Page 37 of Absorbed

The ten-foot tall, cut-glass adorned double front door stood ajar, welcoming Stacey and anyone else who happened upon it into their home.

“No flies or strangers in the OC, I guess,” Stacey mumbled, combing her fingers through her hair and pulling on her skirt again. The frosty air conditioning blew overhead as she slowly crossed the threshold into the immense marble entryway.

Thanks to the wall of windows across the back of the house, Stacey could see past the white-on-white couches and grand piano in the formal living room, directly into the backyard, where dozens of people mingled around the pool deck with cocktails in hand.

Jackie, Stacey’s stepmother, had insisted the giant kidney-shaped swimming pool with multiple waterfalls be visible from every room in the house, and be the centerpiece of attention as soon as guests arrived. On either side of the pool, white tents were set up with tables and buffets. Between the guests, Stacey could see caterers carrying trays of hors d'oeuvres.

Her dad loved being the bartender for his friends. His bar was set up in the shade close to the living room windows, his back turned to her. Guests were smiling and laughing as he animatedly told the group something while shaking a cocktail, sweat drenching the back of his red, white, and blue Hawaiian shirt.

Stacey squeezed her shoulder blades together, steeling herself for the performance she needed to put on for her dad’sfriends. “It’s only a couple of hours. You can do this,” she muttered. Her feet wouldn’t budge.

“Stacey?” Jackie’s voice sliced over clacking footfalls coming from the hall to her right. Stacey turned to see her stepmother coming toward her from the kitchen, her arms outstretched. “I was wondering when you’d finally get here.”

Jackie wore crimson stilettos and white cropped pants, with a ruffled red sleeveless blouse tucked in. She fit the role of Orange County country club housewife perfectly. Jackie’s long French-manicured acrylic nails gripped Stacey’s upper arms and she stuck out her bottom lip in a pout. “You’re more than an hour late!”

Not for the first time, Stacey took in the false eyelashes and platinum blonde chignon, wondering what the attraction had ever been between her dad and her own mother. Her mom and Jackie were polar opposites in every way.

Stacey pulled a smile to her lips. “Hi, Jackie.” She let Jackie air kiss each of her cheeks. “Sorry. Traffic.”

“I wanted you to visit with your dad before the party started. We needed another pair of hands setting up.” Jackie sighed, taking Stacey by the elbow and leading her toward the kitchen.

“I accidentally overslept. It was a late night.”

Beside the sub-zero, Jackie let go, and Stacey rubbed the spot where she’d been held. In the blue and white Italian mosaic tiled kitchen, three caterers bustled about in white smocks, one at the Viking stove, one arranging slices of meats and cheeses on a platter, and another at the oversized porcelain sink.

From beside a case of Champagne on the edge of the counter, Jackie picked up a large, shining silver bucket, her hands carefully holding the handles to avoid marking the chrome with fingerprints, and pushed it toward Stacey. “Take this ice out to Chuck so he’ll know you’re here, then come right back. I havea lot more to go out to the buffet.” Jackie’s voice edged up. “Thanks!”

Stacey turned and rolled her eyes, gripping the metal bucket to her belly, all ten fingers smudging the shiny surface. She smirked, imagining a look of annoyance crossing Jackie’s face behind her as she walked away.

Stacey followed the sound of laughter and voices echoing off the surface of the pool through the French doors. The sunny backyard was hedged in by bougainvillea, palm, and citrus trees, designed to feel like a Hawaiian resort. Music played from speakers tucked behind bird of paradise plants. Stacey eyed the buffet table that belonged more at the Four Seasons than at a Fourth of July barbecue. There were chocolate-covered strawberries and a platter of giant shrimp on ice. The fruit and vegetable platters were adorned with a watermelon whale and a zucchini boat sculpture.

“Stacey!” Maureen, her dad’s neighbor yelled from beside the bar, her upper arm waving back and forth in conjunction with the hand she flapped above her head. She was heavy set, wearing a royal blue silk muumuu-style dress and a huge brimmed white hat. “Chuck, Stacey’s here!” She hit Stacey’s dad on the shoulder, the martini in her hand sloshing out in the process.

“My baby girl!” Chuck announced to his friends, his booming voice echoing off the stucco and windows that surrounded his corner bar.

Stacey blushed and dragged her feet around the group. They lifted their drinks up, cheering, as she passed.Are they all drunk already?Stacey sidled up to her dad, who took his cigarette from his mouth with his free hand so he could give her a side hug and kiss her on the top of her head. He’d been mixing a bright yellow margarita and as he clenched the cup to her outside shoulder, her arm got damp. Her dad’s distinct scent of tobaccoand sweat enveloped her and the people awaiting drinks gave a collective, “Awww.”

“Jackie asked me to bring you this,” Stacey said when he pulled away, holding up the ice bucket, but unsure where to set it. The small bar was jam packed with multiple bottles of every kind and color of liquor imaginable.

Chuck put the cigarette back between his lips, then spoke around it. “Set it back there.” He nodded to a small table behind him, covered with stacks of clear plastic cups that were supposed to look like glasses.

Stacey made room and set down the ice bucket, then looked around. She couldn’t see anything non-alcoholic to drink.

“Want a virgin daiquiri, Bug?”

“Can I have a soda?”

“Sure. I’ve got a few in here for mixers,” he said, nodding to the corner beside him where a large ice chest was hidden. He stepped out of the way and continued mixing the margarita in his hand, so she could slip past him. Stacey dug through dozens of Heinekens and tonic waters until she finally found a Coke.

“Tell Jackie I’m out of limes, okay Bug?” he asked as she slipped back out from behind the bar.

“Sure.” Stacey nodded. She started back to find Jackie as instructed.

“Wait!” Maureen’s flushed face blocked Stacey’s path to the kitchen. “Tell me all about school!”

“Hi, Maureen. How are you?”

“I’m good. Just back from a week shopping on the Champs-Élysées. You know: my annual trip to Paris with my girls! They would love to see you! It’s been far too long. What’ve you been up to? You’re a senior now, right?”

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