Part 17 (1/2)

”You're gonna be an aunt,” Kalen sang when I answered the phone. ”I heard the heartbeat today. The baby is strong and healthy.”

”I'm happy for you, sis, I really am.” I tried to sound upbeat for her sake.

”There's one little problem, though. My doctor wants me to take it easy, no stress. Remember when I agreed to attend that conference in Atlanta?”

I plopped down on the couch with a vague recollection of a conversation we'd had. Kalen had agreed to give a presentation on behalf of Natural Beauty, a hair product line we used at the salons. In exchange, they used some of our models for their advertis.e.m.e.nts. It boosted our clientele overnight.

”I remember. What happens if you cancel now?”

”That's just the point. The conference is a week away and I'm locked in. Angela is counting on me, and I've already paid for the hotel. It's like five hundred bucks a night.”

”Must you always travel deluxe?” I asked, calculating what we'd already spent.

”Yes, I must,” Kalen said unapologetically. ”I work my a.s.s off, and when I have to leave home, I expect to be pampered.”

”So what exactly are you asking me to do?” I hoped she wasn't going to confirm my worst fear.

”I told Angela that you'd stand in for me. Are you there?”

Kalen asked when I didn't respond.

”I'm gonna have to start wearing diapers along with your baby because lately every time you open your mouth, I want to s.h.i.+t in my pants.”

”You're such a big t.i.t sometimes, Shannon. You can do this.”

114.

*”Why can't Blitz do it?”

”Because she's got like twenty studs in her face, and she's not exactly the public speaking type.”

”And I am? Kalen, I've never given a speech in my life!”

”I'll coach you, everything's already written. You can bring a couple of my Valiums if that'll help. I can't take them anymore.”

”Call it off. Tell Angela that we'll have to catch her on the next round. I don't care if we lose money on the hotel.”

”Now listen to me,” Kalen said, sounding a lot like our mother. A tone she would no doubt use on my future niece or nephew. ”You've been telling me lately how you're doing things on your own, and this time you have to take the reins for me.”

”I'll think about it.”

”No, there's no time to think about it. We have to prep you for the presentation and buy some suitable clothes for you to wear. Look, you can bring Marvin. He can chat up everybody at the booth. All you have to do is give the speech. Surely, you can handle that.”

My brain started screaming. I'm packing my s.h.i.+t and hightailing it out of here. She's going down.

”You can do this,” Kalen said, softening her tone. ”I've always done things like this because I knew you hated it, not because I thought you were incapable. I wouldn't ask if I didn't think it was important. Angela is counting on us, and you have to at least acknowledge that she's done us a huge favor already.”

”I want the Valium.”

”Deal. Now drop whatever you're doing and come pick me up. We have a lot of shopping to do.”

11.

Chapter 18.

When in doubt-fake it.

The week went by like a blur. We shopped like madwomen, and I had a new wardrobe consisting of three suits, three pairs of slacks, and a few blouses. One of my suitcases alone was filled with nothing but shoes. I might've been scared s.h.i.+tless, but I looked like a million bucks. I hoped-and I think Kalen did, too-that the finely tailored clothes would give me the appearance of someone who had her c.r.a.p together.

Hailey had not returned home, nor did she answer any of my messages or calls. And being in Atlanta knowing that's where she lived and worked before she came to New Orleans made it worse.

I was constantly reminded of her.

Kalen had the room upgraded to a suite. Though she swore it was only a nominal difference, I doubted it. Marvin and I had our own rooms and a s.p.a.cious area to lounge in when we weren't at the conference. I watched as he moved around the room touching everything like a child.

”Look at this bar.” Marvin opened the gla.s.s doors to the cabinet filled with liquor and crystal gla.s.ses. ”This is a sw.a.n.k place.”

I browsed through the itinerary as he poured a couple of club sodas. ”There's a social at four. Do I have to go to that?” I asked as he handed me a gla.s.s.

Marvin took a seat across from me on the sofa. He sat with his forearms resting on his thighs and stared down at his drink.

11.

*”I have to be honest with you, Shannon. Kalen told me not to say anything, but I think you need to know that she gave me very strict instructions to make sure you were present for all events. You're the face of the company right now, and you have to mingle.”

She'd given me the same speech, but it still rankled me that she'd given Marvin orders to enforce it.

”I know you're shy,” Marvin continued. ”So I was thinking that I'd do most of the talking and kind of open things up for you to step in when you're comfortable.”

”Okay, but you have to promise not to leave my side because the minute I find myself alone, I'm outta there.”

Marvin seemed relieved that I wasn't bucking the idea. ”Deal, but be patient if I have to go to the bathroom.”