He was always honest about what he had to offer. He promised nothing except great sex and good times. He had no kids and didn’t want any. His mother came from an old Main Line family, and his father was in investments. He had grown up with privilege and money, and had stayed in California to make a fortune of his own. He had exceeded all his expectations. His parents were stunned.
As soon as the shaking ended, he walked into his bathroom with Ava right behind him, handed her a robe, and put one on himself. They both put on running shoes. There was broken glass everywhere.
“We’d better get our asses out of here, before the place blows up. I have no idea how to turn the gas off,” he told her. They could already smell it. She tied the robe around her with nothing under it, she couldn’t find her underwear in the dark and he didn’t have a flashlight. The house was pitch black.
They groped their way out of his bedroom and down the stairs. It was the consummate bachelor pad, full of expensive art and sleek furniture, selected by his decorator. They made their way out the front door and onto the street a minute later, and walked straight to the small knot of people standing outside, an older man with a mane of white hair, who looked like Einstein, two younger men, and a woman and two children. The younger men stared as Ava walked up to the group. Peter could guess that she had nothing under the bathrobe. Joel was a handsome man, who exuded confidence and looked as though he owned the world. Peter wondered if they’d been in the shower when the earthquake hit. The woman looked nervous and shaken by the experience, and the man looked as though he was enjoying it. There was a fearless quality to Joel, which Peter almost envied. He’d been shy and had asthma as a child. He couldn’t do sports because of his asthma, and he lived through reading books, and came alive once he started writing. He exchanged a shy smile with Ava, while Joel talked to the others and seemed to forget about her. He acted as though he owned her.
“We should have someone out here serving drinks,” Joel suggested, and Andrew smiled. They all introduced themselves, and stood chatting for a few minutes about what had happened in their homes, and what they’d been doing at the time. They were talking animatedly when a blond woman walked up to them in a white shirt and jeans and running shoes. It was a warm evening after the hot humid day, and she smiled when she saw them. They hadn’t seen the gates open, or the woman slip through. There was a couple following behind her at a discreet distance, and she was carrying a first aid kit, and a large powerful flashlight.
“Hi, is everyone okay here? Anybody hurt or need assistance?” They all stopped for a minute to look at her, and Tyla said that they were fine, just shaken up. No one was hurt. “Does anyone need food or water?” Andrew looked at her carefully for a minute and realized who she was. He had never seen her in the flesh before, and couldn’t keep himself from staring at her. She spoke to Arthur, who was laughing and good-humored, as Andrew whispered to Peter standing next to him, “Meredith White.” Peter’s eyes flew open wide and he tried not to stare at her and couldn’t help himself.
“Oh,” Peter whispered to Andrew, feeling starstruck, and as Tyla looked at her more closely, she recognized her too. It was the same woman she’d seen in the yoga class, although Andrew didn’t believe her.
“I’m Meredith,” she said easily. “Do you all have the tools you need to turn your gas off?”
“I don’t,” Joel said, standing in his bathrobe. “Does anyone have a joint? I’d much rather have that than a wrench. Or a drink?” They all laughed, and Ava looked embarrassed to be standing in a terrycloth robe with nothing under it. You couldn’t see anything, but she knew, and Joel loved it. Meredith spoke to Will and Daphne then, and Daphne told her about her doll named Martha who was still inside on her bed. She looked worried about it, with her little brow furrowed, and her long dark pigtails with bows on them.
“I’m sure she’s okay, if she’s on your bed,” Meredith said with a gentle smile. “She’s probably sleeping.” Debbie and Jack were watching the entire group from a little distance with a look of displeasure. They seemed awkward and out of place, and didn’t mingle with the others. They kept their eyes on Meredith, as though she had escaped from jail, and they were eager to get her into custody again, but weren’t sure how to do it without creating a scene. Only Arthur, who couldn’t see her, and Joel and Ava seemed to have no idea who she was. Andrew and Tyla and Peter were stunned to be talking to Meredith White on the sidewalk, like any ordinary mortal. She didn’t act like a recluse. She seemed like a very normal woman, and Daphne was smiling at her. Andrew said regretfully that he had to get to the hospital soon. He was enjoying talking to Peter and Joel, and he knew now who Joel was too, the current king of the high-tech startup world, and Ava was very nice to look at. She had long dark hair cascading down her back, and even the terrycloth bathrobe couldn’t hide her figure. She kept having to tie the belt tighter to keep the robe from opening and revealing too much. Peter couldn’t keep his eyes off her. He was even more fascinated by her than the famous movie star. It was turning into a very exciting night.
“I can’t supply a joint,” Meredith said, smiling at Joel, in response to what he’d said, “but I can offer you all a drink and something to eat at my place. We’ve got plenty of bedrooms if you’d like to spend the night. I mean the offer. Things may continue to shift and fall through the night, and my house is built like a fortress.” It was the only stone house on the block. “You’re more than welcome to come in. We’ve got an emergency generator, so we’ll have some light.”
“We’d love it,” Joel said for both of them. It sounded like a party to him. And he was intrigued to see the inside of Meredith’s home. Andrew liked the idea too. Daphne was holding Meredith’s hand, and Tyla smiled shyly. They all looked grateful and relieved by her offer. Debbie and Jack looked horrified and exchanged a glance. The last thing they wanted was a horde of strangers coming in, and having to watch them to make sure that they didn’t steal anything while they were there, or take photographs, which wasn’t allowed. Suppliers had to sign a confidentiality agreement just to make deliveries. And now she was inviting strangers in. Debbie rolled her eyes at Jack. Meredith wasn’t in the least worried about her neighbors, and was enjoying chatting with them.
Joel and Ava rushed into his house to get some clothes to bring with them. Tyla disappeared into theirs, and returned triumphantly carrying Martha, Daphne’s doll, and iPads for both children. Andrew looked annoyed but didn’t comment. They all locked their front doors, hoping that there wouldn’t be looters or vandals later in the night. Then they followed Meredith to her front gate. She opened it with her key, Debbie and Jack had gone ahead, and the others followed her inside with a look of awe. Peter explained to Arthur where they were going, and when he said Meredith’s name, Arthur looked stunned.
He turned and spoke to Meredith immediately and introduced himself and she was equally impressed.