KILLER DATE (SCANDALS) by Kathy Clark

for dessert, but I love crème brûlée,” she told me as Jonathan put a fresh drink in front of her and took away her empty glass.  I shook my head, declining another beer.
    “So, tell me the truth about your names,” she said as she sipped her drink.  “I read in the paper that you were all named after cities where you were conceived.”
    I nodded.  “I’m afraid that’s true.  And all the time I was growing up, I thought I’d been named Reno because my mom loved the city.  Imagine how much I got teased in school.  I used to tell people my name was Renoldo.  I thought it would look good on a marquee… The Great Renoldo .”
    “And Christopher isn’t related?”
    “No, but he worked for Roger since high school and all through college.  His mom, Pam, is our receptionist.  She and Roger have been dating for a while before…you know…but no kids.”
    “ You could have a brother or sister named Austin…or Travis.  How do you know there aren’t others?”
    “ We don’t.  But Harlan was pretty sure he had found us all.  Roger actually followed us long-distance as we were growing up and going through school.  He left us all an envelope of clippings and old photos.  I guess our mothers must have stayed in touch.”
    “Were you born in Reno? ”
    “Yes.  I didn’t leave town until the night I graduated from high school.”
    “What about everyone else?”
    “Tulsa was raised in foster homes in Oklahoma, Killeen grew up in Ft. Worth with her mom and step-dad, Liberty lived in a commune in Waco and Dallas’ parents live in Dallas.  He’s pre-law at UT, so although we sort of started the same way, our childhoods were very different.”
    The crème brûlée arrived, and it tasted even better than it looked.  Jenny drained her third Summer Splash and another magically appeared on the table.  It was n’t really magic…it was Amber who, I had to admit, was very good at her job…and probably a lot of other things, but I wasn’t going to find out.
    I looked up to see Jenny study ing me intently…or at least as intently as possible after four rum-based drinks.
    “What?” I asked, trying to figure out what she was thinking.
    “I’m not okay yet with where Angie is and what’s going on…but I’m having a really good time tonight.  I don’t date much…if you haven’t already guessed.”
    I grinned.  She didn’t come across as a smooth operator.  I was used to women who knew just what to say and when to say it.  Jenny was completely natural… she said what she was thinking, regardless of how it came out.  I had to admit that it was pretty refreshing.  “It’s good for you to get out and have a chance to relax a little.  It sounds like you work too much.”
    Her words were a little slurred as she answered, “I couldn’t agree more.  I wanted to go to college, you know, but I had to work so Angie could get her degree.”
    “I’m sure she appreciates that…”
    “Ha!  She just blew off summer session for some guy.  I’d have never done that.”
    I studied her for a moment.  She seemed a little sad…and very disappointed in her sister.  She had sacrificed her own education and probably her love life, and wasn’t feeling like it was being appreciated.  “What did you want to be?  I mean, what kind of degree did you want to get?”
    She leaned forward and rested her elbows on the table.  “I love teaching.  But I’d rather teach older kids, maybe elementary or even middle school.”
    “Then why don’t you go to college as soon as Angie graduates?”
    Jenny snorted.  “ If she graduates.  Now that she’s distracted by a guy…”
    “Have you ever been distracted by a guy?”  It was a personal question, but I really wanted to hear the answer. 
    She shook her head.  “I don’t even have time to get a haircut.”  She ran her fingers through her shiny dark hair.  “That’s why I wear it so short.  It’s easy to take care of.”
    “It l ooks good on