Broken Things (Faded Photograph Series) (16 page)

“Sorry to disturb you,” Allie began, “but I’m looking for Brenda.”

The man nodded. “She’ll be right out.”

He turned and hollered at the dogs to be quiet before walking away, leaving Allie to wait on the porch. She couldn’t say she really minded. The late afternoon sun seemed warm in spite of a cool breeze. While it wasn’t officially fall yet, a feeling of autumn hung in the air.

Allie took this time to glance around the neighborhood. Tall elm trees lined the sidewalk and formed a leafy canopy over the quiet street. A car suddenly turned the corner, pulled alongside the curb, and parked. Allie smiled, seeing Colleen crawl out from behind the wheel.

“What are you doing on the porch?” Colleen stepped up to the house, wearing a blue and white striped T-shirt dress. A white sweater covered her shoulders. “Isn’t anyone home?”

“Yes, someone’s home. The man who answered the door said Brenda will be right out.”

Colleen rolled her eyes. “Oh, that’s Dave. He’s such a goof.” She pressed on the bell. “Dave, it’s Colleen. You’ve got company. Let’s us in.”

Again the dogs barked until Dave hushed them and came back to the doorway. “Brenda will be right out.”

“Let me in, will you?”

Dave unhooked the screen door and Colleen opened it. Two cocker spaniels bounded out of the house, their tails wagging. Allie pet the friendly animals while Colleen spoke in undertones with Dave who, Allie assumed was Brenda’s husband.

“Oh, fine,” she said at last. “We’ll wait out here. But tell her to hurry. I’m hungry.”

The dogs were called back into the house and Colleen explained the situation. “Brenda doesn’t want you to see her house because she had to work overtime today and didn’t get a chance to clean.”

“I totally understand. Been there myself.”

“Kind of hard to imagine―you with a messy house. I mean, you were always such a neat-freak.”

“You’re right,” Allie confessed, “about the neat-freak business. But I do understand because I have a son and in his younger days, he was messy.”

“Now multiply that by three, because Brenda’s got two boys in high school.” Colleen grinned. “And she’s got Dave. Biggest kid of all.”

“I heard that,” he called from the living room.

She laughed, unrepentant.

Allie just smiled, trying to get a sense of what her stepsisters’ lives were like now.

“At least it’s not raining,” Colleen muttered as she folded her arms and made impatient little taps with her foot.

Dave came to the door. “Brenda’s changing clothes, ‘cause she found out you both are wearing dresses.”

“For pity sakes!” Colleen exclaimed. “Who cares?”

Her husband shrugged. “Don’t ask me.”

“Dave, I’m Allie Littenberg. I take it you’re Brenda’s husband.”

“Yeah. Nice to meet you.”

“Oh, where are my manners?” Colleen sent Allie an apologetic glance. “I should have introduced you two. I’m sorry.”

“No problem,” Allie said.

Without a word, Dave walked away again.

As if sensing Allie’s bewilderment, Colleen steered her off the porch and toward the street.

“Brenda’s divorcing Dave,” she whispered, “so things are pretty tense between them right now.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

Colleen rolled a shoulder. “I just try to act natural around them and pretend I don’t know what’s going on.”

“Any chance of reconciliation?”

“Not unless you believe in miracles.”

Allie smiled. “I do.”

“No, Allie, I’m talking a real act of God.”

“He moved mountains and parted seas in Moses’ time, and He’s the same God today.”

Colleen shook her head. “We’re talking Brenda and Dave here. Not the movie
The Ten Commandments
.”

Allie continued to smile, knowing her stepsister didn’t understand. But she did. And she could pray.

The screen door opened. Both Allie and Colleen looked back to see Brenda emerge from the house. She still had the same stocky build as Allie recalled, but she offset it by a shoulder-length, feminine hairstyle.

“I thought you were changing clothes,” Colleen called to her.

“I own one dress and I have no idea where it is at the moment.”

Allie took in the younger woman’s black slacks and white blouse over which she’d placed a black and white beaded necklace. “You look just fine.” She smiled. “It’s nice to see you again, Brenda.”

“Notice that she’s a redhead now,” Colleen teased.

After throwing her sister a dubious glance, she stared at Allie. “Well, well, if it’s not
the princess
in all her glory standing on my front walk.”

Allie’s heart plummeted into the pit of her stomach. All day she’d feared that Brenda’s resentment would spoil this evening.

“Oh, come on.” Colleen gave a little laugh. “That was eons ago, Brenda. You weren’t perfect back then either, you know?”

The woman’s stiff glare appeared to soften.

“Brenda, you’re right.” Allie hoped to bridge the gap by admitting her fault. “I was a spoiled little brat who always wanted my own way. But can we put that all behind us?”

“Guess we’ll see what happens.”

“Fair enough.”Allie’s smile grew.

However, Brenda’s frown seemed to intensify.

“Allie, we decided on the Mexican restaurant on Central Avenue,” Colleen told her.

“Lovely.” She disguised the fact she disliked Mexican food. However, she wasn’t about to voice her opinion and have Brenda accuse her of being “the princess” again.

“Should we take my car or would you prefer to follow Brenda and me?”

Allie deliberated the options and decided on taking her own vehicle. “I’ll follow you. That way I can drive back to the hotel from the restaurant.”

“Okay, we’ll see you there.” Colleen looked at her sister. “Come on, Grumpy.”

Brenda growled something inaudible.

Making her way back to the rented car, Allie prayed―and prayed hard. It seemed like a long night ahead, although Colleen proved herself to be a wonderful mediator.

Allie started the car and followed Colleen’s vehicle to the restaurant on Central Avenue. In the parking lot, Allie found a space a few cars away from her stepsister’s. Getting out of the vehicle, she searched her purse for some loose change. Finding it, she put several coins into the parking meter before proceeding up the sidewalk to meet Colleen and Brenda―

Only to see them conversing with Jack.

Oh, great.
As she tensed, Allie reminded herself that on Labor Day, Jack behaved almost cordial to her. Almost.

“Hey, Jack, did you see who’s in town?” Brenda thumbed to Allie from over her broad shoulder. “A blast from the past.”

He glanced at Allie, then nodded at Brenda. “Yeah, I know.” As she neared him, he looked at her again. “Hi, Allie.”

“Good evening, Jack.” Relief coursed through her. The man seemed to be in an amiable mood.

“Saw you on TV the other night.” He placed a parking ticket on the windshield of a nearby car.

“The other night?” Allie went blank.

“On the news. You were standing behind some red-haired guy during a press conference.”

“Oh, of course.” A flash fire sprung into her cheeks. How could she not recall?

“A press conference on TV? Whoo-hoo, how impressive.” Sarcasm oozed from Brenda’s tone.

Jack raised his brows and gave Brenda a curious glance. However, he didn’t remark. Did his animosity match Brenda’s? Or had her stepsister tried to be funny just now?

“So, Jack, want to join us?” Brenda smirked. “We’re going to
La Fiesta
where I plan to have several margaritas.”

“Don’t let me catch you driving home.” He sent Brenda a sharp look.

“Not to worry. Colleen is my DD.”

Allie stared at the tips of her navy pumps and wished she were anywhere else right now. She dreaded the rest of the evening and could only imagine how ugly things might get if Brenda became intoxicated.

“Come on, Jack,” Brenda persisted.

“You’re more than welcome to join us,” Colleen offered, “but you’re probably on duty all night, right?”

“Right.”

“Well, even cops have to eat,” Brenda said.

At his hesitation, Allie felt obligated to concur. She looked at Jack. “If you get a dinner break, please join us.”

His dark gaze momentarily rested on each of the three women, lingering on Allie. At last he grinned. “I’ll think about it, okay? Now, go eat before your meters run out and I have to give you all tickets.”

Brenda put her hands on her straight hips. “Don’t Oakland Park cops have something better to do on Saturday night than give out parking tickets?”

“Guess not.” Jack’s voice held its usual steely edge.

“I think we’ve harassed this poor man enough.” Allie indicated to the restaurant’s overhead sign. “Let’s go eat and…Jack, our offer stands if you change your mind.” Like she need to dine with two antagonists. Still, something inside of Allie hoped he’d take them up on their offer.

She began walking toward the restaurant. Footsteps behind her indicated that Colleen and Brenda followed.

Once inside the colorfully decorated restaurant, they waited nearly ten minutes to be seated. Finally escorted to their table, they slid into its semi-circular padded bench, and the greeter handed them menus. True to her word, Brenda, sitting in the middle, ordered a margarita while Colleen requested a diet cola and Allie, an iced tea.

Studying the menu, Allie searched for something that suited her tastes.

“I know what I’m having.” Brenda slapped her menu down on the table.

“Yeah, I think I know what I want too…oh, look!” Colleen looked beyond Allie’s right shoulder. “Here comes Jack.”

Before Allie could turn to see, he slid onto the bench beside her.

She scooted over, nearer to Brenda.

“I decided to live dangerously.” He lifted the discarded menu. The small radio he wore on his shoulder crackled with sounds of a dispatch. Jack listened, but seemed unimpressed with the call.

He opened the menu and nudged Allie. “Hey, I remember when you couldn’t stand Mexican food.”

He remembered.
Allie didn’t reply. She still disliked it.

Careful to keep her eyes on the menu, Allie tried to distract herself from Jack’s presence beside her.

“This is my favorite restaurant.” Brenda sipped her margarita. “I come here all the time. So when Colleen said Allie was in town and wanted to go out for dinner, I suggested it.”

“Is that so.” Jack cleared his throat.

Allie wanted to dissolve into a fit of laughter. The tension warranted it, and she knew Jack had just guessed that her dislike for Mexican food hadn’t changed in thirty years. With her thumb and forefinger on either side of her mouth, she pursed her lips together to keep from smiling and hoped she looked as though she were deep in thought.

But then she made the mistake of glancing at Jack. Meeting his knowing glance, she laughed aloud.

“What’s so funny?” Colleen shifted her position as the waitress set down their drinks.

“Nothing.”Allie shook her head at her own silly behavior.

“Some things never change,” Jack muttered, looking over the menu. “Like square dancing.”

Allie laughed again, relieved to see her stepsisters weren’t paying her much attention as they gave the tall, willowy waitress their orders.

“They have good steaks here,” Jack murmured.

“Whew, that’s a relief.” Allie continued her girlish giggling.

Jack grinned.

The waitress, whose dark hair was piled haphazardly on top of her head, looked Allie’s way and she ordered. The New York strip, medium-well, and a tossed salad with onions, tomatoes, and green and red peppers.

Jack ordered the restaurant’s “Saturday Night Special,” a variety of Mexican samplings, and a large cola.

Gathering the menus, the waitress left.

“How’s Royce?” Jack asked Colleen.

“Oh, he’s fine. He’s bowling tonight with some guys from work.”

“I understand your baseball team stunk this past year.” Brenda gave Jack a hooded glance.

He shrugged. “You win some, you lose some.”

“Some?” Brenda snickered. “You guys didn’t even win
one
.”

“We’ll do better next year.” Jack reclined in his portion of the booth and Allie got a whiff of the pleasant spicy-woodsy scent he wore.

“Are you and Colleen and Brenda’s husbands all on the same baseball team?” Allie looked at Jack.

“No, just Royce and me.” He eyes roamed over her every feature. “We’re a little community team and we go up against the neighboring suburbs.”

“Sounds like fun.” Allie blushed again. Or maybe it was a hot flash.

“My husband only watches baseball on TV from the couch,” Brenda said. “He’s a regular sofa spud.”

No one replied. The tension mounted once again.

“I’m getting a divorce, Jack. Did you hear?”

“No, I didn’t.” He didn’t ask why, but Brenda explained anyway.

“I don’t love him anymore. In fact, he repulses me as much as his dirty socks. The thrill is definitely gone.”

Brenda finished her margarita and hailed the waitress for another. Allie occupied herself with the lemon floating in her glass of iced tea, thinking of the generational consequences sure to follow Brenda’s decision. It was for that very reason that Allie chose to stay with Erich.

Jack sniffed loudly. “Let’s hear it for ‘for better or worse.’”

Allie gave him a curious glance before looking at Brenda.

“Oh, shut up. Who invited you anyway?” Brenda laughed at her own sarcastic quip.

The waitress brought the second margarita and Jack’s cola.

Colleen changed the subject, ““So, Allie, how long will you be in town?”

“Probably until the end of November.”

“That long, huh?” Brenda quipped.

Allie gave her a curious stare, shocked by her stepsister’s blatant rudeness.

“And you’re a consultant, right?” Colleen continued. “What exactly does that involve, and where are you working?”

“I’m at a long term healthcare facility.” Allie focused on Colleen and her questions. “I’m assisting Lakeland Enterprises, its parent company, in a reorganizational project.”

“From what I saw on the news,” Jack said, “you’ve got your work cut out for you.”