Chapter 17
As Gus approached their table, Alex let out a whoop. “Thank God you’re back. Don’t ever let that smarmy Jeff fill in again. I almost went to prison because of him.”
The easy-going server knitted his brows. “Huh?”
“Too long a story, trust me,” Suzy said.
Hope giggled. “But a funny one.”
Gus rubbed his jaw. “That dental work was rough. Thanks for asking.”
“Sorry,” the three echoed.
“Are you okay?” Suzy asked.
“Just a little sore.” Gus shifted his tray. “The usual, I assume.” After the women bobbed their heads, he disappeared behind the bar. When he returned, he said, “Maybe I should let Jeff fill in on occasion. He apparently made me look good.”
Alex shook her head vehemently. “Never, ever let him fill in again.”
“What she said.” Suzy held her glass in the air. “To friends.”
After they clanked their glasses, Hope said, “I finally have news.”
Alex and Suzy turned toward Hope.
“We have a new art teacher. I really like her,” Hope said.
Alex removed her giant gold hoops. “These things are going to stretch out my ear lobes. Go ahead, Hope. What’s her name?”
“Willow. She’s a hippie like my-my late parents.” Her voice wobbled but she rallied. “I find her comforting.”
“That doesn’t surprise me a bit,” Suzy said. “We all gravitate toward what’s familiar. I’m glad you’ve found a new friend, Hope.”
“Good. Let’s talk about Willow instead of my hateful intern. She puts me in a bad mood.” Alex pulled a compact from her purse and touched up her red lipstick. “What’s the art teacher like?”
Hope fluffed her frizzy hair. “Willow’s wavy hair is long, almost down to her elbows. It’s graying prematurely but she apparently doesn’t care. She wears about a hundred bangles on her arm and has a peace tattoo made of colorful daisies on her forearm. She keeps it covered mostly at school but it’s pretty.” Hope put a finger on her cheek. “Let’s see. She doesn’t wear a stitch of makeup, unlike you two. Oh, and she smells of patchouli and sandalwood.”
“I love those smells,” Suzy said.
“She sounds like a character,” Alex said. “What’s her story?”
“We haven’t gotten that far. She recently joined the faculty after our other art teacher went on maternity leave. We’ve just had one quick lunch in the cafeteria and a chat in the teachers’ lounge.” Hope made a face. “She actually likes the school’s revolting coffee. Oh, and I believe she’s single. She doesn’t wear a ring and has never discussed a boyfriend nor a husband.”
“Is she a good artist?” Suzy asked.
Hope nodded. “I love her work. Some of it reminds me of Picasso—very modern and unique with bold colors. Other times, she paints or draws caricatures. Her students apparently really love that. I walked by her classroom and she had a football jock perched on a table at the front of the room. Everyone had their heads down drawing his image only she made the jock wear his helmet sideways with his feet stuffed in some girl’s pink tennis shoes. It was pretty funny.”
“That’s hilarious. Making some kind of statement, I guess. She sounds like an interesting person. I bet she isn’t confrontational like Hannah, my marketing nemesis.” Alex hung her black jacket on the back of her chair and muttered, “You know how much I love my job. Now I dread going to work. Enough about that. I want to stay in a good mood.” Alex glanced at Suzy. “How’s married life, Miss Newlywed?”
Suzy shifted in her chair. “It’s, I mean, I adore Ken but Izzy.” She shrugged. “I just need to figure out how to deal with her, that’s all. Jon was easy. He wasn’t moody or sulky.” Suzy waved her hand in annoyance. “Let’s change the subject. Alex, I keep forgetting to ask you. Did Tony file for divorce like he promised?”
Hope sipped her margarita. “Yeah. How’s life with the sexy cop?”
“Not that sexy. Well, the other night was sexy but-”
Both Hope and Suzy’s mouths fell open. “Want to talk about it?” Hope asked.
Alex sighed. “Yes, he filed. It was a fast divorce. His ex, Nikki, didn’t contest it. I think the whole thing was over in forty-five days. Tony’s officially a single man.”
“At least that’s great news, right?” Suzy asked.
Alex picked at a chipped nail. “Yeah, it’s great.”
Hope sipped her margarita. “That’s convincing.”
“His ex is sniffing around again. Now that Nikki knows about me, I think she wants him back. I guess Sean, his brother, isn’t holding her attention.”
Suzy groaned. “Exactly what you need. A competitive ex-wife and an intern from hell. Sorry, hon.”
“And there’s more. I haven’t been allowed to see little Joey but apparently he’s having an extremely difficult time understanding that Tony is now his uncle and not his dad. Tony said he’s acting out, throws tantrums, keeps to himself, and won’t mind him. Nikki rarely lets Tony see the little guy.” Alex shook her head. “It’s a mess.”
“Understandable,” Hope said. “He’s young. This will take time and probably counseling.”
“Said the counselor.” Alex drained her chardonnay. “Tony doesn’t believe in counseling. No offense.”
Hope leaned back. “None taken but I hope you can convince him otherwise.”
Suzy raised her glass. “Well, isn’t this a fun, light-hearted get-together?”
“Thank God we have each other,” Alex said.
Hope held up her hands and wiggled her fingers. “See why I don’t date? My life isn’t so bad after all. Thanks for making me feel better. Are you girls hungry?”
“Starving.” Alex turned to get Gus’s attention. After she swiveled around, she jumped off her bar stool, nearly toppling her wine. “Who the hell is that?” She fixated on the entrance of Coconuts as a shiny, black limo pulled in front. Pointing, she said, “There’s a freakin’ limo outside.”
Suzy and Hope followed Alex’s gaze.
“I’ve never seen a limo here. This is exciting,” Hope said.
Alex narrowed her eyes, obviously not wanting to miss a moment of the newcomers while simultaneously straightening her sleek suit. She elbowed Suzy. “Look.”
Half-interested, Suzy glanced toward the fuss. “It’s probably a Branson entertainer or a bride.” She scooped salsa out of a bowl Gus had apparently snuck in while they were absorbed in conversation. Crunching on chips until Alex insisted she gawk again, Suzy gave in, and stared toward the front. “Okay, okay. I’m looking.”
Alex rubbernecked around a fake palm tree beside the wall mural, put her chin on her hand, and gaped. “I’m very curious to see who gets out of that limo.”