Avery

            The sun is shining brightly through my windshield as I am heading into work.  I am feeling aggravated because I am no closer to finding the person responsible for raping Katie.  I continue to carry this overwhelming desire to protect her and I want to solve this for her, to bring her closure.  I am beginning to wonder if I am too close to this case now.  Am I overlooking things?  Have I followed every lead?  It would be so fucking awesome to feel like her hero. My thoughts are interrupted by my cell phone.

            “Officer Maulden.”

            “Well, if it isn’t the honorable Officer Maulden,” Wayne’s sarcasm reflects he is back to his usual playful self.

            “Wayne, my man, what’s up?”  

            “I got some great news!  The restaurant is done, and it is time for a christening!  What are you and Katie doing tonight?” 

            “I guess we are coming for a christening,” I joke, chuckling at his clear inability to contain his excitement.

            “You’re damn right you are!  You can see if Rick and Hayley would like to come too.  I will try calling Troy.  Dinners on me!”  Wayne laughs.

            “Wayne, promise me you won’t expect too much from Troy.  I don’t want that to ruin your mood.”  I warn him, not wanting the chance of Troy being a dick to ruin this for him.

            “I won’t.  I doubt he even answers, but I still want to try.  He is still my friend, after all.”  His tone is more solemn.

            “I know, I hope he does answer.  I know you want to share this with him too.”  

            “Be here at 8 p.m.  Dress nice!”  He disconnects before I can respond.  I smile to myself, just like the bastard to keep control of a situation.  I pull up Katie’s number on my cell, my lips forming a smile as I hear her voice on the other line.

            “Avery, sweetie, so nice to hear from you.”  My chest feels tight with her use of the term of endearment.

            “Hey, I got a call from Wayne, he wants to christen the new restaurant tonight.  He wants us to bring Rick and Hayley.  Could you get in touch with them and let them know?  We could all meet at your place around 7:30 and ride together to the casino.”  I pause, suddenly aware of the fact that it sounds like I am ordering her, rather than asking, so I add, “Please?”

            “That sounds great!  I have an early day today, so it works out perfect.  I will give Hayley a call now.  I’m so excited! I guess I will see you then at 7:30?” 

            I can’t help but smile at the pitch in her voice from her excitement.  “Yep, oh and it’s formal, okay?”  I add at the last minute before hanging up the phone.  

Katie

            I immediately call Hayley and we make plans to meet at my place as soon as she gets off work so we can get ready together.  She will call Rick and have him meet us here at 7:30. I finish my remaining appointments, in a daze, excited over the upcoming evening.  I arrive home before Hayley gets here, and I immediately run inside to try on dresses.  I am beginning to get a baby bump, and all my clothes are getting too tight.  By the time Hayley arrives, I am in tears, sitting on the floor of my closet.  She comes in, throws down all the dresses she brought with her, and joins me on the floor. “All my formal dresses are too tight across my belly, they make me look fat, not pregnant.”  I am sobbing, all the excitement I held for the evening is slipping away.

            Hayley smiles at me, wiping the tears from my face.  “You know, I’m not your best friend for nothing!”  She pulls me to my feet, leading me over to the bed where she had thrown down all her dresses, and lifts a dress that is still wrapped in plastic.  “I thought of you as I was passing a local maternity shop today.”  She holds up a beautiful dark purple dress, with a halter style top, in a baby doll style.  I can’t wait to try it on, and once I do, I love it!  It is cut just above the knee, making it look sexy, not at all like a maternity dress.  The way it fits, you would never guess I was pregnant.  

            “Thank you so much!”  I wrap my arms around Hayley, my eyes full of tears.  She is truly a great friend, which makes me feel badly about how jealous I am of her sometimes.

            “You know I would do anything for you!”  She walks across the room to plug in her curling iron and lay out her make-up bag.  “Now, let’s get pretty!”

            By the time the men arrive, we look breathtaking.  Hayley helped put part of my hair up with a silver hair comb that accents my dress.  She curled the hair that was not pulled up in the up-do and it frames my face beautifully.  Hayley has on a strapless gold dress that fits her snugly and falls mid-calf.  She pulled all her hair up so that it forms a curly bun on top of her head.  Both men arrive in suits, both black, however Rick wears a gold tie at the advice of Hayley while Avery isn’t wearing a tie, with the first few buttons of his button-up undone. 

            We arrive at the casino, easily finding the restaurant since Troy’s father had taken every possible measure to disguise the ongoing construction with fancy draperies.  We slip behind the drapes and admire the progress of the restaurant.  It is, for the most part, complete, except for the tables and chairs that will dot the dining area.  Wayne has a table set up for us, for a party of six, and as he comes out of the kitchen, he is beaming, arms extended, hugging each of us and then directing us to our seats.  I watch as Avery nods towards the extra place setting and Wayne shakes his head in defeat.  Wayne excuses himself for a moment to go into the kitchen and returns with a bottle of wine and wine glasses.  He places a glass in front of each of us.  “Now, I hereby christen the new ‘A la Carte’ restaurant!”  and pours us each a glass.  As he leans towards my glass, I place my hand over it.

            “Could I possibly have something else to drink?”  I feel guilty, knowing Wayne has gone to so much trouble to pick out a wine to suit the occasion, “Perhaps some ice water?”  I watch as he raises an eyebrow, looking between Avery and I, a concerned look plastered on his face.

            “Are we celebrating more than just the christening of my restaurant and Rick and Hayley’s engagement?”  Wayne’s tone is a bit higher than usual, staring at Avery.

            “It is a bit complicated”, Avery begins to explain, “As we told you, I met Katie through work because I am investigating her case.”  He pauses, I can tell he is unsure how to address the rest.

            I am a little disappointed in the way Avery feels like he needs to explain the “complication”. I take over the conversation, “I was raped, and I conceived as a result of that rape.”  It is the first time since I have found out about the pregnancy that I am embarrassed by it.  I never thought about how I would explain my pregnancy.  Everyone I know already knows the circumstances.  I am surprised by how uncomfortable I am explaining it to Wayne.  The table has fallen silent.  I look up at Wayne, who appears to sense the changing mood.

            “I can do you one better than a glass of water.”  Wayne takes my glass and disappears into the kitchen.  No one says a word, then Wayne returns with my glass filled with a green concoction.  “Try this!”  He is beaming, “It’s alcohol free,” giving me a quick wink as I lift the glass to my lips.  Everyone is watching intently as I take a sip.  “It’s my famous non-alcoholic apple martini!”  I smile warmly at him and his attempt at an Italian accent.  “Now, let’s lift our glasses; here’s to the coming grand opening of ‘A la Carte’, the engagement of Rick and Hayley, and Katie’s little surprise bundle of joy.”

            “Here, here!”  Everyone unanimously chimes in, taking sips from their glasses.  Wayne disappears into the kitchen and returns with a platter filled with skewers of marinated beef drizzled with a peanut sauce.  He places four skewers on each plate, including his own, taking a seat at the table.  He discusses the natural ingredients in his marinade, as everyone samples and enjoys the first course.  We all make small talk, discussing the recent engagement of Rick and Hayley, and the restaurant’s progress.  Wayne dismisses himself from the table again, removing the plates and disappearing into the kitchen.  When he returns, he is carrying a large tray, containing plates of thinly sliced portions of maple syrup and apple brine pork, accompanied by apple and sweet potato dressing, and stir-fried julienne vegetables.  He is telling us what inspired his dish and the different menu items he plans to offer at the restaurant, asking each of us for our input.  We are all actively participating in the conversation.

            A tall man enters from behind the drapes, with curly, thick black hair, which he wears short, and has a thin chin strap that joins a goatee.  He has a dark complexion, making me wonder if he is Italian or Sicilian.  I don’t recognize him, but Avery and Wayne clearly do.  Wayne notices him first, “Ah, Troy, I’m glad you decided to take me up on my dinner invitation.”  He reaches out with both arms, giving Troy a quick hug before beginning introductions.  “You already know Avery,” who walks over and gives him a hug.  “This is Avery’s significant other at the moment, Katie.”  His face appears to harden as he looks at me, almost as if he recognizes me.  He looks back at Avery and over at me again, but then his face softens, forming a sly grin as he nods at me.  “This is Rick and Hayley, friends of Katie’s,” Wayne continues, “Everyone, this is Troy Myer.”  Once Troy has acknowledged everyone, Wayne motions for him to take a seat, as he leaves to bring out Troy’s plate.  I must admit I am a bit disturbed by his initial reaction to me.  Does he not like me?  He appears to be loosening up now, joining in the conversation, and smiling, he has an incredibly sexy smile.  He just appears to be avoiding eye contact with me, which fuels my curiosity.

            Once Troy has had the opportunity to catch up with us, Wayne excuses himself from the table one last time, returning with the dessert, crepe souffles filed with chocolate meringue, drizzled with caramel sauce and praline pecans.  Wayne explains that this is a new dessert he has been toying with and wants everyone’s opinion. It is decided it is wonderful and should definitely be on his menu.  We finish the dessert, and are enjoying each other’s company, when Troy looks up at me and makes eye contact for the first time.  He has incredible emerald green eyes, which makes me feel like they are staring directly into my soul, causing me to look away quickly, clearing my throat.  

            Troy stands, drawing everyone’s attention.  “Look, Wayne and Avery, I know I have been avoiding you both for several months now, and I want to make it up to you.  The old man said I could use the lake house this coming weekend, so I want to invite all of you to join me there.”  Hayley squeals in delight at the idea of getting away for the weekend at the lake house of Troy’s father, Luca Myer, the owner of the casino and now Wayne’s restaurant.  “I will take that as a yes.  All of you be here at six p.m. on Friday.”  Troy looks over at Avery, “Clear your schedules if you need to.  I will send a car for you and will take care of everything.”  With that, Troy nods to everyone and leaves.