Lila Fowler slammed the door of her new white Mercedes convertible in annoyance. It was just after four in the afternoon, and this was her second time coming in today. She had left earlier at two, and went home to relax at the pool, only to have her manager call with an emergency situation. She then called the Turn of the Nail, a salon at the Valley Mall, where she had booked an appointment for four, and told them she would have to reschedule.
Lila examined her delicate hands. The new color she imagined was just going to have to wait. Usually, she loved spending time at work, seeing the fruits of her labor, or more appropriately the juices of her labor. Her little bar, that she gave the name Juicy Lucy, was rapidly becoming quite a success. Lila had hired a nutritionist who came up with several healthy, yet delicious mixes that were quickly becoming must haves for the patrons who frequented the establishment.
The menu included Malibu Mango Madness, Thailand Breeze, Very Berry Smoothies, and a Witch Doctor Special, that had been most popular on Halloween. Lila stood outside, observing the bright yellow striped awnings that covered the front door. Her place was classy, but at the same time, very welcoming to appeal to the average customer. Lila shook her head at the latest mess.
Her manager had informed her that a shipment of chia seeds had spilled somewhere on the Pacific coast highway.
Do I have to do everything myself? Lila muttered as she walked into the attached building. She smiled at the seated customers and walked into her office in the back where she immediately got on the phone and demanded reshipment of the chia seeds. After ten minutes of back and forth and threatening to take her business elsewhere, the shipping agent apologized profusely and promised a complete reimbursement for the lost goods, as well as free delivery for the next day.
After hanging up the phone, Lila reflected on one of the pictures at her desk. It was taken recently, where her parents were in the Bahamas on the beach somewhere, having the time of their lives. She looked at her father, his hair was a bit more salt than pepper, but he looked more relaxed than she ever recalled seeing him. Her father wasn't at his office today…..again.
On some days, Lila didn't even recognize the man he'd become. She was accustomed to seeing George Fowler in a business suit, always immaculately dressed, his custom made leather shoes polished, not a hair out of place. She couldn't remember a time when she'd ever seen him wearing jeans. But he was wearing them this morning. And that was after she'd seen him earlier lounging around in his pajamas. She had walked into the kitchen to see George senior in a striped pair of very casual lounge wear.
Good morning Lila, he smiled and kissed her cheek, as he filled a sippy cup with some milk from the fridge. There was no need to explain. The milk was for little George, her younger brother.
I bet he never did that for me, Lila thought to herself, as she saw her father leave the kitchen and head into the east wing of their Spanish style mansion. As much as she loved her little brother, she couldn't help but feel resentful of the attention her father lavished on his son. It was a huge adjustment, having a baby in the house. Little George was almost a year old, and his parents oohed and aahed at every little thing he did. They laughed at his messes, his incessant wailing, and she had never seen the two of them more proud than the day he was able to stand in his play pen, hold on to the sides and walk.
She pictured the toddler, grabbing the phone, putting everything in his mouth, and throwing tantrums every five minutes. He really is a cute little thing, Lila thought with affection. When he was first born, she had to admit that she didn't want much to do with him. All he did was cry, his piercing screams echoed off the walls of the large home, and drove her to the brink of insanity.
Lila never had any desire to help with his day to day care, she never fed him, never gave him a bath, never held him when he cried. But now…. now that he was older, she found it easier to enjoy his antics, and made more of an effort to play with him. She pictured him shaking his chubby fist at her when he was angry and smiled at how he called her Ya Ya. He had Grace's grey eyes and his hair was a shade darker than their mother's ash blonde. Her little brother had inherited his mother's lighter coloring, but you only had to look at his soft, infantile features to see that he was indeed, a Fowler through and through.
Unlike me, Lila said aloud, thinking about the obvious reason she didn't look like her father. For most of her life, she and George were the only ones who occupied the mansion. Aside from the staff, Lila was usually alone in the huge home. Lila shook her head. She wasn't going to dwell on this, not today. She was young, rich, and very pretty.
She got up, tossed her long brown hair over her shoulder, walked out of the office, and outside towards her car. She sat in the soft leather seat and looked out to the north end of the small financial district. Fowler Tower loomed in the distance. The building was the tallest in Sweet Valley, and Lila couldn't help but be gratified that her name was attached to it. The fact that it stood proudly despite the opposition that came when it was being constructed, was a prime example of her father's drive and determination.
Lila flipped through the mail that she found on her desk. There was nothing but bills. She tossed them on the passenger seat, opened her purse, pulled out her compact, and began brushing her long hair. The Patman family had been the primary opponents to the building's erection.
Lila laughed, remembering the evil looks on Marie Patman's face when the judge ruled in her father's favor. She thought of Bruce, and their relationship. The period when they were together, it seemed so long ago. Bruce had gone back to his womanizing ways, and she realized that their romance had run its course. Lila shook her dark head.
Bruce lives in Paris now, probably bedding a new woman every night.
A sudden figure caught her eye in the rearview mirror.
It was him again, she thought. This is the nicer side of downtown, why is this scum bag hanging around here?
Sweet Valley didn't have too much of a homeless problem, but it did exist, on a small scale. His grey streaked,black greasy hair was styled in an outdated, hideous mullet that Lila hadn't seen since 1983. She could see from this far that his clothes were filthy. He was wearing dark sunglasses, and Lila couldn't see his eyes, but she knew that he was staring at her. He lit a cigarette, and carelessly tossed the used match on the pavement of the parking lot. She watched as he entered a beaten up blue van with a couple of hero sandwiches.
Yuck! Lila said aloud. I don't want people like that to scare my customers.
This wasn't the first time she was seeing this man. He was obviously one of the town's bums, looking for a cleaner area to beg in.
Maybe I should call the police? Lila thought. Heather's gym is right over there. There's plenty of young kids in an out of the place. The last thing they need is a creep like that hanging around those children.
She picked up her car phone, ready to report the man to the authorities.
And what will they do Lila? He has the right to park here.
She placed the phone back in it's cradle.
And he's not causing any trouble, not yet anyway. The police are useless anyway, she fumed angrily. I should have sued them, years ago, when they falsely arrested me for trying to burn down Fowler Crest. If Steven hadn't helped me…
Lila thought back to the time when Jessica's brother came to her rescue and helped get her out of trouble. The two of them had started developing feelings for each other, despite the fact that they had absolutely nothing in common. Steven had behaved like a knight in shining armor, clearing her name and making sure the real culprit, John Pfeifer, was named and shamed.
Steven's really cute, too bad he's a male version of Elizabeth and he's married to Cara. Which makes him too boring, intellectual, and serious for me. And also unavailable.
She pursed her lips. But he's still cute, she laughed aloud.
Especially since he's been living in London...
Knock it off Lila,! she scolded herself.
Jessica would kill you! And one of the few times she ever knew prissy, perfect Elizabeth Wakefield to scheme, was when she was trying to keep Lila and Steven apart.
But he really did come through for you, she reminded herself. Lila shuddered at the memories. John Pfeifer had stalked her for months, following her around, and making her seem like the one who was guilty. He wanted revenge, wanted her dead, after she accused him of attempted rape. The anxiety she had back then, it was starting to emerge again, with the worry over the man in the van, whoever he was.
The trauma she went through in high school made her mistrustful and even more cautious than usual. She started her engine, figuring that she'd just drive to the nail salon. It was just four thirty now. Her favorite manicurist seldom kept her waiting, even when she didn't have an appointment. As she put the car in gear, she noticed a dark haired woman, a girl really, getting into the greasy bum's van. Lila wondered who she was. She was slightly plump, a bit shorter than Lila with long dark hair.
She can do way better than him, Lila thought, as the girl flipped her hair over her shoulder. Something about the girl's gesture was so familiar to her, but she couldn't figure why.
A gross guy like that has a girlfriend and I haven't had a date in months! You must be real hard up Lila, if you're thinking about Steven Wakefield again. You really need to get a man!
Maybe I'll go to Casey's and get some Million Dollar Mocha, after I get my nails done. I might as well get fat on ice cream. And then it's a fun night with George, throwing his huge bouncy ball and watching him squeal with delight as he goes to fetch it. Sounds like an exciting evening. She shook her head, and looked in the mirror again.
I'm young and I'm hot. I'm going to have a boyfriend for New Years if it's the last thing I do…. and if I don't…. I'll join a convent!
Two hours later, Lila drove up Valley Crest Drive, with the top of her car down, grateful that she lived in the warmth of Southern California. Her ice cream sat in the car in the seat next to her. She bought a pint of Million Dollar Mocha, and had the attendant put a scoop of strawberry in a tiny cup. Her baby brother wasn't supposed to eat ice cream, but she figured that just a little taste wouldn't hurt.
She tapped her newly painted nails to the beat of the music, enjoying the balminess of the early evening. The holidays were coming up, Halloween was already over and Thanksgiving was soon approaching. She actually felt a thrill at the thought of buying her family some presents, and watching little George open the wrapped gifts that she planned on getting for him.
The song ended and a new one came on, one that she hated. Lila took her eyes off the winding road for a second, to change the station. The car veered slightly to the left, when a black Mercedes, one very much like her own came into her vision. Lila slammed on the brakes, embarrassed that she almost hit the other driver. She examined the car, not recognizing it. The other driver rolled down his darkened window and gave her a one over.
Watch it, he said, giving her a dirty look. Lila couldn't believe her eyes when she saw who it was. By the time her brain processed who she almost had an accident with, he had already driven off, leaving Lila gaping in fury...