When Jessie came out to the terrace, she found Frank standing at the table under the beach umbrella, loading a plate with wedges of cheese, ham, and melon.
“I just realized,” he said, “I haven’t eaten all day.”
“Me neither.” But she had no appetite. Just looking at the picked-over rainbow of food was enough to fill her.
“Your brother didn’t seem very happy to see us.”
“Who knows what the fuck Caleb wants anymore?”
Frank gave her a forlorn, miffed, knowing look. “What did you hope to prove by bringing everyone down here?”
“I wasn’t out to prove anything. I just wanted to have fun. I thought it’d be fun. Can’t anybody have fun anymore? The rest of you people are so damned serious.”
“Uh, Jessica?” It was Kenneth Prager. “Have you seen Mr. Lewse? He told me to meet him out here to finish the interview.”
Jessie peered through the French doors, then up and down the terrace, looking for Henry, but also for her brother. Not that Caleb would be freaked to find Prager here. He’d probably find that funny. And if he didn’t, screw him.
“Sorry, Kenneth. Don’t know. Did you check the john?”
“I was just there myself.” He sounded indignant that she hadn’t kept track of his whereabouts. “I’ll check inside again,” he said with a grave sigh. “And then I’m going home.”
Frank watched him depart. “It wasn’t just fun,” he told Jessie. “You brought us here to make a big ruckus and get attention.”
“That’s a good one,” she said. “A real ripsnorter. Caleb says I did it to put him in his place. To prove his life is as shitty as mine.”
“But you have a good life. Both of you have good lives. Although that won’t mean much coming from me, the loser.”
“You’re never going to let me forget I said that, will you?”
“No. Because it hurts each time I remember it. But especially now when you’re working for a big winner.”
“Look. Henry’s the winner. I’m still a loser.”
He studied her a moment, then shook his head. “Excuse me. I got to go get something to drink. To wash down this crap.” He lifted his overloaded plate to show that he was being literal as well as metaphorical, and went back inside.
Jesus, thought Jessie. When did tonight suddenly become Shit on Jessica Night? And she hadn’t even talked with Mom yet.
There was a commotion inside as more guests arrived, which was a surprise at this hour. But it was the 2B cast—Allegra, Dwight, Chris, and Melissa—who had come downtown by subway. Allegra came out on the terrace with Dwight, still yammering about the play.
“Whatever happens was meant to happen,” she was saying. “I fell in love with Chris not because I’m queer but because I needed to fight with Boaz. Because once Boaz walked and Frank took over, the play began to work. Hey, Jess! Nice party. Where’s Henry? I need to ask Henry if he could add just one more tiny thing to his quote.”
Caleb appeared behind Allegra, waiting to ask Jessie something.
Then a new disturbance indoors made everyone turn around and look.