hour go by without knowing each other’s every move and thought. I really don’t get it, because I never want to be that accessible.”
“I’ll have to tell John the police are missin ’ a good bet,” said Margo. “They don’t need a detective squad to find out what’s goin ’ on these days. All they need is a couple of teenagers with smartphones . Anybody make any New Year’s resolutions, by the way?”
“Two I said without hesitation. “First, I’m going to lose these eight pounds or die trying, not that Strutter has been any help on that score tonight, and second, I will never, ever attend …”
“ … another reunion,” they all chorused, and on that note we made our way into the new year.
Despite the dramatic conclusion of 2012, I had high hopes for the coming year and was filled with determination on our ride home to get off to a good start. My enthusiasm lasted all the way from the Putnams ’ house on Ridge Road to John and Margo’s sleek ranch in Wells Quarter, where we waited until our friend was safely inside. At last we drove to our own oversized Cape at The Birches condominium community and found Joanie Haines waiting for us in her car parked in the driveway.
Five
“This can’t be good,” I groaned but climbed out of the Jetta to tap on the window of Joanie’s Honda sedan. I’d recognized her pile of red hair, crushed up against the driver’s side window. In light of recent events, I felt apprehensive until I saw her stir. I guessed she’d fallen asleep waiting for us. “Joanie? It’s Kate.” I tapped again a bit more forcefully.
She startled awake and cringed away from the window until her sleep-fogged eyes registered my face. Armando pulled our car into the garage and came to join us, although his reluctance was evident in every step.
“It’s okay,” I told him, nodding at our uninvited guest. “It’s Joanie, Mindy’s and Ariel’s friend from the other night.”
“Ah,” he said enigmatically.
Joanie pulled herself together and fumbled her way out of the car. She’d almost made it when one of her high heels struck the frame, and she stumbled. Armando caught her before she sprawled on the driveway, and she winked boozily at him.
“Thanks, handsome. Now where did I put that pesky purse?” She stuck her head back inside the car and groped along the seats.
Armando looked at me with resignation. “It would appear that your friend has enjoyed a bit too much of the holiday spirits once again.”
“It was Ariel who was tipsy Saturday night, the one who called me fat. This is the other one. She’s hardly my friend, but it is New Year’s Eve—or Day, I guess I should say at this point.”
“Got it!” Joanie reappeared, waving the errant evening purse triumphantly, and promptly slammed her designer cape in the car door. “ Ooops !” She stood, tugging at it in vain until I pulled open the door. “Thanks, Katie. I had a little too much vodka while I waited for you.” She produced a flask from her pocket and held it upside down. “ Allll gone,” she slurred sadly.
“Uh huh, it sure is,” I agreed while I apologized to Armando with my eyes. Together we got Joanie turned around and headed into the garage and up the stairs leading to the kitchen entrance. To my amazement she navigated the eight steps with ease and was soon ensconced on our sofa, blinking at an untouched cup of Armando’s excellent coffee. I’d had enough at Strutter’s house to keep me awake until Friday, but despite the hour Armando had risen to the occasion and brewed a medicinal mugful for Joanie.
“So what brings you here?” I asked casually, as if it were not after one o’clock in the morning. “Come to think of it, how did you know where to find me?”
“Business card you gave me Saturday night,” she said. “Didn’t have your home address on it, but it listed your home telephone number, and thanks to a little app called reverse look-up, voila!” She flipped
“I’ll have to tell John the police are missin ’ a good bet,” said Margo. “They don’t need a detective squad to find out what’s goin ’ on these days. All they need is a couple of teenagers with smartphones . Anybody make any New Year’s resolutions, by the way?”
“Two I said without hesitation. “First, I’m going to lose these eight pounds or die trying, not that Strutter has been any help on that score tonight, and second, I will never, ever attend …”
“ … another reunion,” they all chorused, and on that note we made our way into the new year.
Despite the dramatic conclusion of 2012, I had high hopes for the coming year and was filled with determination on our ride home to get off to a good start. My enthusiasm lasted all the way from the Putnams ’ house on Ridge Road to John and Margo’s sleek ranch in Wells Quarter, where we waited until our friend was safely inside. At last we drove to our own oversized Cape at The Birches condominium community and found Joanie Haines waiting for us in her car parked in the driveway.
Five
“This can’t be good,” I groaned but climbed out of the Jetta to tap on the window of Joanie’s Honda sedan. I’d recognized her pile of red hair, crushed up against the driver’s side window. In light of recent events, I felt apprehensive until I saw her stir. I guessed she’d fallen asleep waiting for us. “Joanie? It’s Kate.” I tapped again a bit more forcefully.
She startled awake and cringed away from the window until her sleep-fogged eyes registered my face. Armando pulled our car into the garage and came to join us, although his reluctance was evident in every step.
“It’s okay,” I told him, nodding at our uninvited guest. “It’s Joanie, Mindy’s and Ariel’s friend from the other night.”
“Ah,” he said enigmatically.
Joanie pulled herself together and fumbled her way out of the car. She’d almost made it when one of her high heels struck the frame, and she stumbled. Armando caught her before she sprawled on the driveway, and she winked boozily at him.
“Thanks, handsome. Now where did I put that pesky purse?” She stuck her head back inside the car and groped along the seats.
Armando looked at me with resignation. “It would appear that your friend has enjoyed a bit too much of the holiday spirits once again.”
“It was Ariel who was tipsy Saturday night, the one who called me fat. This is the other one. She’s hardly my friend, but it is New Year’s Eve—or Day, I guess I should say at this point.”
“Got it!” Joanie reappeared, waving the errant evening purse triumphantly, and promptly slammed her designer cape in the car door. “ Ooops !” She stood, tugging at it in vain until I pulled open the door. “Thanks, Katie. I had a little too much vodka while I waited for you.” She produced a flask from her pocket and held it upside down. “ Allll gone,” she slurred sadly.
“Uh huh, it sure is,” I agreed while I apologized to Armando with my eyes. Together we got Joanie turned around and headed into the garage and up the stairs leading to the kitchen entrance. To my amazement she navigated the eight steps with ease and was soon ensconced on our sofa, blinking at an untouched cup of Armando’s excellent coffee. I’d had enough at Strutter’s house to keep me awake until Friday, but despite the hour Armando had risen to the occasion and brewed a medicinal mugful for Joanie.
“So what brings you here?” I asked casually, as if it were not after one o’clock in the morning. “Come to think of it, how did you know where to find me?”
“Business card you gave me Saturday night,” she said. “Didn’t have your home address on it, but it listed your home telephone number, and thanks to a little app called reverse look-up, voila!” She flipped
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