Destiny and a Bottle of Merlot (10 page)

The rooms Sasha envisioned were coming together at last. She could hardly wait for tomorrow night. She stood, arms folded across her chest and smiled at the transformation. The two rooms were gorgeous. Dinner preparations would take place in the kitchen, but the meal would be shared with best friends on the new dining room table.

“Mia, I forgot to tell you last night when I picked up Kismet, not to bother with the chairs. I’ve got plenty,” Sasha said, when she called Mia.

“Really? Aaron planned to drop them off today. What did you do?” Mia asked, as she gathered her equipment together for a photo shoot.

“Well, I didn’t just window shop yesterday. That’s all you need to know for now. Out.”

Josh stared at the TV without hearing anything the talking heads were saying. He had other things on his mind. He daydreamed about being a real couple with Sasha. He was married years earlier, just out of college. Josh and Candy lived together in Boulder, Colorado, for a while until she was offered a decent job in Omaha. Josh tagged along, and they got married soon after. He was only twenty-two at the time, a dumb mistake, he remembered. They had a very active sex life, but it wasn’t enough to keep them together for more than two years. They partied hard before, and after they were married. What they had in sex, lacked in love. They were destined to fail, and did. The news of his marriage never made it to Tarrytown. He was thankful for that. Only his immediate family knew about the ill-fated union. After the divorce, Josh moved back to Tarrytown and entered the real estate business with his brother. Josh knew Mia, Tina and Vic growing up, but they weren’t in each other’s circle of friends.

Should I tell Sasha or not?
He’d make that decision if they became closer, and time would tell. Josh wanted a relationship with her. She was a breath of fresh air, an innocent, and a true beauty from head to toe. The other girls before her? They were just filler until the real deal came along. He was a man troll then, and proud of it at the time. Now, not so much.

Sasha tried out the new furniture.
The couches are so comfortable
. She laid back and relaxed. She couldn’t be happier, unless she and Josh became a couple. Her mind drifted off to him.
He’s nice, very handsome and has apologized for being an ass when I met him. He’s come around. The arrogance is gone. There’s a lot I plan to reveal tomorrow night, but he doesn’t know about Jack like the rest do. What if he wants to know why I changed my name? Should I tell him I was the ‘other woman’ twice?
Sasha had a lot to think about, and how much she would include in tomorrow’s night speech.

The whimpering woke Sasha. “Kismet, go back to sleep, it’s only five o’clock,” she moaned. Kismet slept in her little bed on the hooked rug in Sasha’s bedroom. It was potty time and knowing how unpredictable puppies were, Sasha kept potty pads in the bathroom. She carried Kismet to the bathroom and placed her on the pad. “Go on, sweetie, do your thing,” she begged. Taking Kismet outside right now was not on Sasha’s ‘to do’ list. It was cold and dark this early in the morning. The pup took care of business, and Sasha brought her back to bed. This time she snuggled with Kismet right in her own twin bed. The puppy was warm, with its sweet breath and fat pink belly. It nestled in, right under Sasha’s arm and went back to sleep. Sasha lay there stroking the pup and thinking about how sweet Josh was to buy her.

It would be nice to have a man in my bed again. Six months have passed and I’m a different person now. I’m smarter and more aware. Nobody will ever lie to me and hurt me like Jack did. Jack… I’m finally free of him.
Sasha dozed off again with Kismet snuggled against her.

She set the alarm on her phone every day for nine a.m. just in case she overslept. It was rare she ever did, until today. The phone alarm rang on the night table next to the bed. “Crap! I can’t believe I fell asleep again that soundly. C’mon Kismet, we’ve got a lot to do today.”

The puppy was learning how to navigate the staircase, slowly but surely. Sasha sat by her side, inching down the steps on her butt next to the puppy. She would be right there if Kismet mis-stepped. In the kitchen, coffee brewed. The delicious aroma swept through the first floor rooms. A fire crackled in the dining room for added warmth. Those old radiators in the house needed to be replaced with something more efficient. Sasha fed Kismet and made a bowl of Cream of Wheat and raisin toast for herself.

Kismet barked at the sound of the door knocker clanking. “Who in the heck can that be? Damn it, I’m still in my pajamas.”

Sasha considered ignoring whoever stood outside, but that wasn’t her nature. She peeked out the sidelights to see Josh standing on the porch with a huge, fresh flower arrangement. She groaned at the pink, fuzzy slippers and chenille robe she wore over her pajamas, while she cinched the belt tighter and opened the door.

“It
is
Saturday, Josh. Isn’t there a steadfast rule saying nobody visits people before eleven a.m. on weekends? I think Miss Manners wrote that.”

“Sorry, Sasha, but I wanted to give you these flowers for the party tonight. Won’t they look wonderful on the new dining room table? Something sure smells good.” He inhaled deeply. “Did you just make coffee?”

“Come in, you goof. One word about my sleepwear and you’re out the door,” she said, with a threatening look.

“My lips are sealed. Hey, Kismet, how’s it going?” Josh played with the pup as she ran in circles, trying to catch her tail.

Sasha poured two cups of coffee and carried them into the dining room. They sat on the chairs closest to the fireplace. Sasha admired the enormous centerpiece sitting in the middle of the table. It contained a beautiful mix of fall blooms with burnt orange accents to match the walls.

“You think of everything, Josh. Thank you, they’re beautiful.”

The fireplace flickered, creating a warm glow on Sasha’s face. Her eyes sparkled with the reflection of the flames. Josh was in love. He reached across the table for her hand and held it. She smiled and didn’t pull away.

“Josh, I’m going to talk about things tonight that you won’t understand. I don’t want to expose myself to you that way. I’d rather get a few things out in the open now, so you won’t question it later. Do you mind?”

“Of course not. Sounds like you’ve given this some thought. Stay put, I’ll get the coffee.” Josh disappeared into the kitchen and returned with the coffee, two saucers and a trivet to place the hot carafe on. He was thoughtful.

“I’ll try to make this brief and to the point. Before I moved to Tarrytown, I lived in Manhattan and dated a man for over six years. At that time, I was a self-indulgent, stuck up, prissy model. Then I met Mia, Vic, Tina and Karen. The only reason I became acquainted with them was because the man I dated was Jack, Mia’s husband.”

“Jack? As in Jack Barnes? Why? How?”

“I thought I had a relationship with a single man. As it turned out, we were dating when he was married to Karen too. I was the ‘other woman’ to both of them for years. I’m so ashamed, but I swear I didn’t know.”

“How in the hell did Mia and Karen ever become your friends?” he asked, as he warmed up both coffees.

“Let’s just say they’re very special people. They’re my personal angels, and I love them so much. Josh, I lied to you a few weeks ago when I changed my appearance, and I’m sorry. The truth is Jack called me and sounded threatening. I went to these extremes to keep him from recognizing me in town.”

“That’s why you changed your hair, because of him?”

“Yes, and my phone number. But that isn’t all I changed. Last Monday I changed my name too. Crazy, huh?”

“Wow, my news is small potatoes compared to yours.”

“What’s yours?”

“I was married years ago, that’s all.”

“It’s okay, that doesn’t bother me. Here’s the part I’m excited to tell everyone tonight. Monday, when I went to the courthouse for the name change, I saw Jack. He was sitting with his attorney in the hallway I had to walk through to get to my courtroom. He didn’t recognize me at all. The relief was so overwhelming…” Sasha began to cry. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to act like a baby. I guess it still gets to me. I’ve been so afraid he’d find me and I’d have to move. I love Tarrytown and this house. I love all my new friends.”

“Sasha, or whoever you are, I’m falling in love with you,” he said, smiling. “I truly mean it. You can do whatever you want with that tidbit of information. I don’t want to overload you.”

“I’m going to hang on to it for a little longer. Can we talk more about it in a week or so?”

“We sure can. I’m going to start spiffing this house up. There’s going to be a party here tonight. You, sweet woman, should go take a leisurely bubble bath. I’ll watch the kid. Sasha?”

“Yes?”

“What’s your new name?”

“I’ll tell you tonight,” she said, as she walked up the stairs, trying not to trip over her pink, fuzzy slippers.

The guests began trickling in at four-thirty. Mario and Max spent most of the morning at Geared Up in Peekskill helping out in the store. They arrived at Vic’s house at two o’clock.

It was like Christmas with everyone’s arms full as they walked up the long brick sidewalk toward the Victorian. Each person commented on how beautiful the new paint looked as they got out of their cars. The coach lamps illuminated the front porch, like welcoming beacons. The scent of wood burning in the fireplace lingered in the cold air outside, hanging above their heads.

Sasha greeted her guests with Josh at her side. A few surprised looks were exchanged. Little Kismet barked happily underfoot. Sasha proudly showed off her antique dining room and living room furniture. Food was deposited on the kitchen counters while the bundles of wood went in the boxes next to the fireplaces. Max threw extra logs on the fire in the dining room.

Earlier in the day Josh wheeled Sasha’s grill out of the shed and moved it to the front of the house for Aaron’s use. The French patio doors off the kitchen would have to wait until next summer when the deck was built.

Mario brought a squeaky toy and a ceramic food dish with her name written across the side for Kismet.

Everyone gathered at the dining room table and enjoyed a bottle of Merlot between them as they listened to Sasha’s story of the wonderful furniture at Devonport Antiques.

With Aaron leading the way, the guys gravitated to the porch while he lit the grill. The chicken would take the longest. Gathered in the kitchen, the girls clucked loudly. Barnyard hens couldn’t outdo this flock. They shot questions at Sasha like a fully automatic rifle.

“What gives?” Karen asked. “Are you getting serious with Josh? You two seem awfully cozy.”

“I don’t know. Time will tell. Check him out tonight. He’s really changed over the past few months.” Sasha poured more wine as she picked up Kismet and handed her to Tina. “Here, hold her. You need a good companion in your life.”

“And that would be a dog? Gee thanks, Sasha.”

“I’m just saying… She’s pretty damn sweet and way less challenging than a guy.”

The flurry in the kitchen was almost over. Bowls and trays were placed on the dining room table and the chicken and ribs came off the grill. Four men strutted indoors carrying meat. Pounding their chests like Neanderthals, they dropped the spoils of their hunt onto the dinner table, like real men should. They paired up with their significant others, and the conquest was complete. They had women and meat. Tina had Kismet.

Compliments were passed around the large table. Great food, great meat and what’s your secret recipe?

The beautiful table held nine antique crystal wine glasses given to Sasha years ago as a gift from her parents. She strategically placed them toward the center hoping there wouldn’t be any stray elbows knocking them over and breaking the stems. Merlot filled each glass as she walked around the table with the wine bottle. Mia helped by removing the large quantity of beer bottles that gathered near each man, and threw them in the recycling bin. Max stoked the fire, creating a warm, crackling addition to the ambiance.

The gentle tapping on her wine glass stopped once she had the room’s attention. All eyes were focused on Mia. She smiled at her dear friends as their conversations quieted. Aaron gave her a hand squeeze under the table, and an enormous grin, as she slipped the engagement ring back on her finger and stood. She cleared her throat. “I want to thank Sasha for hosting this wonderful party tonight.”

“Here, here!” everyone agreed, as they toasted each other.

Mia continued. “The last six months has been a whirlwind for everyone at this table. New friends have been made, new homes have been purchased, new loves have blossomed, and you all know who you are,” she said, laughing.

Everyone smiled at the person of their affection. Karen made an inconspicuous glance toward Mario. He waited for her eyes to lock with his. They did. He grinned and gave her a wink. Karen broke out into a bright red blush, but winked back.

“I’ll make this short. I don’t want anyone falling asleep now that our bellies are full and we’ve had plenty of alcohol. So, I guess I’ll just come out and say it.”

“Then friggin say it already,” Vic yelled out, causing an uproar of laughter.

“Fine… I was trying to build the suspense. Aaron asked me to marry him. We’re engaged!” Mia lifted her arm and turned her hand around to show off the ring. It dazzled in the firelight as she proudly walked around the table showing it off. Screams, kisses and hugs from the girls almost suffocated her. Aaron received hearty handshakes, congratulations, and back slaps from the guys.

The tightest embrace came from Sasha. She whispered in Mia’s ear. “Tonight is the best night, I’ll never forget it.”

Wine flowed and people took turns making toasts. Glasses clinked together.

“As long as there’s news to tell, I have something I want to share with all of you. Mine might be a little long winded… sorry.” Sasha laughed, nervously.

Everyone groaned and pleaded, then broke out laughing. “Go ahead, hon, we’re just giving you a hard time,” Vic joked.