Adjournment (The Fate Series) (20 page)

Two hours and close to three bottles of wine later we still have nothing, even though we’ve gained Lexi to help brainstorm.

“Did you guys think to find out who will be standing with your father?” Lexi asks from where she is slumped down on the couch, her feet lazily propped up on the coffee table while she drinks the last of her wine.

“Mmm-hmm,” I hum, taking a mouthful of mine.

Eight days and it will all be over, and I can come back to my normal life.

“Our uncles, which I’m not sure is safe. But you know what they say; keep your friends close and your family closer,” Molly finishes my thought.

Well, that’s what we say…

Eight days, eight days—Eight. Long. Freaking. Days…

“Oh jeez… family, friends, and you three… together, with the triplets for dates. Yeesh… Your mom has seen the guest list right?” She raises an eyebrow to us. 

“Of course she has.” Molly gives her a confused look.

“Sober?” Lexi tilts her head down.

“
Oh,
well… that I can’t confirm,” Molly mumbles and pours herself more wine.

“I’m just saying does she understand what she is doing?” Lexi says as a shiver runs through her.

“I think these past few years have softened her memories of her childhood… and ours for that matter. If she remembered half of the things we put her through she wouldn’t be doing this,” Morgan pouts.

Molly shrugs. “Or she’s dying.”

The three of us all flash the same shocked look yelling “Molly!”

Getting defensive, she starts again, “Well it’s a plausible reason. Why else would she want to mix friends and family? Unless she is dying.”

I would worry but our mother is too proud to let death beat her.

No, she has something far worse up her sleeve.

Hugging my sisters goodbye, we walk out of their building to grab a cab. It’s a beautiful warm June evening in New York, the kind that helps you forget how bitter cold it can get in the winter months.

“You’re not even a little excited to be Simon’s date?” Lexi looks over at me.

“Nope,” I drag the n out to emphasize it.

“Not even the smallest amount of you is excited at the idea of seeing him again after the club?” she asks.

The club… I would rather forget that night. I should have seen him setting me up.

D-day… enough said…

Grabbing my black suede duffle bag, my shoe bag, and my purse, I walk out of my room to find Lexi’s huge Louie suitcase stacked with the rest of the matching set by the front door. 

I drop my bags next to hers and cross my arms over my chest to prepare for the same conversation we’ve had for the last three days.

“You know we aren’t moving, right? We’re just going for the weekend. A weekend that will be spent mostly in the pool, on the beach, or in my room. Unless you have a ton of new bathing suits that you are going to change into every time you get one wet, there is no need for all this.” I point to the heaping pile of unnecessary things.

“Sid, I hear what you’re saying,” she starts, then attempts to lift all of her luggage so she can make one trip.

I’m pretty sure this exceeds the weight limit of the elevator.

“But your parents have invited a lot of people this weekend.” She hesitates.

Such as?

She looks up as though she just read my mind.

“Such as the Triplets—”

Clearly she hasn’t been around them enough…

“Your parents’ friends—”

I know she hasn’t been around them enough…

“Your family—”

She’s only ever met my mother.

Oh, please have mercy on us.

“I just want to make sure I’m prepared for anything. Let’s go and have a good time before we go back to work on Tuesday.”

Grabbing our bags we load them into the elevator as we start our trek toward the lobby.

Thank you elevator gods for not making that noise to say we are over the weight capacity!

The elevator chimes when it hits the bottom floor, and I step off, leaving my nomad roommate to inch along.

Yes, I am a good friend which is why I told her not to bring so much. If I were to help her what lesson would that teach? Honestly…

“Ladies, have a nice long weekend and stay out of trouble.” Stanley gives us that knowing smile as we walk through the front doors.

“Stanley, when do we ever get into trouble?” Lexi gleams at him.

“When you’re around her and her sisters, and since I’ve already seen them in the limo, I know there is trouble to be had.” He chuckles and waves us out.

I don’t know why, but I figured one of my sisters would have rented a car so we could make a quick escape if we needed to. I should have known better, it’s much easier to plot when you don’t have to stare at the road.

We load up the trunk, which by the way is filled to the brim between my sisters’ and Lexi’s luggage. Not my sisters as much as Lexi, but they brought a lot of just in case things. You know sewing machine, spare fabric, their needle cases, etc.

“What is with the paintball guns?” Lexi raises a worried brow.

“The annual game.” Molly shrugs, slamming the truck.

Lexi and I exchange a look and then get into the car.

I opt to bring my stuff with me to the back, and we settle into our seats to wait until we can pull into traffic.

Two hours in the car with these three.

Someone might not make it. 

I lean forward to check the supplies; three bottles of champagne, a bottle of Scotch, and some beer, water, and soda. Swiping a water, I sit back.

“I think we all need to hydrate ourselves before embarking on this weekend,” Morgan says, grabbing a water.

“I’m not usually one to pass on free champagne, but I have to agree. I think getting through this weekend is going to take a lot of patience… and alcohol,” Molly agrees, grabbing a water for her and Lexi.

“To our Bat Shit Crazy Mother, may she not kill us or anyone else over the weekend?” I wince raising my bottle to toast.

“Sounds about right.” Morgan’s head give a quick nod.

“Here, here,” they sing out, bumping the bottles together and drinking. 

We’re an hour away from the house and have been stuck in the same spot for twenty minutes. What is going on? I look around at the gridlocked traffic.

“Holiday traffic… See, this is why I wanted to leave earlier, but no, you guys know better,” Molly says for the fifth or sixth time now.

“Holiday traffic happens at the end of the week. This must be an accident,” Morgan argues with her.

I’ve done something terrible and am being punished for it.

Trying to ignore their bickering, Lexi closes her eyes and puts her head back before speaking, “I say we should nap…” 

Morgan and Molly go silent and look around.

“That is genius! I call the floor.” Molly scrambles forward to lay down.

“I’ll stay in my seat thanks.” Morgan tips her head back like Lexi and closes her eyes.

Having the entire side bench to myself, I lay down and close my eyes.

This was a really good idea.

Welcome homes and hall whistlers…

“Lex, what is that knocking? Quit it,” I grumble.

In an attempt to roll over I slide off my bench hitting the floor of the limo with a thud.

Looking around, I notice that we aren’t moving. “Are we still stuck in traffic?” I croak out, my throat dried out from the air conditioning.

I tip my head to see Lexi and Morgan sleeping in their seats while Molly’s head and torso are on the floor between them, her legs on the seat, and her arms draped over their shoes.

The knocking is getting harder and louder.

“Lex… Lex unlock the door!” I yell out tossing my arm over my eyes.

“Miss Chandler? Miss Chandler, we are here, and your mother wants you to come out.” Earl, the driver, yells into the door.

Yay… we’re here.

After climbing out of my new bed and sitting Molly up, we wake up Morgan and Lexi and hop… well, fall out of the limo.

My mother is rushing toward us as we start to pick up our luggage that Earl took out of the trunk.

“Goodness, girls! Honestly, how much did you drink already? I knew I should have had them clean it out before picking you up.” Her hands flail all over the place as she walks up to us.

“They are as sober as your husband was the day you two got married,” Earl says in a teasing tone, smiling at her.

“You of all people know how sober my husband was that day since you were the one helping him stay sober.” She gives him a warm teasing glare.

“My apologies, you’re right, he did sip a little on the ride. No harm done. Then they are as sober as you wish your husband would have been.” He chuckles.

Earl has been my father’s driver for as long as I can remember. He was hired shortly after they started the company since he singlehandedly made sure my father arrived at the right church at the right time. Our poor Dad had a bit of cold feet. When Earl picked him up, he says our father was shaking so much he thought he was having a seizure. It’s no wonder, my mother can be intimidating. When my parents needed a driver years later they offered him the job because they say he is the best. But I know it’s because she has always had a soft spot for Earl. I think part of it has to do with that day and part of it has to do with how much he has become a member of our family. 

“You were in the car for two hours… how could you possibly fall asleep?” She stares at us.

“We were stuck in traffic, ma’am. I am so sorry,” he apologizes.

Turning around she sends him a glare that even makes me scared.

“What did you call me?” She stares at him.

He realizes what he said and begins to get nervous. “I called you… Mrs. Chandler… Madness, I called you Madness.”

“Damn right you did.” She nods and turns back around to face us. “He called me ma’am, like I’m…
old.
” She shivers, making us laugh and poor Earl relaxes.

“Girls, girls I will get these things. You go with your mother, and I’ll be right in with them.” He smiles, walking over to us.

“Oh no, that isn’t part of your job.” I shake my finger at him. “Besides Lexi packed our apartment and no one should have to carry all that baggage. This is a lessoned learned for her.” I smile pulling my duffle bag over my shoulder. Grabbing my shoe case and purse, I make one final bend for the sewing machine before I walk up the front walkway to the rounded stone steps.