Society Wives (12 page)

“Oh Sheldon, please!” Phoebe said. She couldn't stand for him to speak of his modest days before becoming a celebrated actor and producer.

“Well I hope you enjoy it Mr. Lee,” Ryan said.

“I'm sure I will.”

“I assume we will say grace. I mean it is Jesus' birthday,” Phoebe said and looked over at Frannie. “If you don't mind me saying that.”

“I know who Jesus is. I'm surprised that you do?” Frannie countered.

Phoebe's mouth fell open and Frannie laughed. Sheldon snickered and Phoebe narrowed her eyes at him.

“Mr. Lee. Would you do us the honor?” Ryan asked.

“It would be my pleasure.” Sheldon said a brief, but beautiful grace and ended with how grateful he was to be able to spend Christmas with his son and daughter-in-law.

“Just beautiful, Sheldon! Sounds like you really do know who Jesus is,” Frannie howled, her laugh making everyone else at the table burst into laughter—everyone except Phoebe.

“So…still no babies, I see,” Phoebe interjected.

Ryan assumed that Phoebe's goal was to suck the joy out of the atmosphere.

“Not yet, Ma! One day.” Anderson looked at Ryan and smiled.

“Sweetheart, could you pass those great smelling yams?” Sheldon asked.

Phoebe handed Sheldon the yams and he dug in, piling them on his place along with the greens, rice and mac and cheese.

“Got any projects coming up, son?”

“As a matter of fact I do. I'll be heading out on an early flight tomorrow. I'll be back next week to celebrate the New Year, and then I'm off again for a few weeks of shooting.”

Ryan tried her best to contain her annoyance. She knew Anderson would be leaving after the holidays to start shooting, but until he just said it moments ago, she didn't know that he was leaving the next day.

“What kind of movie?” Sheldon asked.

“It's an action flick. I'm surprised you didn't know. Everything gets around in this industry since it's so small.”

“Yeah. Well, I've been taking it easy lately. I'm thinking about retiring. I've done my share.”

“You're retiring!” Frannie said with a mouth full of turkey.

Phoebe rolled her eyes and turned away.

“Yep,” he said pushing back from the table. “I think it's time.”

“Congratulations, Mr. Lee. Are you excited?” Ryan asked.

“Actually, I am. You know how it is in this business. You never really retire. I wouldn't mind taking on a project here and there at my leisure.”

“Nice! I tell ya. There's nothing like retirement,” Frannie said. “Those years I gave up to the telephone company, answering those calls from all those angry people just sucked the life out of me. I still hate talking on the phone.”

“Andy, dear. You're looking a little thin these days. Doesn't the wife cook anymore? You need to stay healthy and strong in your line of work,” Phoebe said.

“Sheldon, you're looking a little thin, too. Does your wife ever cook?” Frannie countered and plastered a smile on her face as she stared Phoebe down.

“Ladies!” Sheldon admonished.

“Ma! Give Ryan a break.”

Ryan looked at Anderson. He hadn't come to her defense much when his mother attacked. He and Sheldon mostly ignored Phoebe's snide remarks as if they never heard them.

“How about dessert?” Frannie suggested and stood. “I made my homemade apple pie. It's to die for. Have several pieces, Phoebe!”

“Ma!” Ryan chided.

“Just kidding, geesh!”

“I'll have a slice. I remember that pie,” Sheldon said, holding his plate out.

Phoebe cut her eyes at him.

“I'll certainly have some, Frannie,” Anderson said.

“Ryan, honey, want me to cut you a piece, too.”

“Yes, please.”

“Phoebe?” Frannie said, lowering her voice an octave lower to sound more serious and then laughed.

“I'll pass,” Phoebe said dryly.

“I'm shocked,” Frannie said.

Ryan placed her elbows on the table and rested her head in her hands. She couldn't wait until this dinner was over. Fortunately, the evening did end without many more hitches, though the exchange had drained Ryan. Frannie left after she helped Ryan in the kitchen.

Ryan dragged her tired bones upstairs to join Anderson in bed. She pondered asking him about his leaving the next morning, but Anderson had been pretty nice to her. She wanted things to stay that way. But she remembered how good it felt to actually speak her mind the other night—frightening, but good. Things didn't end as badly as she thought. She was still nervous about taking the chance, though.

Anderson rolled over and put his arms around her. She melded herself against him. The question swirled in her mind, just behind her lips.

“You didn't tell me about tomorrow.” Her curiosity made her force the words out before she choked on them.

“I didn't?”

“No. Where are you going?”

“To take care of a little business.” He kissed the back of her head. “Now go to sleep.”

Ryan stared into the darkness as her body grew warm under the heat of her anger. The red blotches on her face started to itch.

Chapter 19

Vonnie

Mike slid his arms around Vonnie from behind as she stood in front of the vanity applying a touch of nude gloss.

“You sure you don't want to stay home with me tonight?”

Vonnie shook her head. “I thought you'd love the idea of me hanging with the girls.”

“It's cool, but the girls are not what I'm thinking of right now.” Mike ground his pelvis against her backside.

“You better stop it.”

“Alright.” Mike released her and took a seat on the side of the Jacuzzi tub. “I think it's cool that you ladies are finally connecting.”

Vonnie switched her gloss for eye liner and framed her lids. “I don't have anything against them. They're pretty cool. I just don't think we have much in common.”

“Why not? You're a smart professional woman. Hell! You're a doctor. You might even be smarter than them.”

“Silly. You know what I mean. Pearson and Nadalia came from money. Ryan's just different. I can relate to her a little more.”

“How so?” Mike lifted his chin and folded his arms in front of him.

“Well for one thing, they grew up attending the finest schools money could buy and riding their very own horses. We, on the other hand,” she said, referring to her and Ryan, “grew up riding the city bus to our very own choice of public schools.”

“So?”

“I'm just saying. That makes them a little different. Not better. Just different.” Vonnie stuffed her make into its designated bag and continued, “Take Nadalia for instance. I think she squanders away too much money. Look at her party the other night. I can only imagine how much she paid for all those servants. Oh and those favors… they were fabulous, but engraved crystal ornaments? I put that sucker on the tree and it almost tipped over,” she said and Mike laughed.

“Well, Pearson is actually the only one who grew up swimming laps of luxury. But Nadalia, she was a teenager when her mother's business took off.”

“She's so over the top you'd never know. I thought she was born with a platinum spoon in her mouth.” Vonnie twisted her head from side to side and nodded, approving her final look. “Oh I forgot to tell you, she snubbed the bottle of wine I brought with me the other week. I just laughed.”

Mike followed her out of the bedroom. Vonnie knew he was probably staring at her backside, so she sashayed over to the closet to figure out which coat to wear.

“What do you and Noelle plan to do for the evening?”

“I need to run out to Queens really quick. I'm going to take her with me and then I'm going to take her to the new Asian fusion restaurant in Port Washington and catch a movie at the mall.”

“How cute. A daddy-daughter date.”

“Yeah. I'm hanging with my young gal tonight. Don't be jealous!”

“I'm hardly jealous,” Vonnie said, still searching her walk-in closet. She was looking for something that went well with her jeans and cute green top. Finally she settled on a belted mink jacket that Mike surprised her with last winter. “You've been running out to Queens quite a bit lately.” She pushed the words on her mind past her lips.

“Yeah,” Mike said.

Vonnie frowned a bit, but didn't press the issue, assuming it was some family drama that she probably didn't want to hear about anyway. She pulled on her jacket, grabbed a sexy pair of high-heeled riding boots and grabbed her purse. She turned and Mike was right on her back. Vonnie, shook her head, planted a quick peck on his lips and headed out the room, summoning Noelle.

When Noelle didn't respond, she went to her room and pushed her door open to find her sitting in the center of her bed, lip-synching with her eyes closed, holding the jeweled headphones against her ears.

Vonnie walked in and snatched the headphones off Noelle's ears. “Girl, you didn't hear me calling you?”

Noelle shrunk sheepishly. “Sorry, Mom.”

“I'm leaving now. Give me a kiss.”

Noelle rose to her knees and kissed Vonnie. “Have fun, Mommy!”

“You too!”

“I always have fun when I'm hanging out with Daddy.”

On her way out, Vonnie grabbed the keys to the sports car. After all, she was hanging with the rich girls. Although she qualified, Vonnie couldn't get used to calling herself rich.

The ride didn't take long, but once she arrived at the marina, it took a while to find the artsy restaurant. It was tucked deep into a pier filled with yachts big enough to hold small cars. Vonnie chose to walk along the waterside after parking. Lights from the pier reflected across the waves of the midnight blue water like a string of bouncing pearls. Vonnie pulled the neckline of her coat closer to shield her skin from the sharp cold air whipping against the boardwalk and looked up. Billions of stars twinkled against the dark velvet sky.

Vonnie entered the dim but cozy restaurant and was greeted by a mature gentleman with salt and pepper hair who reminded her of the Michelin man. For a moment, she thought that he was about to hug her, but he gently touched her elbow and asked, “How can I help you?” in a rich Italian accent.

“I'm with the Madison party.”

“Oh yes!” the man said excitedly. “Right this way.” He led her along as if he were bringing her to proudly meet his family. At the table, he presented her to Nadalia and Ryan.

“Your guests, ma'am.”

“Thank you!” Nadalia nodded and smiled, politely dismissing the gentleman.

“Hello ladies,” Vonnie greeted the girls as she looked around. The décor fit the wharf setting with wood-planked walls, boat wheels, and pictures of upright distinguished gentlemen in nautical attire.

“Hi Vonnie,” Ryan squeaked out in a near whisper.

“How are you, darling?” Nadalia lifted halfway from her chair and planted air kisses on either side of Vonnie's cheek. “Pearson just sent me a text that she'll be here in a few minutes. How do you like the place? It's one of my favorites. The Chilean sea bass and the lobster scampi are amazing. I recommend you get one of those.”

“It's so cozy. I love it.”

Seconds later, Pearson blasted in like a wild wind. The plump man couldn't keep up with her step. Instead he nodded and turned back toward the front.

“I made it, ladies.” Pearson swirled off her mink cape and placed it over the back of her chair. “Nadalia, how did you find this place? You won't believe how long I drove around looking for the address only to realize that I had passed it three times. The entrance is so dark and hidden that I thought I was walking into someone's secret lair.” Pearson's loud laugh let everyone know that her party had already started.

“Waiter, I'll have what she's been drinking,” Nadalia said and laughed.

“Very funny, Nadalia. Now hand me the wine list so you can get it right,” Pearson said and howled. She laughed so hard, spit caught in her throat and she started coughing.

Ryan patted her back. “Are you okay?”

Pearson waved her off. “Girl, I'm fine.” Pearson took a few seconds to get herself together and then cleared her throat. “Thanks for accepting my invitation, ladies. Again, I apologize for my behavior the other night. So eat, drink and be merry on me. Are we good?”

“Yes,” Ryan said.

“I've been good,” Nadalia said. “Now tell me what you were drinking before you joined us.”

Pearson looked through the wine list. “It's not on here, but this will do.” She pointed out another brand. Nadalia summoned the waiter and ordered a bottle for the table.

Ironically, Pearson's voluminous entrance shifted the dynamics and the girls fell into easy chatter. Nadalia wanted the pleasure of ordering for everyone, insisting that they would love their meals. After she ordered, she held her fork in Pearson's direction. “Listen Pearson. Don't drink too much because I'm not driving your ass home,” Nadalia said. “Niles isn't here to be your designated driver.”

“Aw shut up, Nadalia. I actually think you need to drink a little more. You wouldn't be so uptight.”

“You really think I'm uptight?” Nadalia sat back with a look of wonder.

“Sometimes.” Pearson dug into her plate half acknowledging Nadalia.

Ryan looked nervous as if she were afraid that the two would break out into a fight. Vonnie was enjoying herself more than she anticipated.

“You may be right.” Nadalia's response shocked everyone. Forks fell onto plates, backs straightened. Everyone looked at her. “I haven't had sex in over a month!” Nadalia took a sip of her wine and continued eating as if nothing happened while everyone else's mouth hung open.

“Nadalia!” Ryan chided.

“What, girl? You and Anderson never had a dry spell?” She scrunched her brows at Ryan.