CHAPTER TWELVE
I don't feel myself today
Just a figure in a big Monopoly game
Struggle is the price you pay
You get just enough
Just to give it away
I'm sinking but I'm floating away
Throw me a line so I can anchor my pain
The fabric is about to fray
The fabric is about to fray
Maybe you could take a look at yourself lately
Things keep coming and I keep wondering
I start feeling the walls close in
Things keep coming and I keep stumbling
I start feeling I'm strong enough to break
I start feeling I'm strong enough to break
Been running through my mind today
Scenarios to add to your hypocrisy
No one ever takes the blame
But everyone is searching for a cure to the pain
Nothing ever seems to change
Oh, nothing ever seems to change
We just play like broken records
In a deaf man's charade
MEL
The next morning, in Tulsa, Mel slept in. She couldn't remember the last time she'd slept in. After the treacherous interview with Natalie the previous evening, she had come straight home to her mother's house and written the entire article and sent it in. She had done it in record time. She was awake until two in the morning, but she didn't care. She wanted to be rid of it and to wash her hands of it, once and for all.
Now she could breathe. She could enjoy the next 24 hours in Tulsa, enjoy being back home. She
planned on driving around town, visiting some of her old haunts. Maybe indulging herself at Mexicali. She wasn't sure and she didn't care. It was just nice to be home.
She was there alone. Her trip home was so last minute that her parents hadn't been able to move their
flight or change their vacation dates. They had just left for Montana several hours before Mel had flown into Tulsa. Montana. Mel had no idea what they wanted with Montana, but if she knew her parents she knew there had to be SOMETHING in it for them.
Desperate for coffee, Mel trudged to the kitchen and headed straight for the coffee pot. Anticipating this, her mother had taped a note onto the coffee maker. Mel read it and sighed in frustration. Once again, her mom was urging her to visit Diana and Walker.
Her mother was close, if not best, friends with Diana Hanson, Taylor's mother. They had been neighbors
when Mel was born and Mel had grown up with Ike and Tay until Mel and her parents had to move away when Zac was still a toddler. Mel and her family had only been gone a few years and then moved back. Her mother and Diana picked up as close friends where they left off, as if there had never been any distance.
The rest, as they say, was history.
Mel's mother and Diana still spoke on a regular basis. They had coffee twice a week and once or twice per month her parents did a double date night with Diana and Walker. Mel's mother was kind enough not to
speak to Mel about her social life, considering. Mel appreciated her for that.
However, she kept mentioning how Diana wanted to see Mel. After all, she had known Mel since she was
born. Diana was like a second mother to her. But she couldn't bring herself to do it. Too many memories, good and bad. As bad as she felt about it, Mel had just wanted to forget it all.
Now she sat at the table in her old, ratty robe with her rat's nest hair and her cup of hot, black coffee, and stared at the note, reading it over and over. It had been ten years. Ten years since she had grown up, gotten married, became a widow...and she missed Diana and Walker. She really did. She hadn't seen Zoe since she was barely five and Jessica and Avery were like her own little sisters since she never had siblings of her
own. And Mackenzie...Mel shook her head and smiled at the thought of him. Zany as he was, some things could NEVER change. The reality was, the Hansons were the family she never had. And hell, she'd been inside Taylor's house already. It's not like he lived at home anymore. There was no reason why Mel shouldn't go ahead and pay Diana a visit.
When she had sufficiently woken up, Mel showered, styled her hair and opened her suitcase. She chose to
dress simply and comfortably that day. Diana and Walker were not a pair she had to impress. She pulled on a pair of jeans, a white t-shirt, and a dark blue, quarter-sleeved cardigan. On her feet, she slipped on a pair of gold glitter-covered TOMS. As she did every day (with the exception of the previous day when she'd chosen to show it off), she tucked her wedding and engagement rings that she wore around her neck, into her shirt. One
more glance in the mirror after applying her makeup and she was about as ready as she could get.
She took a deep breath and headed out the door.
Mel pulled up to the address her mom had given her. The house was modest. Much more modest than Tay's was. Walker and Diana were never the flashy type. Mel appreciated this today more than ever.
As she rang the doorbell, she wondered if she should have called first. That would have been the courteous thing to do. But she couldn't ever remember ringing or knocking in the past. Why start now?
The door opened and immediately, Walker's face lit up. His hand went to his chest and he took a step back, faking a heart attack. "My word!" he said, the grin he shared with his oldest son creeping across his face. "Mel! Look at you! What a surprise, come on in!"
He held the door open and Mel walked in, smiling. She was instantly at ease, warm and happy. She truly felt home. It was a feeling she hadn't felt in a long, long time. She hadn't realized how much she had missed Walker and Diana until that very moment.
Walker closed the door behind her and then wrapped her in a bear hug. "It is so good to see you, it's been so long!" He stood back and looked at her. "Look at you. All grown up."
Mel smiled at him. "It's good to see you, too. It's been so long."
"Too long," he said. "So I hear you're a city girl now!"
She nodded. "Yep. Sure am."
"And a writer?"
"Some. On the side."
"Well that still makes you a writer, doesn't it?"
"I guess so, yeah."
"Oh, I have to tell Diana you're here. She is not going to believe this! Di! Di, come here, look who's here!"
Diana walked into the doorway into the living room. Some things, like her uber long blonde hair, never
changed. Her eyes got wide and she gasped as she covered her mouth. She ran and threw her arms around Mel. "Oh my lord, it's so good to see you, I've missed you so much!"
She broke her hug and stood back and looked at Mel. "I can't believe you're here! Child, I should spank your
butt for letting this much time go by!" Diana looked past Mel, searching. "Is Drew with you?"
Mel smiled. "No, not this trip. This trip was sort of a last minute, unexpected thing."
Diana's eyes hardened and she lowered her voice, "Oh, I know. I heard."
Mel didn't know how to take this but before she could dwell on it any longer, Diana grabbed her by her hands. "Come, come! We're having tea! And you're having tea, too."
Mel followed Diana into the dining room. We? There was someone else? 'Please let it be one of her
daughters,' Mel thought to herself.
Mel's heart sank into her stomach when she saw a gorgeous brunette sitting at the table, stirring sugar
into her tea. She knew it wasn't Natalie. She'd learned that the hard way. She prayed it wasn't Kate. Knowing what she knew about Drew and Zac right now, she did NOT need to be in this situation at this
moment.
The woman stood and flashed a bright, radiant, gorgeous smile as Diana and Mel walked in. Mel wasn't sure
why it struck such a chord with her, but she couldn't help but notice how warm and genuine her smile was. Her long, brown hair was tied back in a loose braid that fell over her shoulder. She noticed that she had a
flare for cardigans, as hers was a similar style to Mel's, except hers was yellow. Like her obvious disposition. She knew instantly that this was not Jessica or Avery.
She was absolutely sure this was Kate. It just had to be. Mel just couldn't get through this day, or any day, easily.
"Mel," Diana said excitedly. "This is Nikki, Ike's wife. Nikki, this is Melody Banks."
Before Mel could think, or speak, Nikki had her arms around her, greeting her with a hug. "Melody, it is so nice to meet you. I've heard so much about you."
Mel smiled at her, a genuine, relieved smile. "It's nice to meet you, too." And she meant it. She was so grateful it wasn't Kate, she hadn't been so sincere in quite awhile. "You can call me Mel, though. And, um, it's Bradshaw now."
Diana's face fell. "Oh honey. You haven't changed your name yet."
Mel touched her rings up under her shirt. "Nope. Still here."
"Well, it's okay," Diana said as the three of them sat down at the table. "It does take time, you know."
Nikki looked between the two of them, puzzled. Obviously curious, but too afraid to ask. Mel did it for her. "I'm a widow," she said to Nikki. "Bradshaw is my married name. I haven't gone back to my maiden name yet. And I may not ever. I don't know yet."
Nikki looked pained. "I am so, so sorry to hear that. If you don't mind my--"
"I don't mind," Mel interrupted.
"Mel, you don't have to," Diana said.
"It's okay," Mel said. "Sometimes it's good to talk about it." Mel knew Diana knew about her late husband along with much of everything that was going on in her life. Her mother could be quite long-winded!
To Nikki, she continued, "My husband's name was John Bradshaw. He was a detective with the NYPD. He was killed on the job. Shot to death in the middle of a drug raid."
Tears sprang to Nikki's eyes. It was apparent that she was either extremely sensitive or an Oscar-winning
actress. Mel went for sensitive. She reached across the table and laid a hand on Nikki's and smiled. "It's okay," Mel said. "It's been three years now."
"I'm sorry," Nikki said, drying up her tears before they fell. "Sometimes I can get over emotional. Sometimes it can be a curse."
They both giggled and Diana leaned across the table and said mischievously, "You know two was a date,
but now three's a party!"
Mel gaped at her. "Do what?"
Diana lowered her voice. "I've got some nice, smooth Southern Comfort in a cabinet in the kitchen. A little spiked tea never hurt a woman!"
"Ooh, hit me up, Mama!" Nikki said, perking up.
"Well, uh, hit me up, too," Mel joined in.
When Diana left the room, Nikki said, "I just love Diana's little mini-parties. She's such a hoot! And
sometimes it's a much-needed stress reliever, chasing after two boys all day. Well, three when Ike is home." At that statement, she giggled to herself.
"I could imagine," Mel said. "I remember Ike being quite the goof. So where are your kids?"
Nikki swallowed some virgin tea before answering. "Oh, with Ike, having a little father/son time. Trust me, when he comes home, I waste absolutely no time letting him have quality time with them!" She made a face then continued. "Don't get me wrong, I love my children. Wouldn't trade them for the world. But
sometimes a mama needs a break!"
"I don't blame you," Mel said.
Suddenly Mel's phone bleeped. A text message from Drew. "Call me, need to talk," it said.
"Can't right now. Having whiskey with Diana and Ike's wife."
"WHAAAAT????"
"Exactly."
"CALL ME
ASAP!!"
Mel smiled and put her phone away. She wished Drew was there. But she had a feeling this wouldn't be the
last time they sat around this table, doing this very thing.
"Oh, I just remembered!" Nikki continued. "You're the one who had to do that interview with Natalie
yesterday!"
Diana walked back in the dining room, bottle in hand at that moment. "Wow," she said. "Starting the
Natalie talk already, without alcohol?"
Mel smiled, sheepishly. "Wow, news sure does travel fast."
"Oh hon, the entire family heard it last night. Last night, she called me, Kate, AND Nikki," Diana said. "I mean, I already knew it was happening. Your mother told me. But I had to hear all the sordid details."
"Well if, to her, sordid means false accusation, then I'm sure there were plenty of sordid details, because
that's all she really did," Mel said as the three women proceeded to spice up their afternoon tea.
"All that girl is, is mouth sometimes," Diana said. Nikki nodded in agreement.
"Is it true that Tay knew about the interview and purposely set Natalie up to make her jealous?" Nikki
asked.
"NO," Diana said firmly. "That is absolutely not true. Tay would never do something like that to her. That girl is so delusional."
"The truth is," Mel said. "Is that I don't like to gossip. So you're lucky I trust you two!" That was the truth. She couldn't believe how quickly she was trusting and getting so attached to Nikki. She couldn't wait for Drew to meet her! "However," she continued, "I'm in the mood to spill it, seeing as so far, Natalie doesn't impress me. The TRUTH is, my boss set up the interview with Natalie and Natalie scheduled it herself. Natalie is the one who got paid. She didn't even tell Tay. I had to witness the surprise revelation when Tay showed up as I was leaving."
Diana's face softened. "So you've spoken to him."
"We exchanged a few words," Mel said, pouring more whiskey into her tea that turned out being a higher ratio of whiskey to tea. "I don't know if I would have considered it 'speaking.' per se."
"Oh!" Nikki said, an obvious light bulb going off in her head. "Forgive me, I can be a little spacey. But I just now remembered, you and Tay used to date, right?"
Diana smiled. "Everyone thought they'd grow up and get married."
Mel smiled sarcastically and raised her teacup in a mock toast. "That, we did. Just not to each other."
Diana continued. "Mel and Tay met when they were a year old. They were attached at the hip at first sight. After a few years, Mel moved away and when she moved back, it was like she never left. And they stayed attached at the hip until they were, what, 19?"
"Almost 20," Mel agreed.
"Wow..." Nikki said. "Your entire lives..."
"Practically," Diana agreed.
"Yes, well," Mel said. "It's over now. We've all grown up and moved on."
"I don't think Tay ever did," Diana said softly.
A sound escaped Mel that she hadn't quite intended. Somewhere between a grunt and a murmur. She
glanced at Nikki.
Diana waved her off. "Don't worry about Nikki. She's the most trustworthy person you'll ever meet.
She'll take anything you say to her grave. That's why she's my favorite!"
Nikki grinned. "Cross my heart."
"Anyway," Diana continued. "You know that song from their record a few years ago? Me, Myself, and I, I think?"
Now ashamed, Mel shook her head. "I actually haven't heard any of their music over the years."
"Well, go home and listen to it. I'm not going to tell you what to do, tell you to make up with him or
anything like that. But I do know my son and I do know how he suffered, and still is, over that day. He doesn't talk music much with me. That's more his dad's thing. But he did tell me about that song. He
wrote it the night you left. It's about you. Hell, it's such a great song, I can't believe it took them this long to record it."
Nikki nodded in agreement. "Gosh, I remember that. They fought hard over that song. Ike and Zac didn't want anything to do with it, but Tay was adamant. He was so possessive over it. Somehow he convinced them to put it on the record. Nobody ever knew why, outside the three of them. It makes so much sense now. Turned out to be a great decision. The fans absolutely love it."
Changing the subject, obviously trying to lighten the mood, Diana said to Nikki, "You know, Mel's best friend
Drew used to date Zac around the same time. They were just as close. I don't know how she ever kept up with his crazy butt back then!"
The three of them laughed then Nikki said, "Oh, so Tay and Zac are accustomed to being in relationships with best friends, then."
"Well," Diana said. "If we had our druthers, it whould be you and THESE two instead of the other way
around."
Mel instantly sensed tension. They had already made a few snarky comments in regards to Natalie earlier, but it was apparent they had issues with Kate, too. "So...I take it Natalie and Kate aren't highly favored around here?" Mel guessed.
Diana and Nikki fell silent and glanced at each other, obviously neither one knowing where to continue.
Finally, Nikki sighed. "It's not that nobody LIKES them. They're just...off...I guess. I don't really know how to describe it."
"They really are nice girls," Diana said. "I don't want you getting the wrong idea. But like Nikki said, there's something kind of off about the two of them. There always has been. I've never been able to put my finger on it. Everybody knows Tay married Natalie because he got her pregnant. There, I said it. They were just SO young and it wouldn't be like Tay to plan a family before marriage. That's not how he was raised. So did he love her when they got married? I don't think so. I think he hoped to LEARN to love her over time. And I think in his own way, he has. But not like a real married couple should be. Anyway, she's always been kind
of jealous and a little possessive. And a little crazy. And then in comes her best friend Kate, conveniently, and she's the same way. Well, no. No. I wouldn't call her jealous and possessive, but she can be stuck up at times. Real stand-offish. Entitled. Ultimately, I think the two of them were and are fame and gold diggers. They're nice when they need to be but they let their true colors shine now and then."
"Yeah," Nikki agreed. "I was the last 'wife' to come in and it was kind of like they already had their own little 'Hanson wife' club and they weren't too welcoming of me at first. They warmed up over time, but I still
doubt their sincerity on most things. I mean I like them because they're my sisters-in-law and Kate's the mother of my niece and nephew, but beyond that...I don't really feel like I fit in with them."
"Well based on what I've heard here, you're better for it!" Mel said.
"That's the truth," Diana agreed. "We sane Hanson ladies gotta stick together!"
"And Bradshaw ladies," Mel added.
Diana gave her a Look. "You've been a Hanson lady long before you can remember it."
The three women laughed and drank. Diana was right. Mel was at home here. Warm and cozy. And felt like she'd known Nikki forever. She fit right in, like a glove. Mel could run all the way to New York or all the way to Japan if she wanted to. She could run as far as she wanted to, and from as much of her past as possible, but
no matter what, she couldn't escape it. Everywhere she every ran and everything she ever ran from would always lead right back here, to Tulsa. Mel was a Banks, she was a Bradshaw, AND she was a Hanson, no
matter the circumstances. That was who she WAS. Her identity. And she decided it was time she stopped running from it.
Suddenly, Mel couldn't wait to get on the phone with Drew.
I don't feel myself today
Just a figure in a big Monopoly game
Struggle is the price you pay
You get just enough
Just to give it away
I'm sinking but I'm floating away
Throw me a line so I can anchor my pain
The fabric is about to fray
The fabric is about to fray
Maybe you could take a look at yourself lately
Things keep coming and I keep wondering
I start feeling the walls close in
Things keep coming and I keep stumbling
I start feeling I'm strong enough to break
I start feeling I'm strong enough to break
Been running through my mind today
Scenarios to add to your hypocrisy
No one ever takes the blame
But everyone is searching for a cure to the pain
Nothing ever seems to change
Oh, nothing ever seems to change
We just play like broken records
In a deaf man's charade
MEL
The next morning, in Tulsa, Mel slept in. She couldn't remember the last time she'd slept in. After the treacherous interview with Natalie the previous evening, she had come straight home to her mother's house and written the entire article and sent it in. She had done it in record time. She was awake until two in the morning, but she didn't care. She wanted to be rid of it and to wash her hands of it, once and for all.
Now she could breathe. She could enjoy the next 24 hours in Tulsa, enjoy being back home. She
planned on driving around town, visiting some of her old haunts. Maybe indulging herself at Mexicali. She wasn't sure and she didn't care. It was just nice to be home.
She was there alone. Her trip home was so last minute that her parents hadn't been able to move their
flight or change their vacation dates. They had just left for Montana several hours before Mel had flown into Tulsa. Montana. Mel had no idea what they wanted with Montana, but if she knew her parents she knew there had to be SOMETHING in it for them.
Desperate for coffee, Mel trudged to the kitchen and headed straight for the coffee pot. Anticipating this, her mother had taped a note onto the coffee maker. Mel read it and sighed in frustration. Once again, her mom was urging her to visit Diana and Walker.
Her mother was close, if not best, friends with Diana Hanson, Taylor's mother. They had been neighbors
when Mel was born and Mel had grown up with Ike and Tay until Mel and her parents had to move away when Zac was still a toddler. Mel and her family had only been gone a few years and then moved back. Her mother and Diana picked up as close friends where they left off, as if there had never been any distance.
The rest, as they say, was history.
Mel's mother and Diana still spoke on a regular basis. They had coffee twice a week and once or twice per month her parents did a double date night with Diana and Walker. Mel's mother was kind enough not to
speak to Mel about her social life, considering. Mel appreciated her for that.
However, she kept mentioning how Diana wanted to see Mel. After all, she had known Mel since she was
born. Diana was like a second mother to her. But she couldn't bring herself to do it. Too many memories, good and bad. As bad as she felt about it, Mel had just wanted to forget it all.
Now she sat at the table in her old, ratty robe with her rat's nest hair and her cup of hot, black coffee, and stared at the note, reading it over and over. It had been ten years. Ten years since she had grown up, gotten married, became a widow...and she missed Diana and Walker. She really did. She hadn't seen Zoe since she was barely five and Jessica and Avery were like her own little sisters since she never had siblings of her
own. And Mackenzie...Mel shook her head and smiled at the thought of him. Zany as he was, some things could NEVER change. The reality was, the Hansons were the family she never had. And hell, she'd been inside Taylor's house already. It's not like he lived at home anymore. There was no reason why Mel shouldn't go ahead and pay Diana a visit.
When she had sufficiently woken up, Mel showered, styled her hair and opened her suitcase. She chose to
dress simply and comfortably that day. Diana and Walker were not a pair she had to impress. She pulled on a pair of jeans, a white t-shirt, and a dark blue, quarter-sleeved cardigan. On her feet, she slipped on a pair of gold glitter-covered TOMS. As she did every day (with the exception of the previous day when she'd chosen to show it off), she tucked her wedding and engagement rings that she wore around her neck, into her shirt. One
more glance in the mirror after applying her makeup and she was about as ready as she could get.
She took a deep breath and headed out the door.
Mel pulled up to the address her mom had given her. The house was modest. Much more modest than Tay's was. Walker and Diana were never the flashy type. Mel appreciated this today more than ever.
As she rang the doorbell, she wondered if she should have called first. That would have been the courteous thing to do. But she couldn't ever remember ringing or knocking in the past. Why start now?
The door opened and immediately, Walker's face lit up. His hand went to his chest and he took a step back, faking a heart attack. "My word!" he said, the grin he shared with his oldest son creeping across his face. "Mel! Look at you! What a surprise, come on in!"
He held the door open and Mel walked in, smiling. She was instantly at ease, warm and happy. She truly felt home. It was a feeling she hadn't felt in a long, long time. She hadn't realized how much she had missed Walker and Diana until that very moment.
Walker closed the door behind her and then wrapped her in a bear hug. "It is so good to see you, it's been so long!" He stood back and looked at her. "Look at you. All grown up."
Mel smiled at him. "It's good to see you, too. It's been so long."
"Too long," he said. "So I hear you're a city girl now!"
She nodded. "Yep. Sure am."
"And a writer?"
"Some. On the side."
"Well that still makes you a writer, doesn't it?"
"I guess so, yeah."
"Oh, I have to tell Diana you're here. She is not going to believe this! Di! Di, come here, look who's here!"
Diana walked into the doorway into the living room. Some things, like her uber long blonde hair, never
changed. Her eyes got wide and she gasped as she covered her mouth. She ran and threw her arms around Mel. "Oh my lord, it's so good to see you, I've missed you so much!"
She broke her hug and stood back and looked at Mel. "I can't believe you're here! Child, I should spank your
butt for letting this much time go by!" Diana looked past Mel, searching. "Is Drew with you?"
Mel smiled. "No, not this trip. This trip was sort of a last minute, unexpected thing."
Diana's eyes hardened and she lowered her voice, "Oh, I know. I heard."
Mel didn't know how to take this but before she could dwell on it any longer, Diana grabbed her by her hands. "Come, come! We're having tea! And you're having tea, too."
Mel followed Diana into the dining room. We? There was someone else? 'Please let it be one of her
daughters,' Mel thought to herself.
Mel's heart sank into her stomach when she saw a gorgeous brunette sitting at the table, stirring sugar
into her tea. She knew it wasn't Natalie. She'd learned that the hard way. She prayed it wasn't Kate. Knowing what she knew about Drew and Zac right now, she did NOT need to be in this situation at this
moment.
The woman stood and flashed a bright, radiant, gorgeous smile as Diana and Mel walked in. Mel wasn't sure
why it struck such a chord with her, but she couldn't help but notice how warm and genuine her smile was. Her long, brown hair was tied back in a loose braid that fell over her shoulder. She noticed that she had a
flare for cardigans, as hers was a similar style to Mel's, except hers was yellow. Like her obvious disposition. She knew instantly that this was not Jessica or Avery.
She was absolutely sure this was Kate. It just had to be. Mel just couldn't get through this day, or any day, easily.
"Mel," Diana said excitedly. "This is Nikki, Ike's wife. Nikki, this is Melody Banks."
Before Mel could think, or speak, Nikki had her arms around her, greeting her with a hug. "Melody, it is so nice to meet you. I've heard so much about you."
Mel smiled at her, a genuine, relieved smile. "It's nice to meet you, too." And she meant it. She was so grateful it wasn't Kate, she hadn't been so sincere in quite awhile. "You can call me Mel, though. And, um, it's Bradshaw now."
Diana's face fell. "Oh honey. You haven't changed your name yet."
Mel touched her rings up under her shirt. "Nope. Still here."
"Well, it's okay," Diana said as the three of them sat down at the table. "It does take time, you know."
Nikki looked between the two of them, puzzled. Obviously curious, but too afraid to ask. Mel did it for her. "I'm a widow," she said to Nikki. "Bradshaw is my married name. I haven't gone back to my maiden name yet. And I may not ever. I don't know yet."
Nikki looked pained. "I am so, so sorry to hear that. If you don't mind my--"
"I don't mind," Mel interrupted.
"Mel, you don't have to," Diana said.
"It's okay," Mel said. "Sometimes it's good to talk about it." Mel knew Diana knew about her late husband along with much of everything that was going on in her life. Her mother could be quite long-winded!
To Nikki, she continued, "My husband's name was John Bradshaw. He was a detective with the NYPD. He was killed on the job. Shot to death in the middle of a drug raid."
Tears sprang to Nikki's eyes. It was apparent that she was either extremely sensitive or an Oscar-winning
actress. Mel went for sensitive. She reached across the table and laid a hand on Nikki's and smiled. "It's okay," Mel said. "It's been three years now."
"I'm sorry," Nikki said, drying up her tears before they fell. "Sometimes I can get over emotional. Sometimes it can be a curse."
They both giggled and Diana leaned across the table and said mischievously, "You know two was a date,
but now three's a party!"
Mel gaped at her. "Do what?"
Diana lowered her voice. "I've got some nice, smooth Southern Comfort in a cabinet in the kitchen. A little spiked tea never hurt a woman!"
"Ooh, hit me up, Mama!" Nikki said, perking up.
"Well, uh, hit me up, too," Mel joined in.
When Diana left the room, Nikki said, "I just love Diana's little mini-parties. She's such a hoot! And
sometimes it's a much-needed stress reliever, chasing after two boys all day. Well, three when Ike is home." At that statement, she giggled to herself.
"I could imagine," Mel said. "I remember Ike being quite the goof. So where are your kids?"
Nikki swallowed some virgin tea before answering. "Oh, with Ike, having a little father/son time. Trust me, when he comes home, I waste absolutely no time letting him have quality time with them!" She made a face then continued. "Don't get me wrong, I love my children. Wouldn't trade them for the world. But
sometimes a mama needs a break!"
"I don't blame you," Mel said.
Suddenly Mel's phone bleeped. A text message from Drew. "Call me, need to talk," it said.
"Can't right now. Having whiskey with Diana and Ike's wife."
"WHAAAAT????"
"Exactly."
"CALL ME
ASAP!!"
Mel smiled and put her phone away. She wished Drew was there. But she had a feeling this wouldn't be the
last time they sat around this table, doing this very thing.
"Oh, I just remembered!" Nikki continued. "You're the one who had to do that interview with Natalie
yesterday!"
Diana walked back in the dining room, bottle in hand at that moment. "Wow," she said. "Starting the
Natalie talk already, without alcohol?"
Mel smiled, sheepishly. "Wow, news sure does travel fast."
"Oh hon, the entire family heard it last night. Last night, she called me, Kate, AND Nikki," Diana said. "I mean, I already knew it was happening. Your mother told me. But I had to hear all the sordid details."
"Well if, to her, sordid means false accusation, then I'm sure there were plenty of sordid details, because
that's all she really did," Mel said as the three women proceeded to spice up their afternoon tea.
"All that girl is, is mouth sometimes," Diana said. Nikki nodded in agreement.
"Is it true that Tay knew about the interview and purposely set Natalie up to make her jealous?" Nikki
asked.
"NO," Diana said firmly. "That is absolutely not true. Tay would never do something like that to her. That girl is so delusional."
"The truth is," Mel said. "Is that I don't like to gossip. So you're lucky I trust you two!" That was the truth. She couldn't believe how quickly she was trusting and getting so attached to Nikki. She couldn't wait for Drew to meet her! "However," she continued, "I'm in the mood to spill it, seeing as so far, Natalie doesn't impress me. The TRUTH is, my boss set up the interview with Natalie and Natalie scheduled it herself. Natalie is the one who got paid. She didn't even tell Tay. I had to witness the surprise revelation when Tay showed up as I was leaving."
Diana's face softened. "So you've spoken to him."
"We exchanged a few words," Mel said, pouring more whiskey into her tea that turned out being a higher ratio of whiskey to tea. "I don't know if I would have considered it 'speaking.' per se."
"Oh!" Nikki said, an obvious light bulb going off in her head. "Forgive me, I can be a little spacey. But I just now remembered, you and Tay used to date, right?"
Diana smiled. "Everyone thought they'd grow up and get married."
Mel smiled sarcastically and raised her teacup in a mock toast. "That, we did. Just not to each other."
Diana continued. "Mel and Tay met when they were a year old. They were attached at the hip at first sight. After a few years, Mel moved away and when she moved back, it was like she never left. And they stayed attached at the hip until they were, what, 19?"
"Almost 20," Mel agreed.
"Wow..." Nikki said. "Your entire lives..."
"Practically," Diana agreed.
"Yes, well," Mel said. "It's over now. We've all grown up and moved on."
"I don't think Tay ever did," Diana said softly.
A sound escaped Mel that she hadn't quite intended. Somewhere between a grunt and a murmur. She
glanced at Nikki.
Diana waved her off. "Don't worry about Nikki. She's the most trustworthy person you'll ever meet.
She'll take anything you say to her grave. That's why she's my favorite!"
Nikki grinned. "Cross my heart."
"Anyway," Diana continued. "You know that song from their record a few years ago? Me, Myself, and I, I think?"
Now ashamed, Mel shook her head. "I actually haven't heard any of their music over the years."
"Well, go home and listen to it. I'm not going to tell you what to do, tell you to make up with him or
anything like that. But I do know my son and I do know how he suffered, and still is, over that day. He doesn't talk music much with me. That's more his dad's thing. But he did tell me about that song. He
wrote it the night you left. It's about you. Hell, it's such a great song, I can't believe it took them this long to record it."
Nikki nodded in agreement. "Gosh, I remember that. They fought hard over that song. Ike and Zac didn't want anything to do with it, but Tay was adamant. He was so possessive over it. Somehow he convinced them to put it on the record. Nobody ever knew why, outside the three of them. It makes so much sense now. Turned out to be a great decision. The fans absolutely love it."
Changing the subject, obviously trying to lighten the mood, Diana said to Nikki, "You know, Mel's best friend
Drew used to date Zac around the same time. They were just as close. I don't know how she ever kept up with his crazy butt back then!"
The three of them laughed then Nikki said, "Oh, so Tay and Zac are accustomed to being in relationships with best friends, then."
"Well," Diana said. "If we had our druthers, it whould be you and THESE two instead of the other way
around."
Mel instantly sensed tension. They had already made a few snarky comments in regards to Natalie earlier, but it was apparent they had issues with Kate, too. "So...I take it Natalie and Kate aren't highly favored around here?" Mel guessed.
Diana and Nikki fell silent and glanced at each other, obviously neither one knowing where to continue.
Finally, Nikki sighed. "It's not that nobody LIKES them. They're just...off...I guess. I don't really know how to describe it."
"They really are nice girls," Diana said. "I don't want you getting the wrong idea. But like Nikki said, there's something kind of off about the two of them. There always has been. I've never been able to put my finger on it. Everybody knows Tay married Natalie because he got her pregnant. There, I said it. They were just SO young and it wouldn't be like Tay to plan a family before marriage. That's not how he was raised. So did he love her when they got married? I don't think so. I think he hoped to LEARN to love her over time. And I think in his own way, he has. But not like a real married couple should be. Anyway, she's always been kind
of jealous and a little possessive. And a little crazy. And then in comes her best friend Kate, conveniently, and she's the same way. Well, no. No. I wouldn't call her jealous and possessive, but she can be stuck up at times. Real stand-offish. Entitled. Ultimately, I think the two of them were and are fame and gold diggers. They're nice when they need to be but they let their true colors shine now and then."
"Yeah," Nikki agreed. "I was the last 'wife' to come in and it was kind of like they already had their own little 'Hanson wife' club and they weren't too welcoming of me at first. They warmed up over time, but I still
doubt their sincerity on most things. I mean I like them because they're my sisters-in-law and Kate's the mother of my niece and nephew, but beyond that...I don't really feel like I fit in with them."
"Well based on what I've heard here, you're better for it!" Mel said.
"That's the truth," Diana agreed. "We sane Hanson ladies gotta stick together!"
"And Bradshaw ladies," Mel added.
Diana gave her a Look. "You've been a Hanson lady long before you can remember it."
The three women laughed and drank. Diana was right. Mel was at home here. Warm and cozy. And felt like she'd known Nikki forever. She fit right in, like a glove. Mel could run all the way to New York or all the way to Japan if she wanted to. She could run as far as she wanted to, and from as much of her past as possible, but
no matter what, she couldn't escape it. Everywhere she every ran and everything she ever ran from would always lead right back here, to Tulsa. Mel was a Banks, she was a Bradshaw, AND she was a Hanson, no
matter the circumstances. That was who she WAS. Her identity. And she decided it was time she stopped running from it.
Suddenly, Mel couldn't wait to get on the phone with Drew.