Beauty Queen (11 page)

Rebecca had no clue what that meantshe thought the meeting had been very productive.

Grayson slid off her lap, stood, and shoved his hands into his jeans. Mom, when can we go home? he whined.

Now, honey, she said, and gathered her papers, stacking them properly (all facing the same direction and in numeric order. She had, of course, numbered them) before sliding them carefully into the color-coded file in her new briefcase.

Good idea about the Silver Panthers, Rebecca, Pat

said. But. . . getting something together so soon by the end of the month is kind of stretching it, dont you think? she asked, exchanging a look with Matt. I mean, if you want to do it right.

Now, those were fighting words. Right was the only way Rebecca ever did anything, and if there was one thing on this earth she did to perfection, it was host a party. She pasted a pageant smile on her face. Its really not so hard. Ive got some ideas.

Im just saying, dont be too disappointed if you cant do it, honey, Pat said in such a condescending way that Rebeccas alter ego campaign strategist reared her ugly head and growled.

I can do it, she repeated.

Look, Rebecca, Matt said, no offense, but seeing as how youre really new to the political scene, what Pat is saying is that its really not doable. Youre hitting the start of the campaign season, and if you arent already on their agenda, youre not going to get on it at this late date. And besides, the Panthers are notorious for keeping their meetings closed.

Of all the arrogant. . , Rebecca did not care to be lectured to, particularly in a tone that made her feel stupid, and particularly with Grayson hanging, dead weight, off one hand. All it took was knowing the right people, which, okay, she didnt know, really. But! She knew how to find them! (She was pretty sure she did, anyway.) Thanks for your concern, she said, trying to make Grayson stand. But Im not trying to get on their agenda. Im just talking about a little preconvention party.

Matt sighed in a way that made Rebecca want to punch him square in the nose. Well, whatever, he said, dragging a hand through his hair. It wont hurt you to try, I suppose. It will probably be good experience for you.

Skip punching him in the nose. Poking her fingers in his eyes, Three Stooges-style, had a whole lot more appeal at the moment. Rebecca smiled, shoved a limp Grayson in the direction of the door, and heard herself say, incredibly, Would you like to put a little wager on it?

That certainly got his attention. Hell, it got Rebeccas attention.

What? he asked, choking on a laugh.

What was right what was she doing? But then Rebecca looked at Matt and realized she meant what she said. She wasnt married to Bud for nothing if there was one thing she knew how to do, it was throw a bash that would leave people talking. She smiled, slung her briefcase over her shoulder. I said, do you want to BET?

Pats mouth dropped open, but Matt smiled a very dark smile as he strolled toward her. Ill definitely take that bet. He halted directly in front of her, his gray eyes piercing hers with the challenge. So? Whats the wager, Miss Texas?

Great. She hadnt thought of that. Come on, Mom! Grayson moaned, tugging on her hand.

Marts strange smile deepened, and Rebecca felt a curious shiver race down her spine. Ill make it easy, he said, and honest to God, that cool, steady voice made her weak at the goddamn knees. The winner gets to choose a favor of his or her choice. You get Tom in front of the Panthers, and you can make me do whatever you want. He lifted his gaze from his casual perusal of her, and she could have sworn she saw smoke in his eyes. Deal?

NO, REBECCA! Dont be stupid! Nononono. .. Youre on, she said, and let Grayson drag her out of the room with him.

In an old Victorian house in the Heights of Houston, Robin Lear was lying on the couch, dressed in her preferred style of jeans and a boys T-shirt, her bare feet propped on the arm. She held the phone to one ear as she squinted at the crown molding along the ten-foot ceiling and absently played with the silk fringe of a pillow, I havent talked to her, she repeated to her father, who was, and had been for the last month, trying to get hold of Mom.

Are you telling me your mother hasnt called you in a whole goddamn month? Dad demanded in his typically subtle, kid-glove fashion.

No, Im saying F havent talked to her since the last time you called me and interrogated me about it. Mom is in LA. Exactly where shed been for the last few months since Dads cancer had gone into remission and hed gotten impossible to deal with again. For all his jaw-boning about how his three daughters needed to learn to stand on their own two feet and appreciate the important things in life, he could certainly use a lesson or two in that very thing.

Goddammit, I know shes in L.A.! he barked in her ear. I want to know if youve talked to her!

No! Robin shouted back, drawing a look from her significant other, Jake Manning, who was at his drafting table, busy with their latest renovation project and trying very hard to tune Robin out. But he looked at her now, one brow lifted in silent question. She waved a hand at him, indicating it was nothing out of the ordinary. Try Rebecca, she suggested. She might

I cant get her on the phone, either! Dad pouted.

Hmm, go figure. Shes really busy.

She doesnt need to be so damn busy! You tell me why cant she just relax and take good care of Grayson and stop trying to one-up Bud all the damn time?

Dad, she is so not trying to one-up Bud!

Like hell she isnt. She

Fortunately (for Robin anyway, who didnt want to hear whatever Dad was going to say about Rebeccas life, because it was Rebeccas life, a fact he seemed to have forgotten in his determination to make Rebecca lead her own life) was lost behind the beep of an incoming call.

that she was wasting time, but she wont listen to me.

Dad, Im getting another call.

Ill wait, he said gruffly.

With a groan, Robin sat up, punched the second line. Hello?

Robin, thank God, Rebecca said breathlessly into the phone.

Hey, Rebecca!

Listen, you keep up with politics, right? Have you ever heard of the Silver Panthers?

The who?

The Silver Panthers! her usually calm, rock-solid sister said very impatiently.

No! Should I?

Why shouldnt you? Dont you pay attention to anything except Jake?

Hey, watch it! Listen, Dads on the other line

Shit! Rebecca moaned. Dont tell him its me, okay?

I wont, just let me get him off the phone, Robin said, clicking over Rebeccas moan. Dad? I need to go.

Who is it?

Dad! I really have to go, but listen, call Rachel. She was talking to Mom a couple of weeks ago, even thinking of going to L.A., she said, deciding to share the love.

She was? Dad asked, his voice hopeful.

Robin bit her lip; Rachel would kill her for sure.

All right, Ill call her. But when you next talk to your mother, you tell her Id appreciate a phone call, if its not too much to ask, and I dont think it is!

Okay. Ill tell her you dont think its too much to ask, Robin said. Ill talk to you soon. Bye, Dad! She clicked over. Rebecca?

Im here. Is he gone?

Yep. Listen, the next time you talk to Mom, will you please ask her to call him before he drives us all to jump off a cliff?

Okay . .. but she is not going to call him.

I know. Robin sighed.

Listen Robbie, I need your help, Rebecca said. Ive gotten myself into a big mess.

Rebecca in a mess? Impossible. She was too perfect to get in anything even remotely resembling a mess. Robin and Rachel, on the other hand, could, and often did. But not Rebecca. Never Rebecca. Really? she squealed excitedly, causing Jake to look up again. So tell me!

Okay. Its sort of a long story, but you know I signed up to work on Tom Masterss campaign, right? I went to my first meeting, but it was so obvious that I didnt know anything, and there was this .. . this guy who pretty much thought he knew every little thing, and I got mad, and I sort of mouthed off about strip mining, for Chrissakes, and

Strip mining? Robin couldnt help it; she laughed out loud.

Do you mind? Rebecca said testily. So anyway, at the next meeting I had done my homework, and I came ready to tackle all the campaign issues. She paused there to draw an unusually long and tortured breath, which Robin found

fascinating. Of the three of them, Rebecca was the one Robin and Rachel always clung to in a crisis, because she was always so calm and cool and collected. Well, / said, the Silver Pantherstheyre a group of politically active senior citizens I said, theyre having their annual convention this month, and why dont we do some early fund-raising? Rebecca continued.

Okay... so? That sounds like a good idea, Robin said carefully.

Oh, sure it does! In theory! But practically speaking, its a ridiculous idea!

Why?

Because I cant get in! Rebecca exclaimed angrily. Can you believe that? I cant get in!

Robin stood, began to roam the room. Well... if you cant get in, cant you just put it off for a while? I mean, the election isnt until November, right? It cant be that critical

Yes! YES. IT. IS. THAT. CRITICAL! Rebecca shouted.

Jesus, Robin exclaimed.

Oh ... just fuck it, Rebecca muttered.

Just what? Robin gasped out loud, pulled the phone away and gaped at it. Rebecca never, ever cursed it was not befitting her spun gold aura. Re bec ca! she scolded her. Why is this such a huge deal? I mean, are you going to get fired or something?

No, no, nothing like that. Im only a volunteer.

Then what is the big deal? Robin asked again.

There was a long, silent pause on the other end. Hello? Robin prodded her.

Rebecca sighed loudly. Okay. This is going to sound really stupid. Just really ... stupid. But, Robin, I have sent out resume after resume, and no one wants me for anything, not even to clean their goddamn toilets. I cant convince them to even let me answer the phones. Im about as employable as a doorknob, and then, I just stumble into this thing with sheer dumb luck, and its really a great opportunity for me! I might be able to turn this into a job somewhere, at least use it as real experience. But I have to

do it right, and I already sort of blew it with the strip mining thing, and so the Silver Panthers event was something I was sure I could do! But I can V! She paused again, sighed with much exasperation. And there is this guy .. .

A guy she had mentioned twice now, thank you. You mean ... a guy you like? Robin asked carefully.

Like? Shit, Robin, you know me better than that! I dont like guys! Im off guys, remember? Especially guys with huge egos. Where have you been?

Right. Rebecca was off guys after her divorce, but it sure sounded like she liked this guy. So what is it about him you dont like? Robin asked, grinning.

I really dont have all the time in the world to list everything, but heres one thing... I mean, he hasnt come right out and said it, but its pretty clear that he doesnt think I should be working on this campaign. Like Im not good enough or something. And when I said Id do this party with the Silver Panthers, he said there was no way, they wouldnt let me in, I couldnt pull it off, blah blah blah. And then I said, in so many words, just hide and watch, asshole.

Robin grinned proudly. You actually said that?

No! Of course not! But I bet him I could do it! And the loser has to do whatever the winner wants, and now, well... I have to do this even if it kills me.

Aha. It was all becoming crystal clear. Robin whirled around and winked at Jake, who was staring at her with concern. You know what your problem is, Rebecca? Robin asked with great authority, and without waiting to see if Rebecca knew or not, she blurted, You need to get laid.

What?

You need to get laaaaaid, Robin repeated slowly and articulately.

Robin! Rebecca shouted at the very same moment Jake shouted, Robin!

You do, she said, shrugging helplessly at Jake. Its been way too long what, four years?thats why this guy is bothering you so much.

Well thanks for broadcasting that to all of Houston! And this is so not about that! This is about proving that I

can do something! It just so happens that Matt is so full of himself that he thinks he is the only one who ever has any good ideas, and God forbid anyone else should suggest anything

Is he cute? Robin interrupted.

Rebecca groaned. Brad Pitt gorgeous.

You definitely need to get laid, sister, Robin cheerfully concluded.

Jake moved so quickly she could hardly react before he jerked the phone from her hand. Rebecca? Hey, how are you doing? he asked, and motioned for Robin to go away, which she refused to do, and crowded in next to him so she could hear, too.

Hi, Jake. Im doing okay I just have this little problem and Im not getting a whole lot of help from my big sister, but what else is new?

Hey! Robin protested.

What is it you need? Jake asked, frowning darkly at Robin. Maybe I can help.

Robin stuck her tongue out at him and walked away.

Jake turned his back to her and said, No, Ive never heard of them. . .. Uh-huh.... Oh .. . okay, I see. Listen, call El. Your grandpa knows everyone in this state, I think. I bet he can hook you up.... No problem. Hey, hows Grayson? Whatever she said made him sigh and shake his head. Poor kid. But were still gonna meet up at the ranch in a few weeks, right? Ill take him fishing, hows that? . .. Okay.... Talk to you soon.

Jake clicked off, lowered his head, and frowned at Robin.

Whats wrong with Grayson? she asked.

Oh ... his dad keeps bowing out of visitation, and the poor kid is missing him.

Once an asshole, always an asshole, Robin said with disgust.

As for you, Jake said, pointing at her with the cordless phone before tossing it onto the table, that is no way to talk to your sister.

Why? Its exactly her problem and she knows it.