Closet Confidential (17 page)

Harry’s expression landed somewhere between surprise and shock, a look that’s hard to fake. “Dimitri? You mean that haunted-looking boy in the leather jacket? I don’t think he was a special friend.”

“No? I must be mistaken. I thought there might have been something between them. I had heard he had a bad case on Anabel.”

“Well, if he did, she didn’t tell us.”

“Would you have minded?”

“I wanted my little girl to be happy. If she cared about him, I would have bent over backward. And Lorelei would have been tickled pink.”

“She would have?”

“Sure. She’s a romantic. She wanted her little girl to be beautiful and popular, too. She wanted the big white wedding for Anabel. The whole three-ring circus. Anabel didn’t care much about boyfriends or clothes or makeup or fairy-tale weddings. She could never hope to meet her mother’s expectations, so she declined to try.”

I wasn’t ready to let this topic go. “I understand that Dimitri was on the streets for a while and he’s managed to build a life for himself. That’s admirable, don’t you think?”

Harry said, “I do. Everyone deserves a second chance, and sometimes even a third.”

He gave me a fatherly hug, insofar as I understand such things, and I escaped the gorgeous glass prison and made tracks for the Miata.

I wondered if, in truth, the Beauchamps would have been happy to learn that Anabel had a relationship with Dimitri.

I called Pepper before I turned the key in the ignition.

“Why did you talk to him?” she shrieked. “What the hell are you doing behind my back?”

Sometimes Pepper can push me too far. “Pull yourself together. You came to me, remember? You cried on my shoulder, and then your husband pulled me over this morning and scared the wits out of me.”

“What?”

“Do you know why?”

“Make it good.”

“It is good. Because he followed you to my house last night. He was worried. He wanted to know what you said to me.”

“And what did you tell him?”

“Girl talk.”

“Did he buy it?”

“Eventually. He’s worried and upset about something.”

“Did he give any idea what?”

“None.”

“What time was this?”

“Before ten. I was on my way to see my first client.”

“And that’s the last time you saw him?”

“No. On my way to the second client, I happened to be driving by Hank’s and I spotted him in the window.”

I didn’t mention that I had checked out all Nick’s usual haunts.

“Why didn’t you call me?”

“I suppose because I didn’t have anything new to say. He seemed agitated and worried. He was barely coherent.”

“All right. That was what, an hour and a half ago?”

“Less. And it didn’t look like he was going anywhere fast. Maybe you should drive by Hank’s and get some fries. Bring antacids. I guess it’s one of the familiar old places that he would head for when he’s upset and worried. I suppose there are more—”

Pepper cut in, “You’re right. It
is
one of the special places. We used to go there when we were dating over my father’s objections.” To my surprise, she chuckled. “And Charlotte?”

I held my breath. Pepper so often takes my head off at the shoulders.

“Thanks. I know you’re my friend.”

I dug into my supply of courage and managed to say, “Any time you need me. If he’s scared about something real and serious, maybe we should try to figure—”

But she’d already clicked off. I suspected that she was also thinking about drugs, gambling, murderously jealous husbands, and other dangers due to Nick’s never-ending bad judgment. I was about to start the drive home when I realized that I still had to collect Lilith at Wendy’s. I guess I was more rattled than I was letting on. The wonderfully normal family atmosphere at the Dykstras’ drew me and my Miata like a tractor beam.

Wendy’s hair was damp and her T-shirt rumpled. She looked hot and sweaty and I hoped happy. I knew the sorting stage can lead to the most bizarre emotions. Happiness isn’t always the main byproduct.

She smiled tiredly. “Boy, do we need you.”

“Good thing you’re here,” Lilith called down the stairs. “We’re about to go to war over a bridesmaid dress if you can believe that.”

“Cookies?” Wendy said. She was obviously seeking allies in the war, like the man standing behind her. He was shorter than his boys, but still quite tall, with a buzz cut that made him look tough and a shy grin that made him look like a teddy bear. He had to be Wendy’s husband, Brad. His shy grin appeared again. “Let me out of here while it’s still safe.”

Lilith arrived downstairs two at a time and said breathlessly, “You are going to freak when you see what we’ve done.”

“Great. Done is good.”

“We are smoking hot! With the exception of the bridesmaid dress from yellow hell.”

“Matron of honor,” Wendy said. “And that thing cost two hundred bucks. It stays.”

“It can stay, but I’m leaving.” Wendy’s husband headed quickly for the door. “Where’s Seth?”

“Run away, see if I care,” his wife said. “And Seth hasn’t come out of his room all afternoon. I think we scare him.”

I said, “Bridesmaid dresses are always good for a lot of high emotion on both sides of the keep-it/get-rid-of-it fence.”

“Matron of honor,”
Wendy said again. “A whole ’nother thang.”

“I can’t wait to see the source of the discord.” My money was on that dress being gone before the day was out. I tried to appear neutral, though.

We gulped a couple of cookies and glasses of milk. Wendy and Lilith both felt they needed their strength. When we headed back upstairs, Lilith said, “Close your eyes when you get there.”

What the hey? This was so much easier than the Beauchamps’. I shut my eyes and didn’t open them until Lilith and Wendy squealed.

I couldn’t believe those eyes when I did look. The bed that had been piled high with clothing when I left was nearly empty.

“We’re coming down the homestretch,” Lilith added. “A few contentious items and the shoes, of course.”

The shoes had been stacked in a corner for separate consideration.

She kept talking. “I offer you Exhibit A. May I add that A stands for ‘awful.’ ”

Wendy sputtered. “Awful? I told you I spent—”

“Whatever it was, you were robbed. For one thing, the color wouldn’t suit you at all.”

Yikes. I wasn’t so sure I wanted Lilith with her piercings and teal blue hair and distinctly Goth vibe to be giving fashion advice to plump middle-aged motherly types.

“As Charlotte would say, trust me,” Lilith said.

“I can’t throw away all that money. It wasn’t even that long ago. My best friend’s third wedding.”

“You wouldn’t be getting rid of the friend,” Lilith said. “Just the dress. Your husband will thank you.”

Wendy threw back her head and howled with laughter. “He’s glad to escape, if you ask me. You two terrify him. He’d back me up, but I’m not sure he has the guts.”

“What does he do?” Lilith said.

“He’s a paramedic. I think he wishes he was on duty today!”

“Well, he’d need those skills if you went anywhere public in this.”

Luckily they were having fun. All it took was one look at the yellow horror with the ruffles to know that I’d be siding with Lilith on this issue, if I ever got a word in. But it was time to assert a bit of authority.

“You are way ahead of schedule. Why not grab the shoes and purse and everything that goes with it, Wendy, and try it on? See if you still love it in the cold light of day.”

She raised her dusty chin. “I will love it. Two hundred bucks and worn once. Dry cleaned, too.”

Five minutes later, she showed up. Lilith flopped on the bed and said, “I can’t bear to look.”

I bit my lip.

“What?” Wendy pretended to pout.

“Try the mirror,” Lilith said.

Wendy slowly turned and stared at herself in the mirror.

Lilith didn’t hold back. “It’s like the reverse of the dream come true. You are like a giant grapefruit on steroids. A dancing—”

I don’t know who collapsed laughing first, but soon the three of us were in a heap.

“Oh well,” Wendy said when she caught her breath. “Now that I see myself, I can’t believe that so-called friend talked me into buying this monstrosity. And I wore it in public!”

“Brides,” Lilith intoned as if she had firsthand knowledge. “They like to be the center of attention. No bridesmaid is ever supposed to look good. That’s their subtext. Don’t let yourself be fooled again.”

“Matron of honor!”

“Goes double,” Lilith muttered.

Wendy sighed. “No wonder Brad wouldn’t comment. I could try to sell it, but who in their right mind would buy it?”

I said, “Don’t worry about that. If you’re lucky you’ll get twenty percent of the original value, but every forty dollars counts. The shoes and evening bag are keepers. Nice and neutral classics. You’ll get to use them for years.”

Shortly after, Wendy was back in her closet-cleaning gear and the monstrosity was lying in its protective zippered bag on the
Sell
pile.

“How does that feel?” I said.

“I’m surprised, but it feels good to send it packing. I didn’t like it, of course, but all that money and the sentimental value. But of course, you’ve explained the politics of all that.”

“When something’s hard to get rid of, maybe it’s an investment or sentimental object or it’s you wanting to be a different size or a different age or in a different life, but the minute you decide to turf it, you can feel the weight lift off your shoulders.”

“Yeah and I want the forty bucks, too. We’re not through here yet.”

The remaining items at issue—pants that were too tight, a gift sweater that was the wrong color, and a yoga top that clung like freezer wrap—all hit the
Sell
pile in a flash.

“And we’re done with Phase 1,” I said. “We can see the bed. I’ll leave you two to sort the shoes, and I’ll see you tomorrow to plan how we’ll store your remaining clothing. Have a look at the pictures I left behind. Decide if you like things open and visible or closed off and neat. We’re nearly finished.”

Wendy gave me a big hug.

I said, “Lilith will cart away the toss and donate stuff. And if you want, I’ll take the
Sell
pile to the consignment shop tomorrow. That will save you from having a midnight change of heart.”

“I’ll come tomorrow, too,” Lilith said.

I glanced at her sharply. The hundred dollars wouldn’t last much longer, even with me charging for portions of an hour and subtracting any minutes that I was eating, drinking, chatting, or laughing.

“No charge,” Lilith added quickly. “I’ll do it as a friend. Anyway, I haven’t seen too much of Charlotte in action and I’d like to watch how she measures and helps you decide about storage.”