Society Wives

by Renee Flagler

  “A nap!” Frannie looked at her watch—the Rolex that Ryan had purchased for her birthday last summer. “At this time of the day? He should be down here helping, making merry with you over some fresh baked bread as it wafts through the corridors of this big old house. It’s Christmas for Christ’s sake.” Frannie stopped and sniffed the air. “How come I don’t smell anything? Aren’t we supposed to be having dinner here this evening? Did I make these desserts for nothing?”

  “I catered. I thought I told you that I didn’t need you to come over early. I’ve got everything under control.”

  “Oh you do?” Frannie looked her up and down. “Then why do you look like you just ran through a field of poison oak?”

  Ryan gasped and touched her face. She looked in the mirror in the vestibule and almost cried when she saw the red blotches. The stress had made a physical appearance.

  “Oh no!”

  “Relax! Something told me you needed me.” Frannie went into the powder room and came back with a wet hand towel. “Come on in here and sit down for a moment.” She still had her purse hanging off her arm. “Here.” She placed the cool towel over Ryan’s face.

  Ryan cried, letting the towel absorb her tears. Anderson’s parents’ impending visit was getting to her more than she realized.

  “Hold that.” Frannie took Ryan’s hand and placed it over the towel. “It’s a little cold, but keep it there. Do you have any allergy medication here—some fresh ginger, maybe?”

  “I have allergy pills in the medicine cabinet in my bathroom upstairs,” Ryan said.

  “Good, go get some while I boil this ginger. I’m half Jewish you know, and we have lots of remedies for stuff like this.”

  “I know, Ma,” Ryan said as she headed upstairs for the pills. When she returned, her mother was at the door letting the caterer in. “Merry Christmas. You can bring that right over here,” Ryan said leading the handlers to the formal dining area, and then she ran into the kitchen to get the envelope that contained their pay.

  Frannie peeked inside the chafing dishes. “So much food! Who else is coming to dinner?”

  Ryan didn’t want to say their names. “Um.”

  “Um? We’re having dinner with someone named Um?”

  Ryan rolled her eyes. “Anderson’s parents are in town. They’re coming for dinner.”

  Frannie stood silent for a few moments. “If that woman says one word to me other than hello, I’m going to—”

  “Ma!”

  “Well she better watch it.”

  “Just help me set the table,” Ryan huffed. If her mother kept it up, she’d never get rid of the nervous blotches.

  In the midst of their preparations, Anderson came down the steps in all of his Hollywood glamour. His descent resembled something from a movie.

  Ryan’s heart skipped a beat when he rounded the bottom of the staircase and headed toward her in the dining room. He had freshened up and even smelled handsome.

  “Afternoon, Frannie,” he said in his deep, debonair tone.

  “What’s up, Andy? You’re looking dapper. Is it because momma and daddy are coming for a visit?”

  Anderson ignored her.

  “How was your nap?” Ryan asked.

  “Good.” He kissed her. Ryan was surprised. “What happened to your face?” he asked.

  “I just got a little too stressed out over preparing for dinner.”

  “Well relax. There’s no need to be stressed. They’re not spending the night.” He chuckled.

  Anderson leaned over and sniffed the pans lining the antique buffet table. “Clara Mae’s, I suspect.”

  “Yes. I wanted to make sure we had delicious soul food your mother could appreciate.”

  “Niles’ family does it best. It smells great. Well, they called just before I got in the shower to say they were on their way. They should be here soon. I’ll get a few bottles of wine from the cellar. Maybe you should put a little make up on. Is that what you’re wearing?”

  Ryan touched her face. “I haven’t gotten dressed yet, Anderson,” she said.

  “Go ahead and get yourself ready, honey. I’ll be happy to greet your in-laws for you when they arrive.” Frannie’s Cheshire cat smile spread across the length of her thin face.

  “I’ll take care of that,” Anderson said, admonishing Frannie with his eyes.

  She tossed him an innocent look and followed Ryan upstairs.

  Ryan heard the doorbell as she dressed.

  “They’re here!” Frannie sang as she sat on the side of their bed.

  Ryan examined herself in the full length mirror. The red dress hugged her waif frame and she added a white belt to add the illusion of definition to her waist. She wore the bracelets and matching earrings that Anderson had given her earlier. She pulled her blond tresses into a roll and quickly curled the edges into spirals.

  “You look fine,” Frannie said. “Now let’s go greet the beast!” She pulled Ryan’s arm, dragging her along and calling her on her obvious attempt to prolong the inevitable.

  Frannie lifted her chin as she drew closer to Phoebe and Sheldon. Ryan watched the women look down their noses at one another as they entered the sitting room.

  Phoebe looked gorgeous as always with her salt and pepper spiral curls cascading down the sides of her flawless caramel face. Her lips were painted her signature red and her opulent jewels and winter white pants suit spoke of her elegance. In contrast, Frannie wore skinny jeans that clung to her wiry legs a red, white and green Christmas sweater with riding boots.

  “Frannie,” Phoebe said and nodded.

  “Phoebe,” Frannie said and turned to Anderson’s dad. They engaged in a quick, but genuine embrace. “Hey Chuck, how ya doin’?”

  “Couldn’t be better, Frannie and yourself?”

  “Like you, I couldn’t be better.”

  “Ryan. You look lovely as always,” Sheldon said.

  She heard Phoebe suck her teeth as she hugged her father-in-law. Anderson had inherited his mean streak directly from her, Ryan had always surmised.

  Anderson was the darker version of his distinguished looking dad. Both were tall and handsome, but Anderson inherited his mother’s caramel complexion, which was several shades darker than his fair-skinned father.

  “Phoebe.” Ryan offered a polite nod in her direction.

  “Ryan.” Phoebe nodded back.

  “I’m starving. Let’s get started,” Anderson said, placing his hand on his dad’s back as they walked into the formal dining room.

  “It smells great in here. Ryan, did you cook all of this?”

  “Of course she didn’t,” Phoebe answered for her.

  Frannie cut a quick glance at Ryan. She didn’t want her mother to fall into Pheobe’s trap.

  “We called in a favor,” Anderson said to his dad and smiled.

  “Hmm.” Sheldon sniffed. “Good ole Clara Mae’s. I can tell. I swear that food reminds me of my days back in South Carolina as a child. My grandma—the little woman that she was—would wring a chicken’s neck and snap it so fast. Next thing you know we had dinner. I tell you, those were the good ole days.”

  “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 l
ike 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 h
is 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.