Читать книгу Celia's Shadow - Sandy Levy Kirschenbaum - Страница 24

Fredric, Emma, and Jillian walked across the football field and found the shadiest seats they could locate. Freddy had asked them to come to his Step-Up ceremony into first grade. Although Emma knew Freddy, she had yet to meet his “extended” family. She asked Jillian to join them and hoped her cousin’s support would help calm the knots in her stomach. Fredric had warned her about his ex-wife.

“If we find seats before she gets here, we might be able to avert an invasion.” Fredric rubbed Emma’s back.

The trio settled in their seats in the eighth row, feeling somewhat sheltered by the sea of strangers surrounding them.

“Oh brother.” Fredric motioned his head toward a woman headed in their direction. He opened his can of cola and took a sip. “She has radar. That’s her coming this way. The one in the red pants and the white high heels. Just want you to be prepared. I’m sure Freddy told her you would be here.” He put his arm around Emma’s shoulder and pulled her close.

Emma bit her lower lip as she anxiously made eye contact with her cousin.

His ex-wife rushed over and sat down in the empty seat next to Jillian. She leaned forward in front of Jillian and made direct eye contact with Emma. “Good afternoon. I’m the original Mrs. Fredric Cerezo. You know? Fredric’s first wife and first choice.” She emphasized the word “first” as she glared at Emma.

“Is ‘The Original’ a hyphenated first name? You know, like John-Paul?” Jillian antagonistically asked the question.

Emma pushed her elbow into Jillian’s side.

“You must be Emily.” Her eyes still fixed on Emma, she ignored Jillian’s harassing comment. She turned toward Jillian. “And you are?” She curved her lips to a snarl.

Fredric stopped her in her tracks. “This is Emma! Not Emily, which I know you know. And this is cousin Jillian.”

The ex-wife stood from her chair just enough to lean over Emma and Jillian. She reached for Fredric’s cola. “I’m so thirsty. I’ll just take a sip.” She seized the soda and sat back down before Fredric realized what happened. She held the can up to her lips and took several sips. Again, she leaned in front of the other women and attempted to return the cola to Fredric.

“Keep it.” He moved his hands away from her and motioned he no longer wanted the soda.

Before anyone could say another word, she got up from her seat. “Good to meet you girls.” She turned and walked away.

Jillian’s eyes opened wide and she slapped her hand over her mouth. She couldn’t control herself and she laughed out loud. “What the fuck was that?”

“She’s a piece of work. You weren’t kidding.” Emma snickered at the ridiculous show she had just witnessed.

“She called us girls. Was that supposed to be an insult? If you didn’t push your elbow into my side, Emma, I would have kicked her down a notch. Did she actually introduce herself as the original Mrs. Cerezo?”

“No. She said, ‘the original Mrs. FREDRIC Cerezo.’ Don’t forget to include the first name. Isn’t she married to someone else now?” Emma giggled.

“Yes, she changed her name to his last name. It would have been more appropriate to say ‘Hi. I’m Mrs. Shit for Brains.’ She was hoping to create a problem.”

Emma touched Fredric’s leg. “I don’t think it went that badly. I expected much worse.”

“Give her time, my dear. Give her time.” Fredric leaned over and kissed her forehead.

They watched as the parade of boys and girls marched onto the field. The sun crept over their seats. The day became very hot.