Fallen Elements (23 page)

Nicole was sitting at the dining room table,
and Ryan could see from the look on her face she was not thrilled
with the sudden onslaught of houseguests. “How long are you staying
– in Baltimore?”

Lucy sat down at the dining room table,
crossing her legs as she leaned back. “Through the weekend. My
husband has business in the city, and we all thought it would be
the perfect opportunity to catch up with Ryan.”

“You’re – ah, you’re all here?” Ryan stood
with her arm around Carol’s waist, trying to stave off the
claustrophobic feeling creeping over her. She had lived in
Baltimore for six years, and with the exception of a few visits
from Carol, her extended family had never darkened her door. Seeing
her aunt sitting so casually in her dining room seemed surreal and
off-putting.

“Christ, Ryan. It’s not as if we’re staying
with
you.” Lucy stood. “We have a suite at the Monaco.”

“I didn’t think you meant to stay here. It’s
just a surprise to see –” Ryan stammered and took stock of how
quickly her evening had gone from excellent to odd.

Carol leaned in and laid her head on Ryan’s
shoulder. “We were just leaving, but not before you agree to dinner
tomorrow.”

Ryan smiled, the familiar citrus notes of
Carol’s Tom Ford Plum Japonais perfume wafting over her. “Well, you
have come
all
this way.” Ryan teased.

Lucy walked toward the door, and pulled her
black Burberry rain coat from the hook near the door. “The Richmond
at six.” Before Ryan could respond, Lucy turned her attention to
Nicole and Greg. “Thank you for being so patient with us. I’m sure
having a complete stranger arrive on your doorstep at nine o’clock
at night was the last thing you expected.” Lucy glanced at Carol.
“My daughter assured me we would be welcomed, and we were. Thank
you.”

Nicole got up from the table, and crossed the
small room, her hand outstretched. “It’s been nice to finally meet
you.”

Lucy managed a faint smile. “Likewise.”
Looking at Carol. “Ready?”

Carol gave Ryan a quick kiss on the cheek.
“See you tomorrow.” Lowering her voice, and waiting until her
mother had stepped outside onto the stoop, Carol continued. “I told
her we should wait until the morning or at least call, but –”

“It’s fine.” Ryan reassured the nervous
woman. “See you tomorrow.”

“Thanks Nicole.” Carol smiled, then turning
her attention to Greg, grinned shyly. “It was nice meeting you.
Ryan has had nothing but great things to say about you over the
years.” She reached out her hand. “I’m glad one of my visits
finally coincided with meeting you.”

Ryan watched as Greg actually blushed before
taking the beautiful woman’s hand. “Just lucky I was here when you
arrived.”

Carol nodded, holding Greg’s hand for several
moments longer than necessary before Nicole cleared her throat and
broke the awkwardness of the moment. “Okay then. So, Carol, take
care.”

Ryan noted the tension in her roommate’s
voice, and wondered if seeing another woman clearly enamored with
Greg had triggered some jealousy for the otherwise uninterested
woman.

Carol reluctantly released Greg’s hand, and
stepped to the door. “Bye.”

Ryan and Nicole didn’t bother to respond as
Carol’s attentions were clearly focused on Greg. “Bye.” The man
raised is right hand and waved.

Shutting the door, Nicole turned and rolled
her eyes. “You’re tragic.”

Greg, the spell broken, blinked several
times. “What?”

Instead of responding to Greg’s confused
utterance, Nicole turned to Ryan. “Our friend over there has it bad
for your cousin. She’s in the door eight-point-three seconds and
he’s making googly eyes at her.”

Greg squared his shoulders and looked
directly at Nicole. “I don’t see why it should matter to you.”

Ryan’s brow arched, and she discreetly exited
the room to the kitchen. Though she was now out of immediate fire,
the irritation in Nicole’s voice was still evident from the other
room. “I could care less who you flirt with, but could you limit
your shenanigans to places other than my living room?”

“I was being friendly.” Greg insisted as he
flopped down on the couch.

“What are you doing?” Nicole asked
harshly.

“I’m finishing the movie. You’re welcome to
join.”

Ryan leaned on the counter, sipping from the
bottled water she had just retrieved from the refrigerator, a smirk
on her face as she listened to her two friends square off.

“In case you missed it, I’m unhappy with you,
and that should trigger something in your brain telling you to
leave
my
house.” Nicole insisted.

“So, you don’t want to finish the movie?”
Ryan could practically see the smirk on Greg’s face as he reveled
in getting a rise out of Nicole.

“Fine! Stay, but I’m going upstairs.”
Nicole’s declaration was followed by the loud stomping of her feet
as she ascended the stairs.

Ryan cautiously exited the kitchen to find
Greg sitting comfortably on the sofa, the remote in hand. “You, ah,
you got her worked up there.” Ryan sat on the sofa next to
Greg.

“She’ll get over it.” Greg dropped the remote
on the coffee table, and turned to face Ryan. “So, how are you? We
haven’t seen much of each other with your new job and my work
schedule.”

Ryan smiled, appreciative of her friend’s
interest. “I’m good. Work is challenging, but exactly what I want
it to be.”

“Nicole mentioned you’ve been seeing more of
Leah. Is that a good thing?” Greg tentatively asked.

Irritation flared in Ryan at the idea of her
friends discussing her love life, but she reminded herself they
always had her best interest at heart, and she doubted it had been
anything akin to a gossip session. “It’s going well. We were out
tonight actually.”

Greg nodded. “That’s great, and what about
Jenny?”

Ryan winced. “Yeah, after her little
performance at my birthday, we decided to let that whole thing
go.”

Greg’s brow arched. “It was that easy?”

If anyone else had asked her that, Ryan would
have felt defensive, but Greg was clearly and genuinely interested.
“It was.” Ryan stated plainly with no concern Greg would judge her
as being harsh or cold.

“Clean breaks can be the best sometime.” Greg
said warily.

Ryan leaned back on the sofa, looking at her
friend closely. “You’re not really that into my cousin, are
you?”

Greg looked sheepishly at Ryan. “No. But she
is very attractive, and maybe –” The man hesitated.

“And maybe it didn’t hurt that Nicole lost
her mind when she saw you hitting on another woman?” Ryan said
casually, not wanting Greg to feel she was judging him in
anyway.

“She really did lose her mind, didn’t she?” A
faint smile found Greg’s lips.

Ryan took a drink of her water. “And
how.”

Greg picked up the remote, and sat back on
the sofa. “Cool.”

Ryan stayed downstairs for another hour
watching
Star Trek Into Darkness
with Greg before the two
friends said their goodnights, and Ryan went upstairs to get ready
for bed.

Ryan pulled her phone out of the back pocket
of her jeans, and seeing the text notification icon, realized she
had left her phone muted from when she was at dinner with Leah.

Did you get home okay?
Leah’s text had
been sent over an hour ago, and Ryan quickly responded, not wanting
the woman to worry.

Sorry for the delay. Phone muted.

Ryan put the phone on her nightstand, and
finished getting undressed. As she slipped a pair of gray cotton
shorts and a white t-shirt on, her phone chimed.

I was getting worried, but glad you’re
okay.

Ryan didn’t want to talk about her out of
town visitors or the Nicole and Greg drama over text; so she opted
for what she thought was the more interesting topic.
I had a
great time tonight. Dinner and after.

Sliding under the covers of her bed, Ryan
reached over and turned the lamp on her nightstand off. The room
was plunged into relative darkness with the exception of the faint
light coming from her phone display.

Me too. Sleep well.

Ryan smiled.
Night.

Ryan wanted to say more. Her chest felt as if
it might explode from the sensations of euphoria, hope, and joy.
She couldn’t remember ever feeling so utterly pleased with any
other endeavor than she felt about her and Leah. Part of her
cautioned against becoming too enamored, but Ryan was pleasantly
surprised that her less cynical side was winning out.

The Richmond restaurant was located in the
Baltimore neighborhood of Harbor East. The high end Southern style
eatery sat near the Inner Harbor and across the water from Federal
Hill. Ryan had never ventured in as she was rarely in the
neighborhood. Besides, the restaurant’s multi-course tasting menu
could run in excess of a hundred and fifty dollars for six courses,
plus wine.

“Welcome.” An early twenty-something woman,
dressed in a black cocktail dress with her brown hair pulled back
in a severe bun, greeted Ryan.

“Hi. I’m with the Myers-Howland party.” Ryan
looked around. The dining room was lovely with warm peach and cream
colors running throughout. The wallpaper was accented with a
discreet gold floral design, and the high-back chairs were
upholstered in persimmon velvet.

“Of course, Ms. Myers. Please follow me.” The
woman led Ryan through the main dining room, into a room with only
one large round table, and walls lined with bottles of wine.

“You’re the first to arrive this evening.
Franklin will be assisting you.” The hostess pulled a chair out for
Ryan, and offered her a menu. “Enjoy.”

Ryan took her phone out of the front pocket
of her brown slacks. Glancing at the phone’s clock, she rolled her
eyes. Her family was nearly ten minutes late even though she had
fought Friday night rush hour to get from Columbia into downtown
Baltimore.
Their hotel is less than two miles away and they
can’t bother to get here on time.

Just as Ryan was about to work herself into a
full on rant, Carol and Lucy walked into the private dining
room.

“We’re late.” Carol announced, with the
hostess from moments ago following behind her and Lucy. “I’m so
sorry. Have you been waiting long?” Carol leaned over and kissed
Ryan on the cheek.

“I just got here.” Ryan stood up to greet her
aunt.

“Your uncle and cousin are indecisive asses.”
Lucy took her trench coat off and handed it to the hostess.
“They’re coming – they’re not coming. Christ, the Middle East
crisis will be resolved before the two of them make up their
minds.”

Lucy crossed the room and hugged Ryan.
Looking down at Ryan’s brown slacks and light green sweater, the
corner of Lucy’s mouth turned down. “Are you coming straight from
work?”

Ryan had learned years ago that her aunt
rarely came out with a direct compliment or insult. Rather, the
intended recipient – or in this case victim – had to watch the
woman’s face carefully. Tonight, Ryan’s subdued attire had
warranted the dreaded
oh, you poor thing
look from Lucy.

Where Carol had a tendency to justify and
explain her perceived short comings to her mother, Ryan had adopted
a more passive approach. “I have. Traffic was awful.” Feigning
ignorance of the slight mitigated the possibility of a superficial
conversation about hairstyles and skirt lengths from enveloping the
evening.

Lucy nodded as she took her seat across the
table from Carol and Ryan. “I loathe traffic, and this city’s car
services are a joke.”

Not wanting to hear her aunt’s litany of
reasons Baltimore was a subpar city in comparison to New York, Ryan
interjected. “Should we order some drinks?”

Just then a tall gentleman in his late
thirties entered the room. He was dressed in an impeccably tailored
black suit, white dress shirt, and black tie. His brown hair was
combed perfectly to the side, and his skin was smooth with an olive
complexion.

“Good evening, ladies. I’m Franklin, I will
be assisting you this evening.” He scanned the table. “I see two
additional place settings. Are you still expecting them?”

Lucy shook her head. “No. Please bring me a
Macallan Old Fashioned.”

“And for you two ladies?” Franklin looked at
Carol and Ryan.

“Tanqueray and tonic with lime, please.”
Carol began looking over the menu.

“I’ll have the same.” Ryan didn’t drink very
much liquor and had no idea what she liked, but gin and tonic
seemed like a harmless option.

Franklin left the room, and Ryan picked up
her menu. “What did you do today?” She asked Carol.

“Shopping mostly. Dad and Andrew were in
meetings all day, so Mom and I puttered.” Carol looked across the
table at Lucy. “What was that little boutique we were in that had
that beautiful sapphire and diamond ring?”

Without looking up from her menu, Lucy
responded. “Lightell’s, but I told you, the diamond quality was
horrible.”

Ryan listened as her cousin and aunt went
back and forth on whether there were any decent diamonds left, and
if any of those could be found in a small shop in Baltimore. The
conversation could not have interested Ryan less. She found herself
wishing Franklin would hurry back with their cocktails, as maybe
alcohol would ease her into what was shaping up to be an incredibly
dull evening.

“What is it you’re doing now, Ryan?” Lucy
asked as Franklin set her Old Fashioned down in front of her.

“I work for Howard County.” Ryan thanked
Franklin for her gin and tonic, then took a quick sip before
continuing. The floral and citrus flavors of the gin were
surprisingly refreshing. “I work closely with the vendors and
community program directors.”

Lucy took a long drink of her Old Fashioned.
“Carol tells me you’re seeing Leah.” Her gaze was steady as she
looked intently at Ryan.