Gazelle (35 page)

              Caterers move about the room in relative silence as they set up tiny dishes of appetizers and treats around an enormous tree decorated with precise detail. 

“
Oh!  The tree is lovely
!
” CeCe sighs in contentment.

“
Yep.  Decorator did a great job.  Looks just like hom
e…
minus the homemade, salt dough ornaments and the crocheted angel
,
” Alice nods.

“
I
t’
s jus
t…
what you would picture the perfect tree looking like, right?  I ca
n’
t wait for him to see it, h
e’
s going to love it
,
” she squeals.  She brings an expensive, crystal wine glass to her lips and sips, staring dreamily up at the tree.

“
He told me he hated Christmas
,
” Alice says.

“
Yes, he does.  With a passion.  But the setting can make all the difference
,
” she says, putting an arm around Alice.
 “
And we did a great job with this one
.
”
              Alice smirks at her.
 “
Are you drunk
?
”
“
What?  Get out of town! 
I’
m not drunk, this is my one and only
,
” CeCeexclaims.
 “
Do you want a glass
?
”
“
No, I do
n’
t do wine.  And
I’
m a little too nervous, I think.  I should
n’
t drink
,
” she says softly.

“
Do
n’
t worry, everything will be fine.  His family will be here at six.  Everyone else will show up a little after that.  Hor dourves, drinks, and then just casual mingling until everyone decides the polite time to leave without looking like they
want
to leave.  I
t’
ll be great
.
”

              Alice tapes the sign together into one solid piece.
 “
Tha
t’
s not why
I’
m nervous.  He has
n’
t really spoken to me since he left.  Do
n’
t you think i
t’
s weird?  He jus
t…
leaves like that
?
”
              CeCe sighs and sips her drink again.  When he told them he was leaving for Carmel with Sharleen for a few days, they did not protest or question the poor timing of his trip.  They all know it was the smartest thing he could have done, given the circumstances.  But neither she nor Alice has been willing to speak on the matter, or about anything at all, other than the party.  Alice has gone through her duties completely withdrawn the past week, more so than any other occasion CeCe can recall, and the former felt it would be just painful to push the issue any further than it already had been.

“
H
e’
s not upset with you
,
” CeCereassures.
 “
You know why he had to leave
.
”
“
I know why, and it was good that he did.  But he has
n’
t called or texted since.  Not even when his family got into town.  His brother was kind of pissed, I think, when I told him
.
”
“
Pissed how
?
”
“
He said something like,
‘
I did
n’
t realize we had come at such an inconvenient time for my brother
.
’
 
I did
n’
t know what to say.  It was kind of embarrassing
,
” she says.

“
Do
n’
t worry about it.  He and his brother do
n’
t have the best relationship.  The
y’
re always squabbling about something,
I’
m sure it has more to do with that than Julian leaving for a few days
.
”

“
And what about Sharleen
?
” Alice asks softly, whispering so the caterers ca
n’
t hear her.
 “
I have
n’
t seen her
since
.  She was already awfu
l…
what do you think sh
e’
s going to do now that she thinks
I’
m doing her boyfriend
?
”
              CeCesmiles a wicked grin into her cup.
 “
I think sh
e’
ll do absolutely nothing.  She would
n’
t want to upset the script
.
”
              Alice gives her a quizzical look, to which CeCe rolls her eyes. 

“
Sharleenand Julian both want the same thing.  Tonight is about looking good, happy, robust and full of life.  There wo
n’
t be any little snarky comments or condescending tones from her, you wait.  Sh
e’
ll be on her best behavior because sh
e’
s scared
.
”
“
Of what
?
”
“
Of ruining the one thing tha
t’
s going to make her famous, really famous.  Tha
t’
s all she cares about, in the end.  Tha
t’
s how you know sh
e’
ll be good to Julia
n
…
”
CeCe says, somewhat remorsefully.

“
…
You mean until h
e’
s not famous anymore, right
?
”
              CeCesmiles and hugs her quickly.
 “
Look at my girl!  She finally gets it
!
”
“
No, I got it a long time ago
,
” Alice laughs.
 “
Remember that awful, first picture
?
”
“
Oh my god, yes!  Mike made sure that was in every little shit tabloid he could find and all over the web before the two had even checked out
!
”

              Alice frowns, staring at her in disbelief.
 “
Wait, Mike did that
?
”
              CeCerolls her eyes again.
 “
See, I thought you were there with me but I seem to continuously overestimate you.  
Of course
Mike planted it.  He planned that whole thing, from the start.  Let me let you in on a little secret.  Mike did the same exact thing with Julian before, only it was reversed.  Lindsay was the big name, and Julian was coming up.  Now Julia
n’
s the name, and Sharleen is coming up.  The only difference is that Sharleenis a talentless skank.  Regardless of the success Julian may gather with his career, i
t’
ll never be enough to mask the fact that his girlfriend is a joke
.
”
              Alice fiddles with the banner and processes this information.  It all made perfect sense.  She felt n
aï
ve for not realizing it on her own.  And then the horrible reality of the situation set in.
 “
Julian does
n’
t see it, does he
?
”
“
No, I do
n’
t think so, hon
,
” CeCesays.
 “I’
m sure h
e’
s aware of it on some level, but for the most part, he is going through the motion, hoping for the best.  He loved Lindsay, undoubtedly.  I do
n’
t think Mike counted on that, I do
n’
t think Lindsay did, either.  With Sharleen, i
t’
s a relief to know he definitely does not love her.  When it ends this time, the man will recover without batting an eye,
I’
m sure
.
”
“
He does
n’
t love her?  Are you sure
?
”
              CeCe smiles at her, both of them knowing what the question implied.
 “
Positive
.
”

              Julian steps through the doors of his foreign home cautiously.  He carries his bags in one hand and his presents in the other, studying the strewn faux holly and dancing flicker of candle light in the hall.  He looks into his living room in awe.  He studies the new mahogany and white furniture, decorations everywhere of tiny straw globes, green and red tinsel surrounding a great tree decked out likea Martha Stewart Christmas cover and overflowing with gifts. A sign that read
s‘
Christmas Luc
k
’ is stretched over the mantle, stockings dangling and overfilled along its ledge, lined with even more candles all lit and dancing.

“
‘
Christmas Luck
?
’
 
What the hell i
s‘
Christmas Luc
k’?
” he mutters.

“
Yo
u’
re back
!
” CeCesmiles as she enters from the kitchen.
 “
Just in time
!
”
“
Nobod
y’
s here yet
?
”
“
Nope.  They wo
n’
t be for another hour or so, so you have plenty of time to spruce up.  Wher
e’
s Sharleen
?
”
“
I dropped her off at her place.  Sh
e’
s going to be here later.  She wanted to get ready in her own bathroom.  Wher
e’
s Alice
?
”
“
Alice did the same.  She helped set everything up and then went home, too.  Sh
e’
s picking up Scott on her way here.   How was your trip
?
” she asks as she removes the gifts from his grip.
“
Great.  Beautiful.  Really, really beautiful.  We went to the aquarium
.
”
“
Did you?  Tha
t’
s nice
,
” she smiles.

“
Yea
h…
I think Sharleenwas a little bored.  I loved it, though.  Alice always talks about that place and sh
e’
s right, it is really something.  Like a whole other world
.
”

              He starts to climb the stairs and stops.
 “
Did my brother call?  He has
n’
t been answering his phone
.
”
“
Um, yes, I believe so.  Alice spoke with him earlier.  Your family will definitely be here
,
” she responds.

“
Great.  I
t’
s going to be fun
,
” he says through gritted teeth.

“
It will!  Go get ready
.
”

              He steps out of the shower and grabs a towel, glancing at his phone.  Not one call.  He had
n’
t heard a single word from Alice for nearly a week.  Since the beginning of their relationship, he ca
n’
t remember having gone so long without hearing from her.  Each time he tried to text or call, he felt it was forced and unnatural.  When he told her he was leaving for a few days, the look on her face was completely unreadable.  He could
n’
t tell if she was mad or ashamed, or relieved.  There was a smile of sorts that played on her lips for a second but quickly vanished.  They did
n’
t mention the parking lot at all, nor the horrible photo.  And, like Mike said, the story died in its track as soon as Julian and Sharleen were photographed all over the bay dining and shopping.  Rumors were made of their possible engagement.