Page 6 of Time Served in New York
“This costshow much?” Blue shouted as she let the coat slide off her shoulders.
“Shit. I was hoping to be able to finish my champagne before she lost it,” Frankie said sullenly. She got up and walked toward the counter as she called out, “Let me pick up the gifts I ordered for my niece and then we can go.”
Blue’s face was stormy as she stomped in our direction. “What sort of place is this anyway?”
“It’s a boutique that has coats,” I said calmly. “That’s what you all need.”
“That coat I had on is more than my mortgage payment,” Blue hissed. “And it’s ugly as fuck!”
“You did look a little like Inspector Gadget,” Paula said with a grin. “Want some champagne?”
“Where the fuck did you get champagne?” Brea asked as she reached for Paula’s glass.
“They serve it to their clientele,” I explained. “It’s always . . .”
“Oh my hell, that’s delicious,” Brea said before she took another sip.
“I amnotspending two grand on a fucking cape,” Matalie said as she snatched the champagne out of Brea’s hand. “I’ll freeze to death first.”
“You looked like Little Red Riding Hood,” Pandora told her. “I liked it.”
“I did, too, until I heard how much the damn thing cost.”
Frankie returned with a large bag, and I could see gift-wrapped boxes inside. “Okay, we can go now. I’ve gotten what I came for.”
“Really?” Blue barked.
“I ordered some things for my niece,” Frankie explained with a shrug. “I’ve got a ton of coats for all of you to choose from. There’s no sense in buying new ones.”
“You are such a bitch,” Blue hissed.
“Matalie, I have a red coat that will look stunning on you. I don’t think you looked like Red Riding Hood at all.”
“And you were in on it!” Blue said angrily.
Matalie glared at me and then her eyes brightened when she asked, “Do you have a scarf and hat too?”
“Scarf, yes. Furry hat? Definitely not.”
“Two out of three ain’t bad,” Matalie said as she followed Frankie and Blue toward the door. “Now I just have to find coats for Auggie and Rodeo.”
“What about the girls?” Brea asked.
“They’re going to stay home with their other grandparents. August and Rodeo are considering this trip their honeymoon.”
“That’s cool,” Pandora said. “We should all pitch in and send them on a night out with dinner at a really nice restaurant.”
“I’ll get my son to arrange something,” Paula assured her.
“Make sure you warn Rodeo about the bathroom situation,” Frankie reminded Paula. “As a matter of fact, while we’re on the plane we should have a . . . talk . . . a discussion about . . . um . . .”
“Wow, she’s just sputtering right through that, isn’t she?” Blue teased.
Brea hummed before she asked, “Do you think she’s trying to find a nice way to say they need to educate the rednecks?”
“I think she’s trying to find a way to subtly remind people they can’t shank anyone,” Blue suggested.
Frankie looked at me and shook her head in exasperation, “It’s going to be like someone left the gates of Jurassic Park open and let the beasts invade Manhattan.”
