doubts.
They parked in the carport, Angie's Datsun a sorry sight next to the Ferrari and Porsche. Lena was standing next to a cactus near the front porch, holding clippers. She waved to them as they walked up.
"Did the border authorities arrest Sol?" she asked.
Lena was a bombshell, her hair a frightening red, bushy and wild and always in her face, through which peered brown cat's eyes and a heart-shaped mouth that made the guys think of nothing but sex when it smiled slyly. Kerry swore Lena'd had silicon injections, and if size was any testimony of guilt... But no, that was just sour grapes. However, Lena had fabricated her walk; it hadn't been there last year. Her butt winked with every step. The bikini she now wore flaunted her endowments to indecent advantage. There wasn't a clue of tan lines. That meant she had been sunbathing nude. Despite Angie's presence, Park was drooling. If Lena went swimming in the waves in that tissue paper when everyone arrived, Sol would have his hands full stemming the riot.
Lena was ferocious. When she wanted something, she got it - Lena's First Law. She could be subtle or overwhelming. If sweet suggestion didn't work, she would just as soon shoot a cannon off in your face.
Shani had never heard her apologize or admit a mistake. A legion of female followers paid obeisance to her at school. If they had a problem, she had the solution. She would do anything for a friend, as long as she was loyal - Lena's Second Law. If you crossed Lena, your astrological chart suddenly got a black hole in it. But she was not petty. The opposite of Kerry, she never spoke ill behind your back. If you were a jerk, you weren't worth her attention. But if verbal abuse was necessary, she would blast you in your face in front of everyone. Even Sol was afraid of her.
"They dragged him out of his van and shot him," Park said.
"How many did he take with him?" Lena asked. With her clippers, she was trimming the cactus' stickers.
She couldn't have been more poorly dressed for the task.
"Twenty-six," Park said. "His van's about ten minutes behind us. Hey, that's one fine bathing suit you've got there."
Angie poked him, irritated. Lena curled a corner of her lips. "I just put it on. You should have been here a few minutes ago..." She let the vision hang. Park would start panting next.
"Aren't you going to ask how our trip was?" Angie asked.
"Nope."
"Lena, you know Flynn, don't you?" Shani said. "Flynn, this is Lena, Robin's sister."
"Of course I know him," Lena said. "I've only been going to class with him since the beginning of the semester. He's been to our house a few times in Santa Barbara, haven't you Flynn?"
"Yes," Flynn said.
"Really?" Shani said, putting down a stab of jealousy. Neither Robin nor Lena had told her this before.
But, then, why should they have? Funny how with a couple of compliments she was already thinking of him as hers. She was getting as bad as Kerry.
"You know how I like to break in all the new boys," Lena said. "Don't blush, Shani, you know I'm only joking. Flynn spent all his time talking to Robin."
"How is Robin?" Park asked.
"She's not well. She's just maintaining," Lena said, as straightforward as ever. Many would have considered her cold, but Lena did not baby Robin. Kerry was always quick to say it was because she didn't care. But no one really knew how Lena felt. From the beginning, when Robin had been fighting for her life, Lena had not publicly shown the slightest trace of sorrow. Lena added, "She's inside, resting.
She's been looking forward to seeing you all."
Shani had not seen her in a month, since Robin had moved down here on what seemed to be a permanent basis. Was Robin withdrawing? What was here except the ocean and sand? Yet Lena had said it had been Robin's idea to have the party.
"I'd like you to do a favour for me," Shani began. "Kerry's riding in the van with Sol and - "
"And you want me to be nice to her," Lena interrupted. "Funny you should say that. And I was just collecting these needles to stuff her pillow with."
"Please, you don't want fighting at your own party."
Lena's eyes sparkled. "Oh, I don't know, it might liven things up. Look, I'll make a bargain with you, and you can pass this on