The Escape Collection: (The Escape Collection) (22 page)

“No.” She broke into a fresh round of tears, totally oblivious of the fact that I thought she was crazy. “And he said he really means it this time. He wants to marry me and sell the Lady and—”

“What do you mean, this time? He’s asked before?”

Patty pulled the tissue away from her face and looked at me. “Of course,” she said, as if it was something I should have known. “This was his fourth proposal. And it was really romantic and—”

“Fourth?” I ran my hands through my hair and glanced at my watch. “This is crazy. Just marry him already. What are you waiting for?”

“Well, I’m sorry if I’m disturbing your busy life with my problems.” She turned her back to me like a pouting child about to have a tantrum. “And it is not ridiculous. It’s serious. If you’d come to visit sooner, you would know how this has been eating me up all week.”

“Are you done?” I’d had about enough of her pouting. She nodded. “Now let me get this clear, because I’m still having trouble understanding it.” I shook my head as if that would help me sort out the chaos that was my mother. “Are you telling me that Stan proposed over a week ago and you’re still worked up about it? Please tell me you at least gave him an answer. And please, for the love of all things holy, tell me you said yes.”

“I did no such thing.” Her tears instantly dried up and she dabbed under her eyes and cleaned her face. “You know I can’t marry him.”

“No, Mom,” I said with a sigh. “I don’t know that. I think you’re being ridiculous. He loves you and he makes you happy. Why not marry him? You know you can’t do this forever.” As soon as the words left my mouth, I realized my mistake. My mother, for whatever reason, loved her job and would defend it vehemently. It was a battle, I learned very early on, that wasn’t worth fighting. I’d seen the way it came between Grams and her. I didn’t want that between us. “I’m sorry,” I said. “You know I’m not trying to say anything about what you do.”

Her frown slid easily into a smile and she rose to embrace me. “I know, sweetheart. I’ve always thought it was a miracle that Grams couldn’t manage to turn you against me.”

“Mom, about Grams.” I pulled out of her embrace so I could look at her. It wasn’t the ideal time to tell her, but I couldn’t imagine there would be an opportunity much better.

“No,” she said, misunderstanding me. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to say anything bad about your beloved Grams. I just—”

“I need to tell you something.”
 

“Well, that doesn’t sound good.” She released me and went back to her dressing table, where she started fidgeting with a bottle of make-up and went to work fixing her face.
 

“Grams is sick.” I said the words gently because I knew she’d feel the impact even if she pretended her mother didn’t matter to her.

She dabbed foundation on her face with a sponge but didn’t bother turning to look at me. “Well, like I said before, she’s an old woman.”

I clenched my fists together and counted to ten. Maybe she didn’t understand what I was saying. “Mom, she’s really sick.”

“We were talking about me and Stan,” she said.

“You’re kidding me.”

“No,” she said. “This is important. Stan asked me—”

“I know,” I yelled. “He asked you to marry him. So just do it already.” I forced myself to calm down. “Did you hear what I said?” I asked, trying to control the shake in my voice. “About Grams?”

“I heard you.”

“And?”

“And, she’s an old woman. Old women get sick.”

“Mom!”

“Don’t yell at me, Whitney. I am still your mother.”

“Yes. And Grams is your mother. Don’t you care?”

She lowered the mascara wand she was holding and slowly turned around. I tried desperately to see some emotion in her eyes, some indication that despite everything that had happened between them, she cared that her mother was sick. I knew they loved each other. They had to. “Of course I care,” Patty said. Her voice was hard and had an edge to it that scared me. “But what would you like me to say?”

I released a breath. “I want you to say that you’ll come see her.” The moment the words were out of my mouth, I froze. I watched and waited to see what she would say. I’d given up inviting her over years ago. It was easier that way.

“You want me to come where?”

“To my house.” I made the decision quickly before I could change my mind. “Come for dinner. I’ll cook.” I made a quick mental note to ask Reid if he’d help me in the kitchen. “Bring Stan.”

“You know your grandmother won’t let Stan anywhere near her house.”

I said a silent prayer that Grams would agree. “It’s my house,” I said. “I’ll invite whoever I want.”
 

Her face morphed into a half smile and to my surprise, she nodded. “Okay,” she said. “I’ll come.”

“You will?”

“Of course. If it’ll make you happy to do this, and I can bring Stan, I’ll go. Besides, maybe I can finally meet this boyfriend who isn’t your roommate that you haven’t really told me about?”

“William?” I swallowed hard on his name and a trail of ice ran down my spine. “Um, yes. That will be good.” I nodded and forced a cheery smile. “But he’s very busy, so I don’t know if he’ll be able to make it.” If I had anything to say about it, he wouldn’t be able to make it at all. I did a quick mental scan of his schedule. He’d said something about going to visit family next weekend. “Next Sunday?”

“It’s all settled then.” She gave me a strange look and stood to embrace me. “You’re a good girl, Whitney,” she said, her voice muffled in my shoulder. “I know it’s not always easy, but I just love you so much.”

“Me too, Mom.” The words tasted bitter on my tongue. I did love her, but some days it was an exhausting type of love. One that left me feeling wrung out and empty.

***

I took my time walking down the stairs. Mom had rejected my offer for her to meet Reid. Something about not being able to face the public without putting her face back on. Ultimately I was okay with putting off the introduction I just wanted to get out of there and get home. But when I descended the steps and Reid wasn’t waiting in the hall where I’d left him, I said a few choice words and thought about leaving him there to figure out his own way home. I should have known he couldn’t resist the lure of a room full of naked women only a few feet away. Few men could and I’d yet to meet many myself. I would have left him, too, if he didn’t have the car keys.

With a curse, I pushed through the heavy velvet curtains and charged into the Lusty Lady. It took me a few moments peering around the dimly lit room before I saw Reid sitting in the corner with a half-dressed woman straddling his lap. I didn’t recognize her, but it would have been unusual if I did.

I knew I’d draw attention when I walked across the room and I’d only have a few minutes before word got back to Stan that I was there and then it would be even longer before I could get home. “Are you done?” I asked as soon as I got close enough. I put my hands on my hips, hoping I looked as pissed off as I felt. I risked a glance at Reid, not sure if I wanted to witness his debauchery. But when I saw his face, my anger melted instantly. My hand flew to my mouth and I tried unsuccessfully to stifle a laugh.

Reid’s eyes were squeezed shut, his face turned to the side and his mouth pressed into a tight line. At the sound of my voice, his eyes popped open momentarily before snapping shut again. “Whitney? This isn’t what it looks like.”

I wasn’t sure what it looked like, but he certainly didn’t seem to be enjoying it. “I’m sure it’s not,” I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm. ” To the dancer, I said, “What’s your name?”

Without missing a beat, she turned to me and winked. “You want a dance, too?”

“No,” I said slowly. “But something tells me I might enjoy it more than he is and that’s a real long shot. Why don’t you give him a break?” I handed her a twenty dollar bill, not sure if that would cover whatever it was she’d just done to Reid.

“I’m Ruby,” the woman said as she swung her leg over and stood next to me. “What’s your name?”

“Whitney.” Stan appeared from the shadows and pulled me into a hug, saving me from Ruby’s attentions. “It’s always good to see you, sugar. You weren’t planning on sneaking out without coming to visit now, were you?” He released me and I couldn’t help but smile at him. I genuinely liked Stan and it wasn’t just because he put up with my mother. Despite everything she’d put him through, he’d been good to her and good guys were hard to find. Especially if you were looking for them in the Lusty Lady.

“Ruby, why don’t you go get Whitney and her friend a drink?”

“No, we’re fine,” I said. But when I took a glance at Reid, who was adjusting his shirt and obviously trying to regain his composure, I changed my mind. “On second thought, why don’t you bring Reid here a shot of whiskey?” Ruby tugged her dress back into place and headed to the bar.
 

“Was Ruby giving you a hard time?” Stan said to Reid.
 

“No, not at all.” Reid stood and awkwardly shook Stan’s hand. “I just…” He glanced in my direction and I wished the light was better because I was pretty sure he was blushing. “She found me in the back hallway and…I…well, I tried to tell her…” He looked between the two of us and must have decided he was fighting a losing battle because he shrugged and finished lamely, “It totally wasn’t what it looked like.”
 

I gave him a look that made it clear how I felt about his weak explanation and turned my attention back to Stan.
 

“How are you, Stan?”

“You know me,” he said with a shrug that reminded me of a man much younger. “Can’t complain. Business is good and it’s just another day here at the Lady.”

There was something in his voice that reminded me of my conversation with my mother. “Maybe you need a change.”

He tilted his head, looking pensive for a moment before his wide smile was back. “You’ve been talking to Patty.”

“So it’s true? You’re thinking of selling?” I’d never known Stan—or my mother, for that matter—outside of the club, and the idea was foreign to me but also kind of exciting.

“Come on, Whitney.” Stan’s smiled faded a little. “I’ve been trying to make an honest woman out of your mother for years. I just can’t get her to say yes.”

“That’s what I hear.” By instinct, my hand reached out and squeezed Stan’s arm. “I don’t know what she’s thinking,” I said softly. “But don’t stop trying.”
 

We looked at each other for a moment, neither of us saying anything because sometimes I don’t think there are any words to explain my mother and I’m pretty sure Stan felt the same.

Reid, who must have decided it was a good time to try again, broke the silence. “We didn’t officially meet,” he said. “I’m Reid.”

“You must be Whitney’s boy—”

“Roommate,” I said quickly.

Both men looked at me. Stan raised his eyebrows and turned back to Reid. “Well, any friend of Whitney’s is welcome here anytime.”
 

Ruby chose that moment to return with the drinks. She handed Reid a glass of whiskey, which he drained without any hesitation, so I took the other one, likely intended for me, and handed it to him as well. Without hesitation, Reid downed that one, too.

“I appreciate the offer, Stan,” Reid said, and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “But I don’t think your fine establishment is really my kind of thing.”
 

I couldn’t hold back my laughter, which earned me a glare from Ruby before she teetered away to find more business. “We should probably go,” I said to Stan. “But I just invited Mom to dinner next Sunday.” I ignored the questioning look Reid shot in my direction. He was probably thinking about the last time I attempted to cook. “I need her to talk to Grams about something.” Stan gave me a knowing look. He was all too aware of the relationship between the women in my life. “It’s important,” I added. “And I want you to come, too.”

“Me?” Stan held his hands up in mock horror and shook his head. “You want me to come for a sweet ol’ family dinner? I don’t think that’s a good idea, Whit.”

It was my out. He was giving me an easy way to avoid a family fight and we both knew it. Stan had never been welcome in Grams’ house, and he’d most certainly never been in attendance at the very few dinners we’d managed to arrange over the years.

“Come,” I said again. “Please. You should be there.”

For a minute, I thought he was going to say no, and I wouldn’t have been surprised if he had. Part of me, a big part of me, expected him to.

“If you want me to,” Stan said, “then I’ll be there.”
 

 
I nodded and tried to smile although the idea of having everyone sitting around my kitchen table for a happy family dinner was more than I could process because I had no idea how I was going to pull it off.
 

***

“Are you going to tell me what happened in there?” I asked Reid as soon as we got settled in the car, him in the passenger seat. After the way he chugged that whiskey, I didn’t think it was a great idea that he drive us home. I glanced over and he met my gaze as he fastened his buckle. “Is there some reason you decided to go for a lap dance? I mean, you didn’t really strike me as the strip club type.”

“I could say the same thing,” he said with a shake of his head. “But you seemed pretty comfortable in there.”
 

“Would you believe me if I told you I’d spent time on the pole?” I wiggled my eyebrows in his direction before I turned the ignition and focused on reversing Reid’s car.
 

“Um, no. I wouldn’t,” he said with a laugh. More seriously, he added, “But there’s obviously a lot of history there for you. Want to talk about it?”
 

“No.”
 

“Whitney?”
 

I shook my head. Maybe he’d drop it.
 

“Is that what your poetry’s about? Your past?”
 

“I’m so not going to talk about this right now.”
 

“I’ll tell you about the lap dance,” he said. There was a hint of laughter in his voice, so I glanced at him to see him smiling at me. “I know you’re dying to know.”