QUARTER OF A CENTURY – PART 4

Taking over from DeeDee Lane is author Sandra Dailey

Lana raced through the crowd feeling like she was inside a pinball machine. Her vision was blurred by tears as she swerved around tourists and street performers. When a juggler’s tennis balls scattered and bounced in all directions she was in a complete state of panic. She just wanted to be left alone. Fat chance of that happening when the only place she knew to go was back to the house she’d rented with five other people.

All five, and a hundred strangers, had seen her shamelessly sink into Ray’s steamy kiss. The kiss couldn’t have made him feel the same if he’d instantly deemed it a mistake.

The mistake she’d made was coming to this reunion. Why had she thought everything would still be the same? Their lives had all taken different directions. Was it because she still held a secret torch for Kyle? And, if that was true, why had Ray’s kiss nearly knocked her off her feet? One thing was certain. She’d made a fool of herself. If she were smart she’d start packing and book the next flight home.

She couldn’t do that to Maddie. Her best friend appeared to need this get-away more than any of them. Despite her bubbly demeanor, Maddie seemed desperate to connect with everyone. Lana knew her like a sister and strongly suspected that all was not well with Maddie’s home life. Maybe the two of them should forgo tomorrow’s activities and have a nice long girl-talk.

As she entered the house, Lana realized she was calmer. Thinking about something besides her own stupid problems had done the trick. She fluffed the pillows on her bed and leaned back with a new romance novel. Before she’d had a chance to turn the first page, she heard the front door slam. Now what?

The door to her private sanctuary crashed against the wall. Sabrina stalked in with an ugly snarl.

“How dare you walk away when I’m talking to you?”

“Who are you, my mother?” Lana stood feeling truly amused. “I figured you were delusional from too much sun. What made you say I’d stolen anything from you? You’ve never had anything I wanted.”

“We all know that’s not true. I had Kyle and you’ve never gotten over it.”

“Actually, Sabrina, I left school and its drama a few years ago. Open your eyes and you’ll see the rest of us have grown up and moved on.”

“Have you? After what I saw on the square, I’d say you’re up to your old tricks. Were you trying to get Kyle’s attention – maybe make him jealous? You’re pathetic.”

Lana realized her anxiety had returned full force. She was pathetic. But, she’d be damned before she let Sabrina know she’d hit that nerve. Before she had a chance to think of a retort the door opened again and Kyle had Sabrina by the arm.

“Stop this, Sabrina. What Lana does is none of your business.”

“You were sure trying to make it your business though, weren’t you?” Sabrina shot back.

“What I do isn’t any of your business either. I’m finished with you.”

Lana couldn’t take any more. She wanted everyone out of her room.

“Take your hands off of her, Kyle. Let’s not forget – she was your choice. The two of you have been together all this time. If you’re so finished with her why are you still letting her hang on you like a cheap suit?”

Kyle dropped Sabrina’s arm and slid his hands in his pockets.

“You don’t understand. If you’d just let me talk to you I could explain everything.”

“Go ahead, explain everything,” Sabrina sneered. “Let me call in the others so we can all hear your sad story.”

“Why don’t you go find a barstool to hang from?” Kyle glared at Sabrina. “There must be plenty of cheating husbands to buy drinks for you in a town like this. That’s how you usually amuse yourself.”

Sabrina’s face was a mask of devastation and embarrassment. Lana actually felt a tiny bit sorry for her.

“I don’t want to hear this.” She pushed her way past the couple. “This is none of my business. I wish I’d never come on this stupid trip.”

From the hallway she could still hear them.

Kyle - “Now look what you’ve done. You promised you’d behave yourself if I played along with your ridiculous act.”

Sabrina – “Don’t blame all this on me. You’re the one who wants to air our dirty laundry.”

Yes, Lana was curious about Kyle and Sabrina’s secrets, but she was determined to let the two of them hash it out without her. What she really wanted was a glass of wine…and another kiss from Ray. That would calm her nerves. No, she’d have to be satisfied with the wine.

As she got closer to the front of the house she heard sobbing. She followed the sound to find Maddie with her face hidden behind a cloud of tissues.

“What’s wrong?” she asked as she sat beside her friend and hugged her shoulders.

“Everything,” She blew her nose loudly. “You don’t know all I had to do to make this trip – begging, borrowing, working over-time. It’s all I’ve had to look forward to. Now, it’s ruined. The whole reunion is ruined.”

“Oh, Maddie, everything is going to be okay. Ray and I have been friends for too long to let one little kiss end it. Kyle and Sabrina are at each other’s throats, but we can distract them from that. And, Sophie is spending a lot of time with her musician, but you know how she is. She’ll forget his name at any minute.”

Maddie violently shook her head.

“Please tell me what’s going on with you,” Lana begged. “I knew from the day I arrived that something was off.”

“It doesn’t matter now. The reunion is over. We may as well all go home.”

Lana’s eyes followed the direction Maddie pointed. Two full suitcases were waiting by the open front door and a taxi sat at the curb.

Someone may or may not leave the group. Who has packed their bags? You decide –

A)     Does embarrassed Ray make an excuse to return to California for business reasons?

B)   Has Sophie’s infamous mother used emotional blackmail to try to make her return home?

  Voting ends Tuesday evening at 11:00 p.m. EST.