Vegas Heat (47 page)

Birch, oblivious to his wife’s petulant face, continued to ask questions. “Can we stop and see Sunny?”

“She’s at the casino, Birch. Mom brought her and her friend over early this morning. It was almost like old times except you were missing.”

Celia leaned over the front seat. “In a wheelchair? Doesn’t that create a problem?”

“No, honey. Dad was in a wheelchair. The whole casino is wheelchair accessible. My grandfather made sure of that so Dad wouldn’t have any problems.”

The devil on Sage’s shoulder bounced back. “She has her dog with her. So does Harry.”

“In the casino! That’s so ... unsanitary,” Celia said.

“They’re trained,” Sage said tightly. He didn’t like this girl leaning over the seat, didn’t like her warm breath wafting into his right ear, didn’t like the soap and water smell of her. He didn’t like her, period. Talk about instant reactions.

“Will you relax, Celia. Mom is closing the casino tonight—so it will be just friends and family. The dogs are special. The dogs enable Sunny to get out and about more. I think it’s great.”

Celia flopped back against the seat cushion. Sage knew her eyes were glued to the back of Birch’s head.

“Where are you from, Celia?”

“A small town in Alabama. Population twelve hundred or so.”

“Are you going back for a visit?”

“Not.”

“Celia’s family is gone. There’s nothing to go home to. In a manner of speaking she’s an orphan. Was an orphan. Now she has me and our family. Right, honey?”

“I know I’m going to love your family, Birch. We never talked about anything else but your family. Morning, noon, and night. I feel like I know every single one of you, even the children.”

The devil on Sage’s shoulder moved slightly. “Didn’t
you ever
talk about your family, Celia?”

“There wasn’t anything to talk about. Your family is so interest-ring.”

And rich
, Sage thought. “Do you want to go in the front door or up through the garage?”

“The garage. Neal would boot our asses right off the floor looking the way we look. What room are we in?”

“Dad’s favorite room, 2711.”

“What time should we be downstairs? Do you want me to hide and make a grand entrance? What’s the drill here?”

“The party starts at six-thirty. Bess and John are coming in through the front door and everyone is going to yell, SURPRISE! Balloons will drop. Billie said you should weave your way around the crap tables and then we’ll all yell SURPRISE again, at which point Mom will faint so be prepared to catch her. Nice meeting you, Celia. Oh, by the way, we all kicked in to get Bess and John a year’s trip around the world. Tap that trust fund, big brother.”

“A year’s trip around the world. That probably cost more than I could earn in a lifetime. What trust fund? Do you have a trust fund, Birch? Shame on you for not telling me. It was nice meeting you, too, Sage.”

Sage leaned against the wall. “This is not good,” he muttered. He sat on the trunk of his car, his thoughts chaotic as he smoked three cigarettes, one after the other. Maybe he was having an off day. Maybe he didn’t see what he thought he saw in the new Mrs. Thornton’s eyes.
Keep your thoughts to yourself
.
Don’t look for trouble
, an inner voice warned.

Sage walked over to the elevator. He shivered and didn’t know why.

“Here they come! Here they come! Get ready!” Fanny cried, excitement ringing in her voice.

The great doors opened. Bess and John Noble walked onto the casino floor to the shouts of “SURPRISE!” Colored balloons rained downward.

Fanny ran to her friends of forty years and swept them into her arms. “Don’t cry, Bess, I don’t have any tissues. We wanted to do this for you. It hardly seems enough for all you’ve done for our family.” She couldn’t hold the news back for one more instant. “We are giving you a trip around the world! A whole year, Bess, to do nothing but spend time with your husband. Please say you want it.”

“I’m saying it for both of us,” John said. “We were just talking about taking a trip last week. Nothing as grand as a trip around the world. We accept, don’t we, Bess.”

“Yes
. But Fanny ...”

“Shhh, it’s our pleasure. All the kids chipped in. Your kids packed your bags. I know they packed all the wrong things so if you play the third machine from the left in aisle two you’ll have enough money for a new wardrobe.”

“Oh, Fanny ... what a good, kind friend you are.”

“Hey, I’m taking up too much time. The line behind me is getting longer and longer. Everyone wants to give you a kiss and a hug. Tonight you’re Cinderella and your limo will be by the front door exactly at midnight. I’m going to miss you so....”

“Mom, look over there by the crap tables,” Sage whispered in her ear.

“Is that Birch? No! It is!”

Sage stepped aside as his brother swept his mother into his arms, twirling her around and around until she was dizzy. “Oh, Birch, it’s so good to see you. You look so handsome. Actually you look just the way your father looked when he wore his tux. This is such a wonderful surprise!”

“Mom, this is Celia, my wife.”

“You’re married, and you didn’t tell anyone!”

“Mom, she’s special. I didn’t think I’d ever meet anyone like her. She’s so gorgeous she takes my breath away. We’re here to stay. I’d like to start to work on Monday if that’s okay with you.”

Sage, his wife Iris next to him, watched as Birch drew Celia forward. He was in a perfect position to see his mother’s raised eyebrows at the young woman’s attire. He didn’t think it was his imagination when he saw her shoulders tense.

Celia was wearing a strapless, backless black sequined sheath of a dress with a slit up the side. As she stepped forward, Fanny reached for her hands but didn’t kiss or hug her. “I’m so pleased to meet you, Celia. Welcome to the family. How do you like Babylon?”

“It’s ... fantastic. I shopped all afternoon. Living in a tent and taking a shower under a waterfall is ... this is just wonderful. I can’t believe you
own
all of this.”

“It is a bit startling at first. After a while, it’s just a place of business.”

Iris turned away to stare at the people surrounding Bess and John. “What would you do if I dressed like that, Sage? I feel like a Girl Scout leader compared to her. For someone who lived in a tent and showered under a waterfall she looks pretty good in those diamonds. I thought you said they only had raggedy stuff.”

“She went shopping,” Sage hissed. “Mom didn’t hug her or kiss her the way she did you when she first met you.”

“She’s taking a wait-and-see attitude. Birch was shock enough. Coupling that with a new bride who looks like she belongs in the chorus line should give you your answer. What do you think of her?”

Sage evaded the question. “Birch is in love with her. It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks. She just got here. She’s probably nervous, and by now she’s aware that she isn’t dressed right.”

“Oh, she’s dressed right. Those shoes she’s wearing cost $800. I saw them in the shop last week. What you’re seeing is who that young woman is. She’s a lot younger than Birch, too. She was pleasant enough, but I don’t think I’m going to like her.”

Sage’s sigh of relief was so loud, Iris shook his arm. “You don’t like her either, do you? You were waiting for me to say it first. We need to give her a chance. First impressions are not always what they seem. Let’s agree, Sage, to stand back and be fair. Okay?”

“Sure, honey. You don’t look like a Girl Scout leader to me. That’s a nifty dress you’re wearing, and you look great.”

“Aunt Billie made it for me. She made one for Sunny and Billie, too. Sunny’s looking better than I’ve seen her look in a long time. I guess it’s because she’s happy.”

“Guess so. I’m going to check on the kids. Lexie’s probably wading in one of the pools by now.”

“Marcus is watching them. They were picking flowers for Sunny in one of the hanging gardens.”

“I’ll check it out. It’s my turn to kiss Bess and John. I’ll see you later by the banquet table.”

Sunny waved from across the room. Iris weaved her way toward her. She bent over to kiss her and Harry, whose chair was parked next to Sunny’s, their dogs next to their respective chairs.

“There she is, one of my two favorite people in the whole world. Here comes the other one,” Birch said, as Billie came up behind Sunny’s chair. Iris watched as Birch kissed and hugged both his sisters before he introduced his new wife. She didn’t know if she should laugh or cry at the expressions on Sunny’s and Billie’s faces. The expression of distaste on her sister-in-law’s face was so fleeting she thought she imagined it until Sunny, in her own inimitable way, let her know she’d seen it, too.

“Harry and I were wondering if we dare head for the banquet table. We forgot our bibs.” She looked pointedly at Celia when she said, “We drool and dribble our food at times. What would happen if you did that wearing such a fancy dress?” she asked Celia.

“I guess I’d have to get it cleaned.” Celia looked pointedly at her husband, who was talking to Harry, Sunny’s companion.

“The cleaners would ruin it,” Billie said.

Celia made a little face. “I think I made the wrong choice when I picked out this dress. Birch has always said this was such a glittery, shimmering place, I thought it would be appropriate. I was wrong. I just itched to buy it. I lived in cutoff jeans and raggedy tee shirts for so long. I just didn’t think. I hope I didn’t offend anyone.”

“Just my mother and me,” Sunny said. Billie cleared her throat. Iris looked away.

“Did I miss something?” Birch asked.

“No. Sunny was just agreeing with me that I’m dressed all wrong. She said I probably offended your mother.”

“See, I told you, but you wouldn’t listen.” Birch tweaked Celia’s cheek before he walked over to Bess and John Noble.

“Are those diamonds real?” Sunny asked.

“The jeweler said they were. Birch insisted I get them. He said he wanted me to sparkle tonight.”

Sunny’s voice was prim when she said, “We’re not a showy family. Actually, we’re all rather modest. Mom always said less is more if you know what I mean.”

“Yes. Thank you for pointing it out to me.”

“My pleasure,” Sunny said.

“Excuse me. Birch is motioning for me to join him.”

“Sunny, that was uncalled for,” Billie said.

“Damn straight it was. I saw the expression on her face when she looked at me and Harry. It was distaste. Ask Iris if you don’t believe me.” Iris nodded, her face miserable.

“She’s in a new environment. We’re all strangers to her. So she dressed wrong, so what. All of us at one time or another either overdressed or underdressed. Don’t create a problem, Sunny, where none exists. She’s Birch’s wife,” Billie said.

Harry, silent until now said, “I used to paint portraits. I was pretty good, too. The critics always said my eyes were the best. That’s because they’re the mirror of one’s soul. That young woman has no soul. That’s strictly my own opinion. Let’s try the banquet table, Sunny. My hands are more steady than yours are today, so I’ll hand you the food. We’ll come back here to eat it out of the way, okay?”

“Sure. Will you guys watch our dogs?”

“Sure,” Billie said.

“I admire Sunny so,” Iris said, a catch in her voice.

Billie’s voice was soft when she said, “Me too.”

“Birch’s timing was off. I think that’s what this is all about. It would have been nice if he’d waited and made it a family thing where Celia could be the center of attention. However, I understand where he’s coming from. Sage said he expects to start work on Monday. Did anyone tell him about Jeffrey? Sage said it wasn’t his place to tell him. He also said Birch doesn’t know how to play second banana. Does that mean there’s going to be a problem, Billie?”

“Off the top of my head, I’d say yes. Let’s not worry about that tonight. We’re here to have a good time, so let’s have a good time.”

“Do I look dowdy and frumpy, Billie?”

“Absolutely not.”

“Then why do I feel that way?”

“Because your quiet, peaceful world has been invaded by a smashing blond bombshell. I feel a little dowdy myself. I thought I looked pretty good when I left the house.”

“So we’re jealous is what you’re saying.”

“No, that’s not what I’m saying. We’re who we are, and Celia is who she is.”

“Sage sees something we aren’t seeing. He was so hyped about going to the airport to pick up Birch. He hasn’t slept for three nights, that’s how excited he was. He wanted to take the kids to the airport to show them off. He wanted his brother to see his kids. When he got back, it was ... sad. I felt so bad I wanted to cry for him. He had these wonderful plans, these great expectations, and suddenly a new wife on the scene wiped all those plans away. He knows there’s going to be some kind of blowup when Birch finds out Jeff signed on to run Babylon.”

“Everything will work itself out, Iris. Mom will step in and do what she always does, bring order and sense to everything.”

“Not this time, Billie. Birch has a wife now, and she’s going to have a voice in everything he says and does.”

“There’s Jeff now. He does look a lot like your dad. Ruby’s really nice. I like her a lot. I’m glad your mom welcomed her into the family. She belongs. Right off she wanted to know what she could do. She pitched right in. She looks so damn normal compared to ... Celia. I thought you were bringing your boyfriend tonight.”

“He had duty. Detectives are on call twenty-four hours a day. He might stop by later. It’s not serious, Iris. We’re good friends. I like him. He likes me. He doesn’t just listen to me, Iris, he actually hears what I say. I like that in a man. I’m not about to get serious. I like being my own person, making my own decisions. It works for me the way being married and having kids works for you.”

“What do you think works for Celia Thornton?”

“The Thornton money.”

“I’m of the same opinion.”

“Sunny’s dribbling. Let’s go clean her up.”

“Billie, earlier Jake ... what happened was Sunny was drinking a soda pop and she let the bottle slip. Jake ... that little kid was so good about it. He wiped it up and said, ‘Heck, Mom, I do that all the time.’ Sunny’s eyes filled up, and Jake wiped away her tears. He whispered to her for a long time. I guess he was giving her a pep talk because she started to laugh. He was grinning from ear to ear. He’s really good with Harry, too. Ash made sure Jake understood his mother’s limitations. He really understands, Billie. Do you think as he gets older that will stay with him? Every day I do my best to reinforce all that your dad taught him.”