No matter who we are or where we live, we as human beings are consistently doing things to enhance the projections of our lives. We put on our finest clothes, go to the finest parties and put on the prettiest smiles in hopes of leaving people with the idea that our lives are perfect, but what they don't realize is that clothes are merely clothes, parties mere silk screens and smiles simple decoys. It's like "doing yard work" Bree Hodge would say. You do what you can and work on your yard like it's the most important thing in the world. People have this preconception that if the lawn is green and sparkling on the outside, it will mask the pain and deception that occurs on the inside.
Evelyn slowly contemplated her next move as she took another sip of her coffee. It was still hot as it touched her lips and it was too strong as usual, but after months of drinking coffee with Mike nearly every day she had gotten used to it. "You're not playing your thinking too much" Mike said as he set his mug down and examined the chess board in front of him.
"I am playing I am just trying to figure out a way to kick your butt". She moved her knight forward in an attempt to block his, taking another sip when she was done. When Mike was younger his grandfather had kept a chessboard on his front porch. When Mike would come over they would play long into the night, it was one of Mike's favorite memories and he kept the tradition alive by the storing the same oak chessboard on his front porch. For some reason that morning they both had decided to sit down and play.
"So…" Evelyn knew that when Mike started a conversation with so it would never turn out good. He was prying and she wasn't ready to open up it was as simple as that.
"So. So what?" she said keeping a close eye on the board in front of her.
"Have you talked to your mom?" he looked at her with concerned eyes, she could feel it and she refused to look up at him.
"Mike…if I wanted to talk to you about his don't you think I would have brought it up earlier?" she moved another pawn and gave him the same sad look he had given her.
"Yes but all I am saying is that you have put that conversation off for way too long". At that very moment like an act of faith, Gabrielle Solis walked out of her former residence purse in hand.
"Hey Mike! Good Morning Evelyn!" They both waved in unison. Gabrielle crossed the lawn in her light purple heels and made her way to Mike's front porch. "Hey Evelyn, your mom just called, I am going with her to chemo this morning and I thought maybe you would want to tag along. I figured we could get some lunch maybe go shopping afterwards". Gabrielle looked at her with hope filled eyes.
"As much as I would love to Gabby I really have to get to work"
A matter of fact expression crosses Gabrielle's face. "Your mom and dad own the restaurant I am sure Tom won't mind if you miss lunch especially if you are going with us". Mike looked over towards her awaiting her answer.
"I really honestly appreciate the offer but I will go next week. I promise". As much as Gabrielle wanted to believe her she knew it wasn't true.
"Well if you decide later on you want to come you know where we'll be". Gabby walked down the driveway and over to Lynette's, Mike and Evelyn watched as she and Lynette climbed into Gabrielle's car. Lynette looked over and slightly smiled as they drove past her. That little smile broke her heart. In her heart of hearts she wanted to go but she just wasn't ready.
Mike got up from his seat grabbed both coffee cups and walked to the door turning around before he went in. Evelyn quickly looked away in an attempt to avoid the following conversation. "Evelyn you have to talk to her, you can't keep letter her go on thinking she has done something wrong this isn't her fault"
"I know it is not her fault" Evelyn said as she looked over towards her house.
"Then what are you waiting for" he asked.
"I will talk to her I promise". One of the things Evelyn loved about Mike was that he had this uncanny way of turning a serious conversation light when he sensed she was too uncomfortable.
"Sure you will kind of like the time you promised to help me paint the front porch, or the time you promised not to spray me with the hose. I know how that works".
Evelyn laughed and got up from her chair. "I wouldn't have had to do it if you didn't deserve it". She walked over to Mike and quickly kissed the side of his cheek. Before she left though, she turned back towards the chess board and moved a piece blocking Mike's king. "Check mate".
After sitting around the pizzeria for two hours Tom ended up sending half the employees home for lack of sales. Nearly everyone knew the exact reason why their business had declined that day but nobody dared to mention it.
"I still can't believe that asshole Rick opened his restaurant right across the street from ours" Tom said as he paced back and fourth behind the bar. "I mean out of all of the venues in Fairview he had to pick that one".
"Tom you know he is only doing it to spite you" Evelyn said as she jumped on the counter and took another sip of her glass of wine".
"It's the whole new restaurant thing" Joe added. "Its opening night, business will pick back up when the hype around his restaurant starts to calm down." Josephine Huffman had been working at Scavo's since it first opened. Canadian born, Josephine moved to Fairview to start her own non-profit family law firm for underprivileged citizens. She worked in her firm on the weekdays and took up waitressing on the weekends. She was there during Ricks whole run and understood where Tom's hostility for the man arose.
"Well whatever the case may be you girls can head home. Andrew and I are here and it appears that's all we will need for dinner, tell your mother I will be home as soon as I can."
As Tom walked away the wheels in Evelyn's head began to turn. She jumped off the counter and turned to Jo with an excited look on her face. "Why don't we go see what all of the fuss is about."
"As in actually set foot inside Rick's restaurant and risk being caught and killed by your dad? I don't think so".
"Oh come on Jo, well run in incognito grab a table check out the food see what the big deal is and get out." Evelyn could see the apprehension in her friends face and normally she would have backed off but she felt the need to look out for her parent's restaurant and this is something she felt she had to do.
"Evelyn, do you have any idea what will happen if Rick catches us in there or worse if your mother finds out we went?"
Evelyn thought about it for a minute, she knew both Tom and her mom would be furious if they ever found out they set foot in Rick's restaurant but someone had to do it.
After an hour of groveling and reassuring, both girls were dressed to kill and walking up the sidewalk towards the restaurant. They stopped in the ally way and Evelyn pulled two wigs out of her purse.
"Here". Josephine took the long brown wig from her with an absurd look on her face.
"Where did you get these? And we are eating not robbing a bank"
"I was Belle in the school play in high school and a hippie for Halloween two years ago, Just put it on" Evelyn remarked as she threw the blonde wig on. "In case you forgot Rick worked with both of us, I was thinking my red hair would probably be a dead give a way".
Jo threw the long brunette wig on and flipped her head back. "Just so you know you're evil"
Evelyn laughed and threw her arm around Joe's waist. "I know you are too that's why we are such good friends" Josephine smiled as they walked into Rick's.
They were immediately stunned upon entering, it was like walking into another world. The walls were adorned with beautiful Italian art, every table was covered in a white linen table cloth, and the smell of fresh flowers loomed in the air. It was a little early for dinner and nearly every table was filled.
"Holy crap I am not sure we are going to be able to afford to eat here" Evelyn said as she walked up to the podium, "Two please"
Jo knocked her arm and directed her attention to a beautiful replica of Michelangelo's David and the hostess lead them to their table. The place was packed; it was undeniable that people were curious. There only seemed to be one thing missing…waiters. Evelyn threw her purse down and didn't notice a small Scavo pizzeria matchbook fall out of her bag and across the floor. "This place is really nice Evelyn".
She checked out the menu. "I know but look there isn't anything on here kids would eat, at least we still have the family appeal".
After setting two pizza's down on a nearby table a large tan hand bent down and picked the matchbook off of the floor. He twisted it through his fingers before walking over to the table and pulling out a notebook.
"Can I get you ladies something to drink?" Rick asked as he bent down eye level to Evelyn. Jo turned away.
"I'll just have water" Evelyn said as she pretended to look for something in her purse.
"Sure" Rick looked up to her and gently reached out his hand. "Oh I am sorry maam I think there is something in your hair". Rick slowly pulled a strand of her long blonde hair causing her long red locks to fall down across her back. "Hello Evelyn". He turned to look at Jo. "Oh and let me guess who could this be?" He then pulled the long brunette wig off of Jo's hair and she turned to him and smiled. "Josephine, I should have guessed".
"What are you two doing here? Did Tom stoop so low he sent you all to come check on me".
"Of course not" Evelyn said quickly defending Tom. "We were in the area and we were hungry".
"Sure you were, you just happened to throw a wig on this morning when you walked out the door. So curiosity got the best of you huh?" he said as stood back up with a smirk on his face.
"Like I said we were just in the area and as far as I can see there is nothing for us to worry about, the service here is horrible," Evelyn said as she popped the piece of gum she had been chewing in her mouth.
"Well that's because three of the waiters I hired called out so I had to leave the kitchen and now I am stuck out here waiting tables".
"Sounds like a personal problem to me" Jo said as she set her small black glasses on top of her head.
"Don't you think you should be waiting instead of talking?" Rick squat down to Evelyn's level again. There was no denying how good looking he was. His dark skin and soft eyes made him quite the charmer. He had made her mother feel good about herself when she needed it the most. She absolutely didn't blame Tom for being angry but Rick had been a good friend to her when they worked together. "Well I was going to let someone else take care of you guys but I thought I would give you lovely ladies a proposition".
Evelyn sat back in her chair "And that would be?"
"I need your help". Josephine immediately laughed causing Evelyn to turn her way and smile.
"And why would we want to do that?" Evelyn playfully asked turning back towards Rick.
"If you two help me out for two hours I will give you fifty bucks a piece, you keep all your tips and I will and feed you".
Evelyn turned towards Joe. "Can you give us a minute?" Rick stepped back and looked around panicked as if he was afraid of what would happen if they didn't stay.
"What if your dad comes over here?" Jo immediately whispered.
"He isn't going to come over here he can't stand Rick".
"Are you sure?" she asked genuinely concerned for both of their well being.
"I am 99.9 percent sure he isn't even thinking about showing up".
Jo thought about it for a minute. "It is fifty bucks" They both whispered indiscreetly for a couple more seconds, before Evelyn turned towards him.
"Make it a hundred a piece plus tips and thrown in your finest bottle of wine and were in".
"A hundred dollars, that ridiculous".
Evelyn slyly smiled. "Look around it isn't even dinner time and you're packed. Imagine what it's going to be like in about..." she looked down at her watch "oh I'd say about half an hour".
Rick smiled faintly remembering Evelyn had a knack for bargaining. "Fine but you can't go back in the kitchen for any reason other than to pick up orders, no snooping around for ingredients and if needed you bus your own tables".
"Deal" Evelyn said and Rick shook both their hands before giving them an apron and sending them to work.
Two and a half hours later both girls were exhausted. They had waited table after table after table before Evelyn was sure there was no brochette left to serve anyone. She walked back to the kitchen to grab the last plate of the night when she felt something nail her in the back at the full speed. Before she had time to think she was knocked to the ground. She looked up to find Jo lying on top of her. "Evelyn that .01 percent happened". Her palms immediately got sweaty and her face turned red as she eased up over the top of a table and sure enough there was Tom standing in front of the statue of David yelling at Rick.
"Oh my God what is he doing here?" They both began crawling underneath the tables in an effort to make their way to the bathrooms.
"I don't know I was cleaning up a table and I heard him screaming in the background saying something about having the same special as us and that's when I realized it was him". Evelyn knocked her head on the top of one of the tables and Jo tried her best to conceal a scream as she ran head on into a table base. After what felt like an eternity and a few disturbing looks from the remaining customers the girls reached the bathrooms locking themselves inside.
"What are we going to go?" Jo asked quickly scanning the restroom for anyone else.
"I don't know but we can't go back out there." Both girls looked up and as if inspiration hit they both jumped on the bathroom counter and attempted to climb out the bathroom window at the same exact time.
Jo got out first. "Oh my god the window is like eight feet off the ground." Evelyn continued to push her through.
"Just jump" she gave her one good shove and Jo hit the ground with a thud.
"I so did not go to law school for this".
Evelyn quickly attempted to make her way out the window when her dress got stuck on the latch. "I am stuck" she exclaimed trying to pull herself out.
"Just rip it Evelyn we have to go". She tugged one good time at the fabric causing her to flip out the window knocking Jo in the arm on her way down. Her descend from the window could not have happened at a worse time. They looked up to see Tom walking past the alleyway. "Shhh don't say anything maybe he didn't see us". They wouldn't have been so lucky. Tom stopped to find both girls lying on the ground with their eyes closed as if that would keep him from seeing them.
After helping them up, Tom walked silently behind them both all the way back to the pizzeria, that was worst than any yelling Evelyn knew was about to occur. They both entered the pizzeria with the slightest bit of hesitance. Andrew was standing behind the counter polishing glasses and looked at Evelyn imitating a knife going across his throat. Evelyn sarcastically smiled at him and both girls sat down and the nearest table. Tom began to pace back and forth again, without saying a word. Evelyn closely watched him and watched his face get redder and redder with each step. After two minutes which seemed like forever he finally stopped and turned towards them. "Give me the aprons".
They quickly stood up and as if it was a race to the finish they both ripped their aprons off as quickly as possible. With outstretched arms Tom snatched both aprons out of their hands and threw them into the trash. "Josephine go home, be back here at 9 tomorrow." Jo surprisingly looked over at Evelyn, fearing her friend would get the majority of the blame. " Mr Scavo it wasn't just Evelyn's fault please don't blame her for the whole thing I wanted to go".
"We can discuss it tomorrow" Tom said taking a sip of a glass he had sitting on the counter. She slowly rose up from her chair waiving to Andrew and sorrowfully waving at Evelyn who half heartedly smiled at her before walking out the door. The minute the pizzeria door shut it was as if a bomb had been detonated.
"What in the world is the matter with you? I want to know what the hell you were thinking when you decided to go over there".
Evelyn slowly chose her words before she released them. "We didn't do it as a malicious thing Tom I promise it was opening night and we had no business so we just wanted to go check out the competition that's all". He stopped with both hands on his hips and his lips pushed together.
"Well I am not sure but when I caught you sneaking outside the bathroom window wearing his aprons it didn't look to me like you were just eating there".
Evelyn looked down immediately regretting the decision to take the money and help Rick. "He offered us money to help him wait tables and…" she stopped momentarily noticing the anger that reflected in his eyes." I needed it so I told him we would".
"So let me just get this straight, On opening night, the one night that we would need him to give bad service, the one night the newspaper was going to review his restaurant, the one night that was our chance to get ahead of the game you decided to take a bribe, throw us under the bus, and go help Rick and for what huh? How much did he pay you?"
Evelyn quickly stood up to defend herself. "Tom it wasn't like that and you know it." Tom had been Evelyn's only father her whole life. They had always gotten along pretty well and he had never yelled at her, especially never like this. Out of nowhere he backed her into the chair she was sitting in and slammed both his hands on the table. "You went behind my back and helped the one person I had asked you numerous times not to go near". His breath was warm on her face and his eyes bored into hers with a red intensity. "You not only humiliated me but you humiliated your mother so I am going to ask you one last time Evelyn". He raised his finger mere centimeters away from her nose. "Don't ever go near that restaurant or that man again. Do you understand me"? Evelyn looked away and Tom quickly grabbed her face with his right hand and forced her to look back at him. "Promise me". Andrew quickly came out from behind the counter grabbing at Toms arm. "Mr. Scavo come on". His arm didn't move and his release on Evelyn's face didn't loosen up either. She looked at him "I promise" she said as he quickly let go of her face and walked away. Andrew bent down and looked up at her.
"Are you okay?" Evelyn quickly smiled at him "I am fine" she said though he could see she was on the verge of tears. She stood up from the table and pulled her keys out of her purse. "I am going to run and relieve Mom from babysitting duty". Andrew tried to reach for her hand but she quickly starting walking towards the door. Andrew watched as she climbed into her dark grey Altima and sped out of the parking lot.
There is a ritual the housewives of Wisteria Lane have observed for years. Once a week they meet to play a game of cards and talk about their lives it had become a tradition and something each of them had looked forward to every week. As Lynette picked up her cards and examined her hand she sighed and thought about her family. " Ian got yet another job in Paris so he is flying out there next week" Susan exclaimed.
"Oh Honey, you just got back please tell me you are not going" Gabby said as she picked up a card and discarded another one.
"No I am going to stay. Julie is coming home this weekend so we are going to spend some time together".
"I think it's always so cute when moms and daughters get together to do stuff, maybe we can go out to lunch" Gabrielle added.
"Isn't it? Bree exclaimed.
"Do you have any exciting weekend plans?" Susan asked Bree.
"My kids are going to help me finish the garden out back and then I am working on planning for the benefit gala and that's about it" Bree looked up and smiled enthusiastically.
Lynette stopped what she was doing and looked up at Bree. "What did you just say" Lynette asked with a fake smile on her face. "Danielle isn't here you only have one".
Bree looked up from her hand and smiled at Lynette. "Excuse me?" Bree asked.
"You only have one child here". Lynette sat back in her chair.
"That's what I meant Andrew is going to help me". Lynette set her cards down on the table.
"But that's not what you said; you said my kids meaning you put Evelyn in the same category as Andrew".
Bree set her cards down and put an even bigger smile on her face. "Lynette I am sure she didn't mean it that way" Gabrielle added.
She looked at Bree and then back at Susan and Gabrielle "Okay". Lynette said picking up her cards. Susan and Gabrielle looked at each other and both hid their faces. Lynette felt as she hadn't quite got her point across. "But you do understand Bree that she isn't your daughter".
"Lynette I don't understand why you are getting so worked up I know she isn't my daughter I never said that she was, yes I referred to her when I said my children but it was an accident out of habit".
Susan and Gabrielle quickly got up from their seats. "Let me take some of the plates into the kitchen" Gabrielle said as they both walked away.
"Bree you get why I am just a little upset don't you?"
"No not really" Bree said as she folded her napkin and set it on the table.
"Bree, my daughter spends every waking moment of her life with you. She gets up feeds the kids, goes to class, and whenever I call her she is always "baking a cake with Bree" or "grocery shopping with Bree" just because your daughter messed up and you sent her off to school doesn't mean you have to take mine you can't keep taking her away from me."
Bree looked at Lynette astounded, and at that time the girls walked back into the room. "Is that what you think this is? Do you think I am trying to take her away from you?"
Lynette stood up and began to pace."I am not perfect Bree and I never have been, I just wish you both would stop punishing me for it. I am not the perfect wife I am not the perfect mom but I am doing the best I can." She ran her fingers through her hair and pulled her jacket tightly around her. "I know you think that you can do better and I understand that you two are close how can you not be? While I was off at the office you were picking her up from school and you were there with her those nights I worked late. I feel like all of those little pieces of her childhood I gave to you". Bree looked up at her sympathetically. "That is no one's fault but my own, and I am trying to make up for it. That's why when I had the twins I stopped working…those boys were my second chance".
Gabrielle and Susan walked over and laid a hand on each of Lynette's shoulders. "I am fine really I am done talking about it", when everyone thought the conversation was over and that was all that was going to be said Lynette did something no one expected. "Just stay away from her okay Bree, just for a little while".
Bree jumped up from the table "you can't do that Lynette, I need her."
Lynette turned around and broken heartedly smiled at her friend. "I do too…that's why I am doing this". Lynette stood up out of letting her friends hands drop off her shoulders and walked out the door with a single tear falling down her face.
Regret…it a word used quite often when it comes to our children. We regret letting them get so out of control, we regret the time we left them stranded on the side of the road. We regret not being there when they fall asleep at night, and we regret burdening them with the horrible things that enter our lives. So how do we make the regret go away? We learn to accept the fact that everything happens for a reason, that the hard times you go through build character, and every step you take in life is working towards making you a better person.