Dex (21 page)

CHAPTER thirty-o
ne

Golda could not imagine this day getting any crazier as she walked through the doors of the bank. After a restless night’s sleep, a cocky raccoon, a thunderous downpour, and a profane exchange for a parking space, she was looking forward to life getting back to normal. She knew everything would fall into place as soon as she had the restaurant back. There’d be no better way to start off the New Year.

Of course, that was assuming she’d even be home in time to watch the ball drop. Why were the lines so long? Was there a sale on money no one had told her about? She didn’t feel like being patient, but she had no choice. Golda took a deep breath and was immediately sorry she had.

There was a lady in front of her wearing a long fake
fur, whose hair was piled up high in a poofy, gray bun, and she smelled like roses and tuna fish. It was a combination that was making Golda feel light-headed and queasy. She tried to position herself a little further away, but all the lines were jam-packed making any relief difficult.

With fainting and vomitting out of the question, Golda needed to find a less drastic yet equally effective diversion from the stench. She was just about to join Madonna in a chorus o ‘Santa Baby’ that was playing through a series of wall speakers when Nan May tapped her on the shoulder and ushered her into her office.

“Happy Holidays, Mrs. Marino,” Nan said, smiling broadly and blinking to the music.  “What can I do for you today?”

“I think this will cover it,” Golda said, opening a suitcase full of money on Nan’s desk.

“Is this for deposit?” Nan asked.

“Of course not. I’m here to take back my restaurant. This should be enough to pay off everything.” She looked at the suitcase and realized how odd it looked. “Legally, of course,” she insisted.

“Oh dear!” Nan exclaimed.

“What do you mean, ‘oh dear,’?” Geema replied.

“I’m very, um, very, um, very sorry,” Nan stammered, “but I’m afraid that won’t be possible.”

“Why?” Golda demanded. “All the money is there. You can count it!”

“I believe you,” Nan blinked. “But, there was another buyer.”

“The notice said we had until New Year’s.” Golda closed the suitcase.

“Yes, but the fine print explains that the bank has the right to accept another offer.” Nan showed her the papers.

“Well, I don’t think that print is very fine at all. As a matter of fact, I think it’s just-- awful!”

Golda trudged through the late afternoon rain in a daze. This was all her fault. Maybe she should have told Marla. Maybe someone could have helped. It had been foolish of her to believe that no one else would buy the property and that she’d have time to work something out. And now the reality was setting in. She had lost Poppy’s Kitchen. How was she going to tell Dex it slipped right through her fingers and now belonged to a new owner? He’d worked so hard to earn all that money.

Golda let out a long, heavy sigh. The thought of breaking their hearts filled her with unspeakable despair. She got into her car, but held the keys in her hand. She didn’t want to go home. Not now. Maybe not ever. But, she had no choice. Dex had the Eatz special in a few hours and she had promised to go. There was no need to say anything until after New Years, after she had some time to figure out what to do next.

CHAPTER thirty-two

Dex was trying to stay focused, but he couldn’t understand what was taking Geema so long. He shook a huge sprinkle of confectioner’s sugar and sifted a hint of cocoa all over the top of his Dextraordinary Eggplant, a stuffed French toast using eggplant as the bread for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. The presentation worked, until he realized in his anxiety that he had garnished it too soon. He shoved the whole platter back into the oven and looked at the time.

“Geema back yet?” Alicia asked clomping into the kitchen in her high-heeled boots.

Dex wasn’t thrilled that he had to raise his head up to talk to her, but he had to admit she looked pretty.

“No, not yet,” Dex answered. “Did you do something different? You look really good.”

“Geez, you sure know how to give a compliment,” Alicia muttered.

“Oh come on, you know what I mean.”

“Whatev,” Alicia said, tapping his arm. “Thanks I guess. I’m headed to Lola’s party. Call me when Geema gets back!”

Before she walked out the back door, she whipped her head down between her legs, and then jerked it up quickly. She did this a few times before spraying her hair with a small can of stuff she took out of her pocketbook.  Seeming satisfied as she looked into a small compact mirror that she also pulled out of her bag, she left.

Dex wasn’t sure how she wasn’t too dizzy to walk much less drive after all that. Girls were definitely weird. Especially the cute ones.

Through the living room windows Dex could tell it was almost sundown. Ardith the raccoon was long gone, as was her messy trail of mischief since Dex and Alicia spent nearly an hour repositioning all she had knocked over during her brief but busy stay. Dex tried Geema’s cell phone, but there was no answer. The bank had to be closed by now. It was New Year’s Eve. Where was Geema? How long could it take to buy back what was yours in the first place?

Dex put out some snacks and drinks and was grateful when the doorbell rang. He needed to take his mind off the restaurant. Liza, Jordy, and Kyle hung up their coats on the wall hooks in the entryway and headed into the family room.

“Smells good in here,” Liza sniffed.

“Yeah, I cut one.” Jordy inhaled deeply.

“You know,” Liza said, “I think in a past life you were a pig.”

“Past life?” Kyle joked.

Jordy hit him on the arm. “Hey dude, you’re supposed to be on my side.”

“She’s cuter,” Kyle said, winking at Liza, as he walked over to the food.

Dex went back to the door to take a look outside.

“Sarah’s on her way,” Liza said, rolling her eyes. “Dex, you are more transparent than Saran Wrap.”

“How do you know? Did she call you?”

“Of course she called,” Liza said. “Don’t you know? Since you started liking her, she and I have become besties.”

“That’s cool. I guess,” Dex said as he got
Twister
out of the hall closet. He tossed the game on an end table. “I’ll be right back.”

Dex went into the kitchen and tried calling Geema again. There was still no answer.

“Hi guys!” Sarah said, making a sudden entrance. “I knocked, and I rang, but no one answered. The door was open so---”

Dex bolted to the door as soon as he heard Sarah’s voice. “I left it open so you could come right in,” Dex admitted as he helped her off with her coat. He noticed the way her long, shiny, hair hung loose around her shoulders and wondered if she would be angry at him if he kissed her right then and there. Something made him decide she would be, so he kissed her on the cheek instead. He hung up her coat and then awkwardly took her hand.

Dork. Don’t do that now, in front of everyone. Besides, your palms are sweaty.

Dex dropped Sarah’s hand more abruptly than he had intended. “Um, I have to go to the kitchen.”
Yeesh
. “Um,” he continued, turning away, “to finish making the eggplant.”

As Dex walked away, Sarah started laughing hysterically at Jordy squeezing garlic- cheese dip through the spaces between his front teeth. If she thought that was more funny than disgusting, maybe Dex didn’t have to worry so much about his own dorkdom.  He took the eggplant out of the oven hoping that once the food was served, Sarah would forget his sweaty palms.

Dex was putting the pan on the counter when Geema flew in through the back door and nearly knocked him over.

“Sorry, hon,” Geema apologized. “I didn’t mean to scare you. It’s cold out there.”

“Where have you been?”

“Been?” Geema echoed.

“I was worried. I called your cell a bunch of times and you didn’t answer.” Dex could feel his cheeks getting fiery. “Well, how did it go?”

“How did what go?”

“The bank, Geema.” Dex rolled his eyes. “Did you buy back Poppy’s Kitchen?”

“Oh, the bank,” Geema said, putting a shopping bag down on the table. “I got there too late. It was closed.”

“That makes no sense,” Dex argued. “You had plenty of time.”

“Sense or no sense,” Geema almost raised her voice, “the bank was closed. Plain and simple. But, I did have time to buy you these.” She pulled a big bag of Dex’s favorite salt and vinegar potato chips out of a small package of groceries.

“Thanks,” Dex mumbled. “Geema--”

“Dexy, I’m tired. If I don’t take a nap, I won’t be awake enough to go to your show later.” She left the room before Dex could offer one more word of protest.

Dex wasn’t sure why his grandmother was in such a cranky mood. She was always the optimistic one who would say ‘Bumps in the road are just a way to make the ride more interesting.’ Why weren’t things interesting this time? Sure, he could imagine she was disappointed when she got to the bank and it was closed, but there was nothing anyone could do about it until the holiday was over. Maybe she really was tired. He grabbed the eggplant and went inside.

Kyle, Liza, and Jordy were on the Twister mat and Sarah had just spun ‘Right hand green.’

“Okay, next one is, ‘Right foot red.’”

This left Dex underneath Kyle whose arms were now wrapped around Liza’s arm and Jordy’s leg. Liza was between Jordy’s legs and had an arm around Kyle’s leg.

“‘Left hand yellow.’” They all started laughing because that left Jordy’s butt right under Liza’s nose.

“Yo Liza, I’m illin’ a little after dat bean dip,” Jordy laughed.

“Stop trying to cheat!” Liza said, holding her breath.

The doorbell rang.

Dex got up to get the door and everyone fell over. “Ahh, sorry guys. I ordered pizza.”

The doorbell rang again just as Dex opened the door. A limo driver in a black suit and cap was standing at the doorway. Without a word, the driver signaled with a gloved hand to usher Dex out the door and into an Eatz company limo parked in front of his house.

“Already? I’m sorry. I must’ve messed up the time,” Dex said to the silent driver. “I’ll be right back.”

The driver let out an impatient huff that made Dex uncomfortable.

“Hey guys, my driver’s here and in a rush. Please tell Geema I had to leave.” Dex headed to the door. “Oh, and save me some Doritos. I’ll see you later.”

Sarah stopped him at the door with a glossy smile.  “This is for good luck.”

She kissed him softly, but longer than the first time, then turned and went back to
Twister.

As he walked out, Dex licked his lips.  Chocolate mint, his new favorite flavor.

#

Dex was in a daze. Was Sarah finally his girlfriend? It was hard to know for sure, but that kiss made it seem like it might be possible. As he followed the driver down the front lawn, he glanced back at the house hoping to hold onto the moment as long as he could. He licked his lips again. Maybe he would make chocolate mint cookies tonight. It wasn’t on his menu, but he was feeling inspired.

The driver opened the limo door, but Dex was too engrossed in his thoughts to move until he was practically pushed inside the car. Maybe he should have asked Sarah to come with him. No. He couldn’t do that. It was still too soon. And he had given the one guest pass Casey emailed him to Geema. The good news was he would be home by midnight, just in time to start the New Year with his hopefully new girlfriend. No matter how he looked at it, this was going to be a long night.

Dex looked out the window. Why weren’t they moving? Were they out of gas? Dex turned his head over his other shoulder and jumped.

“Mr. LeTray? What a cool surprise!” Dex tried to do a ‘high five,’ but Preston ignored him. “Nobody told me we were rehearsing.”

“We’re not,” Preston said snidely. “I’m actually going to be directing.”

“Really? Directing? That's awesome . Directing our show, while we’re doing it? How?”

“Not how, who.”

“Who?”

“You.”

“Me? You’re directing me? Why?” Dex was puzzled.

“I’m correcting a mistake,” Preston leered.

“What mistake?” Dex asked.

“The one Ezra made when he fired me instead of you.”

“He fired you?” Dex’s eyes widened. “I had no idea.”

“Of course you didn’t. You were too busy sucking up to see anything, Dexy.”

“That’s not true,” Dex protested.

“You’re not the first snake in the grass I’ve had to finish.”

“Finish?” Dex gulped.

The limo driver giggled and Dex realized it was LeTray’s assistant, Yvette Bidet.

“Pressy,” she said, “the kid thinks you’re going to--!” She made a deep, loud clicking noise while moving her flat hand against her throat in a slicing motion.

“It’s not like the thought hasn’t crossed my mind, but I’m a reasonable man.”

“That’s good to know,” Dex said, completely unconvinced. “I’m still not sure what you want.”

“To begin, how about gratitude.” Preston said, rolling the ‘r’ in a way that would have made Dex laugh if he hadn’t been terrified.

“I thanked you for helping me.”

“Not enough.”

“Why?”

“Because, I made your success. I ended up pushing you right to the top when I helped season your chicken salad.”

“It was you!” Dex gasped.

“So, what of it? It did nothing but help you. It’s history now.” Preston snapped his fingers and waved his hand in the air as if he could make the past disappear. “However, I did make a recent purchase that I am certain will interest you.”

“Okay,” Dex said, anxious to end the conversation. “What?”

“A certain...restaurant was in dire need of an owner who could pay the bills on time.”

Dex gave Preston an icy stare. “You couldn’t have. We’re buying it back.”

“No dear, uninformed Dexy. According to this, seems you’re too late.” Preston shoved an official-looking document under Dex’s nose.