Page 11 of Time Served in New York
“Worse than prison food?” Matalie asked with a grimace.
“A few of them weren’t that bad,” I admitted before Sis looked at me like I was insane. “I’m serious!”
“She’s further down the rabbit hole than we thought. We may need to stage an intervention,” Brea said seriously. “There was a kitchen fire while I was in prison, and they made us eat those until the remodel was finished. Let me just say that the Geneva Convention should add MREs to the list of unspeakable crimes.”
“We’ve got to get a move on,” Lyric said from the doorway. “We’re going sightseeing with the guys while y’all go over the last of the wedding details.”
“Are you sure Desi will be okay with the other kids?” Sara asked Frankie as she made her way to the door.
“My nieces and nephews will take good care of her,” Frankie said assuringly. “And Pandora’s girls are with them, too, so it’s not like she’s alone.”
“Where are they going?”
“They’re taking them on a movie tour,” Frankie replied. “My nephews helped plan it. They’re going to visit all the iconic places that have been in the Marvel movies and a bunch of others too.”
“Is it too late for me to go with them?” I asked. “What? I loveIron Man.”
“You love his chauffeur,” Brea corrected.
“He’s an adorable teddy bear,” I snapped.
“We’ve got to go too,” August said as she stood up. “We’re supposed to meet downstairs in 10 minutes, right?”
“Yes. The concierge is expecting you. He’ll introduce you to your drivers for the day.”
Once we said goodbye to the Ares women and settled in for our planning session, Frankie surprised us by saying, “I thought we could go exploring after we finish breakfast.”
“Downstairs? The list of boutiques just here in the hotel is astounding,” Matalie said.
“I actually thought you guys might like to walk through the park on our way to Fifth Avenue for some shopping before the appointment for our dress fittings.”
“We’re going to Fifth Avenue?” Maylee asked in a shocked whisper before she admitted, “I don’t hate you nearly as much as I did when you said this week would be full of wedding activities.”
“Right off the bat, we’re going shopping?” I asked. “Do youwantto get married with a broken nose?”
“Hear me out,” Frankie said, putting her hands up as if to ward off danger. “We’re going to take our time and walk through the park, then walk down Fifth Avenue before we cross over to the bridal shop on Lexington.”
“And that’s good, why?”
“My hope, unfortunately for some poor innocent person out there, is that we will come upon a mugging or maybe even an old-fashioned purse snatching. You ladies can chase the asshole down, beat him half to death, and then be mellow for at least a few hours.”
Jenn looked confused when she asked, “You hope we come across someone being mugged so Blue can beat the shit out of them and that will make her behave while we’re in the store?”
“Hmm. That might actually help me too,” Brea admitted. “I’m not really a shopper either.”
“Neither is Paula,” Frankie agreed. “My thinking is that the three of you can work out your aggression while we hold your coffee and then we can go to the store and have a few cocktails while we get fitted.”
“What happens if we don’t find a mugger?” I asked.
“I’ve planned for that,” Bernadette chimed in. “If you can behave while we’re in the store, you’ll get treats and we’ll take you somewhere special when we’re finished.”
I glared at Bernadette for a second before she turned and looked at Frankie for help. Frankie chimed in, “Just a few hours of shopping and then we’ll go ride the subway until you feel better.”
“The subway’s gonna make her feel better?” Paula asked, her head tilted in confusion.
“Where else can we take her where no one will look twice when she loses her shit and starts screaming at someone because they looked in her direction a smidge too long?”
“The subway is where all the really crazy stuff happens!” Jenn said excitedly. “This is going to be so much fun!”
