Certainly Sensible (17 page)

Caroline adjusted the volume down. “You don’t have to be so defensive, Allie. I mean what about Mark? You and I both know this trip isn’t about Brittany.”

“Don’t start, Caroline.” Allie reached over and turned the music up.

Caroline glanced over at her sister, who was slumped in the seat, looking glum. “I’m worried about you, that’s all. Ever since the Fourth, you’ve been in a funk. Is Mark meeting you in Chicago?”

“I sent him a text.”

So that answered the question. Allie didn’t even know if Mark would see her while they were there. “I really wish you’d tell me what happened between you two.” Caroline put on her turn signal to pass a slow-moving pickup truck.

“It was just a stupid argument, and I’m sure Mark and I can work it out. So back off.” Allie pulled a Jane Austen novel out of her bag, flipped open a page, and pretended to be engrossed.

Caroline sighed, noticed the construction signs, and focused on her driving. It looked like a long, bumpy road ahead.

Mom was right about the traffic
, Caroline admitted to herself. It took two and a half hours to drive to the outskirts of Chicago from Indianapolis, and then another two hours to drive to Emily’s downtown condo. Friday evening rush-hour was gridlocked. Caroline was exhausted and hungry when they finally arrived. Allie jumped out of the car the minute Caroline had it in park.

A barefoot Brittany, her auburn hair pulled back in a ponytail, wearing running shorts and tank top, ran outside to greet them. “You’re here!”

Caroline turned off the engine and stretched her shoulders as she got out. “Chicago traffic was awful, and then when I finally got to this neighborhood, I had to circle the block three times to find a parking space.”

Brittany nodded and gave Caroline a quick hug, but had to stand on tiptoes to hug Allie. “Well, we’re so happy you’re here. Emily and Sara have something cooking that smells divine. Where are your bags?” Caroline popped the trunk, and Brittany yanked both bags out and then just as quickly dropped them on the sidewalk. “Geez, did you pack everything you own?”

Allie pulled her phone out and started walking to the front steps, texting the whole way.

“Here, let me help you, Brittany.” Caroline eyed her sister who was being impossibly rude, reached for her bag, slung it over her shoulder, and followed tiny little Brittany, who was lugging Allie’s bag.

Brittany set Allie’s bag on the front step. “Sara said to put you both in the guest room, and there are fresh towels in the adjoining bathroom.”

“Great.” Allie didn’t even look up from her phone, all but ignoring Brittany.

Caroline sighed, took both bags, and headed up the steps of the Chicago brownstone.

“So what’s this about Mark? Allie?” Brittany waved her hand in front of Allie’s face. “Hello?”

Allie stuffed her phone in a jeans pocket. “I’ll tell you about it later. He’s just being weird, but I plan to see him later so we can talk.”

Brittany looked dejected. “And here I thought you came to spend time with me.”

Allie gave Brittany a quick hug. “Of course I came to see you. How could I not come visit my best friend?”

Brittany looked at her askance. “Really, or was I just an excuse?”

Caroline felt bad for Brittany. Both of them had easily seen through Allie’s ruse, yet her sister continued to pretend this trip was just a visit with a friend. Caroline sighed. “‘Fess up, Allie. How many times have you called Mark this afternoon?”

“I only left one voice mail, just before we left home, and I just texted him telling him we’re here.”

“Do you even know where he’s staying?” Caroline asked.

“No. With friends, I guess.”

“Oh, Allie, this doesn’t sound good,” Brittany said, shaking her head. “Maybe you should give him some space.”

Emily stepped out the door and smothered both Caroline and Allie in hugs. “It’s so good to have you both here. How’s your mom?”

“She’s great. She said to tell you she’ll call,” Caroline said. “I’m starved, and something in the kitchen smells delicious!”

****

On Saturday morning it was a luxury getting to sleep in. No barking dog, no ringing phones, no loud TV, just peace and quiet. Caroline could smell the fresh-brewed coffee as she came downstairs. Emily had put out blueberry muffins and was sitting at the kitchen table, reading the newspaper.

“Good morning,” she said as Caroline walked in.

“Good morning.” Caroline yawned and poured a cup of coffee. She noticed with surprise that Emily was dressed in business attire. “Are you working today?”

“I’ve got a client from Houston wanting to do some serious house-hunting. Sara’s still asleep. Her law firm’s handling a big case, and she’s been in court all week. What do you ladies have planned, or should I even ask?” She winked at Caroline.

“Shopping, of course.” Caroline laughed, before thinking logically. “Really just window-shopping, though, because Allie and I are on a tight budget. One pair of designer shoes could set us back a month. But there’s no place better than Chicago to look at the latest fashions, and we can enjoy advising Brittany.”

“Brittany’s out for her morning run,” Emily said. “I guess Allie’s still asleep?”

“I guess.” Caroline sipped her hot coffee slowly, mulling over Allie’s behavior the last few days. “Emily, something about this business with Mark Townsend just doesn’t sit right with me. Why would he act like he’s falling in love with her one minute, then stand her up for a date the next? After that, nothing except a text about some bogus job interview.”

“You’re asking
me
to explain men?” Emily laughed.

Caroline laughed too. “I guess not.” Still, the whole situation was making her very nervous. “Maybe shopping will take Allie’s mind off him for a while. Do we have any dinner plans?”

“Actually, Sara and I would like to take the three of you to a new restaurant downtown. All the young people your age hang out there.” Emily winked at Caroline. “Our treat of course.”

“You’re too good to us!” Caroline hugged Emily, grabbed a muffin and started toward the stairs. “I’ll just see if I can drag Allie out of the bed.”

Upstairs, she found Allie awake, checking her messages. “No word from Mark?”

Allie shook her head. “I’m texting him, letting him know exactly where I’ll be today. Maybe he can meet me for lunch or something.
Something
.”

Caroline’s heart was breaking for her sister. She could only nod, bite her tongue, and tell her sister about their dinner plans.

****

Caroline thought the restaurant Emily and Sara had chosen certainly lived up to its hype. It was definitely
the
trendsetting establishment for the twenty- and thirty-something crowd. Valet parking and a hostess in evening clothes added to the ambiance, as did the extensive wine list and gourmet menu. Emily had made eight-thirty dinner reservations, but even then their table wasn’t quite ready when they arrived, due to the many reservations ahead of them. Still, it was worth the wait, because the food was excellent and the service was impeccable. Waiters in semi-tux attire hovered endlessly, refilling water or wine glasses unbidden, and bringing extra baskets of bread and olive oil for dipping.

“Thanks for picking up the tab, you two,” Caroline said to Sara and Emily.
Any restaurant that didn’t post its prices on the menu meant if you had to ask, you couldn’t afford it.

Sara smiled at Caroline, put her credit card inside the black leather folder with the restaurant logo embossed in gold, and shoved it to the end of the table. “Our pleasure.”

Once dinner was over, Brittany said, “Let’s go into the bar. There’s dance music and lots of hot guys!”

Emily and Sara were agreeable, Allie was indifferent, and Caroline wasn’t interested in that idea at all. But Brittany was itching to dance, so the five of them left their table and went into the bar. Or at least they tried to go in. It was even more crowded than the restaurant. Young adults, dressed to impress, mingled everywhere, drinks in hand, laughing and chatting with good-looking members of the opposite sex.

Brittany playfully elbowed Caroline and tilted her head in the direction of a couple of attractive guys standing by the bar. “Single guys everywhere, girlfriend!”

Caroline winced but turned to Emily as she tried in vain to see anything above the shoulders of the crowd. There was a DJ on a platform, loud music with a steady beat, and way too many people crammed onto the tiny dance floor. Florescent lights gave an eerie purple cast to the room, and naturally it was so loud, conversation was out of the question. “Is this a good idea? Maybe we should go somewhere quieter,” Caroline shouted.

“I’m going to try to make my way to the bar,” Emily shouted back. “Anyone want anything?”

“I’ll go with you,” Sara said in loud lawyer voice. “Ladies? Anything?” She turned to Allie, Caroline, and Brittany.

“White wine for me, if you can get there,” Brittany shouted. “Need any help?”

“No, we can manage,” Emily called back.

Judging from the number of people milling around the bar flirting with potential dates, and the difficulty squeezing by them just to place an order, Caroline figured Sara and Emily would be a while. There was nothing else to do but people-watch from their location near the entryway. And people of all shapes, sizes, and fashion statements were there to watch.

Brittany could hardly stand still. “Caroline, Allie, come on! Let’s dance!”

Caroline shook her head. No way was she venturing out among all those strangers. “Allie, you and Brittany go ahead. I’ll wait here for Sara and Emily.”

Allie pulled a face. “It’s too crowded, and there’s no one to dance with.”

Brittany stood on tiptoe and searched the room. “Come on, you party-poopers, there are good-looking guys all over the place. Hey, check out that one over there!” Brittany tugged on Allie’s arm as she pointed to an attractive young man already on the dance floor. “He’s
hot
!”

Allie looked in the direction Brittany was pointing. She blinked her eyes and looked again, shouting into her sister’s ear. “Caroline! Mark’s here!”

Caroline looked, sure her sister was mistaken, yet when she stood on tiptoe she was stunned to see Mark Townsend. He was enjoying himself on the dance floor, dancing closely with some woman wearing a too-tight red cocktail dress whose face she couldn’t see. Before she could stop Allie, her sister was pushing her way through the crowd, headed toward him.

“Allie!” Caroline called after her, but it was too loud for Allie to hear, or maybe she didn’t want to hear. Caroline pushed her way through the crowd to catch up to her sister, reaching out to grab her arm just as Allie got close to the dance floor.

“Mark! Mark!” Allie called out, breaking free of Caroline’s grasp and shoving her way close enough to tap him on the shoulder. “Mark! Ohmigod, why haven’t you returned any of my messages?”

Mark gazed at Allie for a moment as if he had never met her, calmly turned back to his dance partner, and whispered something in the woman’s ear. The woman laughed, nodded, and pulled Mark in close as they resumed dancing. Allie stood there, stunned by the rejection.

“Allie, come on, let’s go.” Caroline took her arm and tried to lead her away from the dance floor, just as Mark’s dance partner turned around.

“Misty!” Caroline exclaimed. “What are you—?”

Misty seemed just as surprised to see Caroline, and they stood glaring at each other in silence for a tense moment. But Misty quickly recovered her composure, turned her back on Caroline, and threw her arms around Mark. And now it was Caroline’s turn to be shocked as he pulled her in closer.

Allie jerked her arm away from Caroline, shoved her way through the throng of people, and didn’t stop moving until she was out of the bar. Caroline tried to go after her, but she couldn’t get through the knot of people quickly enough.

Brittany stopped a breathless Caroline. “What happened? Where’d Allie go?”

“Mark Townsend’s a jerk,” was all Caroline said as she chased after Allie.

Brittany hurried along behind Caroline, and they arrived at the entrance to the restaurant just in time to see Allie jump into a cab and speed off.

Chapter Fifteen

Caroline was frantic, pacing the floor at Emily’s condo as she checked her phone yet again. “Why won’t Allie answer?” she asked. “Every phone call goes to voice mail, and she’s not responding to texts either.”

Brittany peered out the front window one more time. “It’s like Chicago just swallowed her up, like she vanished into thin air.”

Emily stifled a yawn. “I just made a pot of fresh coffee, ladies, and I don’t want to make light of this situation, but it’s three a.m. and I’m falling asleep.” She was headed for the stairs when a cab pulled up in front of the building.

“Thank goodness! There she is.” Caroline ran outside as Allie stumbled out of the taxi.

“Currlyne,” Allie slurred, “I’m outta cash, and I told thish nice man you’d pay ’im.”

Caroline looked at the meter and sucked in her breath. “Oh, Allie, that’s a huge tab, and I don’t think I have enough…”

Caroline had no choice but to ask Emily. She sprinted back into the house, trying to calm her rapidly beating heart. “Allie promised the driver we’d pay him, and—”

“Say no more.” Emily grabbed her wallet from her bag sitting on the coffee table and went outside to pay the fare. Caroline followed closely behind. Emily added on a generous tip and waved the cabbie away, and with Emily on one side and Caroline on the other, they helped Allie stagger into the house.

“Where have you been?” Caroline demanded. “We were worried sick!”

“Part-ee!”Allie laughed and then coughed and gagged. “Clozhed down sevrull barz.”

Caroline shook her head and realized Allie would just have to sleep it off. They could talk in the morning—much later in the morning—when Allie was sober. And probably hung over.

She and Emily helped Allie up the stairs and into the guest room. Allie collapsed on the bed and was instantly asleep. Caroline looked sympathetically at her sister, removed Allie’s shoes, and covered her with a blanket. Caroline didn’t know if what she felt was exhaustion or relief, but when she glimpsed her pale complexion in the dresser mirror, she admitted she’d been scared out of her wits. “Emily, if you don’t mind, I think I’ll stay up a while longer, maybe read a magazine or something. My stomach’s all tied in knots, and I doubt I could sleep anyway.”