The Reunion (3 page)

“Can we join the party?” Tom and Glory Ecklund, their fingers intertwined, stood behind the last two chairs.

“Don’t see why not,” Zach replied.

Meghan remembered Tom as a slender redhead with freckles. The years had not been kind. His hair had thinned, his stomach bulged, and a pair of glasses perched on his freckled nose. He set a glass of what looked like soda pop on the table and turned to his wife.

“Why don’t you take a break, honey? You’ve been busy as a bee ever since we got here. Have a seat. I’ll get you something to drink. Diet soda?”

“Oh, Tommy, that sounds wonderful.”

Glory plopped down on the chair and hung her oversized purse over the back. She pushed some straggling strands of hair into the messy bun at the back of her head, and wiped a trickle of sweat from her temple with a tissue.

The temperature in the room had risen with the crowd, and the black, high-necked, long-sleeved dress didn’t help matters. Even the material had a heavy polyester look. Meghan wondered why on earth she wore something like that in August.

Dave returned with Suzanne’s drink and set it in front of her before once again casting his gaze on Zach. He opened his mouth to speak when a squealing microphone interrupted him.

“Testing, testing. Can everybody hear me?” The present principal, Roger Clark, stood at the podium on a stage by the dance floor. “I want to welcome everybody to this class reunion. It’s a pleasure to see so many attendees. Is everyone having fun?”

A chorus of yeses and a smattering of applause greeted his question. Meghan politely clapped, too. Dave raised his glass and smiled. Zach leaned back in his chair. Suzanne sipped her drink.

“That’s great. Now, I do have a few announcements before we get started.” He pulled a slip of paper from his inside jacket pocket and unfolded it. “First of all, I would like to remind all of you about the dangers of drinking and driving. The hotel has assured me there are ample rooms available if anyone feels the need to stay over.”

Zach slid his chair closer to Meghan and whispered, “I wonder if he’ll tuck us in, too.”

He grinned, and Meghan chuckled. She remembered Roger Clark as the stodgy vice-principal. He hadn’t changed. Zach turned his attention back to the stage.

Meghan didn’t remember Zach as being so good looking, but then she’d been no prize twenty years ago either. Tonight, an impeccable navy suit contrasting with a light blue shirt brought out the blue of his eyes. A multi-hued, conservative, patterned tie showed not only good taste, but spelled success as well.
When did nerd become so sexy?

“I also want to take this opportunity to ask that we all observe a moment of silence for those classmates who are no longer with us.”

He stepped back from the mike and bowed his head. Dave and Suzanne exchanged a look and bolted their drinks. This time Dave didn’t wait. He got up and headed for the bar. Principal Clark returned to the microphone.

“And now, I’d like to introduce your class president, Dan Masterson.”

Dan Masterson—still tall and beefy, his dark brown hair just beginning to gray around the temples—bounded onstage with a broad smile and shook Clark’s hand like a pump handle.

“Thank you, thank you, Principal Clark. I want to welcome all my classmates. Some of you have moved from our lovely town of Grandview, and I hope you find us still the friendly folk you left behind. We have a great economy and lots of opportunities.”

“He sounds like a fucking politician,” Suzanne said with a curled lip.

She didn’t bother to lower her voice and Meghan knew Dan had heard when his jaw clenched ever so briefly. Jill rolled her eyes while her husband shifted in his seat. Zach didn’t react to the profanity. Glory shot Suzanne a shocked look, but Tom smiled.

“He is. He’s a city councilman running for mayor. I’m one of his campaign workers,” he commented.

“Thank God I live in Chicago,” she muttered.

“And Palm Beach,” Meghan murmured under her breath as Zach chuckled.

Dan droned on for a few more minutes, and then finally put an end to his campaign pitch.

“I have it on good authority that the buffet is now open. So, everybody come on up, have a great meal, and enjoy the dancing afterward. The cash bars close at midnight, by the way, but the hotel lounge is open until two. And don’t forget, there’s an informal get together out at Samson’s Lake tomorrow from noon until three. Hope to see you all there.” He left the stage to moderate applause.

“Are you hungry?” Zach asked Meghan.

“Starving. I was too nervous to eat lunch.”

“You, too?” He glanced at the line forming by the buffet table. “Shall we?”

He pulled her chair out and placed his hand in the small of her back, steering her toward the food. A little zing zipped along Meghan’s nerves. She caught her breath.

Oh, my goodness
.
I know he’s good- looking, but I didn’t expect this.

Her mind leaped to fantasy land and she tripped over a chair leg in her way. Only Zach’s quick hand around her waist saved her from a fall. He swung her to face him her breasts just inches from his chest.

“Hey, careful there. Can’t have you getting trampled by the hungry hoards.” He smiled, his eyes taking on a brilliant color.

Meghan’s heart thumped, and Zach ceased smiling as they swayed toward each other. Oh my God, was he going to kiss her in the middle of the dining room? In front of everybody?

Lord, I hope so.

Chapter Two

Zach swallowed the lump in his throat and stepped back. He’d been an inch away from kissing her right in front of God and all their classmates. And what would Meghan’s response have been? A quick slap in the face?

“Thank you,” Meghan said, a blush tinting her cheeks. “I guess I’m still not the most graceful person in the class.”

“Not your fault. It’s crowded and the chair was in the way.”

Meghan turned and Zach followed her through the crowd heading for the buffet wondering where he’d dug up the courage to speak to her in the first place. He’d even made her laugh earlier. Since when had he developed the priceless commodity of wit? Zach Dunbar and women didn’t mix. For some reason, he couldn’t find the words to utter much beyond ‘hello, how are you’ and ‘nice weather’. But give him a computer and a problem, and he could talk forever.

Yet, Meghan was no computer and they’d had a normal conversation for the past hour. He’d learned the art of hiding his nervousness years ago. But then, Meghan had never been an ordinary girl. He remembered a sensitive, shy person—not unlike himself—who’d always answered his greetings with a smile. Those incredible deep emerald eyes set her apart from the crowd. He’d sometimes wound elaborate fantasies around the two of them as only a high school boy with hormones could do, and had nearly asked her to the senior prom, but chickened out at the last minute.

“Wow, they’ve put on quite a spread,” Meghan commented, stopping in the serving line. “If I’m not careful, I’ll bust right out of this dress.”

Zach didn’t think that was such a bad idea. She looked fabulous. Her black hair hung to her shoulders where the ends curled under. The black dress was strapless and she held it up nicely. The top, covered with shiny things, fit snugly down to her hips where it flared out in a soft, lightweight material. Silver sandals adorned her feet. The pink polished toes peeking out looked seductive and he hoped he hadn’t developed a foot fetish.

“I’m wondering if it would make sense to get salad first and come back later for entrees,” she continued.

“From the looks of this hungry mob, they may scarf it clean.”

Meghan chuckled. “I just hope I can balance the plates all the way back to the table. It would be just my luck to drop everything and look like a fool.”

“In that case, I will promptly drop mine, too.”

She sent him an amused look over her shoulder. His heart skipped a beat—or maybe added one. He wasn’t sure.
For the love of God, pull yourself together before you say or do something stupid.

Meghan took a plate from the stack and helped herself to various salads and fruit. When they arrived at the entrees, she selected a baked chicken breast, a dab of au gratin potatoes, and ignored the desserts.

Zach requested two slabs of medium rare roast beef from the carver, and then heaped mashed potatoes and gravy on the plate. His mother was in his head ordering him to eat his vegetables, so in compliance, he added a moderate helping of green beans, also ignoring the desserts.

He joined Meghan at the table. “I see you made it. Too bad. I’ve never been the center of attention before.”

“I can always go back through the line if that’ll make you happy.”

Now, Zach laughed. The teasing banter sped up his heart rate. When was the last time he’d had this much fun? He couldn’t remember.

The table was empty except for Suzanne who nursed her cocktail. The rest of their classmates had apparently gravitated to the buffet.

Tom Ecklund returned with two plates, both overflowing. Glory followed with more modest, but still full portions. She sat heavily with a sigh. To Zach, she looked exhausted, but then the woman had been scurrying around the ballroom as if the success of the event rested entirely on her shoulders. And she wasn’t even a classmate.

Jill and Ted resumed their seats.

“Glory, I envy you being able to eat that much and not gain weight. I look at food and my hips expand,” Jill said.

“I’ve always had a high metabolism. I guess I’m just one of those people who can eat anything and not suffer the consequences.”

“I, on the other hand, will suffer,” Tom replied while patting his stomach.

“What do you do, Tom?” Zach inquired working his way through his meal.

“I’m the regional manager for Everett Life and Casualty Insurance.”

“He worked his way up from salesman,” Glory added, a proud smile on her face. “I’m glad he doesn’t have to travel so much anymore. He’s only gone a few days a month. What do you do, Ted?”

“I’m Vice President of First National Bank and Trust in St. Louis.”

“How about you, Jill? Do you have a career?” Meghan asked the bubbly blonde.

“I was a nurse, but now I raise three kids, two boys and a girl.”

“That’s a full time job,” Zach answered. “What about you, Glory?” He cut his roast beef and popped a morsel into his mouth. Not bad, he decided.

“Oh, I keep the house neat and work in the garden. I do a lot of canning in the fall. I guess that seems boring to the rest of you.”

Meghan smiled at the frazzled woman. “Not at all. It sounds sensible. You probably save a bundle at the grocery during winter.”

Glory beamed. “You’re so right. I never have to buy tomato sauce for my spaghetti and it’s so much healthier. No pesticides for us. I’m organic.”

“Oh, for God’s sake,” Suzanne muttered, draining her glass.

Dave returned with his plate piled high. “They’ve got a good selection of food. This roast beef looks terrific.”

“It is,” Zach told him. “Better than I expected.

“Thank you,” Glory said. “I helped select the menu.”

“I need another drink.” Suzanne thrust her glass at Dave.

He gestured over his shoulder with his thumb. “The bar’s in that direction.”

Suzanne glared for a second, then shoved her chair back and strode away, none too steadily, Zach noted, but that could have been the result of the four inch heels.

Why do women wear those things anyway?

He gazed at her swaying backside as she walked.
Oh, I guess that’s why.
He decided Meghan’s modest height heels were sexier.

“So, Zach, tell me about Dunbar Electronics and Data Systems. How’s this quarter shaping up?” Dave probed between bites.

If Zach had learned anything over the years, it was to identify fishing expeditions. The company’s initial public offering four years ago had been good and the stock continued to creep up the index in respectable increments.

“Dave, I never talk business over a meal. Food’s too important. I might forget to eat.” Zach tried to keep the tone light. Dave, however, didn’t take the hint.

“Are the rumors true Houseman Digital Services are sniffing around your back door looking for a hostile takeover?”

Dave’s overt questioning sent up a red flag. Zach never divulged information that could be construed in the future as insider trading.

“Dave, even if I could answer that, I wouldn’t.”

Dave frowned and Zach read irritation with a touch of desperation in his eyes. The thought that Dave’s business was not as successful as he claimed flitted through his mind.

Mental note: avoid discussing business with Dave Coryell.

Suzanne returned with her cosmo, set it on the table, and then wobbled her way to the buffet. Zach still couldn’t decide if it was the liquor or the high heels. She came back with a plate full of salad.

“That’s all you’re eating?” Glory asked.

“It’s all I want. I don’t eat dry chicken, overcooked roast beef, greasy fried fish, or tortellini in thick sauce.” Suzanne plopped down into her chair.

For a moment, Glory looked as if she would love to smack Suzanne right in the mouth. In Zach’s opinion, she deserved it.

“I think the chicken is delicious,” Meghan said. “Perhaps if you’d gotten there earlier, it wouldn’t have dried out.”

Now, Suzanne looked like
she
wanted to smack Meghan. She sipped her drink instead. Apparently, Meghan had learned the art of answering back over the years.

Before Zach could think of something to say, Jill turned her head toward the insulted woman. “Glory, what’s this I hear about Tami Robinson being murdered?”

“Murdered!” Suzanne exclaimed, almost choking on a piece of lettuce.

Dave stared with a stunned expression, his fork poised halfway to his mouth.

Meghan also ceased eating to stare with a shocked gaze.

“Oh, yes,” Glory replied. “She was stabbed in the back with a butcher knife in the foyer of her own house. Can you believe that?”