Page 25 of Hitched

The display on my phone reads that it’s Brandy, so I pick it up. “Oh, good. You’re alive.”

We sometimes go weeks without talking, if we’re busy, and we are. It’s been almost a week, and I’m guessing that she’s calling to talk about the same article that I’m reading. “That Rachel chick is six feet under.”

“I bet Caleb and Chas and that whole bunch are so pissed that it’s taking so long to conduct this investigation. Twenty bucks says that their company jets haven’t had to be fuelled up in two weeks.”

“You can say that again. It seems like everyone’s life is on hold right now. God, even the reporter that did this article had to rehash a few of the facts, since not much new has happened, aside from the funeral.”

She changes the subject. “So, did you go through with it yet?”

“I assume you’re referring to my insane plan to go put Caleb Harris back in his place?”

“That’s the one.” She sighs, almost bored.

“Da got into my head.”

“Uh oh. When did this happen?”

“Last week. The day after I did the stupid thing.”

She gasps. “What did your dad say?” A quick pause. “And, more important, why are you just telling me this now?”

I sigh, exasperated. “Brandy, I have been up to my elbows in work. Shit, I slept here last night, and that’s the truth. Thank God I have a shower and wardrobe in my office.”

“Your dad’s got you back in the grind again, does he.”

“I’m just doing a ton of research and I’m trying to stay on top of trends, that’s all. You know how it is. Plus, I’ve been getting calls from this gajillionaire Egyptian guy that just moved to the states, and is looking for somewhere to park his gajillions. Da wanted me to take him on account of his accent. He can’t understand a word of what the man says.”

“And you suddenly know how to speak Egyptian?”

“I personally think that he’s got a crush on me, and wanted me to deal with him, not da.”

“Okay, quit changing the subject. What did your dad say about Caleb?”

“Exactly what you’d expect. He still hates him and doesn’t want any member of that family coming within ten feet of me or anyone in my family.”

“Can’t say I blame him.”

“Oh, I’m not saying that I blame him, either. But I can’t stand the look on da’s face, so I couldn’t go see Caleb again. No matter what malicious reason I have for it.”

“You didn’t tell your dad about you and Caleb, did you?”

“Do you honestly think I’d still be on American soil if I did? You know that da would ship me back to Scotland so fast my head would spin.”

“True.” A pause. “Hey, are you free for lunch?”

“How about dinner? A late dinner? At that greasy spoon restaurant by my place.”

“Seven good?”

“Perfect.”

I manage to zip through work and get to the restaurant early, ordering for both me and Brandy, when the phone rings, and it’s her. She sounds awful. “Brandy?”

“Lanes, I’m so sorry. I started puking right after we spoke this afternoon. I’ve been on my bathroom floor ever since.”

“Are you still at the office?”

“No, I went home to grab my other laptop, and that’s when it started.”

---