Let Them Eat Fruitcake Page 11

  Someone knocked on her door. She took another deep breath and steadied herself. It was probably just Kendall. She was probably hoping that Lelani would share a glass of wine and stay up late and listen to Kendall go on and on about her silly problems. Like Lelani didn’t have enough of her own to deal with. She jerked the door open and was ready to tell Kendall to take a leap when she realized it was Megan.

  “Oh.” Lelani stared blankly at Megan, who stood barefoot in the hallway wearing her I Love Lucy pajamas and an uncomfortable expression.

  “Sorry,” Megan said quickly. “I know it’s late, but I heard you walking around, so I figured you were still—”

  “Sorry, am I keeping you up?” Lelani used the back of her hand to wipe a wet cheek, then quickly looked away.

  “No, that’s not it. I just wondered if you’re okay.”

  “I’m having kind of a bad night. Sorry to disturb you.”

  “Do you want to talk?” offered Megan.

  Lelani took in a deep breath, then slowly exhaled. She was afraid to talk, afraid if she opened her mouth, she’d spill out her whole story. She wasn’t ready for her housemates to know everything about her. It was hard enough that Gil knew, but at least he seemed to understand.

  “I don’t know what you’re going through,” said Megan quietly. “But I do know what it’s like to go through hard times.”

  Lelani nodded, swallowing hard against the lump in her throat. She didn’t want to start crying again, and she knew any sympathy might undo her.

  “And I don’t want to sound like I’m preaching at you,” continued Megan, “but I know that the only thing that gets me through hard times is God.”

  Lelani studied Megan closely now. “But how? I mean, how does God do that?”

  Megan seemed stumped, or maybe just surprised.

  “Because I do believe in God … the Creator,” said Lelani slowly. “At least I used to. But how does he really get involved in your life? I just don’t get that. Is it even possible? I mean, how does God do that?”

  “It’s hard to explain,” said Megan. “But it’s like you pray to him. You give your worries and concerns and fears to God, and then you trust him. And he gives you this peace.”

  “Peace?” Lelani knew her voice sounded strained.

  “Yes. A sense of deep inner peace, despite circumstances. Like I said, it’s hard to explain, but I know it’s real. I know I’ve experienced it myself. It’s a peace that sort of carries you along.”

  “I don’t even know what peace feels like anymore.”

  “I know I’m probably not making much sense,” continued Megan. “I’m not that good at talking about God. But I do know he’s the only thing that gets me through stuff.”

  “I feel like I’m drowning,” admitted Lelani.

  “God is a lifeline,” said Megan. “He wants you to grab hold of him.”

  Lelani considered this. “Just like that?”

  Megan nodded. “It’s actually really simple. You believe in him. You ask him to live inside your heart. You start a relationship with him. You pray and you trust and he leads you. And things get better. Well, not overnight. And it’s not like you don’t still have problems. But he makes you stronger … so you can withstand them.”

  “I’d like to believe that.”

  “Ask God to help you, Lelani. That’s all it takes. Just start talking to him. He’s there. He’s ready.” Megan looked slightly uncomfortable now. “I could pray with you if you want.”

  “Oh, I don’t know.”

  “I mean I don’t want to push you.”

  Lelani reached out and took Megan’s hand. “Look, I’m going to really think about what you said. And if I can do this, I will ask God to help me. Okay?”

  Megan blinked. “Okay.”

  “But I’m kind of a private person, and maybe I just need to figure this out.”

  “I understand.”

  “Thank you.” Lelani let go of Megan’s hand.

  “And if it’s any comfort”—Megan kind of smiled—“I’ve been praying for you. And I’ll keep praying. I really do think God is up to something in your life.”

  Lelani sighed and shook her head. “I so hope you’re right, Megan.”

  Then she closed the door and tried to remember exactly what Megan had just told her. Believe in God. Trust God. Pray to him. Really, it did sound simple. Okay, almost too simple. Yet, Lelani couldn’t deny that she desperately needed help. She did feel like she was drowning, like she needed a lifeline to hold on to.

  As Lelani got ready for bed, she remembered a time when she was fifteen and had been out surfing. She took a hard fall and had been pulled down by a sharp undertow and held down. She’d reached out to God then. And, like a lifeline, something or someone had pulled her to the surface and to air. That’s what she wanted now.

  Twelve

  Kendall

  “You’re up early this morning,” said Megan as Kendall trudged into the kitchen.

  “Yeah, I noticed.” Kendall poured herself a cup of coffee and tried to remember just why she’d set her alarm so early.

  “Are you going out job hunting?” asked Megan.

  Kendall laughed. “Not exactly.”

  “You might be able to get a job in retail right now.” Megan paused to pour a cup of coffee. “Stores could be getting desperate with Christmas just a little more than two weeks away.”

  “No one needs to remind me of that fact,” said Lelani as she joined them. “Every day they change the big gold sign at the entrance. Today it will be fifteen shopping days until Christmas.”

  “I was just telling Kendall that she could probably get a job in retail if she wanted,” Megan continued, sounding more and more like Kendall’s mother or sister. Kendall seriously wanted her to put a cork in it, but instead she just closed her eyes and sipped the hot coffee. That was one good thing about having housemates. Someone, not Kendall, usually made coffee. And someone, not Kendall, bought coffee. And sometimes, if she managed to get up in time, which wasn’t the norm, she got to drink some too.

  “Nordstrom is looking for gift wrappers,” said Lelani as she poured some cream in her coffee.

  “Thanks, but no thanks,” said Kendall. She could just imagine herself wrapping packages—in another universe perhaps.

  “Well, how about sales?” asked Megan. “Surely they need salespeople somewhere this time of year.”

  “You’d be a natural, Kendall.” Lelani pointed at her. “You’re such a shopper and you know all the designers and everything.”

  “And that’s how I intend to keep it. I’ll stay on my side of the cash register and you stay on yours. Okay?”

  “But when are you going to start earning a living?” persisted Megan. “You know your finances are a mess and you’ve got a bunch of bills—”

  “Yes, but they’re my finances.” Kendall smirked at the two worker bees. “And they’re my bills. And besides, I think I may be coming into some money soon.”

  “Seriously?” Lelani looked skeptical.

  “Wait and see.” Kendall tightened the belt on her bathrobe and nodded with confidence. Wouldn’t they be singing a different tune when she was living the life down in LA, inviting them to come down for her wedding or maybe a movie premiere or just to hang around her beautiful house and sparkling pool? Kendall had bought a book yesterday. Yes, a book, a real hardback book. It was the first one she’d purchased since college. The Seven Secrets of Sensational Success, or something to that effect. And the first secret was to visualize what you wanted.

  Consequently, Kendall had been imagining all sorts of lovely things, starting with Matthew Harmon by her side, an enormous diamond on her finger … and then the house, the pool … and Matthew’s successful film career, of course! And even a little Chihu
ahua named Pinkie—complete with a rhinestone collar! Or perhaps Pinkie’s collar had real diamonds. It was hard to tell, since it was a daydream.

  “I’ll bet she’s been buying lottery tickets,” said Megan.

  “It’s getting pretty high,” said Lelani. “I was feeling tempted myself the other day.”

  “You know what they say the odds of winning the lottery are,” said Megan, the spoiler.

  Lelani frowned. “I think I heard you had a better chance of getting hit by lightning.”

  “Twice,” added Megan.

  “You two are so cheerful this morning,” said Kendall wryly. “I wonder why I don’t always get up and have coffee with you.”

  “It must be because we’re getting into work mode,” said Megan. “I don’t know about you, Lelani, but I had quite a day yesterday.” Then Megan began to drone on about redoing some old lady’s parlor, and Kendall couldn’t get out of the kitchen fast enough.

  Seriously, she wondered why anyone would put up with jobs like those two had. Lelani was on her feet all day trying to make wrinkled old rich women look younger, and Megan worked for the Wicked Witch of the West doing old lady houses. Kendall chuckled to herself as she took her coffee upstairs. And to think these girls gave her a bad time for not working. Who did they think they were fooling?

  Kendall sat down and began making a list. She still had some shopping to do, plus she needed to book her flight and hotel. She knew some people did that online, but she thought she should seek the advice of a travel agent. And she would buy some lottery tickets. You never knew.

  But before she would do any of this, she would call her mother. And before she called her mother, she would make sure to rehearse the conversation. There was no point in making this call if she didn’t handle it right. Hopefully her mom’s cell phone would be on. If not, Kendall had concocted a compelling message and was all ready to leave it—a message that would entice her mother to call back right away. But to her surprise, her mother actually answered.

  “Hi, Mommy,” Kendall said cheerfully. “How are you and Daddy doing?”

  “We’re doing well, Kendall. How are you?”

  Kendall could hear the cautious tone of her mother’s voice. But that wasn’t unexpected. Her parents usually figured that when Kendall called, it was to hit them up for money. And, okay, that was usually the case. But today Kendall wasn’t about to tip her hand.

  “I’m doing great. I’ve been going to my counseling. And my housemates and I are planning a Christmas party and everything is cool.”

  “Well, that’s good to hear.” Her mom’s voice relaxed. “And how’s the job situation?”

  “Well, December didn’t seem like the best time of year to get a job. Besides that, I’ve been thinking about going back to school.”

  “Oh, that’s wonderful, Kendall. Your father will be so happy to hear it.”

  “And I’ve had another exciting development, Mommy.”

  “What’s that?”

  “I met this guy. He’s just the greatest. And he’s actually an actor.” Now Kendall felt pretty certain that her mother, a woman who knew less about TV and movies than anyone on the planet, wouldn’t know a thing about Matthew or his sorry little wife.

  “An actor?” Once again the caution crept back into her voice.

  “A very successful actor named Matthew Harmon. He was filming up here in Portland. In fact, I got to know his director, too. Aaron Stone. Have you heard of him?”

  “That name does sound vaguely familiar.”

  “Yes. He’s one of the top directors. Anyway, Matthew and I totally hit it off, Mommy. And he’s such a great guy. He kind of reminds me of Daddy. He’s a little bit older, and he’s thoughtful and smart and responsible, and he really cares about me.”

  “Really?”

  “So anyway, I just wanted you to know about this. I mean I don’t usually tell you much about the guys I see. Well, because usually there’s not much to tell.”

  “Well, thank you, Kendall. I appreciate that.”

  “But, here’s the thing. Don’t tell the other kids, okay? I mean not until it’s really set in stone, you know. I can just imagine Kate or Kim getting all gaga over the fact that I’m dating a famous actor. I don’t want that. Not until we’ve set the date.”

  “Set the date?” Now her mother sounded very interested. “Kendall, are you and this Matthew person thinking of marriage?”

  Kendall giggled. “Yes! Isn’t it exciting? And, of course, I’ll want you and Daddy to meet him. Where are you guys now anyway?”

  “We’re at a lovely lake about an hour from Charlotte, North Carolina.”

  Kendall tried to imagine her parents and their big fancy motor home parked next to a lake, but it just seemed so far away. “It sounds nice.”

  “Very.”

  “So, you’re not anywhere near Southern California then?” Kendall sighed. “If you were, maybe you could meet Matthew.”

  “Oh, we’d love to meet him. Let me see. We’ll be heading west after the New Year. Maybe we could plan something later in January.”

  “Like your daughter’s wedding?”

  “Oh, sweetheart, that would be so wonderful!”

  “I’m going down to visit him this weekend,” continued Kendall.

  “Give him our best.”

  “And, depending on how it goes, well, I might just stay on.”

  “So this relationship is really moving quickly then?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “Well, I’m very happy for you.”

  “Thanks.” Now Kendall waited. She was actually crossing her fingers.

  “Is there anything we can do for you, dear?”

  “Oh, I don’t know. I mean Matthew is really rich and he’ll probably insist on paying for everything for my trip. I mean since my budget is a little tight right now. You see, I’ve been paying off my bills and trying to get everything in order. One of my roommates has been helping me to manage my finances. But it would be nice to go down there and not feel like I was a total charity case.”

  “Of course. And your father and I were going to send you a little something for Christmas, Kendall. I don’t know why we couldn’t send it early.”

  “Oh, could you, Mommy? That would be fantastic. The last thing I’d want is for Matthew to think I’m after him for his money.”

  “No, you definitely don’t want to look like a gold digger.”

  Soon it was all arranged. Kendall’s dad would do an online transfer directly into Kendall’s account. In a few hours, she would be celebrating Christmas early.

  “Thanks, Mommy!” she cried. “I’ll let you know how it goes, and we’ll be sure to pick a date that works for everyone.”

  “I’m so happy for you!”

  Then Kendall hung up. “Mission accomplished,” she said. “Well, part of the mission.” Then she picked up her new book and reread chapter one about visualizing success. Not only could she see success coming her way, she could smell it too!

  Thirteen

  Megan

  “What sort of spell did you cast on Mrs. Fowler yesterday?”

  “What?” Megan looked up from her desk to see Vera frowning down at her.

  “Mrs. Fowler. Remember? The old lady in the Victorian house?” Vera carefully removed her pigskin gloves, still glowering at Megan.

  “Yes, I know who Mrs. Fowler is,” said Megan slowly. “But what are you talking about?”

  “She left a message saying that she needed to talk to someone at the firm today.”

  “Oh?” Megan considered this. “Is something wrong?”

  “I wouldn’t know. When I called Mrs. Fowler, she insisted she needed to see the girl with red hair. I assume she must be speaking of you.”

 
“I think she has memory issues,” said Megan.

  “So I explained to her that I was her decorator, but she insisted that wasn’t so. She said the girl with the red hair was both her decorator and the only person she wanted to speak with.”

  “Well, she’s just confused.” Megan tried to mask the irritation she felt.

  Vera leaned down and, placing both palms down on the edge of Megan’s desk, peered at her with narrowed eyes. “Confused, or are you trying to steal one of my clients?”

  Megan actually laughed now. “Vera, if your memory is still working, you might recall that you’re the one who sent me over there to do the installation for Mrs. Fowler. And I think I know why you did it too.”

  Vera stood up straight.

  “Mrs. Fowler isn’t exactly an easy client, but I did my best to make her happy.”

  “Apparently.”

  “And that’s a problem?”

  Vera made a huffing sound. “Call her, please.”

  “Okay.”

  Vera left and Megan imagined a puff of dark smoke going behind her. But she looked up Mrs. Fowler’s number and dialed. Expecting the worst—like perhaps Mrs. Fowler had decided that she really did want red drapes, or even worse wanted everything removed from her parlor—Megan waited for Mrs. Fowler to answer. After about twelve rings, Megan was tempted to hang up. Except she knew the house was large and Mrs. Fowler was slow. Finally, she heard the crackling sound of the old woman’s voice.

  “This is Megan Abernathy from Sawyer & Craig Design,” she said politely. “I’m the one who was at your home yesterday, and I was told that you needed me to call.”

  “Yes, yes, Megan. That’s your name. I know you gave me a card, but I seem to have misplaced it. All I could remember was your pretty red hair. Did you know that I had red hair once … oh, about a million years ago?”