Family Pieces Page 8
“I’m sorry I pushed you away. But, Em, I still don’t want to talk about it, okay?” Addison waited.
“Okay. Just remember that I’m here if you change your mind.”
“Thanks.” She saw the sign for the restaurant. “Ems, I hate to cut this short but I’m meeting someone for dinner and the taxi just pulled up.”
“No worries, I understand. Is it a date?”
“Actually, yes. It’s with Russell from the charity fundraiser.”
“Well, good luck. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” joked Emily. Addison laughed.
“Hey, Saturday is your birthday right? How about I take Adie and you have a mommy day? I’ll buy you a trip to the spa for your birthday. What do you think?”
Emily typically hated when Addy offered expensive gifts, but she couldn’t help but beam over the thought of a day of pampering. “Sounds perfect!”
“See you then.” Addison hung up the phone. She felt better knowing she and Emily were back on the right track.
She could see Russell waiting as the taxi pulled toward the curb. Recognizing him was easy. His black hair was buzzed into a clean military cut. If there were any hints of gray, she had not noticed it. He was tall and well built. She remembered gazing up at him even when she was wearing five-inch heels the day they met.
She climbed out of the cab and adjusted her skirt, being careful not to over-expose her legs through its slit. Before she could turn to pay her fare, the cabbie drove away. Russell had paid the tab. A nice gesture, she thought.
“Hello, Russell. You didn’t need to take care of that, but thank you anyway.”
“My pleasure, Addison. Now shall we?” His hand gently found the curve of her lower back as he guided her through the door of the restaurant.
Typically, Addison felt at ease creating casual conversation, but Russell made her nervous. Her stomach churned with butterflies like a child before a first recital. The giddy feeling was a welcome change.
Luckily, Russell led the conversation throughout dinner. It was exactly the distraction Addison desired. His voice mesmerized her and she could have listened to him for hours. She’d been out with her share of men - actors, doctors, and lawyers - somehow Russell was different. His stories held her interest, far from the mundane resumes and self-indulgent conversations other dates had offered.
Time passed quickly. The restaurant cleared as they lingered over after-dinner coffee. Both seemed content to remain in each other’s company. Realizing tomorrow’s work pace would be relentless whether Addison’s love life sparked or not, she reluctantly started to say goodbye.
“I should probably get going,” she said, reaching in a sharing gesture toward her purse.
“Oh no, you don’t. Tonight is on me. You can’t seriously think I’d let you split the bill.” Russell motioned to the waiter for the check.
“Next time then,” she said, thanking him.
“Next time. I like that.” He smiled. Addison noticed his lips parted slightly crooked and wondered what other small details she would discover about him.
“Saturday?” he questioned, offering date number two.
“Can’t. I already have a date.” She could see his expression tighten. “A play-date.” She corrected. “My goddaughter. She’s awfully cute. I’d invite you, but she might smother you in kisses and I’d be jealous.”
“Really?”
“Don’t get too excited. She’s two. Her taste in men has not yet developed. She’s especially drawn to the four men who play the Wiggles.” They both laughed at the thought of four grown adults prancing around gaily in primary colored shirts.
The staff attacked their table like vultures the moment they stood up.
“Guess they want to go home.” Russell winked as he helped her on with her coat.
“Me, too. I’m exhausted.”
“In that case, let’s get you to bed.”
Awfully forward, Addison heard her own voice in her head.
Noticing her caught-off-guard expression, he added, “I didn’t mean with me.” Her lips pursed in an embarrassed smile, showing a glimpse of her softer side. At the same time a warmth rose within her as she imagined what he’d be like in bed.
He assisted her into the next available cab. As she settled in, he leaned in and brushed her lips with the lightest kiss. She longed for more. He slipped his business card into her hand.
“Text my cell when you’re home so I know you’re safe. It’s on the card.” She nodded in agreement.
“Goodnight and thank you.”
“The pleasure was all mine, Addison. I’ll call you,” he said, shutting the door. She rather hoped he would.
Karsen didn’t know where to turn when she arrived back at her apartment. She tried Hanna’s cell. No answer. Her mom was gone. Her dad would sympathize, but not really understand and he had enough on his shoulders anyway. Brad. She’d dialed his cell then hung up. She didn’t want to hear I told you so. He’d never really expressed that before but she was certain he felt like it. Especially the time in high school when she’d found herself in a precarious situation at a party involving too much alcohol and a less than reputable male classmate. She and Brad had attended the party together. Yes, she had flirted with the guy and, yes, she shouldn’t have been drinking but he was forcing himself on her. She felt helpless, at least until Brad burst through the door and pulled the guy off. That moment she remembered vividly. The moment Brad saved her. And he had always been there to save her ever since.
Brad was driving when he saw her missed call. He immediately pressed her speed dial number.
“It’s over,” he heard through a muffled wheeze. He knew what she meant without any further explanation.
“I’m on my way.”
Brad flipped his phone closed. Never mind the audition. Irritation rose within him and he was uncertain whether the source derived from James or Karsen. Family first. There would be other auditions. He only had one sister and she needed him. At the next available opportunity, he made a U-turn and drove away from his dream.
Karsen had left the door unlocked. Brad entered, speaking soothingly.
“K, are you okay?” There was no reply. He could hear her sniffles from the bathroom. He moved quietly, trying to side-step the balled up tissues that covered the floor like a layer of fresh fallen snow.
“I’m sick. Physically sick.” Karsen’s knees were curled underneath her while her head hung over the toilet. She held her hair back with one hand, steadying herself against the rim with the other.
“It’s just your emotions taking over. You’ll be okay, sis.”
Brad grabbed a towel and wiped his sister’s face. He stumbled through tying her hair back like a father trying to put up ponytails for the first time.
“I thought he was the one.”
“I know.”
“I picked out a dress. I mean, not that he proposed. But two years we’ve dated. We’ve talked about it. He’s such a f’in liar!” Her sobs rose again.
“I know you don’t think so now, but this will all work out. It always works out for the best.”
“I wanted to call Mom. She knew, too. Why did everyone know he was wrong but me?”
“Because you loved him. He just wasn’t smart enough to know what he had.”
Brad helped her up and tucked her into bed still in her jeans and tank top. He pulled a chair from the kitchen table and sat watching over her until she finally drifted to sleep.
A light knock tapped against the front door and Hanna peeked through. “Karsen?” she whispered.
“In here,” Brad called softly. “She fell asleep.”
“Oh.” She kept her voice hushed. “I can take it from here.” She said in an effort to relieve him.
“It’s okay. I mean… I was on my way to an audition when she called, but she needed someone. I couldn’t not come.”
“Audition? What audition?”
“Nothing really.”
“Brad, what audition?” Hanna pressed.
“Well, there’s a new show coming out. A reality competition for stand-up comedians.”
“What? What are you doing here – go!” He looked perplexed. “I’ll handle this. We all knew it would happen sooner or later.” She quieted her voice even further to assure Karsen couldn’t hear. “I mean not in the beginning, but with his history and behavior lately… I just had a feeling.”
“I know. Me, too.”
“So, then what are you waiting for? Go!”
Hanna pushed Brad toward the door. He turned and spontaneously kissed her slightly, hitting the corner of her lips. Her eyes danced and her cheekbones lifted into a smile. “Go!”
10
Monday, Karsen drug herself out of bed and unenthusiastically faced the day. She’d missed too many classes already. She couldn’t afford to be absent again or she’d need to drop the semester entirely. Nor did she want her grades to suffer. Her 3.9 GPA qualified her for a supplemental grant that paid her out-of-state tuition. Without it, she’d find herself back in Indiana.
She pulled on a baseball cap, jeans and a t-shirt, grabbed her lime-green, down-filled jacket and headed out the door.
Her eyes remained puffy and sore. She felt as though there were no more tears left in her. Time to buck-up, she told herself. She’d lost her mom and her boyfriend. She felt alone. Nevertheless, she had to be strong or she’d lose herself.
She skipped her usual coffee, the campus Starbuck’s now serving as a painful reminder of how she met James. Besides, her stomach was too uneasy. Usually, she tended to gain weight under stress. This time was different. The thought of him being intimate with another girl made her physically ill, and over the last couple of days she’d dropped at least three pounds. James had attempted to call. He left several messages with insufficient apologies and even worse attempts at explanations. It didn’t matter. Karsen knew she could never trust him again.
Hanna joined her in chemistry lab.
“How you holding up?” she asked, setting her backpack on the table beside her.
“Getting by I guess. I don’t really have any other way to be.”
“I’m sorry. Is there anything I can do?
“No. You’ve been a great friend. I appreciate everything.” Karsen opened her lab notebook to the experiment they were about to attempt.
“Hey, how’d Brad’s audition go?” Hanna was anxious to hear. After his quick kiss – just a peck, really, she’d told herself – she’d still hoped he’d call her himself, but he hadn’t.
“What audition?” Karsen had no idea what she was referring to.
“Oh, he didn’t mention it?”
“No.”
“Oops. Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything. Well…apparently, he was on his way to a try-out for a new reality show. It’s supposedly a contest like the singing ones, but for comedians. He was going to skip out on the audition to take care of you when I showed up and made him go.”
“Seriously?” Karsen asked, perplexed, although she was not at all surprised by the fact he would drop everything for her. It was typical Brad.
“Yeah.”
“It probably wasn’t that important if he was willing to pass it up,” she said, even as she felt pangs of guilt in her already unsettled gut.
“Doubt it. That brother of yours is something else. Mine hardly ever calls me. He’d never come to my rescue.”
Hanna paused then, deliberating over whether to tell Karsen about the kiss.
“K?” she started. “He kissed me. Well, really it was just a peck. He was probably just excited to get to the audition. But, well, I know under the present circumstances the timing is not so good, but do you think he’s interested?”
Karsen sat quiet, staring blankly. For a moment, Hanna regretted her comments, but before she could apologize for being insensitive to her situation, Karsen all but burst out laughing. Dear, confident, breathtaking Hanna doubted whether a boy liked her - and not just any boy, her own brother, with his skinny little butt, quirky looks and knack for constantly poking fun.
“Hanna, I don’t think you have anything to worry about,” she assured her friend. Hanna felt a wave of relief flow through her.
The girls stopped gabbing as the professor approached to check their progress on the assignment. Karsen’s bag vibrated at her feet. Her hand reached down discretely, feeling for her phone. She glanced down at the text message.
OMG. I made it 2 round 2! Call me. I’ll explain. B
She tipped the phone so Hanna could read the text. Her eyebrows rose and her eyes widened in excitement. Karsen texted him back, trying not to alert the professor who would call her out for disturbing class.
In Chem. Call U L8R.
Karsen tried to focus on the experiment, but the two-hour class felt like an eternity. Finally, class was dismissed and she called Brad back.
“Hey!” he answered.
“Hey! Hanna told me about the audition. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I’m sorry. I don’t know why really, but I guess I didn’t want to get too excited about it. Thousands audition. I was trying to keep my hopes in check. The chances of being chosen for the show are so small.”
“But you said you made it to the next round.”
“Yes. I got a call back. The producers want me to audition again. They selected forty to audition in Hollywood and then they’ll narrow it down to ten for the show. So, it’s still a long shot. But, I made the first cut. I never dreamed I’d make it past round one. I still can’t believe it!”
“So, what is the show exactly?” Karsen asked.
“It’s called The Funniest Comic. Original name, I know. Anyway, it’s a new reality show where comics compete. Kind of like American Idol, but trust me, if I sang people would laugh.”
“I can’t believe you didn’t say anything before.”
“I know. I just figured I’d go, get eliminated and not have to be embarrassed that I wasn’t good enough.”
“You don’t give yourself enough credit then.” Karsen paused, contemplating whether to bring up Hanna who was standing beside her. “Uhmm. Hanna was disappointed you didn’t call her.”
He paused a moment. “Oh…. So she told you. I wanted to call her, but I wanted to tell you first.”
“So you wanted to call her?” Karsen repeated so Hanna could hear, hoping he would elaborate further.
“Let’s change the subject,” Brad said. He wondered again if he had misread Hanna’s signs. She seemed interested. But him? He wasn’t the type of guy she usually dated – the handsome, built-like-a-quarterback type. He couldn’t imagine why she’d be interested in him.
“Heeelllooo? Brad, you still there?” Karsen broke the long silence.
“Sorry.”
“Anyway, Hanna’s headed home to change. She’s going to meet me to run. I’m sure you could catch her if you call her now.” Karsen still had some doubts about her best friend dating her brother, but she loved them both and if they could be happy together, then she was willing to share.
“Thanks for the information. Talk to you later?”
“Of course. Oh, congrats again on your call back. I’m so proud of you!”
“Thanks. Bye, sis.”
“Bye.” She pushed the “End” key on her phone.
“Here’s her diapers, wipes, pack-n-play, a change of clothes, sippy cup...” Emily unpacked the arsenal of baby supplies.
“Is she moving in?” Addison said facetiously.
Emily ignored the comment, continuing to unload and explain Adie’s routine. “She’s been going on the potty some, but keep a diaper on her anyway. I don’t want her to have an accident on your new designer couch. I don’t know what you paid for it, but I’m sure it was more than I could afford to repay if she ruins it. And… she can climb out of the pack-n-play. If she’s really tired she won’t, at least not until she wakes up, so get to her quickly.”
Emily was about to begin another sentence when Addison interrupted, trying to reassure her.
&
nbsp; “We’ll be fine.”
“I’ll be back around four. If Greg can pick her up earlier…”
Addison interrupted Emily again. “No need. Now go. Relax. Adelaide and I have playing to do.”
“You’re the best!” Emily sincerely meant it. Not only had Addy agreed to take Adelaide for the day as a birthday present, but she had arranged a full day for Emily at the spa just as she promised. Massage, pedicure, hair, even lunch was included - a full day without diapers and that sometimes sassy child of hers. No matter how much she loved Adie, mommies need a break, too.
“I know,” Addison agreed. “Only teasing.”
“Bye, sweetie. Mommy loves you.”
“Bye-bye, Mommy!” Adie waved and blew a kiss. Emily blew her a kiss back, waved and ventured out the door before Adie realized Mommy was leaving without her.
Addison thought about what it would feel like to have a child. At her age, she knew the chances of having her own were slim. Her biological ticker was running its last race. It wasn’t that she never desired children, she’d just never found the right guy or at least never allowed herself to keep one around long enough. But she had Adelaide in her life, and it was the next best thing.
“Adie. What do you say we go to Barneys?”
“Barney!” Adie clapped. “I luv u. U luv me…”
“No baby. Not Barney. Shopping. Want to go to the store?”
“Yea! I go to store!” Adie exclaimed with delight. She would’ve agreed to anything.
“You’re a shopping pro, Miss Adelaide.” Addison held up two Prada bags. “Which one do you like?” A lady browsing through the handbag section stared at her. By the look on her face, Addison could tell she wondered if she were really going to let a two-year-old pick out a bag – and such a pricey one at that.
Adie pointed at the new spring line’s woven shopper bag in pink, white and taupe. Addison held it up higher. “This one? That’s what I was thinking, too. You have wonderful taste, my dear.”
Addison placed the more subdued tan bag back on the shelf. “How about we go check out the baby girl clothes for you?” she asked Adie as if speaking to an adult.