One Hundred Sixty-Seven

After a consultation of her on-board, high-tech GPS, Allegra was happy to find that Ava’s school was only about five minutes from Richie’s – she rolled her eyes – their house.  She turned the key and backed out of the garage for the first time in her shiny, new car.

Appreciating the easy way it handled down the street, she had to admit that it wasn’t so bad having a few of the finer things in life.  It really wasn’t an extravagant vehicle, which soothed her conscience a bit.  And it was a ‘green’ car, so that should count for something, too. 

I CANNOT get used to being spoiled.  It would be way too easy to let him take care of everything.  I’ve got to make sure he isn’t the one always giving.  I may not have money, but there are other intangible things that I can give.

Turning right off of the main road, she rolled to a stop at the school gate, and presented her ID in order to get access to the grounds.  Following the arrows on the pavement, she was easily able to locate the parking area and pulled into a visitor’s spot. 

That was easy enough.  Now, how to get in the building?

Allegra stepped from the vehicle and surveyed her surroundings, finding what looked to be a main entrance and directed her steps toward it. 

I guess this is what being a mom will be like.  Going to the school and picking up your kids when they’re sick, going to extracurricular activities and school programs. 

Richie had mentioned Ava’s playing soccer and basketball when she was younger, but he didn’t say anything about what kind of activities she may be participating in this year. 

Of course, it was only the first week of school.  The poor girl probably hadn’t had the chance to do much of anything yet, and here she was sick.

Tugging on the door, Allegra stepped into the cool interior of the school and approached the security desk.

“May I help you ma’am?” the older gentleman stationed at the desk asked politely, with a smile.

“Yes, I received a call that my step-daughter is ill.”  So maybe it wasn’t official yet.  It would be soon enough, and they may as well know it if she was going to be here now and again.  “I’m here to pick her up.”

“Your name ma’am?”

“Allegra Cast… Sambora.”    She smiled sweetly at him.  “Sorry, it’s still very new.”

The expression on his face never changed, so Allegra could only assume that her slip-up didn’t matter. 

Or that he was typing in a request for backup on that computer and they were about to escort her off the property for impersonating a celebrity’s wife. 

Damn Catholic conscience.

“Actually her father and I won’t be married for a few more days, so technically my name isn’t Sambora.  Yet.  It’s Castanelli.”

“I see.  And the child’s name?”

“Ava Sambora.”

He typed in something else and waited.  And waited.

“I’m sorry, ma’am, but I don’t see your name on the list.  We won’t be able to release Miss Ava into your custody.”

The door behind her banged open and Heather breezed through, her megawatt smile effortlessly charming the security guard.  “Hello, Jimmy.  Ava left me a message that she was sick.  I’m here to get her.”

She acted as though Allegra were invisible, fully pissing her off in the process.

“Hello, Mrs. Sambora,” the guard greeted Heather warmly.  “It’s a good thing you’re here.  I was just telling…”  He momentarily looked befuddled.  “Um, Mrs. Sambora here that she’s not on the authorized list to pick up Ava.  Would you like to fill out the paperwork to have her added?”

Only then, did Heather turn to Allegra, appearing surprised to find someone standing beside her. 

“No,” she declined, looking haughtily down her nose.  “I don’t know this woman.”

Allegra’s blood pressure shot through the roof.

“Heather!  Why would you say that?” she asked incredulously.  Not liking her was one thing, but making her out to be a crazed child-stalker was wayyyy beyond that.  “And why is he calling you Mrs. Sambora?  You’re divorced.”

“Because I don’t know you and my name is Sambora.”  She smiled with sweetness deadly as saccharine.  “Didn’t you know?  I kept it after the divorce.”

Sensing that things were about to take a turn toward the ugly, Jimmy rose from his seat.  “Ladies, let’s not let this get out of hand.  Mrs., ummm… Sambora.”  He nodded at Heather.  “You know where Student Health is.  Ava should be waiting there.” 

Heather strode off with a triumphant toss of her bleached blonde tresses, smirking at Allegra as she passed.  “Thanks Jimmy, you’re a doll.”

“And future Mrs. Sambora?”  Jimmy shook his head, but was directing his words to Allegra.  “If you’re going to be visiting the school and getting Ava, you’ll need to have Mr. Sambora fill out the necessary forms so this doesn’t happen again.”

Allegra was furious and was about half a second away from making that public knowledge, but she made herself remember that the guard was just doing his job to protect the children.  Taking her anger out on him wouldn’t exactly get her a spot on the PTA – or even in the school. 

“I understand,” she said tersely.  “And I’m sorry for the confusion.”

“Me, too ma’am.”  To his credit, Jimmy honestly appeared as bewildered over the whole thing as she was.  She gave him a half-hearted smile and, with concentrated effort, pushed through the exit without slamming the door against the outside wall.

“That woman is a complete and total bitch,” she mumbled, long angry strides eating up the distance to her car.  “And I have half a mind to make sure she knows it.”

Unfortunately, when Heather appeared, she would have Ava at her side.  Screaming like a mad woman at the girl’s mother wouldn’t do anyone good.  Except maybe Heather.  It would give her a legitimate reason to talk badly about her own replacement in Richie’s life.

Collapsing into the car with a growl of hostility, she slammed the door and cranked the key with a little more zeal than necessary.  Throwing the gearshift into reverse, she schooled her foot to gently press the gas pedal so that she could get off the school grounds without further incident.

Re-parking her car in the garage five minutes later didn’t find Allegra cooled off any.  If anything she was even angrier – a little more for each time she replayed the scene in her mind. 

Calling to scream at Richie wasn’t something she wanted to do – ever – but she would sure as hell be telling him about his precious ex-wife’s latest stunt. 

Until she was able to do that in a calm and reasonable manner, she channeled the deep timbre of Richie’s voice to talk her back from the ledge.

Deep breaths.  This drama isn’t good for Bug.  Don’t let her get to you. Remember how pretty the nursery looks?  The soothing shade of pink.  The stuffed ladybug I got for our Bug.

Exhaling loudly, she closed her eyes, head slumping forward. 

“Bitch,” she muttered, but the heat behind the epithet was gone.  For now.

Climbing from the car, she hung the keys back on the peg board and went in search of the peace of  Richie’s office.

“Hey!”  Carmen called after her as she passed by the kitchen.  “You didn’t eat your lunch.”

Lunch.  Giving her Italian temper another ten minutes may allow the edge to burn off of it. 

That sounded like a good idea.  It certainly couldn’t hurt.

Backtracking into the kitchen, she apologized to Carmen.  “I’m sorry, I had to run out for a minute.  Is it too late to take you up on that sandwich?”

Carmen nodded and, while Allegra cracked open a bottle of water, she put together a turkey sandwich.  Grabbing a saucer from the cabinet, she sliced the sandwich into two triangles and set it before Allegra, who sat at the breakfast bar.

“I dunno what you’re pissed about, but if it’s got to do with Richie then he needs to know you’re pissed.  Pretending it isn’t there doesn’t make it go away.”

Chewing slowly, Allegra narrowed her eyes at Carmen, swallowing a portion of her irritation along with the turkey.  “Is this what it’s going to be like?  You sticking your nose in wherever you see fit?”

“Yep.”

Letting the remainder of the sandwich hit the saucer with a wet thud, Allegra smirked.  “And I guess you expect me to listen to you?”

Carmen shrugged and wiped down the counter as if it were no matter to her.  “Only if you want to be right.”

The laughter escaped before she could stop it.  Allegra should be even angrier at her presumptuousness, but the housekeeper was so unabashedly frank that it was amusing.  Before it was all said and done, they would either end up at one another’s throats or as the best of friends. 

Allegra would be curious to see which.

“Fine.”  She wiped her mouth and stood.  “I’ll tell him.  But don’t get used to this.”

“I’m already used to it.  I think you’re the one who’s having trouble adjusting.”

Pushing a hand through her disheveled ponytail, Allegra just shook her head with a chuckle and completed her trek to the office.

She twirled his leather desk chair around, enjoying the luxury of it beneath her as she withdrew her phone.  The screen taunted her for a moment before she corralled the right words and attitude about the scene that had played out.

There was no point in demanding that he do something.  Was there?  Was there even anything he could do?  No, she would have to deal with Heather on her own terms.  This was going to take some planning, but it was the only thing that would earn the other woman’s respect.  And if not respect, at least silence.

Snorting to herself, she thought that silence was too much to ask for.  She tapped the button for Richie’s cell.

“Hey, Sunshine,” he picked up almost immediately.  “How’s Ava doing?”

“I wouldn’t know.  She’s with Heather.”

“Heather?”  The single name held a world of trepidation.  He was likely having flashbacks of the catfight that nearly erupted in the living room.  “And how did that go?”

“Oh, just as badly as you think it did.”  She gave him a factual, unemotional rundown of what happened at the school.

Of course, his first thought was to apologize.

“Shit, I’m sorry.  This is my fault.  I didn’t even think about the paperwork.  We’ll get it taken care of first thing tomorrow, baby.  You’ll be on the list from now on, I promise.”  He hesitated.  “How are you?”

Recalling Carmen’s words, she was honest.  “Livid.  If we hadn’t been in public I would’ve been a lot less nice than I was.  Do you have any idea why she’s determined to be such a bitch to me?  And why she’s still using your name?”

“She only uses my name when it’s convenient for her,” he told her with a touch of bitterness.  “Always has.  Mostly when it’s Ava-related since she never did use it publicly.  As far as to why she’s being a bitch, I don’t know what the problem is.  Do you want me to talk to her?”

Maybe that was what Heather was hoping for – a little one-on-one time with Richie to ‘work things out’.  Over her dead body.  Allegra wouldn’t grant her the satisfaction.

“No.  Heather and I will work through this one way or another.”

“You know you don’t have to do this alone.  I’ll deal with it if you want me to.”

He was so sweet, but this was one of those non-monetary things she could give – peace in his family.

“I know, but it’s not necessary.  We’re two grown women.  We’ll make it work.”  Allegra would at least.  If she had to swell the actress’s lips shut with an extra dose of Botox.  “I only hope that she’s not trash talking to Ava.  Ava doesn’t need to be put in a position to choose sides.”

“That much I can do.  I’ll check in with Ava and make sure Heather’s not spewing a bunch of crap.  That is totally unacceptable.”

“Good idea.  Make sure she knows everyone involved loves her.”

He ‘hmm’-ed softly and went quiet until the silence was almost uncomfortable.

“Richie?”

“Yeah, I’m here,” he sighed, sounding dejected.  “Just wondering if I could’ve handled this any better.”

“It doesn’t matter if you could have or not.  We are where we are, and it may take some time, but things will smooth over eventually.”

Or at least that’s the plan.