Wrong Way Renee (6 page)

“You're pulling away again, Pam.
”
Re
nee regarded the woman.
She was in
her early thirties with about forty pounds to spare. Way too pretty to be putting up with crap from a man who sounded like a low down dirt bag.

“If his dad wasn't so old and sick, I think he wouldn't even consider it. But you know how he is, he doesn't want to disappoint them.
”
Pam brushed a stray strand of streaked blonde hair away from her cornflower blue eyes.
“Apparently she's coming for a little visit next week. Her family is from the same town in Puerto Rico as
Pablo
's.
”

“You've got to dump him, now.
”
Renee shook her head as she filed the acrylic smooth.
“How many times has he cheated on you? Now he might just marry this other chick.
”

“He swears he won't. But
…
I don't know. I wish I could stay away, I just can't. I bought him a gold bracelet the other day. Tha
t'll be his Christmas present.”

“Oh, Pam. What did you do that for? He didn't get you anything last year. And you got him that hea
lth club membership. Remember?”

“Yeah, I remember. But
he
probably doesn't. Chances are, he'll get me the same thing he gave me last year. Why is it that
you
remember this stuff, but he doesn't?
”
Her sigh held years of pain.
“Oh well, it's only money.”

“It's more than that, and you know it. The expense is the least of it.
”
Sh
e thought about Dan. What would she do if he wanted her back? She wanted to think she'd tell him to
screw off
, but she couldn't be sure.

After she finished with Pam, she joined
Chantelle
and Zoey in the tiny kitchenette and had a veggie sub from the shop two doors down. Skinny little Zoey ate three crackers with peanut butter and two bites of salad before declaring herself full. So unfair.

“Remember my mom's new boyfriend who I told you about, the rich one?
”
Chantelle
said to no one in particular. Both Renee and Zoey nodded as if they remembered.
“Turns out he's married. Mom snooped through his wallet while he was sleeping and it was a good thing she did. I'm gonna d
o that with my next boyfriend.”

Zoey took the bait.
“What did she find?
”

“A photo of him with
a
wife, three kids and four grandkids. The dumb ass even dated it. It was taken a month ago. I told her something was up with him 'cause he never took her to his place. Said he had roommates he didn't want to disturb. Told her he used his cell for his home phone. Never believe 'em w
hen they tell you that, girls.”

“I guess he did have a roommate he didn't want to disturb—his wife,
”
Renee said.
“Aren't there any men out there who don't cheat or have a secret life?
”

“My Adam is true blue.
”
She folded her arms and held her head high.
“We've been together for five years now.
”

Chantelle
narrowed her eyes.
“Five years? How old are you? You don't look old enough to ha
ve been dating for five years.”

“I'm twenty-five. I just have a baby face.
”

“Well, I'm done with men.
”
Renee waved a hand in the air.
“They're either cheaters, liars or they throw you over for the cutest
bimbo
they can find. All the good ones are taken, so all of us single
girls
are just sifting through a sea of rejects.
”

“Whoever he wa
s, he must have really hurt you
”
Zoey
jumped
off the stool.
“There's my
client. See you later, girls.”

Chantelle
crumpled the paper that had held a turkey sub.
“She's too young to have had her teeth kicked in by a man, yet.
”

“You're right.
”
Renee popped a chip into her mouth.
“Although it seems like some
girls
have great guy karma while
the rest
of us don't. Look at Becky. Her ex still sends her birthday cards, for God's sake. She has like three or four ex-boyfriends who she still speaks to. I want to t
ake a chainsaw to all my exes.”

“Me too. Unfortunately, I still have to see my former husband occasionally since we have a daughter together. That was the
only nice thing he ever gave me—
his sperm. My
mom
just walked in for a free manicure and gossip session.
”
Chantelle
stood, threw away the wad of paper she'd been holding and headed toward her station.

Renee went to the desk to check her schedule. Her two o'clock a
ppointment was ten minutes late—
never a good sign with a new client, so she used the time to pay some of the shop's bills. The checking account was dangerously low by time she'd finished. She'd have to speak to Becky about that. Rather than sit there and do nothing, she took advantage of the unexpected free time to get a head start on her Christmas shopping.

She drove to the
linens super store near her apartment complex, looking for some sheets Becky had said she liked. As a regular at the store, all the saleswomen knew her by name. She found the sheets, plus a framed print that would look great in
Toy
's bedroom and a huge, fluffy bath sheet for herself.

When her turn at the register came, she was thrilled to learn the
sheets were forty percent off.
The sales clerk swiped her card then scowled as she stared at the computer screen.
“Hmm. Problem, Miss Wright.
”

“Problem? What's wrong?
”

“I'm sure it's only a computer glitch, but this says you're at your limit on your Linens World credit account. I'm supposed to keep the card when this message comes up.
”
The girl stashed the card in the cash drawer.
“Here's the number to customer service. Like I said, I'm sure it's their mistake. Would you like to put it on another account?
”
The girl handed her a slip of paper on which she'd written a phone number.

Avoiding the woman's eyes, Renee rubbed her suddenly aching temple and searched in her purse for another card.
“He
re's my Visa. Put it on that
.
”
Hands shaking, she threw it across the counter. It slid over the other side and landed on the floor.

“Miss Wright, I'm sorry. It's not my fault, you know.
”
The girl bent to pick it up, then quickly swiped it and handed it back.

“That was an accident. I'm sorry.
”
She
slipped the card into her purse
with a sweaty hand and.
“I know it's not your fault. It's just annoying.
”

“Uh oh. It won't take this on
e either. Do you have another?”

Heat crawled up her neck and face
.
“You know what? I didn't want those anyway.
”
Head high,
she marched out of the store.

Driving into Magnolia Palms
a few minutes later
, she noticed the bare crepe myrtle trees dotting the landscape. They looked like witches' brooms sticking grotesquely out of the ground. In fact, everyth
ing looked dull, gray and sad.
She dragged up the stairs to her apartment then crumpled onto the couch with her purse in hand. Something had to give.

Pulling all the credit cards from her wallet, she sorted through them as Apple rubbed against her arms.
“Okay, kitty, some must go, some can stay.
”
She counted out seven plastic vices. Mastercard got to live. The Visa was condemned to the shredder, along with three department store cards. American Express and her gas card were issued a reprieve. She had to start somewhere. Continuing down the heavy debt freeway could only lead to a head on collision with her future.

* * * * *

Renee parked her Jeep in the driveway of Becky's little pink and blue house
Sunday morning
. A vast array of decorative flowerpots dotted the brick walkway, their lush, colorful contents reaching out to welcome visitors. Window boxes spilling over with orange marigolds hung below the windows on either side of the front door. Each time she came here she marveled at her friend's talent for making things grow. Looking at the exterior of the charming cottage, with a freestanding wooden swing on the front lawn and a mailbox, which was a perfect replica of the house, she always expected the cuteness to extend to the inside. But she was forever disappointed. Becky's talent for decorating the outside did not translate to the inside.

Becky opened the door immediately after Renee rang the bell.
“I'm almost ready.
”
Her friend stepped
aside to let her enter. She fastened her earring as she left the room.

Her mutt came scampering in to greet Renee.
“Hi, Bo. Don't jump on me, doggie.
”
But it was too late. He landed his big paws on her white shirt, smudging it with dirt.

“Becky!
Call him off.
”

“Here boy. Come here, Bo,
”
Becky shouted from the back of the house. The dog happily scuttled off.

Renee brushed the dirt off her top as best she could then sat on the worn beige futon couch, pushing a stack of mail aside. An old steamer trunk that served as a coffee table was littered with papers, magazines and two dirty coffee mugs. A tan director's chair and a red butterfly chair made up the rest of Becky's living room ensemble. It reminded Renee of her college dorm furniture. Not only did Becky need a makeover, but her house needed one as well. Maybe she'd submit Becky's name to one of those house makeover shows on the Home and Garden TV network.

Becky entered the room followed by Bo.
“Ready. You driving?
”

“Sure. I'll drive, let's go. I've been loo
king forward to this all week.”

Becky picked up her keys as they headed out the door.
“Give Mommy kisses, Bo.
”
The dog complied, slobbering on his mistress's face.

“Ick. Do you know what dogs lick? He's probably jus
t eaten cat shit in your yard.”

“Not my baby.
”

Looking forward to the excursion, Renee drove as fast as she dared. When they got to the mall,
Toy
was waiting at the entrance to Macy's, as they'd planned.

“
Hey, ladies.
”
She looked
stunning in a white Peter Pan collared blouse with a flowered skirt.

Renee hugged her.
“I am so ready for this. Can you believe how warm it is out? Hard to believe it's November.
”

Becky pointed to a huge wreath hanging above the entrance.
“Look, they've got Christmas decorations up already.
”
An instrumental version of
Let It Snow
played in the store.

“They're getting us in the shopping mood,
”
Toy
said when they went inside.
“Why
don't we start with Clinique?”

The threesome attacked the cosmetics counter. An attractive Asian woman in a white lab coat cheerfully tried foundation, powder and blush on each of the women. They went from counter to counter, testing, experimenting and buying.

After the splurge, they headed to a café a few blocks from the mall for lunch. The hostess seated them in a corner where they had a view of the entire place.
“Jessie will be your server today,
”
the woman told them as she handed them each a menu.

A tall, handsome
black
man appeared from behind her and smiled at the women.
“Lucky me. I have a table of beautiful ladies. Are we ready to
order, or do we need a minute?”

Becky pulled her glasses from her purse to read the fine print on the menu.
“I think I'll have the clam chowder with
a slice of quiche and a Coke.”

“I'm starting a diet Monday, so I'm going to have
the Reuben with well done fries.
”
Renee shut her menu and stacked it on top of Becky's.