Southern Belles 4 Blissmas (9 page)

'Marti! Why you lookin' at his ass?"

"'Cause I can." She laughed. "How sad,
though. I wonder who bought this store… I hope it's not one of
those stupid corporations. I loved this store. Damn it!"

"Well, girl, things change, times change; I
just hope Mr. Robinson is okay. He's such a nice man. I felt so bad
for him when his wife died, they were a perfect couple. I sure hope
they gave him a lot of money for this little store."

"Yeah, they were a perfect couple…like you
and Tommy." She sighed.

Annie chuckled. "We are nowhere near perfect.
We have our days, you just have to learn to pick your battles. Now
let's go get ready for this party. I've got do my hair and
everything. It'll take me forever. Too bad Millie isn't working
today or we'd be at the salon, getting some amazing up do’s."

"Y'all think you're not perfect, but you're
so lovey dovey. The ranch has some thin walls; I hear what's going
on in there all night." A sly grin slid across her face. "Y'all
really go for it, don't ya?"

"Marti! You are my best friend and I love
you, but I am not telling you the details of what goes on in my bed
with my fiancé." Shaking her head. "You're crazy. Damaged, even."
She told Marti a lot of things, but her sex life with Tommy was not
one of them.

When they got back to the house, Annie put on
some Christmas music and Marti went to call Nick. He was supposed
to be there and they would all go to the Christmas party, but he
hadn't arrived yet. No answer. He was probably already on the
plane, no service yet or driving through the mountains. She jumped
in the shower and quickly washed up.

Tommy came home from work early and got ready
as well. Annie and Marti were running around, getting ready singing
Christmas carols at the top of their lungs. Marti grabbed a hair
brush and used it as a microphone. They stood in the hall singing,
"Hark The Herald Angels Sing, Glory To The New Born King!" and
busted up laughing when they were both off key.

"Y'all better get ready, we're leaving
shortly. Marti have you heard from Nick?" She laughed at how silly
they were together. Having Marti there was like a breath of fresh
air for Annie, a pick-me-up.

Annie looked amazing as always, in a red
sequined dress and a beautiful long white faux fur cape to keep her
warm. Marti was in an ivory satin gown with a green velvet cape.
She felt like Belle, and both ladies looked incredible.

"Nope, let me try again. I hope everything is
okay with him." She sat on the sofa and dialed his number again.
Straight to voicemail. "Guys, I don't know what's going on, I don't
know whether to be mad or scared. He doesn't pick up or call me
back."

Straightening his bow tie, he tried to assure
her. "Well, he's a big boy and pretty damn smart, so I'm sure he's
alright. When is the last time you talked to him?"

Tommy looked amazing in his black tux with
red accents. Annie had ordered it so they would match. He was a
country boy, not used to the dress up of cocktail parties and fine
dining. Well, semi fine dining, the party was at the Elks Lodge and
the local steakhouse was catering.

"I talked to him this morning, he said he had
some work to do and would be here on time. I took it to mean he was
flying in. How's the weather from here to there?"

"Should be good, let me double check." He
pulled out his phone and scrolled, "Says it's clear, bit chilly, 38
and getting down in the 20's tonight. Are y'all going to be warm
enough?"

"We'll be fine, honey." Annie pulled the cape
around her bare legs, "these capes are like blankies." She smiled,
walking over to him. "Ya wanna crawl up in here with me?" she cooed
to her fiancé.

Marti cringed. "Stop! Get a room. I'm getting
worried over here."

Tommy was holding Annie and looked up at
Marti, "Relax, he'll be okay. Why don't you text him the address
and he can meet us there? If he's flying over the mountains, he may
not have service and he will get it when he lands."

Marti bit her lip, she was worried. It wasn't
like him to not answer, or at least text her. "You really think
he's okay?" She sent him a text with the address to the party, not
like he couldn't find it in the small town, everyone would be
there.

They grabbed their things and headed out the
door. "Dang, it's cold." Marti wrapped herself up in the cape as
she slid onto the cool leather seat. She was concerned, but she
knew Nick was a grown man and could take care of himself. And she
needed a drink….Now.

The four minute drive was silent. Marti
checked her phone again. No answer from Nick. She called, still no
answer. "Okay, guys, I'm really worried."

After parking the car on the gravel lot,
Tommy got out and opened both doors for the ladies, helping them
out of the car. "He'll be okay, Marti, now say a prayer and don't
be a party pooper."

As they walked into the Lodge, they saw half
the town, the other half was still showing up. Christmas music was
strumming through the speakers attached to the four corners of the
ballroom. The colorful lights were blinking around the room and the
smell of filet mignon and roasted vegetables filled the air.

Tommy chatted with the Mayor and his wife,
with Annie by his side. Most of the small precinct was there with
their wives. Marti slipped over to the bar and ordered a drink.

"Gimme something to take my mind off things,
please," She knew her smile was fake, but she couldn't help it.

The bartender laughed, "That bad? I got just
the thing for you right here." As he pulled out a tall glass and
various forms of booze, Marti checked her phone. Nothing. "Hey,
aren't you Marti Odell?"

"Yeah, do I know you?"

"Oh man, you don't remember me? Jason? Jason
Billings, I was one class ahead of you."

"Billings, Billings…" she thought, "oh yeah,
you were on the football team, weren't you?"

"Yeah, quarterback. That was so long ago. I
own ‘The Bistro’ now. You should stop by," he said, handing her a
large, orange colored drink. "This should take your mind off
things. You aren't driving are you?"

Giggling, "Oh gosh no, I'm not driving." She
picked up the drink and took a long sip, "Mmm, this is good.
Frosty. Thanks a ton!"

He winked. "See ya around."

Marti walked back to the table Tommy and
Annie were at and sat down. "You remember that guy Jason Billings
from the football team? Well he's mixing drinks tonight, says he
owns ‘The Bistro’." She leaned in to Annie and whispered, "He's so
fuckin hot, I remember him from High School. He can sure as hell
put those boots up under my bed anytime. I can't believe he
remembered me."

Annie leaned in and whispered in her ear.
"Marti! You are a married woman." she really didn't think Marti
would go astray, now she wasn't so sure. "I'm gonna have to keep an
eye on you." She winked.

"Hah!...married...like where is my so called
husband?" Swallowing the last frozen bits of her drink. "Probably
stuck up in bed with Ellie, I knew that bitch was up to no good."
She walked over to the bar and ordered another drink.

"Hey, Jason, can I get another one of those
yummy, frosty things you just made me? What's it called?" Playing
with the bright red tendrils of hair that fell along her neck, she
leaned forward, just enough so he could see the cleavage above her
dress. She giggled out a, "this is so yummy" in a little girl,
coquettish voice, checking out the way his tux grabbed his
quarterback-like shoulders, how his blonde hair fell over one eye.
"So what have you been doing all these years? Are you married?"

"After high school, I enlisted and did a tour
in Iraq, another one in Afghanistan. I just recently came back to
Mountain View, I stayed in Atlanta for a couple years, bought ‘The
Bistro’, never been married and here I am.

You?" he asked, nodding at the huge ring on
her finger.

She took a big sip of the frosty drink and
started. "This?" Looking down at the rock on her finger, all her
guilt was in the bottom of the glass. "Well, this was a…probably a
big mistake."

Her tongue slid out to grab the straw and she
sucked down another huge drink. Thoughts of Nick and her marriage
were being swallowed, little by little with the frosty beverage.
She wasn't living with him anyway.

"I get it, not happy?" He handed her another
drink.

"Not really. We don't even live together. The
bastard was supposed to be here tonight and he stood me up. I guess
he had better things to do." She bit her bottom lip. "I don't
really want to talk about that. Tell me about the ‘The
Bistro’…"

"Sure. I’ll be right back." He made his way
to the end of the bar, mixing drinks for a few customers that had
been waiting. Marti slid off the chair and grabbed the bar to
balance herself. Shit! Oh shit, where's Annie?

"Annie?" she yelled across the room, her head
was spinning with the effects of the alcohol and her vision was
blurred, "Annie?"

"I'm right here. Shit! girl, how much did you
drink? You can barely walk." "I know, just get me to the toilet
please. I gotta pee."

Wrapping her arm around her to steady her,
she glanced at Tommy and made a face. "Come on girl, no more for
you. You are supposed to be dancin' and having a good time, not
drowning your sorrows."

The words barely slid out of her mouth.
"Shit, that frosty thing hit me hard. How many did I drink?
Fuck."

Opening the restroom door, Annie walked her
to the stall and helped her with her dress and panties. "Girl, you
gotta stop. Your drunken ass can't even find the flippin'
toilet."

Marti grabbed Annie's hand and put it to her
breast. "Remember these big titties?" She looked up, her eyes half
closed, smiling a half crooked smile. Annie yanked her hand back.
"Marti you need to stop that. It's not like that anymore."

"Oh hell, Annie, and you call me the party
pooper. She stood up and stumbled, Annie caught her. "Marti, I
think it's time we went home. Come on girl, get your dress
straightened up."

Giggling, she said, "You mean you don't want
to straighten it up for me?" Holding onto Annie, her hand went
around Annie's neck and she pulled her in tightly, she grabbed her
face and kissed her. Annie removed her arms from her grasp and
shoved her away. "Marti! Please don't do this. This is not
funny."

Marti let go and flopped down on the small
settee that was in the bathroom and started crying. "I'm sorry
Annie, I'm so sorry," Sniffing, she continued, "I feel like a piece
of shit. Where is my husband? Where is he?" Her crying turning into
sobs and Annie sat down next to her. She pulled her phone out of
her bra and texted Tommy. 'need some help in here'

"Honey, what's wrong with you? You're drunk
and we need to get you home. You can't act like this here. Tommy is
the freakin' sheriff, have some respect. Have some
self-respect."

Stammering through the sobs she yelled, "What
home? No one wants me. You don't want me, my mom don't want me. My
fucking husband doesn't want me." She wiped the snot off her face
with her arm, "I shoulda wore my fucking boots." Kicking her leg
out, "Why'd you put me in these fucking heels? Heels are for
bitches, I want my boots!"

Annie grabbed some toilet paper and handed it
to her. "Don't snot up your arm, here. Now come on, let's go
home"

"Hell, Tommy didn't even want me. Look at
you, you're perfect. Everyone loves you. Annabelle Gibbons, Miss
Fucking Perfect. Shit, where's my drink?"

At that moment, Tommy opened the door and
glanced at Annie, questioning her with his eyes. She whispered,
"it's okay, no one's here." He stepped in. "Come on Marti, let's
get you home."

She threw her arm out. "No Tommy! You don't
even like me, fuck you, go away."

His deep voice was soft, but stern, "That's
not true, now come on." He took her arm and stood her up. She tried
to push him away, so he picked her up and threw her over his
shoulder. "Grab y'alls stuff, hon. We'll meet you at the car."

"Put me down!" Kicking her legs and hitting
his back. "Dammit! Tommy, put me down!" He carried her through the
party, an embarrassed, somber look on his face, glancing to the
bartender, and nodding his head goodbye.

Annie was waiting at the car, the snow had
begun falling again and Tommy carefully put Marti into the waiting
car and slammed the door.

*****

As the sun came up in the morning, Marti was
still in her party dress sprawled across the bed, her cape thrown
across her. Tommy and Annie had already woken up and were in the
kitchen eating breakfast.

"You know Marti is a real fucked up girl
right now. I don't know what to do with her, is this what it's like
to be parents? God, I hope we don't have kids like this."

Tommy chuckled, "I don't know but she can
sure as hell drink me under the table. Have you checked on
her?"

"I will. Be right back."

Annie ran up the stairs to check on Marti,
who she found very asleep, or at least passed out. She wasn't
moving and definitely not going anywhere. But Annie could see her
chest rise and fall with her steady breathing, so she covered her
up, said a prayer and went back down stairs.

"Donovan." Tommy said into his phone, it was
a little early for phone calls and Annie looked at him cocking her
head in a silent 'who is it'.

"Okay." Pause. "On this side?" Pause. "Grab
Taylor and y'all meet me down there. I'm on my way."

"What happened? You're leaving?"

Sliding his boots on, "Yeah, someone spotted
something on the highway up on the pass, couple thousand feet up. I
gotta go." He grabbed his coat, "I'll call ya. Love you." He kissed
her and ran out the door.

"Uh, okay, be careful, I love you…" her words
trailing off. She turned back to the kitchen and started clearing
the dishes. Humming a Christmas tune, she was grateful that she
only had one Margarita last night. Her friend was paying the price
this morning.