Diva 04 _ Diva Cooks a Goose, The by Krista Davis

Natasha for diva status.” Laci turned to Jen and said firmly, “Now, young lady, you’re old enough to know you can’t eat all these sweets ...”
    I tuned out her lecture and Hannah nudged me. “Who’s the hunk?”
    I followed her line of sight and guessed she meant a tall young man with a self-assured demeanor. A slight pudginess around his jaw suggested a fondness for good food. Thick eyebrows the color of coffee beans matched his hair. The top corners of his forehead had become prominent, framing his face like a square at the top, but it ended with a prominent and determined chin. The extra pounds softened his appearance, as did the warm brown eyes shaped like almonds. At ease with himself and the world, he chatted with a group of other people in their early thirties, his hands in his trouser pockets pushing back the navy blazer he wore.
    “He’s too young for you.” I said.
    “I’m not too old to admire good looks.”
    Laci returned her attention to us. “You’ll have to fight Shawna for him. That’s Beau, Shawna’s intended and Bonnie’s son. Unless you mean the guy next to him with the shaggy hair. That’s Tyler, whom I personally like much better than Beau. Beau’s a little bit arrogant if you ask me. He, Tyler, and Shawna have been an inseparable threesome since the day she waited on them and spilled an entire bowl of chili on Tyler. Who’d have thought something like that would lead to friendship?”
    Hannah wrinkled her nose. “There’s just something icky about Beau’s mom dating Shawna’s father. Why does that seem so wrong? Eww .”
    I had to agree. I didn’t quite understand how Bonnie could throw a party for Shawna and Beau, even using the excuse of Boxing Day, and show up with Phil. Didn’t she realize how upsetting it would be for Shawna and her family? I glanced around for Marnie and spotted her outside in the cold without a coat, standing on the shoveled walk in the middle of a dead winter garden blanketed with snow. Even from a distance, her makeup looked perfect, but she couldn’t conceal her bloodshot eyes. She gazed inside, her mouth grim.
    I supposed she’d had no choice about coming. After all, Shawna expected to be making the big announcement about her engagement. Which made it all the more cruel. Couldn’t Bonnie have waited a week before revealing her new relationship with Marnie’s husband?
    Shawna appeared to be taking the situation in stride. She placed a package on a table, which caused me to wonder if we were supposed to bring gifts. White snowflakes dotted the red gift wrap. A wide red ribbon with a white border circled the package and a felt snowman, which appeared to be handmade, hung from the ribbon. I had no idea Shawna was so adept at crafting.
    A hand on my arm distracted me. Bonnie, dressed head to toe in a winter white knit dress adorned with sparkling silvery bugle beads, held out her arms and kissed the air next to my ear. “I’m so glad you could come. I just know we’ll do great things together. Don’t you adore my sugarplum decor?”
    Sugarplum? I wasn’t completely sure what a sugarplum was, but I had a feeling it wasn’t candy canes or ribbon candy. “When did you find time to do it?”
    “Phil and I came over early this morning with my assistant, Tyler.” She glanced around. “Have you met my son, the lawyer? He’s here somewhere. Why don’t you drop around my place this evening for cocktails? Around six, maybe? We can put our heads together about the organizing videos. I have some great ideas.”
    My parents chose that moment to join us and gush about Bonnie’s candy theme. Bonnie beamed. “I love throwing parties. I hope Sophie will bring you to my Auld Lang Syne Auction.”
    “An auction? Is it in Old Town?” asked Mom. “Sophie didn’t mention a thing!”
    My father had momentarily forgotten all about the sweets and listened in. The only people I knew who liked auctions more than me were my parents.
    Bonnie was in her element