Sinclair
“Sela is certainly lovely,” said Mimi, placing a napkin on her lap. “I can understand why Reed is so smitten with her.”
“So, she’s not pregnant?” asked Jesse.
“Jesse…” she warned with a withering stare.
“What? It’s a sincere question,” he replied.
Mimi didn’t respond. Instead she bit into her salad and glanced towards Jack, who was furiously texting on his cell phone.
“Well if she is, we’ll know soon enough,” replied Jack, looking up. “Anyway, Reed is twenty-seven. He’s definitely old enough to settle down.”
“I wonder how long they’ve been dating,” said Jesse. “If she’s some big-time model, I would have thought I’d have read something about them in the tabloids.”
“Reed detests the paparazzi,” sniffed Mimi, “especially after dating that actress a few years back, the one who tried using him to get in with your father. After he dumped her, she made all of those vile accusations about him and made Reed look like some kind of arrogant baboon.”
“What kind of accusations?” I asked.
Mimi waved her hand. “Oh, that he had a horrible temper, drank too much, and was a womanizer.”
“And those weren’t true?” snorted Jesse.
“Hardly. Your brother does not have a drinking problem,” said Mimi. “It’s absurd.”
“But the rest is true?” I asked, biting back a smile.
“Well, I’m sure that creature brought out the worst in him,” replied Mimi. “She was a dreadful girl. Don’t you agree, Jack?”
He looked up. “Despicable. But, unfortunately, she got what she wanted. Notoriety. She was even cast in a couple of movies soon after.”
“Seriously?” I asked.
Jack shrugged. “Yeah, but they were ‘B’ movies.”
I worked on my salad and was almost finished when Reed and Sela stepped into the dining room. As they moved closer, I stared at her and sighed; she was everything I wasn’t – tall, rail-thin, with light blonde hair, high cheekbones, and perfect little bow-shaped lips.
Reed introduced her to all of us and then they sat down across from me and Jesse.
“I’m sorry I’m late,” she said with a slight French accent.
“Oh, it’s quite all right,” gushed Mimi, staring at her future daughter-in-law with appraisal. “You have a busy schedule. I’m just happy you were able to make it.”
“Yes, it is… upsetting, having to travel so much,” said Sela. “I never get any rest.”
“Or time to eat?” joked Jesse, under his breath.
I kicked the outside of his foot.
“You should really take some time off,” said Reed, pouring Sela a glass of wine.
Sela’s eyes narrowed. “As I’ve mentioned before, Reed, I simply cannot do that. You know that I’ve already committed myself for the fashion shows in Paris. Maybe you should take some time off to be with me.”
“I can’t take time away from my cases, unfortunately,” he replied. “People’s lives are depending on me.”
“People’s lives depend on me, too, Reed,” she answered, tightly.
“Well, we are delighted that you could make it here this weekend,” interrupted Mimi, obviously sensing the tension. “Right, Jack?”
Jack, who was smiling down at his phone, looked up. “Right, Mimi.”
“For Heaven’s sake, would it hurt you to put that thing away for a little while?” she chastised. “I’m pretty sure the studio will live without your attention for the next hour.”
Jack chuckled and stood up. “You’d think, wouldn’t you? Please excuse me, everyone. I need to make a quick phone call. Be right back.”
Mimi frowned. “Jack –”
“Feel free to start the main course without me if it takes too long,” he said, hurrying off.
Mimi stared at Jack’s retreating back, lost in her own thoughts, and something told me that theirs wasn’t the perfect marriage.
“I see some things never change,” murmured Jesse under his breath.
“So,” said Reed, pouring himself another glass of wine. “Where is your shop located?” he asked me. “I think I’ll make an appointment this week.”
“It’s in Midway City,” I said, “near the art museum.”
“Reed, I thought you were flying back to New York with me on Sunday?” asked Sela.
He shrugged. “Actually, I have some business I need to take care of in Stanton. Plus, I haven’t been home in a while. You don’t mind if I stick around for a few days, do you, mother?”
Mimi’s face lit up. “Are you serious? That would be marvelous.”
Sela looked across the table at me. “So, what kind of shop do you have?”
“I’m a hairstylist,” I replied. “I work for Tangled.”
“Tangled?” She looked up at my hair. “Do you cut and style your own hair?”
“No. I leave that up to my coworkers. I have cut and colored Jessie’s, however. Many times.”
From the haughty look that flashed through her eyes, she was far from impressed. She turned to Reed. “Reed, if you really want your hair done right, I recommend Milan. He is my personal stylist.”
“Excuse me?” retorted Jesse, with a look that would melt an iceberg in less than a second. “What is that supposed to –”
“No, I think I’d like to give Sin a try,” interrupted Reed. “I have faith in her abilities.”
I grinned. “I’d love to give you a haircut. In fact, I brought my scissors. I can cut it before tomorrow’s party if you’d like?”
He smiled broadly. “I’d really appreciate that. Thank you.”
“No problem,” I said and turned to Sela. “You know, I can touch-up your hair a little, as well. Even out some of those areas that Milan seems to have missed.”
Jesse pointed towards her head. “He did, look over to the right. She should really get that fixed.”
“My hair is fine,” snapped Sela, glaring at the both of us. “It is supposed to look like this.”
“Oh, of course,” I answered with a wide-eyed grin.
“I’m sure it’s all the rage in Paris,” smirked Jesse.
“It is,” said Sela, twirling her massive engagement ring around on her finger angrily. “Of course, we are usually ahead of you in regards to fashion and style.”
“Clearly,” said Mimi. “You look very lovely, dear.”
“Thank you,” replied Sela. “Obviously, you have great taste.”
Jesse and Reed talked about their careers during dinner while the rest of us sat silently. Then, as Gretchen served our main course of prime rib, Spinach Rockefeller, and some kind of delicious finger potatoes, Sela proved to be even more viscous.
“I’ll just have a little of the spinach,” said Sela, as Gretchen tried offering her some of the prime rib.
I stared down at my plate of food, which had healthy portions of everything.
What can I say? I like to eat.
Sela noticed my plate of food and sneered. “You should reconsider. Eating like that makes a girl fat.”
Before I could respond, Reed said, “Actually, Sela, you should consider eating more food. You’re getting much too thin. It isn’t healthy.”
She gave him a scathing look. “I’m a model. I can’t afford to look fat.”
I cleared my throat. “Actually, I should probably stick to smaller portions myself,” I said, thinking about the extra few pounds I’d put on in the last year. I still needed to lose those before I’d feel comfortable in any kind of bathing suit.
“Nonsense,” said Jesse. “You look great. You obviously know how to eat right.”
“Oh, I think we can all agree that Sinclair knows what she’s doing,” piped in Jack, his eyes glossy as he stepped back into the dining room, swaying slightly. “If she fills out a swimsuit as well as she does that dress…”
“Jack!” gasped Mimi.
“Oh, chill out, Mimi,” said Jack with a lopsided grin. “You still fill out your swimsuit nicely too, my dear.”
Mimi smiled, her cheeks pink. “Oh, Jack.”
“Speaking of swimsuits,” said Jesse. “Sin and I were thinking of leaving ours here and going for a little skinny-dip in the ocean around midnight. Anyone else game?”
“Seriously?” asked Reed, raising an eyebrow.
I shook my head vehemently. “No, he’s just kidding.”
“The hell I am,” spouted Jesse. “We’re going to that spot you used to bring all your women, Reed.”
Sela’s eyes narrowed. “Your women? When was that?”
“Don’t worry, it was long before you,” said Reed, patting her hand.
“I’d join you, but something tells me I’d get in trouble from the boss,” chuckled Jack as he nodded towards Mimi.
“Don’t you dare go skinny-dipping anywhere on the beach,” said Mimi with a look of horror. “None of you. I simply forbid it.”
Jesse waved his hand. “Oh, you’re so paranoid, mother.”
“Sounds like fun,” smiled Sela. “I love skinny-dipping.”
“And you’re French,” said Jesse. “You people love walking around nude, flaunting your bodies.”
“Because we know how to eat right and take care of them,” she said, again staring directly at me. “We have nothing to be ashamed of.”
I thought about drowning her in the ocean and wondered if skinny girls sank or floated in saltwater.
Mimi shook her head, still upset. “Goodness, I can’t believe any of you are actually considering this.”
“Mother, it’s in a spot where nobody will even notice us,” said Jesse.
“But it must be someone’s private property. What if they catch you?” asked Mimi.
“Then we’ll just have to ask them to join us,” joked Jesse.
“I don’t want to know anything more,” said Mimi. “The less I know, the better.”
“So, are you in or out, Reed?” asked Jesse.
“He is in,” replied Sela.
Jesse raised his wine glass. “Then here’s to swimming with the sharks. Hopefully none of our bobbers catch a bite.”
“Sharks?” I gasped.