Hillwood, February 2015
It was packed. He never expected it to be such a crush. He passed by Nadine at the corner, laughing at something her husband said. He was a tall, dark-skinned man with glasses. He couldn't remember if the guy was an accountant or a lawyer. He had his arm casually slung around his wife.
Maybe he'll say hi to them later. Maybe.
Just across them was Harold with his tiny wife, Laura. If he recalled correctly, she just gave birth a month ago. Rhonda got them an expensive crib as a present for the baby shower. He remembers the time she told him about it. Amazing that tiny facts like that stuck around in his head just because she said it but twenty minutes after leaving an account meeting and he can't remember what had been discussed.
Tap tap tap.
His foot couldn't stop moving. There was an anxious rhythm to the way it hit barstool.
She wasn't here yet. Or he just hadn't found her yet. The bar was pretty big. At a red booth seat, Helga and Arnold were having their drinks. When Helga spotted him, she gave a huge wave and gestured for him to come over. He flashed her a quick smile and thumbs up before going towards them, sidestepping a few people in the way. He could never say no to Helga. Nor could anyone really. The brusque girl could be charming if she chose to be and effectively convincing if she she has to be.
"It's quite crowded, isn't it?" he said loudly, to be heard over then. They were talking in hushed tones when he approached.
"Quite," Arnold said.
They looked well and so in love. The kind of love that one saw in movies. It almost made him sick. Helga was wearing a maroon sweater that went well with her blonde hair and Arnold sported a checkered baby blue polo.
"This is cozy. What have you all been up to?" he sighed, finally sitting down.
Helga beamed at him, grasping Arnold's hand. Her husband gave Thaddeus a nod before going back to staring at his wife adoringly. He tucked a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear. She tried to shoo his hand away, jokingly. Thaddeus could tell by the soft smile on her lips she didn't mind the contact at all.
"Oh, you know, Arnold got promoted, my book's a bestseller…"
"Braggart," Thaddeus teased.
Helga and Arnold laughed.
"And now, well, only today we discovered we're having a baby."
He froze.
Arnold and Helga beamed at him. The longer he kept quiet, the more their smiles slipped.
It wasn't as if it should come as a surprise. Married couples usually have babies, Thaddeus reminded himself. But this was different, it was people he knew from childhood, since kindergarten even, and all of a sudden they're having a child. It all felt very adult.
Then, his face broke into a wide grin. A genuine one. Because no matter how shocking the news was, he was still ridiculously happy for them. He saw the expression of relief on their faces.
"Oh God! Congratulations! This is great news. I'm so happy for you guys. Is it a boy or a girl? Do you know yet?"
Helga laughed, placing her hands up.
"Whoa, slow down, didn't think you out of all people would be so excited about this. I mean, it's sweet but shocking."
"I'm just a little surprised and why shouldn't I be excited? This is amazing," he exclaimed. It might be the tequila shots he had taken earlier that have been amplifying the excitement or his bipolar mania. They don't need to know that.
"Thanks, Curly," Arnold said in his gentle way.
Thaddeus froze again. Arnold was the only one who still called him that. Nobody calls his that. Except… well, and even then, only in the throes of passion.
"So, boy or girl?" he said, trying to calm his nerves by gulping down his drink.
Yeah, Curly. More alcohol is definitely what you need.
Arnold narrowed his eyes. Maybe Arnold suspected the news was freaking him out. The man was intuitive even when they had been children.
Helga shrugged, tilting her head to one side. Like she was trying to figure out what was truly going on. "We don't know yet."
Another intuitive and highly curious Shortman. He had to choose his next words wisely.
"What are you planning to name him or her? Hav–"
The door opened and there was a chorus of cheers. He glanced to see who it was. He released a breath. She could have picked a better time to arrive.
His sentence trailed off as he looked at her. As usual, she was stunning, dressed in a white and red striped number. It was a strapless dress that fanned out into a poofy skirt from the waist down. He stared at her bare shoulders and her delicious neck. The neck he had become well acquainted with.
Arnold and Helga followed his eyes. Helga interjected with a snide remark.
"Still her, huh? Geez, you'd think you'll be over it by now. You do realise she's married, right?" she said.
"Helga!" Arnold chided. He shot Thaddeus an apologetic look.
"What?" she replied, taking a sip of her drink. "He's better off."
Thaddeus wasn't paying attention to them. He was noticing the man attached to the crook of her arm, Edward 'Eddy' Smith. One of the richest men in the country. Also, her husband. His jaw tightened.
Smarmy son of a bitch.
Helga was watching them too. "God, I hate him. Look at his smug face. Not even 10 seconds in this bar and he already looks like he's going to catch a disease by being here. He still probably doesn't know who we are."
Helga was right. Eddy's eyes swept the place, his mouth curled in masked disgust.
"I bet he wears a ton of cologne," she whispered. "To mask the smell of cold hard cash."
At that, Thaddeus laughed and went back to paying attention to the couple in the booth. He had to be careful tonight. He couldn't be seen too eager to talk to her or stare at her for too long. It'll draw attention.
But even as he thought that, he felt the back of his neck prickle and knew she was the one staring at him. He pictured her face in his mind, the tanned skin and pouty red lips… the hazel eyes that sparkled and changed colour depending on the light. Teal in the daylight and gingerbread in the dark.
"That's not very nice, Helga," Arnold chided. "He could be a decent guy for all we know."
Helga snorted. "How decent could he be if he cheats on her?"
Once again, Helga's knowledge of such private matters struck him. Arnold just shook his head. How did Helga know about that? And Arnold too? Was it common knowledge?
He feigned innocence. "He cheats on her?"
Helga nodded but there wasn't a hint smugness in her expression. There was only regret. As though she wished a better circumstance for Rhonda.
"Lucy Marlowe, went to middle school with us, always runs her mouth about how he takes her to exotic locales for dates and dessert afterwards. You know how gossip spreads around this town."
Arnold was keeping quiet but Thaddeus could tell from his expression that he didn't like where the conversation had gone. It surprised him when out of the blue he spoke up.
"She should leave him," he said in a firm tone.
Helga faced her husband and scowled. "Just a second ago you said to give him a chance and that he might be a decent guy."
Thaddeus knew when to keep quiet in front of a couple. It's usually during times when the two have gone to only addressing each other. He watched as the conversation between the pair turned sour.
"He still might be. Just stuck in a loveless marriage. But she should definitely leave him for his transgressions."
"How could he be a decent guy and a cheater?" Helga's tone was angrier then.
"People make mistakes and more often than not we are swayed by emotions, not logic," he calmly replied.
"Are you justifying his cheating?" she asked, now obviously furious.
"Absolutely not. All I'm saying is that we don't see the entire picture but based on what you've said, she should definitely end the marriage. She's been dismal since the wedding. Do you even say hi to Rhonda or check up on her? She always seems sad. She may only be staying married out of loyalty and responsibility to her parents."
Helga shut up after that. She and Rhonda may not have been the best of friends growing up but they had been friends. Friendly enough for Rhonda to invite her and Arnold to her wedding a few years ago. She never really thought about how the heiress might be fairing currently. The guilt was evident on her face, Thaddeus observed.
"Well, someone should tell her she deserves better," Helga said, looking pointedly at Thaddeus.
In response, he took another swig. As he put down the half-empty glass, he said, "Great plan. She's really going to listen to her childhood stalker."
There was an awkward silence that filled the table. Thaddeus and Helga still stared at each other, challenging one another to back down. She sighed. Arnold chuckled at the ridiculousness of it all. They both ignored him.
"Let's just all agree this conversation has taken a really weird turn," Thaddeus said. "Let's talk about your baby instead. Have you guys decided to tell anyone else?"
The couple took the chance to change the subject. They informed him that they've chosen a godfather. It was no surprise that it's Gerald. He and Phoebe weren't at the reunion because of a convention but they had been informed over the phone just that afternoon.
Arnold's family have also been told of the good news. Helga was going to tell her sister over the weekend. Thaddeus was touched to realise he was one of the first few to know. They spoke of other things to catch up like who had gotten married, who had gotten fired from their jobs, and who else have had children.
"You have to be at the baby shower," Helga said, just as their order of hot wings reached the table.
She gave a delighted squeal and reached for one.
"Sorry about the pig show. It's the cravings," she explained as the waiter came back with another plate. "I don't understand why it's hot wings that comes to mind. I always thought it would be pork floss."
Arnold just beamed happily, rubbing his wife's shoulders. "Don't forget the ice cream. It has to be rocky road or she'll throw a tantrum."
She snorted, an admirable feat when it's done at the same time as stuffing one's face with chicken. "I do not throw tantrums. And how could I forget since you always eat half of it?"
"Guilty as charged."
"I really don't have to be at a baby shower," Thaddeus interjected. "I have no business there."
Watching them, he felt a pang of envy. They had such an easygoing relationship. Filled with trust, friendship and love. Being with them, it's so easy to be fooled into dreaming that it could happen to anyone. Thaddeus knew how hard it was to find love like that. He'd settled for less.
Her.
Less. Was it less? Or was it exactly what he needed? Had he become greedy?
Recently, there had been a growing urge to tell the world that Rhonda was his and he was hers if she'll have him. It was one of those stupid impulses he got like stripping naked in a vicinity of a lake or unlocking cages at a zoo.
Things that he had gotten under control when puberty arrived. He really need to get back on his meds.
"Well, well, well… What do we have here? Mind if I join you?" her voice cut through his thoughts.
There she was, smiling down at him. Ma coeur. Her eyes settled on him just a tad longer than necessary before moving to Helga and Arnold.
Helga shrugged, continuing to eviscerate the plate of wings in her path and Arnold gestured for her to have a seat. "It's great to see you, Rhonda."
"Likewise," she happily replied. She turned to Thaddeus.
"Scoot," she commanded.
He did. Her bossiness shot a thrill through him. After he moved, she took a seat beside him. Then, she placed her unseen hand on his lap. He gulped.
"So, how are all of you?" she inquired, pouring herself some iced tea from the pitcher. Her other hand was busy rubbing his thigh under the table. Thaddeus wanted to groan.
"Just great, Princess," Helga said. "You'd never guess what happened."
"Did you bully another grocer to give you a 20% discount?" she asked flatly.
Helga mumbled, "No! That was one time. I swear you never let me live it down. Not all of us are filthy rich like you."
Rhonda smirked. "It's sad, really."
Helga glared at her before giving her a wide grin. "I have better news. Arnold and I are having a kid."
"Helga!" Arnold exclaimed. "I really wish you'd warn me before just spouting of the news."
Thaddeus wanted to laugh at his reaction before he spared a glance at Rhonda. If she was surprised, she was covering her shock well. He hardly knew the news affected her if she didn't tighten her grip on his thigh, her nails digging into his flesh.
"Congratulations," she said smoothly, taking a sip from her glass.
"Thanks. Now that we've got that out of the way– wait, where's your husband?" Helga asked.
Rhonda smiled. A smile that made her tense around the eyes. "Don't mind him. He's a big boy. He's talking to Lila."
Sure enough, beside the jukebox, there was Eddy Smith talking to a tall, slim, gorgeous redhead in a tight midnight green dress. He appeared to be flirting with her but she seemed to be having none of it. If her polite smile was an indication, she wanted to escape the conversation fast.
She was looking around the room for someone to rescue her.
"I see. I thought I'd never see him in these type of functions," Helga commented.
"I had to bribe him with new golf clubs," Rhonda revealed with that same tight smile.
"What are they talking about?" Helga said after watching the two. Rhonda glanced at her husband and frowned.
"Beats me," she said, focusing back on Helga. "I read your book, I loved it."
If anybody noticed the change in subject, nobody commented on it.
One Helga's brows raised. "Oh yeah? It's not too sappy?"
"Not at all. Very romantic. I loved the ending."
Helga laughed, offering the last few wings to Arnold. He happily munched on them.
"I thought you would."
Rhonda smiled. "Did you do the re-write after my suggestion?"
He noticed her hand was still on his thigh. The spot where it was burned a hole through his pants.
"Of course, I did."
There was always a sense of camaraderie between Rhonda and Helga but this was news to the two men.
"You give her writing advice? And she takes it?" Arnold asked the heiress. "She never listens to what I have to say about her writing."
"You're probably too nice. Helga wants someone to give it to her straight. A critique is what she needs, not praise," she comforted him.
Taking her husband's hand in hers, Helga said, "Sorry, darling, she's right. In addition, she minored in English Literature. The second reason is the one that holds more weight actually.
It had been a shock to everyone that Rhonda did not pursue fashion in college. Instead, she chose to be an Art History major with a minor in Literature. Her father deemed them useless degrees but she disagreed. It paid to be cultured, especially in their circles. She travelled Europe during her studies. It was during one of those travels that she crossed path with her childhood nemesis.
Curly? What the hell are you doing here in Rome?
I could ask you the same, sweets…
"I recommended it to my reading club, they all love it."
"It's because it panders to women," Helga said, unashamed. "My demographic is bored married ladies."
"The great Helga Pataki short changing herself. Hell must have frozen over. Besides, I know a guy who's read it," Rhonda said before turning to Thaddeus, her hand now back stroking his thigh. She grinned at him. "What did you think of it?"
His tongue seemed to have stopped working because no words wanted to come out of his mouth. He could only focus on her hand.
Helga laughed, "You've read my book?"
He didn't want to make a big deal of it. "It was a show of support," was all he could say. He was distracted by the roaming hand. It was getting dangerously close to his package.
Helga hadn't stopped laughing. "I'm touched, really."
"I'm glad," he said flatly, finally having the courage to put his hand on top of Rhonda's. He heard her gasp beside him. A sound so soft that if he hadn't been expecting it he would have missed it.
He wanted to take her away from this bustling restaurant. Away from the expectations. Away from the cheating husband. And yes, he knew exactly how hypocritical that sounded.
"Rhonda!" Eddy called. He must have pissed Lila off because she was running for the bar and she never drinks. In the corner of his eye, he saw her down what appeared to be a whiskey shot.
Eddy was quickly making his way over.
Thaddeus discreetly snatched back his hand. Rhonda did the same.
"Hello, I'm Eddy Smith," the tall man introduced himself to the table even though it was the fifth time they'd all met. He still doesn't have any clue who they were.
"Hi," they all greeted him. They had gotten used to this by the third introduction. It made Arnold angry, Thaddeus knew, but Mr. Nice Guy that he was, he never said anything for fear of embarrassing Rhonda.
Speaking of Rhonda, she was furious. "You've met my friends before. Why are you introducing yourself? Again."
At that, Eddy's ears turned red. He didn't like being made to look a fool.
"Of course, I remember them, sweetheart."
Thaddeus had never heard a pet name uttered so venomously. Eddy's distress amused him. He stifled a smile.
Eddy pointed at Helga. "You're the writer, right?"
So he did remember, he just doesn't think they were important enough to acknowledge. Thad knew Arnold realised the same thing, his knuckles were turning white. Not a lot of people could push Arnold to the edge. This guy had been there less than a minute and he is rapidly succeeding.
Helga, paying no attention to her husband's irritation, nodded. "Yeah, that's me. Would you like to join us?" she asked in a tone that clearly suggested she rather he didn't.
"Oh, I can't. I'm just here to escort Rhonda home. Early meeting tomorrow. Are you ready, honey?"
Beside him, Rhonda was becoming more enraged, her jaw was set and her eyes narrowed. "We haven't even been here an hour."
"I know but I told you about the meeting before we left. I have to be at Chicago by ten tomor–"
She stood up suddenly. "It's fine. Let's go."
It wasn't fine. He didn't know when he'll see her again. He'd been looking forward to spending time with her for months but they had to keep up with appearances.
"Sorry guys, I have to get going. It's nice to see you here tonight," she said. Helga and Arnold stood up to give her a hug. "Congratulations again. You guys will make wonderful parents. Call me about the baby shower."
Thaddeus stayed put.
"Curly," she said, just giving him a nod. To everyone's knowledge, they're still not that friendly towards each other. Eddy stood by the side, glancing at his Patek Philippe watch.
He nodded in acknowledgement. "Have a good evening."
She smiled before she was dragged away by her husband. It wasn't until they were out of the bar that Arnold spoke. He and Helga sat back down.
"You're right. I don't think he's decent at all."
Helga giggled. She rested her head on her husband's shoulder. "You looked like you were about to give him one of your karate chops. It was hot."
The man blushed.
"Geez, I'm right here. Talking like that is probably what got you pregnant," Thaddeus said. Arnold laughed and Helga gave Thaddeus a murderous glare.
He was reaching for his glass when he noticed a piece of paper on the seat Rhonda occupied. He pocketed it before announcing he needed to go to the toilet. The couple went back to flirting with each other and he slipped away. It was only at the vacant men's room he opened the note.
Ritz-Carlton. 7pm. 22. Sunday. - R
Thaddeus beamed. Maybe the night wasn't so hopeless after all.