Society Wives (7 page)

Vonnie noticed that the wine Nadalia poured wasn't the one she brought with her.

“Sage home?” Vonnie tried to make small talk before the discomfort she felt made the moment more awkward.

“He's working late! As usual…well, football season is really busy for him. I never expect him before nine. He comes home and practically passes out.”

“Oh yeah? Just like Mike! If I don't make him slow down, he'd work himself to death.”

“I know, right. I mean, I run a company too, and I know what it's like to have to put in some hours, but the way these men work themselves, it's a wonder they haven't aged beyond their years.”

“Tell me about it.” Vonnie sipped her wine. The awkwardness was waning and she was sure the wine would also help chase away the edge.

“Speaking of which, that's one of the reasons I asked you over. We never really get to chat and also I want to do something special for Sage. You know…since he's been working so hard.” Nadalia's noticeable pause put Vonnie on notice. “And I…uh…love the way you and Mike are together.” Nadalia cleared her throat. “I figured you could help me come up with some ideas to get him to, uh, loosen up. So tell me, what's your secret?”

“Well…”
So Nadalia and Sage were having trouble at home.
Vonnie wasn't sure what to say. “People ask us that all the time and I'm never sure how to respond.” Vonnie thought some more. “Personally, I love the way he treats me. It may sound selfish, but it encourages me to be the best wife and friend I can be to him. We talk a lot, hang out together, have date nights. He's…” Vonnie thought for a moment. “He's just my best friend.”

“Well that sounds pretty simple. I—”

“Oh and we have a lot of sex!” Vonnie interjected. She punctuated her statement by holding up her wine glass to toast her declaration. She glanced at Nadalia, who looked as though she didn't know whether to laugh or not.

Nadalia released the snicker she held behind her pursed red lips with a slight snort and both of them fell out laughing.

“I guess that will do the trick,” Nadalia said, holding one hand over her heart. They laughed some more before Nadalia continued, “I guess we could do more dating, too.”

Silence cushioned between them as they ate and sipped. Vonnie swore she saw a sadness settle in Nadalia's eyes. She wanted to ask, but didn't want to pry.

Placing her unfinished pie on the ottoman, she repositioned herself on the sofa and faced Nadalia. “I don't know if I helped much.”

“Well…you did, but I'm still thinking that I need to figure out a way to just spark things up a little.”

“How long have you been married?”

“We were engaged forever, but we're coming up on five years of marriage next summer. You and Mike have been married much longer, right?”

“Yeah. We were high school sweethearts. Separated during our college years, but we got married right after we graduated. We were still babies, but we made it. It's been twelve years.”

“Wow!” Nadalia took a sip of her wine. “That's like a freaking eternity. And you still have a lot of sex? Geesh!”

Vonnie shook her head at Nadalia's reaction.

“I can only hope that Sage and I last that long.” She stopped talking and appeared to be in deep thought. “He'll probably want some babies by that time. How will I get out of that?”

Vonnie reared her head back, shocked by Nadalia's statement. “Don't you want children?”

“Not particularly.”

“Oh…okay.”

“It sounds a little harsh I know, but right now I'm not ready and I'm not sure when I will be. It's so much responsibility. And poop and snotty noses have never been appealing to me.”

Vonnie chuckled and shook her head.

“At the rate we've been going, I won't have to worry about babies. He's been working so many hours, my Sally hasn't even seen his Peter in weeks.” Then she paused with an inquisitive grimace planted on her face. “You know what?”

“What?” Vonnie said.

“Well, I'll be damned. I haven't had sex with my husband in a month.”

Vonnie raised her brows and then gulped the remainder of her wine. That was her cue to wrap up their conversation because she wasn't sure she wanted to hear much more. Nadalia had become more comfortable and she already knew Nadalia was one for blurting out interesting statements in the presence of the entire group. Vonnie could imagine the things she was capable of saying behind closed doors.

Vonnie placed the glass down on the coffee table. “Maybe it's time for a spontaneous excursion.”

“What kind of spontaneous excursion?” Nadalia asked.

“Mike and I sometimes sneak off to different places just to get away for a night or two. It's a great way to reignite the spark every now and then. Maybe both of you can get some much needed R and R—or not!” Vonnie hooted and Nadalia's eyes widened like she'd just gotten a bright idea. “It might be good to help rekindle your fire and get Sally and Peter reacquainted.”

Nadalia looked at her sideways before laughing herself.

Vonnie enjoyed Nadalia's company and after a while, they were talking like old friends. Vonnie looked at her watch and couldn't believe that two hours had past.

“Well, it's been nice, but tomorrow's my early day at the office so I really need to get going.”

She gathered her purse and coat and Nadalia walked her out.

“Thanks for coming,” Nadalia said as they reached the door, “and thanks for the advice. I think a little excursion is just what we need.”

They exchanged a quick hug and as Vonnie started out of the door, Nadalia called out to her.

“Uh…Vonnie.”

“Yes.” She turned back.

“Do you mind keeping our little conversation to yourself?”

“Sure,” Vonnie said slowly. “Take care.” She exited knowing that Nadalia's request had more to do with keeping up appearances than confidentiality.

Chapter 12

Pearson

Pearson hated the holidays. Everyone walked around all happy and full of glee and the whole scene made her sick. As much as she loved Niles' family, even they annoyed her with all of their cheer. She felt like she was stuck in a bad version of one of those happy-go-lucky Christmas movies, wishing she could bust through the screen and be the Grinch. She could relate more to “A Christmas Carol,” but with a more painful past.

As she sat in her home office handling business for her foundation's benefit gala this coming spring, she did her best to at least match the upbeat tone of the photographer that worked the event for the past five years. As always, he was excited to get the contract signed because it gave him exclusive access to the Who's Who across New York City and Long Island.

“I'll be sure to get a couple of great shots of you and Niles to add to your collection of family photos.”

“Sure…I gotta run, Kenny. I'll have my assistant drop the contract and deposit in the mail first thing Monday morning.”

“Wonderful! Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, Mrs. Day.”

“Yeah…thanks.” She stopped herself from saying, ‘Bah humbug.'

It was still early in the day, but she had a lengthy list of tasks she had to complete. Handling business for the foundation, which meant the world to her, topped that list.

Pearson started G-Day to support organizations with serious missions to influence the lives of young girls, especially those who'd suffered the loss of a parent—or at least felt like they did. The $500-ticketed gala was the marquee event, where the foundation received the majority of their funds, presented awards and scholarships and announced the names of young women who were selected to participate in the G-Day Summer Camp and the coveted G-Day Abroad Experience.

Pearson wanted to make sure girls felt valued and worthy, unlike she did growing up as a teen under her mother's detached thumb. She also wanted to be a part of giving them an experience beyond their wildest imaginations.

After that, she needed to get ready for the gathering at Nadalia's house later that evening. There were lots more crappy merry-happy greetings to push through before the holidays were over. All this time did for her was conjure unhappy memories to the forefront, along with emotions that she had to wrestle with. It was during this season that her life took a devastating turn all those years ago.

Pearson had been a daddy's girl from the moment she took her first breath. Her father, Alston Chambers was smitten with Pearson at first sight and happily cared for her every need the way a nurturing mother would. He had to, because for Candice, that mothering instinct that kicked in after a woman gave birth, never quite fell into place.

Christmas Eve, when Pearson was twelve, Alston went shopping, filling his car with all the dolls and gifts a pre-teen could ever want, but he never made it home. A massive stroke caused him to steer the car off the road, nearly splitting it in two. The impact killed him instantly.

On Christmas, instead of opening gifts, Pearson and Candice spent the day mourning: Pearson in her room, and her mother camped out in a darkened den while she drank several bottles of scotch. The gifts under the tree remained unopened.

New Year's Eve was spent sending her father off in the most opulent way imaginable. From that day, Pearson's life had never been the same.

Pearson shook those awful memories away and stood so abruptly she knocked her chair over. The pain of her father's loss rushed her as if it had just happened. She doubled over and wept, crying for him and all the other losses that his death generated.

Pearson reached for the wine cooler; she couldn't deal with this agony in her own strength. Deciding that wine wouldn't cut it, she dug beyond the files in her bottom drawer and pulled out a fifth of vodka. She drank straight from the bottle, wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, and sat on the floor.

After a few more sips, Pearson put the liquor back in its place. She still had a few hours to put in even though it was the Saturday before Christmas.

Pearson got back to work, but not before grabbing a bottle of red wine, a glass, and an aerator. She uncorked the bottle and filled her glass to the rim, letting the crimson liquid pass through the aerator first. Bringing the glass to her mouth with trembling hands, Pearson took a long sip. She had to catch her breath when she finished.

After tapping out a few emails to her assistant and warning her not to act on them until Monday, she shut down her PC. Just because she was a workaholic who drowned her revulsion for the holidays in long, vigorous hours and expensive spirits, that didn't mean her employees had to.

Saving the rest of her work and errands for another day, Pearson decided to start preparing for the party, starting with a long soak in their colossal Jacuzzi spa. She'd hoped that the soothing rhythm from the jets and the velvety bubbles would wash away some of the feelings of grief and that threatened to consume her.

The sound of Niles' rich deep voice bellowed though the master bedroom and into the bath. Pearson's eyes fluttered open and she realized she'd fallen asleep in the tub. Niles called her name again and this time it sounded less distant. She sat up in the water and took a moment to clear her disorientation.

“I'm in here!” She heard Niles' footsteps growing closer.

He appeared in the door and grinned. Pearson smiled back as a sliver of heat swirled in her core, brought on by the sexiness her husband exuded by simply standing there. His handsome teeth, resembling ivory, were lined up like tall soldiers. She could tell that lustful considerations were brewing behind the smoldering look he gave her. As he stood taking her in, he never said a word.

“Wanna join me?” Pearson curled her finger, inviting him in.

Niles sauntered over, crouched at the edge of the tub and pushed his tongue into Pearson's mouth. She put wet arms around him, pulling him in and soaking his clothes.

When they managed to pull themselves apart, Niles answered breathlessly, “I wish I could.” He looked at his watch. “But that would make us very late.”

Pearson scrunched her brows. “What time is it?”

“A little after five.”

Pearson jumped up, splashing water all over Niles.

“Whoa!” he said, stepping back.

“Oh my goodness!” she said, grabbing her cloth and soap. More than two hours had passed. Her fingers had shriveled like raisins and she shook her head. Quickly, she washed in the cool water, toweled off, and ran to the adjacent room, which she had turned into a huge walk-in closet. She had wanted to run out to her favorite boutique and find a cute shirt to wear, but it was too late for that. She threw on a mocha-colored knit dress that stopped just before her knees and then double wrapped a long silk, leopard print scarf around her neck.

By the time she emerged from her dressing room, Niles was just making it out of the shower. Nadalia's Holiday Pot Luck dinner was starting in less than an hour and Pearson hadn't cooked a thing.

“What are we bringing?” Niles asked as he buttoned his crisp yellow shirt.

“I was just thinking about that.”

Niles dropped his hands to his side, looking puzzled. “I thought you were making that delicious pasta with the shrimp scampi sauce.”

“Yeah…well…a thing happened and now that dish is not going to happen.” As she slipped a sizable pair of pearls into her ears, she said. “I'll call DiMaggio's and ask for a pan of pasta.”

Niles raised his brows like he didn't think that was a good idea.

“I know it's out of the way, but it's my only option right now.”

“What happened to…you know what? Never mind.”

Pearson was glad that Niles thought better of asking her why she hadn't made the dish. She didn't want to answer him anyway.

“I'll grab a bottle of wine out of our reserve. That will be one less stop we'll have to make. We shouldn't be too late.”