Chapter 10
Hope saddled up to their familiar round table at Coconuts and ordered drinks for her friends. She knew exactly what they wanted—chardonnay for Alex, merlot for Suzy, and a margarita for herself.
Suzy arrived next, and as usual, Alex was ten minutes late.
Alex didn’t bother with a greeting. “Oh, God. I needed this.” She took a big gulp of wine before sitting down.
“Uh-oh,” Hope said.
Alex waved Gus over. “I’m going to need another one of these in fifteen minutes.”
“Sure thing. Want some menus?” Gus asked.
Alex smiled at the tank-top wearing server. He fit right in with the Coconuts beach theme with his green tank sporting a palm tree with oversized coconuts, khaki shorts, and flip-flops. “How about a bowl of nuts so I don’t dance on the table after drinking this wine?”
“And that would be a shame.” Gus winked and soon reappeared with a tiny bowl containing five nuts. A huge smile spread across his face. “Just kidding. I’ll bring more but I would like to see some dance moves.” He walked to the counter and poured more nuts into a large bowl.
“I think he has a crush on you, Alex,” Suzy said.
Hope nodded. “Funny. I never noticed it before but you might be right.” Hope sipped her margarita and sighed. “All the guys love Alex.”
“Well, look at her.” Suzy waved her hand toward their blond friend. “She’s a knockout.”
“Oh, stop.” Alex winked. “We’re all attractive. It’s a cross we have to bear.” She laughed as she glanced around their favorite oasis. The regulars were already seated in the homey, island-themed bar. Coconuts drew a variety of customers—a balding guy in his usual, cheap leisure suit, two women who wore short skirts and tall shoes, a plump, jolly, talkative man chomping on an unlit cigar, several businessmen and businesswomen wearing suits and in obvious need of Happy Hour, and a young, loving couple holding hands. The wall-to-wall beach mural set a fun, soothing tone in land-locked Crystal City.
Alex scanned the room. “God, I love this place.”
“I don’t know what we’d do without it,” Hope said.
Unusually quiet, Suzy rubbed a crack on the table.
“What’s up, Suzy Q? Are you in fresh hell too?” Alex asked.
Suzy shrugged. “I suppose I’ve got one foot in the abyss. By the way you slugged that wine, I’d say yours is worse. What hell are you in?”
“You go first. I’m enjoying my drink,” Alex said.
Suzy’s brows knitted. “I don’t know. Now that Ken is in my life, I’m happy. Really happy.” She glanced out the window but her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I should be happy.”
Hope put her hand on Suzy’s arm. “I thought you were elated to have your high school sweetheart back in your life.”
“Trouble in paradise already?” Alex splayed her left hand in the middle of the table. “Married life isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, which explains my naked ring finger.”
Suzy twirled her wineglass. “Actually, Ken is wonderful. He’s romantic, sweet, kind, handsome, and truly my soulmate.”
Hope rolled her eyes. “And you’re complaining? I’m not sure I want to hear any more. Your wedding was one of the most romantic things I’ve ever seen. I thought I’d lose it when he proposed to you on the dance floor at our high school reunion.”
Suzy rubbed the back of her neck. “Ken isn’t the problem. It’s his teenage daughter.”
Alex’s mouth fell open. “He has a daughter?”
“Exactly,” Suzy said.
“Didn’t you know about her?” Hope asked.
Suzy shook her head. “Between the whirlwind wedding, dancing, swirling lights, classmates, and being swept off my feet, I guess he forgot to mention her. I found out after we were married. Apparently, she and her mother were on vacation at the time. Ken got caught up in the moment. I suppose he didn’t see the need to mention her.”
“Kind of a big thing to forget,” Alex said.
Suzy shrugged. “It’s in the past. She’s my present.”
“And your future,” Hope added.
Suzy stared into her drink. “Yep. Seems that way.”
“Is she really that bad?” Alex asked.
“She’s rude and disrespectful toward me.” Suzy crossed her arms. “I’ve tried everything to win her over.”
Gus broke the flow by bringing another round. Alex turned back to Suzy. “What’s her name?”
Suzy sipped her merlot. “Izzy. Well, it’s Isabelle but she goes by ‘Izzy.’”
“Cute name,” Hope said.
“And she’s a cute teenager but she has a real attitude toward me. She’s a daddy’s girl. In Ken’s eyes, Izzy can do no wrong but she tries to backstab me every chance she gets. She won’t help around the house and has taken over my office.” Suzy sighed. “My beautiful, serene Weddings by Suzanne workplace is now a purple and teal trashed teen den. I’ve been relegated to the kitchen table while the television blares, even though she’s always fixated on her phone and not even watching.”
Alex groaned. “I’m glad Tony has a young son. I’m not sure I could handle a sulky teen girl.”
“The list goes on.” Suzy shifted in her seat. “Izzy won’t clean her room and she never helps with dishes. She invites friends over for dinner and doesn’t tell me. Want to hear more?”
“What a sweetheart.” Alex frowned. “How old is she?”
“Fifteen. She’s a sulky, obnoxious, full-of-herself teen.” Suzy gulped her red wine. “Plus she hates me.”
“How could anyone hate you? Loads of people hate me, but you?” Alex held both hands in the air as Hope and Suzy roared. “Hey, what’s so funny about that?”
“Sorry.” Hope muffled her mouth with her napkin.
Suzy burst out laughing. “You know we love you.”
“Whatever.” Alex threw her hands in the air.
“Back to my situation. I think Izzy is determined to break Ken and me up.”
“She sounds like a peach.” Alex tapped her left ring finger. “Again, this is exactly why I’m not married with kids. Thanks for making my case but sorry you’re dealing with this. I wouldn’t have the patience but you’ll win her over. Maybe Hope has some advice.” Alex turned toward their high school counselor friend. “What say you, great sage?”
Hope set her margarita down. “Sorry, but don’t expect a miracle pill from me. Izzy sounds like a typical teenage girl. They usually grow out of it. Kids in blended families often act out in different ways. Ideally, of course, she’d prefer that her two parents get back together. It’s normal behavior if you think about where she’s coming from.” Hope put her hand on Suzy’s arm. “I’m not siding with her. Hopefully, you can teach her to respect you in time. You’ll have to slowly win her over, that’s all.”
“Do you always have to be such a practical counselor?” Suzy circled the rim of her glass. “I know you’re right. Now, I feel guilty. I’m the grownup. It’s just hard to remember during a heated moment when the house is trashed or when four of her friends are staring at me expecting an unplanned meal. Thanks. I feel a little better but Jon was never like this. How long do I have to put up with her crappy behavior?”
“Until she’s thirty or has her own family.” Hope dusted her hands together. “Okay, I solved Suzy’s problem.” Hope turned toward Alex. “Suzy said you called this emergency meeting. What’s up?”