeting,” Amelia says.
“It’s sort of like dating the professor.
” She winks. “Which, of course, I also did in college.”
“Of course,” Ryan says, laughing. “Welcome to Gentry House, my pride and joy. We have plenty of room. Let’s get some beverages and cool off.”
Roxy exhales.
Ryan says, “You have to let them stay now, don’t you? I mean, I know you like to control everything, but why not go with it? You used to be spontaneous, when you were young.”
I swallow, waiting for Roxy’s reaction as I take in the baby grand piano, the centerpiece of the living room and foyer area. A Steinway, of course.
“Fine, Amelia, you win,” Roxy says.
“That’s the spirit, sis,” Amelia says with a grin.
“Let’s go have that drink, shall we?” Ryan says, leading the way.
The tension in the air is suffocating as we all follow Ryan. And then there’s the past that’s haunting me too. We arrive in the kitchen as Roxy has regained her composure and takes charge of the room. She smiles at all of us, but her eyes have gone chilly.
And for the second time today I’m reminded that Roxy hates surprises.