An Invincible Summer (Wyndham Beach #1)(7)

“I remember you telling me how the two of them would argue,” Maggie said. “But with all due respect to Harry’s memory, Chris seems to have done quite well for himself.”

“Maybe too well. He makes an indecent amount of money, and I’m not sure what he does with it all. Not that he has to report his financial dealings to his mother, of course.” Emma leaned close to one of the platters and cut a slim wedge of brie, which she topped on a cracker. “I just hope he’s investing well. He can’t play rock star forever.”

“Are you kidding?” Liddy laughed. “Have you heard of the Rolling Stones? The Who? Rod Stewart? Eric Clapton?”

“Of course. But I didn’t give birth to any of them, so I don’t care what they do with their money or their lives. But my point was, I hope he’s planning well for his future.”

“I’m sure he has excellent financial advisers,” Liddy pointed out.

“He mentioned he had someone who’d come highly recommended.”

“Nothing to worry about then,” Maggie assured her.

“You know what? We should go to one of his concerts sometime. The three of us together. Want to?” Emma looked from Maggie to Liddy.

“Of course,” Liddy replied without hesitation.

“I’m in.” Maggie toasted the idea with the last of her drink.

“Great. I’ll call Chris and check the tour schedule. We’ll see what date is best for each of us, and he can arrange it. Now, there’s something fun to look forward to.” She paused. “But you have to give me your solemn word: you will not remove articles of clothing to toss onto the stage.”

“You have my word,” Maggie promised. “No clothing, no condoms. Maybe a box of Junior Mints, though. I remember he loved those.”

Emma smiled. “Still his favorite. I put a box in his Christmas stocking every year.”

Liddy’s face lit up. “It’ll be such fun. Imagine the three of us rocking away in the front row, singing along with the band.”

“I’ll have to download some of his songs so I can sing, too.” Maggie hadn’t kept up with Chris’s band over the past several years. All she knew was what she’d heard from Emma and from her daughter. “Natalie will be so jealous.”

“She can go sometime on her own. I’m sure Chris would love to see her again. But this trip will be for us.” Liddy picked up the pitcher and stood. “This calls for another round of margaritas. I’ll be right back.”

Maggie mused over what Chris might think, gazing down from the stage into a sea of adoring young female faces and finding not only his mother front and center, but her two oldest friends as well. “You think he’ll be embarrassed?”

Emma waved a hand dismissively. “He’ll love it. Trust me, nothing could be more embarrassing for him than the shenanigans that went on during the four days I spent at his house in LA last year. Even with his security, there were groupies climbing over the back fence day and night, sneaking into the house, hiding in his bedroom. One day, in broad daylight, a girl followed us home from the market, stripped naked right in front of me, then dove into the pool. And that’s not the worst of it.”

“Just what you want to see.” Maggie grinned at the mental image that popped up in her head.

“I asked Chris what he’d have done if I hadn’t been there, and he just laughed. I imagine he’s leading quite the life.” Emma shook her head almost imperceptibly. “Actually, I don’t want to imagine it. If he’s skinny-dipping with strangers or . . . whatever else . . . I don’t want to know. It’s his life, and I guess that all comes with the territory. Still, you know, you’d hope your son would be big enough to rise above it.”

Maggie got up and opened the door for Liddy, who appeared to be struggling with another tray of snacks in one hand and a full pitcher in the other.

“Thanks, Mags.” Liddy set the tray and the pitcher on the table. “We have some spicy Asian chicken thing I admit I bought frozen, and sweet-and-sour meatballs. Eat up, girls. This is what’s passing for dinner tonight.”

“Yum. This is perfect. Thank you.” Maggie reached for a pick and speared a meatball.

Emma did the same as she continued on her rant. “Chris just turned thirty-three. Time to grow up. Meet a nice girl. Be responsible.”

Maggie and Liddy looked at each other, then laughed.

“Em, my sweet, Chris is living his best life right now. A life any man under the age of, oh, maybe eighty would envy,” Liddy said as she replenished the cracker tray from a box she’d brought out.

“I want him to settle down. Have children. I want to be a grandmother,” Emma grumbled. “I want him to come home.”

“Ahhh, there’s the heart of it.” Maggie nodded knowingly. “You want him to come home.”

“I can’t help it. I’m a widow and he’s my only child. Can you imagine how it feels to have one child that you almost never see?”

“Yes.” Liddy refilled everyone’s glass, including her own. “I had one child, and I will never see her again.”

“Oh God, I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking.” Emma’s hand flew to her mouth.

“It’s okay, Em.”

“I swear, I just wasn’t thinking. I wasn’t comparing Chris touring with his band to Jessie.” Emma appeared close to tears.