All In The Game (Dearly Beloved) Read online

  “That’s Sid for you. He always does that with me when I’m driving. Waits until I’m out of the driveway, same thing about pulling in. He says he likes to live dangerously.”

  Nostrils flared, Amanda huffed, “More like living stupid. Rita usually makes a huge issue out of it. On the other hand, I do believe they think we were giving them the big rush to get out of the house so we could be alone.”

  He slid an arm around her waist as they walked back into the house. “Why? Just because we escorted them to the car and watched until they turned the corner?”

  “Something like that,” she said and quickly slipped out of his embrace.

  After Amanda got something for them to drink she joined Keith in her office. He was hard at work on the computer and motioned for her to take a seat on the chair he had drawn up next to him.

  She set the glass on the side of the desk and remained standing. “Your friend, Sid, is a real piece of work. He was downright rude tonight.”

  He picked up her tone of voice as she pushed the chair away from him before taking a seat. He tugged on his ear. “Rita didn’t do too badly either.”

  Amanda placed her hand over her breast, widened her eyes and bristled, “What do you mean? She never would’ve embarrassed me in mixed company.”

  “You gotta be kidding me, babe. She was the ringleader out there this evening.” When he went to lay his hand on her arm she pushed it away.

  “Don’t babe me.” She jumped up and backed away from him. Through clenched teeth she hissed, “She never would’ve brought up the subject of sleeping habits if your friend hadn’t egged her on.”

  Keith remained seated. This was a side of Amanda he’d never seen. Based on his legal experience, he knew one of them had to stay calm when addressing the issue of their friends or they would both end up losers. “Aw come on, I think you’re giving Sid too much credit. From the silly expression on Rita’s face she was enjoying every minute.” He turned back to the computer screen. “There are a lot of good deals here for cruises. What do you think?”

  She crossed her arms over her chest. The sudden intake of breath was audible. “I don’t think I want to go. In fact, I think we should call a halt to all the plans.”

  “What’s gotten into you tonight?” Brow furrowed, he shook his head. “I admit those two are something else. I’m sorry they upset you, but don’t you think you’re overreacting just a tad?”

  “No I don’t. Call me a prude, but...”

  Holding her gaze he tried to take her hand but she pulled away. Smiling to reassure her, he said, “I would never do that.”

  “Sid probably thinks I am and I really don’t give a damn. I will not stand for prying eyes in my bedroom.”

  So that was the problem. “Maybe I should have asked someone else to be my best man.”

  Shoulders squared and chin jutted she said, “Maybe you should have asked someone else to marry you. Right now I want you to leave. We should’ve waited but you were in such a rush—”

  “I think you’re making a big deal over nothing. I admit their questions threw us for a loop. They could’ve used better judgment and not invaded our personal territory.”

  “Right. Instead of saying something to Sid immediately you simply sat there, smiled and played along,” she said in a tone just short of a shout.

  “What did you want me to do? Punch him in the nose?”

  “That would’ve been a start,” she said, then burst out crying.

  Keith stared at her. “I’m going to leave before I say something I’ll regret.” He got up and headed for the door.

  “You do that,” she bawled to his back and grabbed a tissue.

  ****

  Rita drove in complete silence for several minutes before she asked, “Are you going to tell me where you live or is it a secret?”

  “Oops, forgot you don’t know.” He rattled off an address. “Are you familiar with the area?”

  “Of course, I’ve lived in Calusa all of my life. What about you?”

  “Moved here about twenty-five years ago. Say, are you in a hurry to get home?”

  She gave a noncommittal shrug.

  “What do you say we stop by The Captains Net and have a drink? We can talk about their big day?”

  “Fine with me as long as you don’t mind my sticking to club soda. I don’t drink and drive.”

  “I noticed that you only had one glass of wine when we were out on the lanai.”

  “You’re more observant than I thought,” she said. “Before we get there I want some ground rules.”

  “Like what?”

  “Like no hitting on me and no getting sloppy drunk. If you do drink too much, I’ll call Amanda and have her send Keith to come get you.”

  “No problem there,” he said. “Drinking too much has never been a problem for me. I know my limit. Besides I think that’s his SUV not too far behind us.”

  Rita glanced in the rear view mirror. “I thought they were making honeymoon plans.”

  She pulled into the parking lot on the bar side of the restaurant. Keith drew up beside them.

  “What are you doing here?” Rita asked as she got out of the car.

  “You two really started something with that stunt you pulled tonight,” Keith spat. “What in the hell ever prompted you to do that? And don’t give me that damn stupid ‘we were bored’ reason.”

  Rita and Sid exchanged glances. Sid spoke first. “Come join us.”

  The bartender waved to Rita as she came through the door. The waitress walked over and gave her a hug before leading them to a booth.

  Sid slid into the padded seat across from her; Keith sat next to him. “I guess you know everybody in town as well as how to get around town. How come I’ve never seen you in here on a Friday night?” Sid asked.

  “Because I don’t come here on Friday nights.”

  He cocked a questioning eyebrow, and waited for her response.

  “I told you I was raised here,” she said. “Sam, the bartender went to school with my brother and I went to high school with Tess, our server. Satisfied?”

  “Just making conversation,” he said as Tess came to the booth to take their order.

  After their drinks came Sid turned to Keith, who had been uncharacteristically quiet. He was playing with an empty coaster, spinning it on its edge. “So we created a bit of a stir tonight with that little question and answer session.”

  Keith took a sip of beer. “That’s the understatement of the century.”

  Sid grinned. “Don’t worry, buddy, Amanda will get over it.”

  Rita piped in, “We shouldn’t have done it.”

  Keith leaned on the table. “That’s easy for you to say now. After you left, Amanda informed me that getting married was not such a good idea.”

  Rita’s eyes got as big as saucers. “Oh man, maybe we did cross the line.”

  Keith nodded. “No maybe about it.”

  Sid pulled a face. “Too late now. I’m sure she thinks I’m a prying smart ass and she’d be right. Guess what bothers me is the fact that you want to get married in the first place.”

  Rita held up a finger to stop Sid from saying anything further. She reached across the table and held onto Keith’s wrist. “Amanda knows I’m a smart ass and ask a lot of personal questions that she doesn’t want to answer.”

  “Then you should’ve asked them when you were in private,” Keith barked. “As for getting married, some of us want to make it all legal. As long as we’re being up front with each other, Sid, Amanda and I enjoy each other’s company. She’s a nester; I happen to like that.”

  “I’m glad for you,” Sid said and raised his right hand. “Honest I am, but I have to wonder if I’m going to lose my golf and biking buddy.” He glanced at Rita. “We play twice a week.”

  Before Keith could answer, Rita did, “I love to play golf. If he and Amanda are busy doing something together and Keith can’t make your regular date, give me a call.”

  Keith start
ed to answer but Sid cut him off. He leaned back against the booth with a surprised look on his face. “You golf?”

  “Regularly. I also play a mean game of tennis.”

  “What else do you like to do?”

  Elbows resting on the table, she leaned forward. “Are you taking inventory on my likes and dislikes?”

  “Could be. I mean since our best friends are going to be doing things together we could fill in the time we usually spent with them.”

  “Hey, I’m sitting right here and as of an hour ago there is no ‘them’,” Keith grumbled.

  Rita ignored him and concentrated on Sid, who all of a sudden wasn’t looking so...unattractive, even if his hairline was receding. “Ah ha! You are hitting on me.”

  “Not really. Let’s just say we’re—actually, I don’t know what in the hell I’m trying to say.”

  Rita drilled him with a look. “Try.”

  After a moment, he said, “Okay. Let’s say you and I are getting to know each other better. That we can make sure our friends have a stress-free wedding and a good first year of marital bliss.”

  Rita burst out laughing. “I’ve heard b.s. artists in the past but I do think you are the king.”

  He put his had over his heart and rolled his dark brown eyes. “I’m truly hurt by that comment.”

  “Be serious, both of you,” Keith ordered. “This is the rest of my life you’re joking about.”

  Rita nodded several times as if thinking her thoughts through. “Maybe we should give it a try, Sid. To make up for the muddle we left them in tonight.”

  He raised his glass of beer in toast to her. “I’ll drink to that.”

  “When do you suggest we might make up a big dish of humble pie and go see Amanda?” Sid asked.

  “I know her best,” Rita said, tapping her chin with her index finger. “Let her cool off overnight and we’ll go see her tomorrow afternoon.”

  “This better work,” Keith said.

  Rita nodded. “You need to learn that Amanda’s temper is like phosphorus...it burns out quickly.” She snapped her fingers to demonstrate the quickness.

  Chapter 6

  Keith paced the floor into the wee hours of Sunday morning. He saw Amanda at the early church service and she didn’t look any better than he felt. He made an effort to talk to her but she slipped out a side door before he could get to her.

  It was the coldness of her anger that knocked his socks off. She was like an ice maiden except for the one time her voice raised up a few decibels. He would’ve felt better if she ranted and raved, picked something up and thrown it.

  No, that wasn’t true. He’d have felt better if the whole incident had never happened. One thing for damn sure he was not going to let this fester and become a weeping wound. He loved her and had to make her understand that.

  He went by Rita’s place and picked her up before heading off to get Sid. There was no way he was going to linger around the corner from Amanda’s and wait for them so they could all pull up in the driveway together.

  When Rita got in the car she carried what looked like a pie in a clear tote container. She set the dish on the floor of the car then buckled her seatbelt.

  “What’s that?” Keith asked.

  “It’s my world famous humble pie.”

  “What? I thought we were using a metaphor when I said that.”

  “No way, big guy. It’s a peach pie. My favorite.”

  Keith shot her a perplexed look. “Why your favorite? Shouldn’t it be Amanda’s?”

  “No, because, if I have to eat humble pie it might as well be in a flavor I really like. Don’t get all upset, Amanda likes my pies...all of them, although her favorite is apple. Trust me, nothing puts her in a good frame of mind like a piece of my pie, no matter the flavor.”

  “Oh, God, I hope so. We’re supposed to start counseling tomorrow night.”

  “That should be interesting. At least you have something to talk about. Let’s get Sid. The sooner we get this over with the sooner you’ll be back on track.”

  They saw Sid pacing his sidewalk when they turned the corner of his apartment complex. “He’s acting like I feel,” Keith said.

  “Like we all feel,” Rita corrected.

  There was utter silence on the drive over to Amanda’s place. Keith pulled up in front of her house. It was such a peaceful place...palm trees swaying in the breeze...bright hibiscus plants along the front window...a pastel floral wreath on the door with a burned wood plaque on the bottom that said Welcome.

  Would they be welcomed? He felt more like they were about to walk into a full-fledged hurricane complete with spawned tornadoes.

  They walked up to the door. Keith was about to knock when the door swung open.

  “What are you doing here?” Amanda asked.

  It was obvious that the woman had been crying. Her eyes were puffy and red rimmed. Maybe Keith had worried for nothing. Perhaps after Amanda thought it over the storm had passed. He could only hope.

  Rita held out the container. “We came to talk...and eat humble pie.”

  Still not smiling, Amanda opened the door wider and invited them in.

  Rita headed for the kitchen, calling over her shoulder. “I’m going to make a fresh pot of coffee. I’d suggest wine but I don’t think it goes well with pie.”

  For the first time Keith noted a tiny smile playing at the corner of Amanda’s mouth. “Oh, babe, I should’ve realized you were getting upset and refused to become part of their game.”

  Amanda nodded in agreement. “That’s true, but I guess shouldn’t have overreacted. Let’s sit down.”

  While she sat on the loveseat, the men went to the couch across from her.

  Rita came back into the living room carrying four glasses and bottle of red wine. “I changed my mind. I know this doesn’t go with pie but I figured what the hell, we could all use a glass. Don’t you dare make a face and say you don’t like wine, Sid, sip it anyway.”

  Grinning, he gave her a quick salute. “Yes, ma’am.”

  Rita sat on the loveseat next to her friend. “Okay, I’ll start. I should have known better because I’ve known you longer than the two gents sitting over there. I know how you feel about sexual innuendo...it makes you very uncomfortable. It always has, especially in mixed company. That being said I also firmly believe that there needs to a case of pre-wedding jitters factored into the equation. Am I right?”

  Amanda let out a long sigh. “Possibly. Before anybody says another word let me have my say. I was thrown off-guard and yes I was uncomfortable. I might have been able to handle it Rita if I hadn’t had a quick glance at a couple of the questions you didn’t ask.”

  “Guess it didn’t help that I’m an outsider,” Sid offered.

  Amanda winced. “Can we just say you’re someone I don’t know very well yet, but I’m sure I will? After all you are Keith’s friend. There’s not a doubt in my mind that we will be friends in the future...as long as you know how I feel about questions regarding the intimate side of our life.”

  “I read you loud and clear,” he said. “Please accept my apology and I give you permission to give me a swift kick in the...shins if I ever cross the line again.”

  “So noted,” Amanda said.

  Keith smiled to himself. The knot in his gut started to relax. He stood. “Rita why don’t you come over here and let me sit next to my sweetheart?”

  When the change was made Keith took Amanda’s hand and locked fingers. He was thrilled to see that she hadn’t removed the engagement ring he had given her. He lifted her hand and kissed it before bringing it close to his heart.

  Looking at Sid and Rita he said, “You know at this time it may not be mushy love, being exhibitionists and swapping spit like the younger folks do in public, but there’s something to be said for the simple act of holding hands. The act of being close, the simple act of sharing a meal, working in the yard together...”

  Sid held up his hand. “We get the picture, don’t we, Rita
?”

  “We do, so don’t belabor the point, Keith. Hate to admit it but the way you’re waxing on I’m beginning to envy you.”

  “Good,” Keith and Amanda said in unison.

  “Now that we’re back on track, babe, one comment Rita made on the way over certainly is true.”

  “What was that?” Amanda asked, eying her friend with suspicion.

  “At least we have a topic to discuss with Rev. Moore tomorrow night.”

  Chapter 7

  Here it was—the day before the wedding and the craziness going on in the house would have to improve in order to rise to the level of bedlam. The day had started out fine but slowly disintegrated. Amanda kept her fingers crossed that nothing else would go wrong. She only had one more day until the wedding.

  The bridal shop called and said that their delivery person was out sick and would she mind picking up her dress but when she got there it still wasn’t ready. Mrs. Silverman promised to have it to the house by six o’clock this evening. The silk flowers that were delivered were not the ones she ordered and it was too late to change. She had wanted white roses and baby’s breath. What arrived were white gardenias and a lot of green leaves. She just hoped the yellow-green shade of the leaves didn’t clash with her blue dress. Rita’s bouquet was perfect.

  When she went to the restaurant to check on the cake Amanda found that it was not the three tiered pound cake with traditional white frosting that she had ordered but chocolate cake with chocolate roses. At least most of the frosting was white. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw a time-honored bride and groom topper sitting on the top tier. The bakery apologized and gave it to her half-price but that didn’t change the fact that it was not what she wanted.

  Logistics went out the window when her son’s plane came in two hours late. Adam and Sarah were upset because of the delay, which in turn upset the kids. Five-year-old Cindy was whiny because she lost her doll in the airport before they got on the plane. Her older brother, Ted, being a normal eight year old, was rolling with the situation by making fun of his sister, calling her a crybaby and poking her.