Moments in Time

Chapter 5-2

it“Wow! I haven’t seen you in like, forever,” she says, eyeing me with animated hazel eyes. She sets her drink on the table and comes around to give me a hug. Our bodies fit together like two mismatched jigsaw pieces. When she pulls back, she studies me. “You look great.”

I take in her sandy tight curled brown hair and the dusting of rouge on her freckled cherubic face. By the looks of it, the tainted part of my old life never happened in this new life. Either that or she’s forgiven me, which I’d highly doubt. All the same, I swallow hard as the memory of that untidy affair flashes before me, then wonder what we are in this life. I have a feeling I’m about to find out.

“Hey Cin,” I say and force a smile as Robbie comes out of the men’s room.

He struts over, smirks, and says, “As I live and breathe, the angel of my dreams returneth from the land of the Sun God. What brings ya north?”

Cindy’s eyes light up and she bursts into a squeal as she runs over to him. Apparently, they know each other in this life. I try to figure out when that would be because nothing is jiving in this timeline. Obviously after she had the baby, if she had a baby, because she doesn’t give me a second look.

“I’ve missed you so much,” she says, throwing her arms around him, then steps back and gives him the once over. It’s not hard to tell she likes what she sees. “Oh my God, look at you.”

“So you didn’t answer my question. What’re ya doing up here? I thought you said you were never coming back.”

“Yeah, I did, but my parents passed away, and…well, one of us kids had to be the bigger person in the end.”

“What happened?” Robbie asks.

She shrugs as if it’s no big deal. “Car accident.”

I raise a brow. No love lost there.

No love lost there.“Aw man, that’s all wrong,” Robbie says. “I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t sweat it. We weren’t all that close,” she says, waving it off. “Anyway, I saw The Brigade was in town, so thought I’d stop in before I head back…see if I’d run into anyone. So, how ya doing, and where’s this Tiffany you told me all about?”

The smile on his face evaporates. “I have no idea.”

A curious gleam flashes over Cindy’s eyes, as if she’s just had the keys to a Ferrari dropped in her hand. She steps back, trades uncertain glances with Robbie and me, then says, “Oh, that sucks. You sounded so high on her last we talked on the phone. What happened?”

“Damned if I know. It all went south this week,” Robbie says. “Is Craig here?”

“No, he had to stay back. He’s got his head buried in this thing at the university called the World Wide Web or something like that.”

I smile. If you only knew. But it’s the subtle shift in Cindy’s behavior toward Robbie that’s got my attention. I don’t know who this Craig guy is, but I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t appreciate the way his kitty-cat is eyeing Robbie right now.

If you only knew. Cindy turns to me. “So stranger, what’ve you been up to? Still batching it on the Hill?”

youI hold up my ring finger. “Nope.”

“You got married? Get out of town! When?”

That’s a good question. At least one Tommy ago. “Going on seven years.”

That’s a good question. At least one Tommy ago.Cindy turns back to Robbie as the bar fills with locals coming in for the band. “Anyone else here?”

“Zack and Amy, Bill and Lois,” Robbie says, nodding to the bar, “and maybe Tiff later on. I don’t know. We were planning on coming together.”

“Well, if she shows, you let me know,” she says, latching a finger around his belt loop. “In the meantime, we’re gonna party!”

“Sounds like a plan,” Robbie says, and smiles.

“Yep, you’re with me tonight,” Cindy says, tugging him close, “and if we see her, we’ll give her a show.”

Cindy’s comment jolts Robbie. “Whoa! What about Craig? I don’t wanna—”

“Don’t worry about Craig. He’ll be chill about it. Besides, it’s not like we’re gonna f**k our brains out in front of her,” she says, but the twinkle in her eyes leaves a lot for interpretation. “I’ll call him in the morning and give him the scoop. Tonight, you’re going to have the time of your life, unless you wanna drown your sorrows in that beer.”

Robbie shrugs. “As long as it’s all cool.”

“It’s cool, don’t worry,” she says. “Besides, you don’t know if she’ll show or not. If she doesn’t, then it’ll just be us getting trashed and listening to good tunes.”

“And if she does—”

She smiles. “Then you’ll be getting a few tonsillectomies.”

I can almost wager Robbie’s hoping Tiff shows up by the grin on his face. It appears my babysitting skills are being usurped. I shudder to think what’s in store later on. From what I’m gathering, Cindy’s planning for more than what Robbie’s thinking, and no good decision ever came from the mind of a wild child who’s liquored up. I slide over next to Cindy. “Careful,” I say. “Don’t do anything Robbie might regret.”

“It’s all under control,” she answers dismissively, but by the predatory smile she’s giving Robbie, I’m not believing her one bit.