Macy pushed away the worry that tried to disrupt her monthly visit home. The kitchen in her mother’s house hadn’t changed much since Macy was a preteen. The cabinets were chipped. The door to the spice cabinet hung lopsided on its hinges. It wasn’t state-of-the-art, but last year the purchase of a new stainless-steel refrigerator with ice and water in the door was an upgrade.
Her mother pulled oatmeal-raisin cookies from the oven and left them cooling on top of the stove before she sat at the table across from Macy. “Aren’t you going to eat a cookie? I made your favorites.” She pushed a teetering plate of cookies toward Macy.
“You always make too many.” Macy reached for one. “I shouldn’t. I’m going to a work thing tonight and I don’t want to look bloated in my dress.” She took a small bite. “Has Brian applied for any scholarships like we talked about?”
“He did. You know your brother. I’m sure of at least three and he promised to look for more. He’s so sure he’s going to get to play ball at Maryland, it’s hard to keep him focused.”
Macy shook her head. “Was I that hard-headed when I was his age?”
Her mother’s face broke into a smile that made her eyes sparkle. “You were too serious. About everything. My children are extremely opposite. I think you missed most of your childhood because you worried about your grades and your friends and world peace.”
“Well, I didn’t have much choice, did I?”
Her mother placed a hand over Macy’s. “We were fine.”
“Yeah.” Macy nodded. “I know. We had each other, didn’t we?” She mocked her mother’s voice.
“Well, it was true.”
Macy took another bite from her cookie. Somewhere between the time her father had left and now, Macy had become the default head-of-the family. Her mother was so consumed with sadness back then, that Macy assumed the role of cleaning the house, making sure her brother showered and cleaned behind his ears. She was ready to hand the part back to her mother. “Do you ever think about Dad?”
“Not in the way that you mean. I look at you or Brian, and I see some parts of him reflected in you both, and I feel sorry for the stuff he missed. He was trying to hurt me, but he was too stupid to see how he hurt his children too.” She shook her head. “I don’t have the bitterness anymore. I had to let that go and raise my babies.”
Macy placed the remaining part of the cookie on the napkin. She tapped the blue vinyl cover of her checkbook. “We need to talk about expenses. I can’t stay too long.”
Macy’s mother picked up a cookie. “We’re good this month.”
“What about the hot water heater? I thought it was on the fritz. And how did you cover Brian’s college applications?”
“I think the hot water heater will last through the end of the year. But, the applications…”
“I’m going to write you a check for five hundred dollars.”
“You don’t have to, baby.” Her mother stood. At the stove, she moved the cookies from the cookie sheet onto the wire rack.
“Mom, you know I don’t mind helping. Take the check. Just in case.”
“Just in case, what?”
“For emergencies. I will be traveling soon, and something might come up. This way you’ll have a little extra. How about that?”
Her mother turned to face Macy. “Okay. Now finish that cookie. I’ll pack up some for you to take to Gayle.”
Macy wrote out the check, then entered the amount in the ledger. There wasn’t anything left for frivolous purchases this month.
After a quick shower, Macy pulled the dress from the closet. She’d found the dress while wading through the racks at a discount store. It had been marked down twice, and with her coupon, she felt like a lottery winner. She slipped on a pair of black pumps before examining herself in the full length, bathroom mirror. The fifty dollars she’d spent for the black knock-off Versace was worth the money. It was a sleeveless, with a v-back and the silky fabric hugged her slender frame and accentuated her full breasts. A leather belt cinched her small waist. The dress made her feel like a supermodel.
Tonight, she was going to have fun, if she remembered how.
The words from today’s horoscope stared up from her phone.
Your day will be anything but ordinary. Today’s celestial energy indicates you might not find love, but you’ll find excitement and you’ll go back for more. Be careful when dealing with those you don’t fully trust.
There was enough excitement in her life, and none of it made her beam. Instead, it knotted her stomach and left her uncertain. She was entitled to stop worrying about work and her brother’s college funds and enjoy herself for a few hours.
She twirled around in front of the mirror several times before applying lip-gloss and coiling her hair into a loose knot. After a final glance in the mirror, she found Gayle waiting in the kitchen.
“Aren’t you glad you decided to keep that dress?”
“I am for now, but when the credit card statement comes, I might not be happy. I could have used the money spent on this to help pay one of Brian’s college applications.” She ran her hand along the soft fabric.
“No. You need to put yourself in front of your brother sometimes.”
“Yeah, that’s easy for you since your family is very supportive. Every time you ask them for something, they deliver. I’m the one who does that for my family.”
Gayle’s jaw tensed, and she looked away, hurt.
“I didn’t mean it in a bad way, Gayle. It’s just that as an only child you’re used to getting everything you want and your parents have plenty to give you. My family is nothing like yours.”
Gayle jumped up from the stool. “No worries. Ready to go?” She never stayed angry for long. She grabbed Macy by the arm and pulled her to the door, then handed Macy her cell phone. “Take my picture before we leave. I’m posting lots of pictures tonight on all my social media accounts, so my ex can see what he’s missing.”
Thirty minutes later, the taxi pulled behind several cars dropping off women at the double wide entrance doors. Music from inside the club pulsated through the air. A line of fashionably dressed people waited to get inside.
Macy’s heart quickened as she and Gayle made their way to the VIP line. With any luck, she could put in her appearance, avoid Avery, and claim an evening of fun before crawling back into her comfortable bed and starting her regular grind again. She squared her shoulders and sucked down a big breath.
“My name is on the list, so we don’t have to wait in line.” Macy waved for Gayle to follow her.
“Wow, this night just keeps getting better. A special invitation, no waiting in line. How could you even think about missing this?”
“I hope this makes up for me bailing on you the other night,” said Macy.
“Oh, it does. It does.” Gayle walked ahead of her into the club.
Lights flashed and the sound of camera shutters opening and closing saturated the air. Macy shielded her eyes from the blinding lights.
“I feel like a celebrity.” Gayle struck a super-model pose for the photographers. “Come on, Macy give them what they want. We might be in the paper tomorrow.”
“Oh, wouldn’t that be great. The tabloids can write a fascinating article about how an unknown woman showed up in a fake designer dress.” She nudged Gayle forward.
The bouncer scanned his list and struck Macy’s name off before he opened the chain gate and allowed them to enter. The colored lighting in the club was dim and moved around them slowly. Music blared, making it difficult to have a conversation. Along the edges of the dance floor, a few dancers waited for an opening in the crowd before inching onto the parquet floor. Gayle bobbed her head to the beat of the music.
The huge place was packed with hundreds of people milling about. “Wow, this is a huge turnout, considering it’s corporate sponsorship night.” She shouted at Gayle, who was already wiggling her hips to the music.
Each level had a balcony overlooking the first floor. Chrome and glass adorned the bar that stretched the full length of the back wall. Ornate liquor and wine bottles illuminated by track lights glistened in the back of the first-floor room. The crowd surrounding the bar waiting for drink orders was thick, but they seemed patient. The women wore stylish dresses that didn’t look like they were bought as a discount store, and they wore heels too high to be comfortable. The men in their dark suits and creased slacks stood around in clusters, as if they were surveying the terrain for action later in the evening.
Macy scanned the room. “I don’t think there are any empty tables. Maybe one will open later.” She spoke loud into Gayle’s ear.
“Who wants to sit down? We didn’t come here to be wallflowers.”
They waited their turn at the crowded bar. When they finally stepped away with their martinis, new, thirsty patrons filled their space.
Macy surveyed the cramped club in search of Avery. With his height, he should be easy to spot. She needed to find him, so he could report that she had shown up. “That jerk.” She mumbled.