An older woman in a blue dress stopped by to talk with the hostess, giving Rose the opportunity to watch her friend. Ronnie smiled and appeared friendly enough but her body language told a different story. The executive shifted from one foot to another and her eyes darted about as if looking for an escape. Obviously, there was something about this particular person Ronnie did not like. The older woman continued to talk, keeping Ronnie trapped for the moment. Rose decided she liked the way that particular shade of lipstick looked on Ronnie. The discreet slit in the black velvet dress revealed that the tall woman chose to wear a garter and stockings for the evening instead of pantyhose.she thought to herself. Expertly manicured nails tapped the champagne glass in a nameless rhythm as the conversation between Ronnie and the woman in blue dragged on. Looking around the room, Rose could not help but ask herself again why she was here.Rose knew one of the reasons for the large crowd was Ronnie’s presence. She had listened in on enough of the conversations throughout evening to know that.she asked silently.
The woman in blue finally found someone else to talk to and Ronnie was once again standing by Rose’s side. “That’s Agnes, Frank’s wife.”
“And Frank is…” She tried, but there were just too many Cartwrights to remember.
“Cousin, car wash.”
“Oh, right. Is he the one who cheated on his taxes?”
“They probably all do that, but he has it down to an art form.” Ronnie gave her a quizzical look.
“How’d you know that?”
She smiled. “The man with the toupee and the one with the cigar were talking and I heard one of them comment on it.” She gave a sheepish grin. “I was just sitting here and they were right there. I couldn’t miss it.”
“So you’re the one to go to when I want information, huh?”
“I guess it depends on the information,” she replied with a smile.
“Okay,” Ronnie put her hands on the arm of the wheelchair and knelt down so only Rose could hear her. “So, what are they saying about the party? I know what they’ve said to me, but what are they saying to each other?”
Rose’s smile grew even wider. “Everyone is raving about how nice it is, saying it reminds them of parties from years ago. You’re getting lots of compliments.” She did not miss the look of pride that crossed Ronnie’s face.
“So they’re really having a good time?”
“Yes, a fabulous time, actually. I heard more than one person say they wished you would do it every year.”
Ronnie looked around. “You know, it is nice to see the whole family here again. It’s like when Dad was alive.”
Rose put her hand on the older woman’s. “You really miss him, don’t you?” Blue eyes regarded her seriously before she received an almost imperceptible nod.
“He enjoyed these parties.” Ronnie pivoted and looked at the tree. “Christmas was his favorite time. He’d get such a kick out of reminiscing with everyone or seeing the kids opening their presents.” Her face took on a faraway look. “He used to drag out the projector and screen and show the old home movies.” There was a long pause and Rose patted her friend’s hand in silent support. “Yeah, I miss him.” Ronnie stood up, withdrawing her hand from under the smaller one.
“He would have liked this.”
A commotion near the door drew their attention. “Damn.”
Rose watched the transformation before her. Lips pressed tight, eyes narrowed to intimidating slits, jaw muscles clenching…everything about Ronnie’s appearance spoke of being ready for trouble.
Turning her head, Rose saw what had captured her friend’s attention. “Is that Tommy?” At Ronnie’s nod, she studied the man who dared to return after the fiasco the evening before. Good looks ran in the family, she decided, taking in his sandy hair, piercing blue eyes, and athletic body. It was hard for her to reconcile the image before her with the screaming maniac who had flipped over the mahogany coffee table.
“I can’t believe he showed up,” she finally said after a minute.
“It’s an act, you know,” Ronnie said. “Him smiling and being all nice-nice like that. He’s just charming Mother and Susan…and anyone else who is foolish enough to fall for it.”
“What are you going to do?” She could not imagine Ronnie confronting him in front of the whole family at the Christmas party but Rose also could not see her putting up with his presence all night long.
“I guess I’d better get over there and say hello to my brother.” She held her glass out. “Keep an eye on this for me. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
“Ronnie…” she said, taking the crystal. “You okay?”
“Part of being in my position is having to be nice to people I can’t stand. If I don’t get over there, Mother will think that I’m snubbing him.”
Rose watched her walk away, thinking how hard it had to be for Ronnie to be pleasant to her brother after last night’s antics. She said a silent prayer for the evening to go well.
As Ronnie headed toward her siblings, she felt a tugging on her dress. She turned and looked down to see a round face smiling up at her.
“Hi cussin Ronnie.”
“Hi Tyler,” she replied, kneeling down to his level. “How are you? Are you having a good time?”
“Yeah.” He held out a little cookie covered with red sprinkles. “There’s lots of stuff to eat.”
“So you like the cookies, huh?” She reached out and wrapped one long arm around him. “That was very nice of you to give Rose a kiss.” Tyler smiled shyly and put the holiday treat in his mouth.
“Iff you kith the boo-boos, they get better,” he mumbled, spewing cookie crumbs with each syllable.
Ronnie pulled him close and gave him a hug. “I hope so.” She stood up and tousled his hair.
“You’re a good boy, Tyler.” She turned to go but he tugged on the velvet again. “What is it?”
“Do you know where the baffroom is?” He grabbed himself to stress his urgency.
“Yup, come on, you.” She picked him up and quickly moved across the room, not stopping until she was in the office. “In that room.” She pointed at the other door.
While she was waiting to take him back out she noticed the Percocet sitting on the table next to the bed., she thought to herself, snatching the brown plastic bottle. Once Tyler was finished, she sent him back out into the living room and put the prescription on the top shelf of the medicine cabinet, certain it would be well out of reach of any curious little hands up there. That task finished, she stepped into the living room and steeled herself to greet her brother.
“Oh, here comes Ronnie,” Susan said.
“Good. I don’t know where she’s been all this time,” the matriarch said in a disapproving tone.