by Abby Weeks
—I’m going for a walk, she announced when they got to the front door.
—It’s dark out.
—I’ll go and see Midge.
Walter was surprised. April realized that he didn’t know how he felt about her going over to the Prentiss’s house without him. Maybe he was afraid of what she’d tell Midge. It might make him look bad if word got back to Frank and the other partners that he was being cruel and abusive.
And there was nothing he could do to stop her, she realized. The whole idea of the arrangement, which he’d been so eager to get into, was that the four partners and their wives could rely on and confide in each other. It wouldn’t look good if the others thought that he was trying to isolate his wife from them. It would look like he was trying to keep her all to himself while still enjoying the pleasure of being with their wives. They wouldn’t allow it. He had to let her go see Midge.
—I’ll drive you, he said.
—I want to walk.
—I said, I’ll drive you.
There was a force to Walter’s tone that told April not to object.
—Fine, she said. Just let me get dressed.
She ran upstairs and had a quick shower, tied her hair into a ponytail and put on some light makeup. Then she got into a comfortable pair of jeans and shirt and ran back down to the car. She sat silently while Walter drove down their driveway and back up the Prentiss’s. When he reached the end she leaned over and smiled and gave him a seemingly affectionate kiss. She had no affection for Walter but she understood that her safety depended on her giving him the impression that she did.
—They’re not even expecting you, Walter said.
April ignored him and got out of the car.
—See you later, she called back as if she hadn’t a care in the world.
Usually she never would have dropped in on the Prentisses unannounced but tonight she was desperate for some sort of connection and compassion and Midge was the only person she could think of to turn to.
She ran up to the door as Walter pulled back down the driveway and a servant ushered her into the hall.
—Is Midge here? she said. She felt like a child asking for permission to see a friend and she wondered if that wasn’t part of the intention of having all these servants around. They created a distance between the women that would not have existed otherwise.
April was relieved when Midge came down the stairs and seemed pleased to see her.
—I’m so sorry for intruding, April said.
—Nonsense, April. I’m desperate for company up here.
—Is Frank home?
—Still at the office. Why, did you want to see him?
April realized that it could just as easily have been Frank who she was seeking, given the strange arrangement in which they all lived.
—No, not at all. I just didn’t want to interrupt you if he was home.
—He won’t be home for another hour. Come on inside. You look like you could use a drink.
—I could, April said and followed Midge into a beautiful sitting room overlooking the pool in the back yard and the view down into the valley.
The Prentisses had the same stunning view that she and Walter had and she still found it difficult to believe she lived in such a place. As she sat on a sofa being served wine by one of Midge’s servants April suddenly felt very embarrassed. The image shot across her mind of being forced to eat Midge’s vagina at The Lace Cat. She wondered if Midge was remembering the same thing but when he looked across at her she saw nothing but kindness in the other woman’s eyes. It was almost too much for her, seeing kindness after all she’d been through, and she thought she might start crying.
—What’s the matter, April? Are you alright?
—I don’t know, April said and began to cry.
Midge held her in a close embrace and the kindness and tenderness was such a relief to April that she cried even harder.
—There, there, Midge said softly and patted April’s back.
April let out all her pent up anxiety and frustration and gradually pulled herself back together.
—I’m sorry to come to you like this, she said. It’s just the last few weeks have been such an ordeal. I can’t seem to do anything right.
—Why? What happened?
—It’s just Walter. Everything I do seems to anger him. I feel so restricted and controlled sometimes, like he doesn’t want me to have any freedom at all. He was mad at me today for trying to call the girls’ school.
Midge put her hand on April’s back.
—April, you’re not the only one who feels like that.
—You too?
Midge nodded her head sadly.
—I never would have guessed. You seem so content.
—I put on a brave face but a lot of the time I feel like a complete captive here. When Frank made partner and moved us up here everything happened so fast that I hardly had a chance to say anything.
—That’s exactly how I feel, April said. And now I learned that I can’t even speak to my children until Herb has me added to the pre-approved list at the school.
Midge nodded her head knowingly. —I’ve been there, April. I honestly have. And all I can tell you is to stick with it. If you can, that is. It’s not a bad life up here. She indicated their opulent surroundings with a wave of her hand. If you can make it work for yourself, come to terms with the way things are and make the best of it, you can live a good life up here.
—I won’t have security, though.
—You’ll have security, April. If that’s what you want, you’ll have more security than most women ever have. You’ll just have to earn it is all. You’ll have to do what they want. Play along with their games.
—The men’s games?
—Yes. And you might have noticed that Kit has a few games of her own too.
April blushed thinking of what Kit had put her through at The Lace Cat.
—And what about Charmaine? What does she make of all this.
—I really couldn’t tell you. Charmaine has always been closer to Kit than to me. They’ve known each other a long time. For all I know, it was them that came up with the arrangement in the first place.
—Do you think so?
Midge smiled. —I don’t know. Probably not. It seems like something Herb and Pete would arrange, but still, I think Kit and Charmaine get a lot of pleasure from it. They got to boss you and me around, for one thing.
—And you? How do you feel about the arrangement?
—I’ve come to terms with it, I guess is what you’d say. Sometimes it’s fun. I try to enjoy the sex, enjoy the excitement of having multiple partners and all sorts of kinky experiments.
—And do you enjoy them?
—Often I do. Sometimes things go a little too far for my liking but I keep quiet about it and act like I’m enjoying it. I find, if I pretend I’m enjoying something, that’s almost as good as the real thing.
They were both quiet for a while then. April sipped her wine and accepted another glass from Billy, the Prentiss’s butler. Midge stood up and went over to the window and admired the view down into the valley.
—I’ll never get tired of this view, she said.
They were both feeling a sense of relief and gratitude at having found a friend to confide in. April realized that the last five years must have been a long and lonely time for Midge. She’d done the best she could but she still struggled with certain parts of the arrangement. Midge was more relieved than April could have guessed to finally have a friend and confidant.
—Midge, April said, breaking the silence that they’d fallen into.
—Yes.
—You know what happened at The Lace Cat?
—When Kit humiliated you?
—Yes. Did they ever do anything like that to you?
Midge smiled sadly.
—Many times, dear. That’s one of the things that I recommend you pretend to enjoy, if you can’t convince yourself to actually enjoy it.
—Being humiliated?
—Not being humiliated. Watching me being humiliated.
Midge came over and kissed April on the cheek and smiled. —Remember the first rule, April.
April looked up at her expectantly.
Midge said, —Only tell what you want to tell.
IV
APRIL WAS JUST GETTING READY to leave the Prentiss’s house. Midge offered her a ride but she said she’d rather walk. She was at the door when Frank’s Corvette pulled up the driveway. He got out of the car and was clearly surprised to see April there.
—A visitor! How nice to see you, April.
—Thank you, Frank. Actually, I was just leaving.
—Oh, you can’t go now. Have a drink?
—She already had a drink, Midge said.
—One more. It won’t kill you.
April was tired but she reluctantly followed Midge back to the lounge for another glass of wine. Midge smiled at her sympathetically. She knew April was exhausted after the day she’d had.
—I’m starving, have you two eaten? Frank said.
—I waited for you, honey.
—What have we got?
—I think some kind of chicken. Let me check.
Midge went off to the kitchen and April was left alone with Frank.
—You have to join us for dinner.
—I really should get back. Walter will be expecting me.
—Nonsense. I’ll let him know you’re here. You haven’t eaten, have you?
—I haven’t, actually.
—Perfect.
When Midge got back Frank told her that April would be staying for dinner. Midge said it was a lovely idea but April could tell she was a little put out. Frank excused himself to make a quick phone call from his study and Midge apologized to April.
—He’s so thoughtless. I could tell staying for dinner is probably the last thing you wanted to do.
—It’s fine, really.
—Are you sure? If you’re really too tired I can make an excuse to Frank for you.
—Not at all. I’m more than happy to stay.
They went into the dining room and being there instantly brought April back to the night of the dinner party. That was the night she had first learned of the arrangement, when the four men had taken her down to Frank’s den and put her on the billiard table for their viewing, and tasting, pleasure. Remembering it all gave her a strange feeling, part excitement at the memory of what had happened but part fear at the complete surrender of power it had entailed.
They were seated by the butler, Frank at the head of the table with the women to his left and right. Frank was drinking a single malt scotch and the women were enjoying some very fine champaign when the doorbell rang. A moment later the butler escorted Walter into the dining table.
—Walter, April blurted out.
She was surprised and distressed to see him but she did her best to hide it. She almost felt like she’d been caught doing something she shouldn’t. She was sure he’d be mad at her for being here without him but at the same time there was really nothing she could have done about it. Part of what he kept telling her to do was obey the other partners and make them happy. He must have known that at times that would mean not being available to his every whim. She was there because Frank had insisted and if Walter had a problem with that he could bring it up with Frank.
—Walter, Frank said, echoing April. Sorry about the short notice. I just decided a few minutes ago that it would be nice to have you both for dinner, seeing that April was already here.
—Delighted to be here, Walter said.
April tried to read him. She couldn’t tell if he was genuinely happy or if he’d be mad at her for getting him roped into a party. A servant came and asked him what he wanted to drink and he said he’d have some of the same Scotch Frank was having. He seemed happy enough to be there.
They had a delightful meal of chicken in a red wine sauce. It was served with asparagus and salad and was far lighter than the feast April remembered from the last dinner at the Prentiss’s. For dessert they had something that resembled melted white chocolate, at least as far as April could tell.
The conversation was also very pleasant. Frank and Walter talked a little about the important clients the firm was in the process of wooing. Andersen and Strathern were one of the largest trading firms on Wall Street and while April didn’t understand exactly what they did, it was a very big deal that they were thinking of engaging the firm. Herb was extremely excited about it and was working with their people day and night to make sure the deal went through.
It wasn’t only business that they talked about though. Walter and Frank were quite polite and brought up topics that would be of more general interest. He asked April about the trips she and Walter had made to England and France and wanted to know what impressed her most about European cities.
She was glad of the distraction and the pleasantness of the evening. After the fight she’d had with Walter and her experience on the phone when she’d tried to call the school she was relieved to have her mind taken off of her troubles.
She told Frank that what she loved about Europe was the sense that the present was an integral part of a long history, the feeling that we were just another generation in the stream of generations that had all struggled and lived as best they could in the time allotted them. It was something she was acutely aware of when she was in London or Paris. She said she could almost see all those previous generations sharing the street with her.
After they’d exhausted all avenues of conversation and the men had smoked cigars and everyone had coffee Walter rose and announced that it had been a truly splendid evening. April stood up also and thanked Midge for her kindness before dinner and Frank for the hospitality.
—Where do you think you’re going, my dear? Frank said.
April looked at Midge and then at Walter. Midge looked at Frank.
Frank said to April, —Sit that lovely bottom back on your chair. Midge, honey, Walter will be taking you home tonight.
Midge was as surprised as April. April looked at Walter and from the big, fat smile on his face she knew he and Frank must have arranged this when Frank phoned him. April sat back down. Midge gave her an apologetic look as she got up.
Midge said, —April, honey, this is a bit unexpected. Listen, use whatever you like upstairs. Wear anything.
All April could do was thank her. Midge gave Frank a kiss goodnight and April did the same to Walter but only because she knew he’d be expecting it. Then she took Midge by the arms and gave her the tightest hug she’d given anyone in a long time.
—We’ll get through this together, Midge whispered in her ear.
—Thank you, Midge, April said back.
V
APRIL FELT AWKWARD SITTING AT the dining table after Midge and Walter had gone. She looked over at Frank. She barely knew him. He was about fifty-five, she guessed. That was ten years older than Walter and twenty years older than her but he looked good for his age. He had that pampered look that wealthy men get spending time at the country club and on the golf course. He had a nice tan, a thick head of salt and pepper hair and he was in great shape. He jogged five miles every morning and it showed.
There were certainly worse places she could find herself than at a dining table with Frank Prentiss. That motel downtown that Walter had threatened her with came to mind. She was still grateful that she hadn’t been left there. If anything, despite the shock of being here with Frank with absolutely no warning, April felt relieved that she didn’t have to go home with Walter.
She’d never seen Walter act so cruelly before. He was changing and she did not like the direction it was taking. He was becoming cruel and heartless and she felt she was no longer sure what he was capable of. She’d really been afraid that he would leave her there on that street corner earlier, completely naked but for a bathrobe.
All he cared about now was his clients and the
deal he was working on with Herb. At least that’s how it felt. It seemed he could barely spare a moment’s thought for her at all, other than to tell her to stop rocking the boat and to accept her position in the arrangement without embarrassing him.
Frank on the other hand seemed thrilled by her company. He was genuinely interested in what she had to say about travel and art and a great many other things. She pictured him holding her safely in his strong arms all night long and the thought gave her comfort.
She wasn’t the least bit jealous that Midge was going home with her husband. It was funny. Just a few weeks ago she’d have been heartbroken to learn that Walter was going to bed with another woman. Now all she felt was pity for Midge who had to spend the entire evening with him. She knew Walter would pull out all the stops and do everything he could to charm Midge but still she pitied her for having to spend the night with him.
She felt Frank put his hand on hers and she looked up at him with the sweetest, most loving smile she could possibly offer him. It worked because he returned it with a look of such kindness that she could have gotten off her seat right then and there and kissed him.
—Forgive me for saying, Frank said, but you look like you’ve been through quite a day.
—Oh no! April said, embarrassed. Is it that obvious?
—Don’t worry. You look perfectly beautiful. It’s just, I can see a strain in you that wasn’t there before.
—It’s just so much change to come to terms with, she said. And it’s all been so sudden.
—Have you been finding it difficult with Walter?
The question took her by surprise. She didn’t know what to say to Frank and so she said nothing. He nodded knowingly at that as if to say that her silence told him more than words could have.
—Lets get you to bed, my darling, Frank said and April got up gladly. He was being so nice to her that she genuinely wanted to go upstairs with him. She wanted to sleep in the protection of his strong, loving arms all night long and not think of Walter once.
When they got upstairs, April felt a great fondness for Frank as he led her into the master bedroom. The room was stunning. One entire wall opened up onto a long balcony overlooking the stunning view of the Potomac valley.