“Not a one, I’m afraid. Everyone I know who isn’t married is dating someone. Do you think Wayne has any friends he’d like to bring? Not that I want word to get out that there’s a party going on here and have fifty people show up.”
“I’d rather not vouch for any friends Wayne might have. I’ve always known him to be pretty much a loner, anyway.”
“You can always ask your other old schoolmate from the reunion. Teddy. He seems to go way back with you girls.”
The last person I wanted around, especially if Tanis was present. “Uh…I think he’s away for the holiday. He mentioned something about going upstate.”
“Oh. Too bad. Nice guy.”
“What about food?” I asked, eager to change the subject.
“I’ll give you the number to my caterer. She won’t appreciate the late notice, but since it’s a small gathering I’m sure she can squeeze us in. That’s another reason to keep it at about a dozen people. All the best caterers are booked.”
“I wouldn’t know anything about that,” I remarked. “But there is something I do know that I’d like to share with you, Aaron.”
“What’s that?”
I smiled at him with all the warmth in my heart. “I love you.”
Chapter 23
I dreaded calling Tanis with an invitation to the party. If I thought I could get away with telling Aaron that she simply wasn’t able to make it I would have, but the likelihood of them running into each other at their kids’ school or at the dance school their daughters attended was too high. I had no choice.
I forced myself to think of good things, like the joy on Aaron’s face when I told him I loved him. It had been a long time since I’d been this happy. I couldn’t let Tanis ruin it for me.
To my surprise, a man answered the phone. I was more surprised when he called me by name. “Wayne? Did I dial the wrong number?”
He laughed. “No, I’m at Tanis’s. I normally wouldn’t answer the telephone, but your name and number—I mean Aaron’s—showed up on the TV screen, so I figured I would.”
I knew what he meant. Caller ID showed up on Aaron’s TV screen, too. I also understood why he picked it up. He thought Aaron was calling and wanted to know why.
“Tanis went to the store. She’ll be back any minute.”
I felt happy for him. “So how long has this been going on?”
“We’ve been seeing each other since the night of the reunion.”
The night he took her home. Wayne was probably a poor substitute for Aaron in Tanis’s eyes, but he was a kind and caring man, and those kind of men were always hard to find. It didn’t hurt that he obviously adored her.
“I’ll tell you why I’m calling,” I said. “It’s awfully last minute, but Aaron and I thought it would be fun if we had a small group over to ring in the new year here at his place. We’d love to have both you and Tanis.”
“That sounds great. We really didn’t have any plans. Tanis’s kids are with her ex until New Year’s Day. Why don’t I ask her to call you at Aaron’s?”
That thought made me smile. “You do that. I’ll see you New Year’s Eve.”
I called Rosalind next, inviting her to the party as well as sharing the gossip about Tanis’s involvement with Wayne. “Wayne sounds so happy, Rosalind.”
“I hope he enjoys it while it lasts, because it won’t.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Tanis told me that she won’t ever marry another man in the entertainment industry, but that she wanted someone who made a good living. I don’t think that’s Wayne, do you?”
“No.” It sounds more like Aaron.
“I know she’d planned to make a play for Aaron until you showed up and put a butcher knife in her plans. Aaron’s friend Elias is single now, and heaven knows he’s handsome, but he likes blondes.”
If I’d been surprised when Wayne answered Tanis’s phone, I was astounded when Marsha asked if she could bring James, when I called her next. I couldn’t even form an intelligible response.
She laughed. “I know you’re surprised. But we’ve been in pretty constant touch since the night of the reunion, and he’s driving up from Beaufort the day after tomorrow to spend New Year’s with me.”
“That actually makes it easier,” I noted, “since my guest list is short on men. But Tanis is coming with Wayne, and you’re coming with James—”
“Wait a minute. Tanis and Wayne?”
“I know it seems unlikely,” I said with a smile. “Apparently you and James aren’t the only ones who hooked up at the reunion.”
“He doesn’t seem her type.”
“You said the same thing about James,” I reminded her.
“I know, but he’s so nice, Emily. I admit I made a mistake. I can’t tell you how excited I am about him coming up. We’ve talked just about every day since Thanksgiving weekend. I’ve learned so much about him. But seeing him in person again…”
“You mean you’ll be sleeping with him.”
Marsha giggled. “I’m so excited. It’s been a while.”
I felt her excitement over the wire. Silently I expressed my hopes that she wouldn’t be disappointed.
Tanis called a few minutes later. “I see you’re playing house with Aaron while his family is away.”
“Yes, just like you and Wayne.”
“Touché,” she said easily. “He told me about your invitation. We’d love to come. Can I bring anything?”
“No, but thanks. I’ve spoken to the caterer, and she’s taking care of everything.”
“Oh. Can I ask who else is coming?”
My instinct told me she wanted to know if anyone from Euliss was coming, which meant word could get out about her and Wayne. “It’ll be small. A friend of Aaron’s and his date, plus Rosalind and John, you and Wayne, and Marsha and James Hardy. I haven’t spoken to Valerie yet.”
“James Hardy is coming with Marsha? I thought he was a drill instructor down in South Carolina. Did he retire or something since last month?”
“He’s still working, but apparently he’ll be in town.”
“That might create a problem for my cousin,” Tanis said, not sounding particularly concerned. “I don’t think she’s seeing anyone, and it’ll be awkward for her not to have anyone to kiss at midnight. Her life might revolve around her family, but her son and grandson are both too young to escort her.”
“I’ll leave that up to her.” Tanis made it sound like Valerie should be pitied for not having a man in her life, but I knew better. Valerie seemed perfectly content with her life around her children, her new grandchild, her career, and, undoubtedly, her vibrator.
“You don’t know any unattached men you can invite just to even things out?”
“Truthfully, Tanis, I don’t know if she’d really care about being the only one without a date.”
“Hold on a minute, Emily. Let me ask Wayne.” I could hear her as she spoke to him. “Do you know a nice man we can invite to the party so Valerie will have someone to pair off with?”
I laughed at his response. “Tanis, I don’t be runnin’ with a pack of dudes like that.”
“Well, I tried,” Tanis said to me through the receiver.
I’d gone shopping and found a simple navy knit dress with a tight-fitting bodice, three-quarter sleeves, a belted waist, a scooped back, and a full skirt that fell to just above my ankles. I wore navy high-heeled sandals and skipped the hose—the straps around my big toes made stockings impossible anyway—and showed off my freshly pedicured toes. Aaron whistled appreciatively when I came downstairs, and I felt like a fairy princess.
That is, until Tanis arrived.
She and Wayne showed up a little after eleven, after Rosalind and John and Elias and his latest squeeze, a pretty Latino whose honey blond hair came from a bottle and whose name was, of all things, Eliana. I watched, steaming like a lobster pot, as Tanis gave Aaron a hug much warmer than the phony air kiss she’d given me.
Tanis wore a dark
mink. She was wearing her hair longer these days, in a cascade of curls with a center part. It looked quite nice. She removed her coat to reveal a green rayon dress with two clear halves to its bodice, each cut all the way down to the wide belt, revealing the swell of firm, C-cup boobs. The cinched waistline also showed off the great shape she was in. I looked down at my modest chest, which looked grossly underdeveloped next to Tanis’s bold display.
Rosalind came up beside me. “Double-sided tape,” she whispered. “There’s nothing like being the center of attention, is there?”
“I hope she gets a chest cold,” I muttered. I turned to see how Aaron had reacted to Tanis’s plunging neckline, and was dismayed to see his eyes glued to it. Elias, too, couldn’t seem to control his stare, which went down to her cleavage even while he greeted her. I even noticed John Hunter’s gaze lingering on Tanis’s chest, at least until Rosalind gave him a firm poke in the ribs.
Aaron glanced up at me, embarrassed at having been caught. He leaned toward me for a kiss and I relented. So he’d been caught looking. He was a man, after all. What did I expect?
I was refilling the ice bucket and didn’t hear the doorbell ring, but when I returned I was happy to see Valerie, wearing a black velvet pantsuit with red satin trim, handing her coat to Aaron.
Tanis rushed forward to greet her cousin. “Valerie, I’m so glad you made it,” she said, her voice dripping sugar.
Valerie’s response brought a chuckle to my lips. “I don’t know why you’re so surprised to see me, Tanis. You called me yesterday to see if I was coming.”
“That’s because I arranged for a surprise for you, and in order for it to work out you had to be here.”
Valerie responded the same way most people do when being informed of an impending surprise. “What is it?”
“You’ll find out soon enough.” Tanis stretched the last word out to three syllables over two octaves. Then she turned to freshen her drink with the ice cubes I’d just replaced. She leaned forward slightly, and I could have sworn Elias craned his neck to see if he could get a glimpse of tit.
“You know, I’ve always loved this painting of Diana,” Tanis said, pausing in front of the picture that I was finally learning to ignore. “It’s in such a nice place, too. It’s the first thing people see when they step inside the house.”
I deliberately offered to fix Valerie a drink, which she accepted. As I took Valerie’s arm and led her to the bar, I saw Tanis shift position out of the corner of my eye, like she was turning around to give me a triumphant little smile.
“I like it, too. But I’m thinking of moving it to the girls’ room,” I heard Aaron say, and instinctively I knew his eyes were on me. “None of us will ever forget Diana, and I wouldn’t want us to. But she’s no longer mistress of the house.”
Tanis seemed to shrivel before my eyes.
The doorbell rang at ten minutes to twelve. Both Aaron and I went to answer it, laughing and clasping our hands. I closed one eye for a look through the peephole.
“It’s Marsha,” I said as I stepped back, gesturing for him to open the door.
The first thing I noticed was the happy expression on Marsha’s face. James had arrived in town yesterday. I guessed he’d pushed all the right buttons. No wonder they’d barely made it before midnight.
The second thing I noticed was that someone stood behind them. Had they brought someone with them? Why hadn’t Marsha mentioned it?
When they moved inside I got a better look at the third wheel.
Teddy.
“Hey, man. I didn’t think you’d be able to make it,” Aaron said jovially.
“Thanks, Aaron.” Teddy shook his hand, then turned to me. “You seem surprised to see me, Emily. Didn’t Tanis tell you I accepted your invitation?”
Tanis! “I guess it must have slipped her mind, but we’re happy to see you, Teddy. Come in; you’re just in time.”
“Everybody, let me take your coats,” Aaron urged.
“Aaron, what a lovely home you have,” Marsha said with admiration.
“Thanks. It’s comfortable.”
“I’ll say,” James said with a chuckle. As he had at the reunion, he wore his dress blues and looked quite dashing.
I faced Teddy while Aaron took Marsha’s and James’s coats. “She didn’t tell you, did she?” he guessed.
“No. She’s up to something, and I think I know what it is.”
“I’ll talk to her.”
“No, let me. Just give your coat to Aaron, Teddy.”
I sought Tanis, who stood next to a stunned Valerie saying, “There’s your surprise! You have a partner, so you won’t have to sit alone while the rest of us are dancing. Wasn’t that thoughtful of me?”
“Extremely solicitous,” Valerie said drolly.
I quickly stepped in. “I’ve only got five minutes to get the champagne. C’mon Tanis, give me a hand in the kitchen.” I grabbed her arm before she could protest. Tanis was the type of guest who never offered to help.
I started in on Tanis the minute we were alone. “All right, what gives? Why did you invite Teddy to come and not say anything to me about it?”
“Because we both said we wished we knew someone who could prevent Valerie from feeling left out around all these couples. Teddy was the perfect choice. We’re all old friends, aren’t we? I can’t imagine why you’d be upset.”
Too late, I realized my mistake. If there’d been nothing between Teddy and me, I wouldn’t have been upset by his unexpected appearance. I’d just given myself away, and that syrupy sweet way Tanis spoke proved it.
She gave me a knowing smile. “So what’s the deal, Emily? Why are you so upset to see Teddy here?”
“Listen, Tanis, I don’t know what you think you’re up to—”
“Cut the crap, Emily. You and I both know you were boning Teddy while you were supposed to be seeing Aaron. Don’t you think I know why you were trying to hide from me, and why Teddy stopped at the store? What happened? Did you run out of protection?”
The kitchen door swung open. “Hey, it’s almost twelve,” Aaron announced. “There’re only a few minutes left to pour the champagne. Do you need help with the cork?”
“Oh, we’re just gossiping,” Tanis said lightly. “You know how we women are. The time got away from us.”
I sprung into action, removing two chilled bottles of Freixenet Cordon Negro—actually a bubbling sparkling wine—from the refrigerator and arranging flutes on two round trays. Aaron removed the cork from the first bottle and started to pour.
Tanis seemed only too eager to hang around now that Aaron had appeared. She pulled and tugged at her dress until she achieved the desired wardrobe malfunction.
Aaron noticed before I did. “Um…Tanis.” I looked up to see him patting his chest, then saw Tanis’s uncovered tit.
“Oh, look at me.” She giggled.
“We’ve seen it,” I snapped. “Now, fix your tape and cover it up.”
She promptly began to fiddle with the inside of her bodice, standing where she was.
“For God’s sake, Tanis, turn around!” I said, disgusted.
“I’ll take this batch out,” Aaron said hastily, turning away from Tanis and her tit. “You two can take in the rest. Don’t take too long; you only have about two minutes.”
I poured champagne into the remaining glasses and found a tray to place them on. I sensed Tanis a few steps behind me, but I let the door swing shut in her face.
“Three…two…one…Happy New Year!”
Aaron and I shared a chaste but prolonged kiss, plus an embrace that neither of us seemed to want to end. “I love you,” he said softly against my ear. It meant all the more to me because we stood not three feet from Diana’s portrait, and Aaron actually faced it. In my heart I knew that painting would never bother me again. It was just a likeness of someone who had passed on, and it couldn’t watch me or curse me or have any effect on me whatsoever. I clutched him tightly and savored the moment, momentarily forge
tting we were in a room full of people. When I opened my eyes, knowing we had guests to entertain, I was reminded of the threat to my happiness. Tanis slipped out of Wayne’s embrace. He caught her hand, and she smiled at him but pulled away, her eyes fixated on Aaron.
Everyone was making rounds, wishing each other a happy new year. Teddy and Valerie embraced like the old friends they were, and when Teddy moved on Elias quickly stepped in and kissed Valerie full on the mouth, very different from the innocent peck on the cheek he’d just given Rosalind and then gave me.
Aaron and I wished Rosalind and John a happy new year, and out of the corner of my eye I could see Tanis still trying to get to Aaron. But Teddy intercepted her before she could reach him. To my surprise, he held her cheeks and kissed her full on the mouth, then said something to her meant for her ears only, something that made her face turn to stone. It reminded me of the kiss of death Michael gave Fredo in The Godfather, Part II. The scene so captivated me that I was distracted only when Marsha put her arms around me and said, “Happy New Year, Emily!”
When Teddy embraced me there were too many people around for me to ask him what was going on, so I managed a terse, “Is everything all right?” to which he merely nodded.
Once the new year had arrived we simply made merry. I unveiled the spread the caterers had made, and everyone ate. Then we danced to old-school music like we were all twenty years younger.
Valerie left just before two, saying she wanted to check on her kids.
Elias’s date, Eliana, was clearly a party girl. She was on her toes most of the night, shaking her bony booty like she thought it looked good or something, and showing the guys salsa steps, obviously her specialty. Elias was pretty good at it, although he’d probably danced with her before. James Hardy picked up on the steps with remarkable ease. “He’s got some nice moves,” I said admiringly to Marsha as we cheered him on.
“Yes, and the dance floor isn’t the only place where he’s got good moves.”
“So that’s the reason for that ear-to-ear grin you’ve been wearing all night.” I squeezed her arm affectionately, but inside I felt that familiar twisting of my gut. Everything was perfect in every other respect between Aaron and me, but sexually speaking, there’d been nothing out of the ordinary since our kitchen sexcapade of a few days ago. Was everybody but me having great sex?
A New Kind of Bliss Page 23