The Matrons of Regal Bay
Chapter 12
Gloria's Tales -- Part 3
It was Easter weekend in Regal Bay, the second weekend of April, and Gloria had been looking forward to a quiet one. Most of her close family was away on spring break vacations. In fact, only her daughter Gina was spending the holiday weekend in Regal Bay. As a result, the elder Van Winkle thought she'd give her daughter a call. That call quickly went from pleasant to something less in a manner of minutes, thanks in no small part to Coors Light beer.
"Mom, I just don't want to keep hooking up with guys who only want to fuck, fish, and free-load. And believe me, that's the only kind of guys around this shit-hole of a town that want to do anything with an old bitch like me."
Gloria was sitting at her breakfast table that Saturday enjoying light lunch that her house-keeper had prepared, listening once again to the dismay her daughter Gina seemed to enjoy spewing her way, at least once a week. Gina was the twin sister of Ginger, Gloria's oldest children, and even now as she advanced into her late forties, Gina was still the black sheep of the Van Winkle family.
"Gina, Gina, Gina," Gloria clucked. "I really wish you would stop worrying about settling into a relationship of any kind, with any kind of man. You need to relax more, and get out and enjoy your life. Regal Bay is a wonderful place, if you'd only take the time to enjoy it."
"Mother, I grew up in this fish-breath town, remember," Gina retorted. "I know this place and I know that there isn't anything around here that I want to do. I don't like hanging around the beaches or parks, I don't like going out to clubs with all of these college kids and their drugs and music, and I don't like spending any amount of time at your golf club. I don't like golf and I don't like the people that are always snobbing around, sticking their hands out looking for some Van Winkle charity."
"But you do like spending time up at the Cattle Ranch or the Pecos Bill Salon up by the highway, don't you?" Gloria thought to herself, knowing that Gina was a fixture at those two country-western bars. Gloria audibly sighed. "Gina, I understand you very well. You've been this way since you were a teen-ager, and you haven't outgrown it yet. Nor will you or should you. I love you just the way you are, dear. You're the only Van Winkle that really did her own thing, you know."
"And look where that got me," Gina replied. "A single mother with a son who has disowned me and won't answer my calls, all because I "did my own thing" instead of following my beloved sisters and brother in the Van Winkle goose-step."
"That will be enough, young lady," Gloria insisted. "I understand perfectly well that you have never embraced our family's eccentricities, nor will I even blame you for your choices."
"You mean, it's not my fault I never felt the desire to sleep with my own father or brothers," Gina snidely replied.
Gloria paused, growing more frustrated. "Gina, you were never pressured and always respected. The Van Winkle family has always been close, you know that, but it is not a pre-requisite of being a family member. Not all of your cousins have enjoyed the pleasures, and your siblings have long ago settled into more traditional family roles."
"Which is why Ginger still enjoys bragging about her personal sexual escapades every time she calls, or those of her bi-sexual twins," Gina answered. "And don't tell me you still aren't entertaining Gabriel, especially now that he works for you. I know better than that. Plus, I've heard stories about cousin Annie's boy Tim. He's gaining something of a reputation, did you know that?"
Gloria paused, quite aware of young Tim Strauss's reputation, having only recently spent a few quality hours with her great-nephew, and a friend of his. That brought an idea to her mind.
"Gina, why don't you come over tonight for dinner?" she offered. "We can talk better about your problems if you'd like, and maybe over some wine, or beer if you'd rather, we can get it all out and see if it makes you feel any better. Plus, I might have a few ideas of my own to help you. How does that sound?"
Gina, for her part, seriously thought about not accepting. Instead, she realized that it had been too long since she and her mother had actually sat across from each other and enjoyed an evening. "Okay, Mother. I don't have anything else planned this evening any way. Why not?"
"Wonderful!" Gloria replied. "I'll have Shonda prepare her delicious chicken and dumplings for us. It'll be nice having a quiet dinner with my lovely daughter, I think. Just the two of us."
"Okay, whatever. I said I'd be there, didn't? Good-bye, Mother," Gina said and hung up.
Gloria set her phone down on the table and finished off the piece of toast she'd been nibbling on. A string of thoughts flowed through her mind and she was dialing a moment later.
"Hello, Natalya? Yes, this is Gloria. I was wondering if I might speak to your son, if he's available?" She listened for a moment. "Yes, I think I've got it. Thank you." Gloria hung up and quickly touched in the number that her friend and employee had given out. A moment later she was talking to Nicolas Aleshinov.
"Nico? Yes, this is Gloria Van Winkle. I was calling to ask if you might be available this evening, say, sometime after nine?"
***
Gloria greeted her daughter at the front door shortly after five o'clock. Gina's car, a small, red Pontiac, was parked behind her own gray Mercedes. It was an obvious clash between classes, in Gloria's mind, although she and her daughter would always be associated with the higher one.