A Good Time Was Had By All

Chapter 3

Lorna was in her element.

A natural-born organizer, she loved to watch others scurry around, carrying out her carefully planned orders. The Applettes had wisely looked to her for guidance in planning their annual fundraiser. In return, she'd planned an unprecedented affair that would blow the socks off the town and raise a whopping amount of cash. At least that was what she hoped happened.

Crossing out another item on her list, she leaned against some backstage scenery. Yep, life could be good, even in little ol’ Apple Creek. If only she had someone to share it with.

"Hey Steph!" One of the younger Applettes stopped in her tracks. "Tell the sound guy to turn the music down to a dull throb. We don’t want anyone losing their hearing before we take their money."

"Will do."

Lorna checked her watch. Only little more than two hours to show time. Her stomach clenched in anticipation. This night would go down in the books as the charity event to end all charity events.

"Lorna. Lorna!" Rosalee, her Applette liaison and right hand ‘man’, magically appeared at her side, a worried expression plastered on her face. Uh-oh.

"We have a problem don’t we? Say no so my night is not ruined. Say no, say no, please say no."

"Item twenty-eight? Umm, it’s not here. Yet." Rosalee’s hands were going to fall off if she twisted them much more.

Lorna exhaled slowly as she counted to twenty. Ten just wouldn’t do. "Item twenty-eight," she repeated. Their big crowd-pleaser. Their guaranteed ace in the hole. "Okay, so our big draw isn’t here. What about…"

"All the others are accounted for. But the last one…"

"…is on all the posters and flyers and commercials. I was depending on it to come through for you guys." Lorna felt sweat beads pop out on her forehead.

"What are we going to do? They’re going to be so disappointed."

"Not panic for starters," Lorna said, wishing she could believe her own words. "We still have time, right?"

"Yeah, but item twenty-eight…"

Before Rosalee could wring her hands yet again, Lorna made her decision. "Here," she shoved her clipboard at the woman. "Take care of everything. I’ll be back with a suitable replacement in two shakes."

Rosalee’s eyes bugged out rather comically Lorna thought. "I can’t…I’ve never…Don’t leave me!" she wailed.

"Just stand around and look like you know what you’re doing. I’m going to save my hide and your charity."

Lorna ran from the building, hoping her salvation was in an agreeable mood.

*(*

It was the nicest part of the day. The sun was setting and the stars were about to come out and play. Carl snuggled his daughter closer to his side. Tonight they would lie under the heavens and he would teach her all about that which stretched out above them. She would ask outrageous questions and he would attempt to answer. Since Norie’s introduction into his life he’d discovered how much he enjoyed the give and take of their little one-on-one sessions. They were downright addictive.

"Daddy." Norie’s sleepy voice broke the silence.

"Yes little one?"

"Guess what I saw today."

Carl chuckled. With his little lass’ imagination, it could be anything from a purple cow to a leprechaun. "I haven’t the faintest idea sweetheart. Why don’t you tell me."

"Daddy! Guess!"

"Oh alright. Let’s see," he paused, "a rhinoceros in a tutu playing the flute on the back of a horse."

No outraged cries from his little dear split the night. Instead she merely said, in her young matter-of-fact way, "You just don’t guess good Daddy."

"I’m not right?"

"No-o-o-o-o-o. Why a rhi-, rhi-"

"Rhinoceros."

"Nothing like that lives ‘round here Daddy."

"Then tell me exactly what your wondering eyes happened upon this fine and glorious day."

"Your angel."

"Ah, my angel. How big were his wings?" Carl asked, deciding to play her game.

"It was a girl Daddy. And she didn’t have wings." Norie yawned. "She was bee-u-ti-ful. Just like Mommy."

So that’s why she spoke of angels. She obviously missed her mother. "Yes, your Mommy was very beautiful. She was very kind as well and she loved you very much. At times you remind me of her."

"Tell me," she demanded sleepily.

Carl pulled her onto his chest where he knew she’d be asleep within minutes, and began the well-known story.

*(*

A borrowed shirt and several bars later, Rachel felt more than a little giddy. She felt wonderfully free! In fact she thought making the best of a bad situation should be recommended to all stuck-in-their-ruts matriarchs.

The sidewalk heaved and rocked. If she didn’t know better she’d swear she was on a boat.

"Hey Rach! You ready for some real fun?"

Ronda’s too loud voice bounced through Rachel’s fogged brain. "I thought that’s what we’d been having?"

"Nah, not yet. The fun hasn’t even started."

Not for them maybe, but through the sheer act of casting off the woman she’d become and enjoying herself, she’d done herself a world of good. In the last few hours some of her worries and concerns had slipped away. She felt more like herself. Just like she had with…Oh no, "I refuse to think about that man!" Oops, she hadn’t meant to voice that particular thought.

"What man?"

"My ex-husband." What? Now she was spilling her guts to strangers? "Every time I manage to forget him, he just barges right in on my thoughts." She paused to steady herself. "I really hate that."

"Real bastard huh? Well, don’t worry hon, tonight you can leave that loser behind," Ronda said. "Here we are ladies, tonight’s main event. My aunt is one of the Applettes and she promised that this little fundraiser is gonna be loads of fun."

"Yeah, but you can only look Ron, no touchin’." The others tittered at the remark made by someone Rachel didn’t know. She let herself be guided by the flow of those around her. Suddenly, she realized they were not alone. Lots of women surrounded them, laughing and having a good time too. Lots of women.

"Where are we?" she shouted above the increasing noise.

"You’ll see," Ronda smiled and disappeared into the dark auditorium.

*(*

"NO. N-O, no. I meant it the first time and I mean it now. Absolutely, positively, unrepentantly NO!"

Carl and Lorna faced one another, toe to toe and nose to nose. Well, she lacked a few inches but she made up for that with attitude and determination.

Finally, her resolve broke.

"Please Carl. Please, please, please. I’m begging you, I’m pleading with you and you know how I hate that. I need you to grant me this teeny-tiny, itty-bitty favor." He didn’t budge. "I’ll get down on my knees." She meant to do just that, but stopped when he failed to respond. "You’re not really going to make me get on my knees are you?"

"I won’t stop you."

"Carl, please. This is for an excellent cause."

"To which I will donate a considerable amount of money."

"Oh come on. The ladies want to do this on their own. That’s why they came to me. This whole idea was my baby you know. Besides, you’ve already donated a small fortune to this town. Albeit anonymously."

"It is not my misfortune you concocted this, this…travesty. Even though you are trying to make it my problem."

Lorna knew the knee thing wouldn’t earn her any sympathy. Of course slugging him in the stomach would, at the very least, make her happier.

"Listen Carl. I need you. We need you. The Applettes are depending on me to help them reach their goal."

"Tell them I will donate…"

"Did you think they might not want charity?"

"No, I…"

"Of course not. And I bet it hasn’t occurred to you that they might resent their secret Mr. Big waving his millions upon millions around like some snooty playboy. Sure, they wouldn’t know it’s you, but you’d still have to live with their resentment."

"I am not a playboy."

"Anymore. It’s times like this I wish you were the old Carl. At least he’d have been game." Okay, so she’d taken a stab at his ego.

"Have I changed so much?"

Some of the fight left his face. Through her many years of exposure she’d learned the nearly imperceptible signals he was caving. Just a little push…"Well, yeah. Of course you have and for the better. Mostly. I hope you know these people, these women, adore you."

Carl ran a hand through his loose hair. "That’s what I’m afraid of."

"It’s for a good cause."

"Good cause my ass," he muttered. "What about Norie?"

"I’ve called a babysitter who’ll be here within minutes. C’mon Carl, commit yourself to the cause. It’ll be fun."

"That remains to be seen."

She saw the shift in his demeanor, the loss of outrage in his features. She had him. Lorna knew she had him exactly where she wanted him.

…to be continued…as if you didn’t know what happens next….