Spinster?

by Thompson, Nikki Mathis

  It was only a ten minute drive to the other side of the highway where the sprawling gardens were located. They pulled into the valet that had been hired for the festivities. The party had started almost an hour before they arrived, Tess liked to skip the awkward first to arrive thing. Chances were good everyone in attendance was into their second round by now.

  In a tight line of three, they crossed the threshold into the main octagonal pavilion, taking time to pause to take in the splendors of the room that lay before them. The steepled roof of dark wood, connected with floor to ceiling glass. Soft yellow and creme fabrics draped from the ceiling, billowed and swayed in a warm breeze. Crystalline light fixtures gave off a pearly glow, as did the candles on each round table covered in ivory cloth. Lush floral center pieces cascaded from the sides of their glass containers. Tess chuckled, noticing they were below eye level. That screamed Tiffani Warner, who always said there should always be a clear line of sight between guests. The back wall was lined with silver domed dishes, flanked by two carving stations. She also noticed a large circular table covered in sushi and bright sashimi, one of her dad's favorites.

  "Wow," Rebel breathed.

  'So this is how the other half parties. My family makes a brisket and fills a cooler," Cameron teased.

  "Hey, there's nothing wrong with that, my friend. Why don't you guys go get a drink, while I go and find my dad?"

  "Okay. Tell my man to save me a dance," Rebel said. Rebel loved to flirt with her dad, earning a spot on his favorite people list, but on Tiffani Warner's shit list. Tess knew her mom was fond of Rebel, but didn't like anyone competing for her husband's affections, even if it was all in good fun. For someone so beautiful, her mother could be really insecure about certain things. But who was Tess to judge? She was insecure about a lot of things.

  She found William Warner surrounded by his cronies, a bellow of masculine laughter surrounding the group. She wove her way through the thick crowd of guests that filled the space between them. There were at least two hundred guests already in attendance, half of that number in the outside areas surrounding the venue.

  "Excuse me, gentlemen. May I cut in?" Tess's voice was full of confidence and a splash of moxie.

  "There's my beautiful girl," her dad's voice boomed, sounding about two scotches thick. She smiled and walked into her father's embrace. "Hi, Daddy. I just wanted to give you a kiss and let you know I'd arrived. Having a good time?"

  "The best. Your mother really outdid herself." That she did. The place, the food, everything looked impeccable.

  "She sure knows how to throw a party," Tess admitted.

  "You should tell her. She lives to impress you." Tess tried to glean sarcasm in his statement, but found none.

  "Doubtful, but I'll let her know anyway. Well, I will let you boys talk about whatever you were talking about. I'm sure the topics are not appropriate for my delicate ears." That earned a chuckle and some teasing from the group. She winked and said her farewells. "I'll find you later, Dad."

  "Okay, sweet pea. Have fun."

  Despite her vow to tell her mother what a great job she'd done, Tess found herself doing a discreet one-eighty when she came into her sight line. She'd tell her later, after a few cocktails.

  Her friends commandeered a section of overstuffed outdoor furniture. They had found the bar, since no hand was empty and the laughter was raucous. Not obnoxiously so, just enough to make others wish they were having half as much fun.

  "Wow, you guys look amazing!" Tess took in her crew. "Damn, we're a hot looking group," she teased.

  "Your dress is amazing, Tess," Emma complimented. Willa's husband Ben, added a wolf whistle. Again her cheeks warmed. Compliments made her uncomfortable. It wasn't unappreciated, she just hated being the center of attention. That night of drunken karaoke at Marin's fortieth birthday had been a fluke. She blamed Neil Diamond and his catchy crowd pleasing tunes.

  "May I have one of those?" Tess asked a young waiter carrying a tray of martini glasses filled with light pink liquid.

  "Yes, of course. They're passion fruit," he said with a flirty smile.

  "Sounds delicious." She kept her eyes on him as she took a drink.

  "My name is Conner. Let me know if I can get you anything." Definitely flirting.

  "Oh, I will." She was flirting back. Why was she flirting with this guy? He did have nice full lips, which were quirked up with a grin. He walked away and Tess watched the entire way.

  "Tess, you okay over there?" Willa asked.

  Tess cleared her throat and turned towards her friends who had all been watching her hump the waiter with her eyes.

  "She's horny. She always gets that look when she needs to get laid," Rebel threw out.

  "Thank you, Regina...I was simply admiring the handsome young man who offered me an alcoholic beverage."

  "Yeah, right," Emma scoffed.

  "Whatever haters. I've sworn off random tumbles for the foreseeable future...so, shut it." She effectively cut off any naysayers. "Enough about me. How are you guys?" She took a seat next to Jen who was wearing a gorgeous canary yellow gown, and K-Thor. Jen turned to her and squeezed her hand. "This place is so nice, thank you for having us." Tess was relieved they'd allowed her to change the subject.

  "Sometimes I forget what a swanky skank you are," Emma teased, taking a bite of the crisp canapé she held in her fingers. She was in short black satin, with fabulous open toe sling backs. The only other color was the red of her toenail polish.

  "I do all right, but you are loaded," Marin said. Her blonde hair was in a tight twist and her lips were glossy. She wore a flesh colored crepe dress that fit her like a glove.

  "My parents are loaded, not me."

  "Says the girl with a closet full of designer handbags, wearing Loubs," Emma joked.

  "Hey, I said I wasn't loaded, not that I didn't have good taste."

  "We know you like your independence, but there's no shame in being wealthy," Rebel added.

  "I'm not ashamed. My dad works harder than anyone I know. It makes me feel uncomfortable. People treat me different when they hear that I'm those Warners, ya know. I'm not like my sister. She loves all the pretentious nonsense."

  "Speaking of, where is Bristol?" Willa asked.

  "She was with my mom inside, looking bored." For a split second she'd felt the urge to rescue her sister, but thought better of it. Maybe she'd ask her to join them later.

  "Did you say hello?" Marin inquired, probably already knowing the answer.

  "They looked like they were in the middle of a convo. I'll say hi later." Tess took a hearty sip of her drink. "I will," she added in response to the looks her friends were giving her. "Anyone hungry? The food looked delicious."

  Food, the ultimate subject changer.

  Emboldened by her friend sandwich, Tess approached her mother. She had just finished with the event planner, who walked off clutching her clipboard, speaking rapidly into the a small blue tooth device at her ear.

  Tess leaned in and kissed her mom on the cheek. "The party is a complete success!" she said brightly. The two passionfruit martinis were definitely a good idea.

  Her mother beamed in response. "Thank you, sweetie. Everyone seems to be having a great time. Hi, girls."

  Waves and various versions of hello followed.

  "Mrs. Warner, you look stunning," Willa complimented. Tiffani Warner would not be outdone in a floor length white gown. Delicate gold chain made the neck line, meeting at the nape of her neck. Thin gold bangles encircled her left forearm—inspiring visions of Hera on Olympus—her opinion of herself probably not far off.

  "Thank you, Willamena." Her mother insisted on calling people by they full names. Willa cringed. "Regina, how are you, and where is your gorgeous fiancé?"

  "Hi, Tiffani. I'm well, thank you. And it's just boyfriend."

  "A mere technicality, dear. I see how he looks at you. You'll be engaged before the year is out, mark my words." Tess knew this was true because Cameron had been
afraid he'd pick the wrong diamond, so she went shopping with him. Nothing's more uplifting than being single and engagement ring shopping for someone else. She was overjoyed for them, but she couldn't help but feel a mild bitterness. That's a strange feeling...to be happy for someone, but envious at the same time. It made her feel like a bad friend. The bizarre thing was, she wasn't sure if she wanted to get married, or if it was more why not her.

  Rebel smiled in response. Her mom greeted her other friends one by one and asked them each something about themselves—surface things which could be answered in one or two sentences. She, after all, had a room of guests to greet.

  "Well, you ladies enjoy yourselves. Contessa, come to the head table when we toast your father."

  "Of course, I wouldn't miss it. It's Dad's big night." She added the last part to let her mother know she would be there for her father, not because she commanded her like one of her subjects.

  Tiffani Warner smiled. "Good. I see the senator and his wife...if you'll excuse me."

  "I think if your mom pushed hard enough, a snow cone would pop out," Emma deadpanned.

  The girls giggled. "Come on guys, that's not nice. I think she's more regal than frosty," Willa corrected.

  Tess snorted. "Regal, yes...Queen B." They laughed as they walked over to the stack of white plates. "Guys, I'm going to run to the restroom," Tess said, deciding her bladder wouldn't wait for her to eat. She wandered around until she saw a sign next to a long wall made of cobbled stone. She followed the wall, but it ended in a dead end facing a wooden fence covered in greenery. She was about to turn around when she noticed a person standing there. The person was her sister.

  Bristol sniffed and straightened her stance when she realized Tess standing there.

  "Bri, what's wrong?" Tess put her arms around her sister without a second thought. They'd had their issues at times, but this was her baby sister. She'd buried this person in the sand during their summer vacations. Built blanket forts with her under the dining room table. Laid in the grass with her while counting lightning bugs before they disappeared. Cried with her when their grandpa died of a heart attack. They shared a kaleidoscope of memories. And now, she was in pain.

  Bristol wiped the underside of her nose with the side of her finger. "I'm fine." Tess cocked her eyebrow. "Okay, maybe I will be fine is more like it."

  "What happened?"

  "It's Stewart." Tess's face remained cool, not surprised in the least that the cause of her sister's distress was her tool bag husband. She kept it to herself, though. I told you so was the last thing her sister needed. "I've suspected for a while...a long while. But now, to see it with my own eyes...I can't pretend anymore."

  "So he...who was it?"

  Bristol let out a harsh laugh, toying with the white belt on her navy eyelet dress. "The wife of one of his golf buddies. I'm in her tennis league, for Christ's sake." Tess wanted to do some serious damage to that woman's face, not to mention put a clamp on her dear bro-lo's ball sack. But she stayed silent, rubbing her sister's back in slow circles. "I saw some pretty heated texts. One, with a meeting time and place...I went. I literally dropped the kids off with my neighbor and I went." Bristol pushed off the wall and started to pace. "I found his car and sat in the parking lot, for like, three hours. Pft, three hours? What the fuck was he doing for three hours? He can barely get it up, let alone need hours to finish...but I guess that's why he went outside our marriage. He couldn't get it up for me, but he could for some married whore with a fake rack. Word is, her husband was busted for tax evasion. He's going to lose everything. Guess she needed a new sponsor. "

  "Bristol, it wasn't you. Sometimes men need to feel challenged, but there is nothing wrong with you."

  "A challenge? I don't think she put up much of a fight, the trollop."

  "I think people cheat to feel a rush or something. I don't know. But I know this much, you are a wonderful and devoted wife. If he needs a piece of strange to feel like a man, then he is no man at all."

  "I have to leave him."

  Yes! "If that's what you need to do."

  "Tess, come on. Spare me the diplomacy. I know you hate him."

  "Hate is a strong word...It's more I don't agree with his personality choices." Bristol smiled and they both laughed. "You know what I think? I think leaving him is a brave thing to do, and I think you deserve better. I know I don't say it enough...or at all...but I love you. I think you are a good person. You just drank the Stepford flavored Kool-Aid," Tess teased, earning another smile from her sister. "Whatever you decide, I'll support you."

  "You may need to when I leave him. I've never worked."

  Tess laughed. "Bristol, my dear sister, there's this amazing thing called child support. And knowing dad, he can get you one hell of a settlement with one phone call. It pays to be a Warner sometimes...Now come on. There's an open bar and mounds of food Mom's meticulously selected. Forget about Stewart and his wayward penis. The gang is here and you know they'll lift your spirits."

  "You wouldn't mind? You know, me hanging out with you guys."

  Tess smoothed the eyeliner underneath her sister's eyes and clutched her hand. "Never."

  They walked hand in hand back in to the main hall, and despite her sister's heartache, Tess felt lighter. Maybe without her sister's bad marriage, she'd become the Bristol of their childhood. A bad relationship was the quickest way to ruin anyone's personality. Tess had been there before. Hadn't everyone? Her sister just happened to be in one for seven years.

  When Tess joined the group arm in arm with her sister, she got some surprised looks. But with one grim grin from Tess, they knew...Bristol needed them. They took her sister by the hand, the one not holding the drink they shoved into it. Bristol could survive this, with a little help from her family and friends. Not the fake ones she'd made the past decade. Real ones, and Tess vowed she would once again be one of them.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  One can tell a party is a hit by several things. Are people eating? Are they drinking? Are they laughing and mingling? Then William Warner's retirement party was a smashing success, because everyone ate, drank, laughed. There was even a roast or two. It was hilarious to see her dad through his friends' eyes. Tess knew her father was loved and well respected, but she never knew her father was a ringer at poker, or his love of slinging dirty jokes. Or that he was quite the prankster during his college years—one of which was masterminding and executing the kidnapping of their university rival's mascot. Getting a three hundred pound sow into the football locker room without being detected had been quite a feat. She beamed with pride at her father's side and felt honored to be his daughter. It wasn't the first time, but tonight her pride was palpable.

  When her mom stood to give her speech the noise melted into silence. The last to have the mic walked over and passed it to her as she cleared her throat. Her usual confidence was replaced with a humble, almost nervous, countenance.

  "I'm not one for speeches, so I'll keep this brief. The man we honor tonight is the best of men. He cares for people with his whole heart—reliable, as he is kind. It has been my absolute privilege to call him husband, and father to my two beautiful girls." Tears filled her eyes. "To say you mean the world to me, William, is not enough. Maybe the universe in it's infinite expanse would be close. But maybe, I should call you the sun, because my world, no matter how small, revolves around you. Please raise your glasses to a man who means so much, to so many. To William."

  "To William!"

  Tess wiped her cheek. She leaned into her mom and gave her a quick squeeze. Then she and Bristol group hugged their dad. Tess never remembered being happier. It felt as if they were truly a family, not just in name, but in feeling. She squeezed her eyes shut and took a picture in her minds eye. It was something she'd done since she was a little girl when she wanted to preserve a moment. And this was a memory she never wanted to fade with time.

  The rest of the night was spent at her dad's side as the guests shook his hand.

/>   Tess was whispering to her sister when she heard her father say, "Wesley, my boy, good to see you."

  "Mr. Warner."

  Her head swiveled like an old door at the sound of his voice. Her first emotion was excitement, smashing directly on the heels of another. Anger. He never called...and she'd wanted him to. She didn't know how much until that precise moment—standing in front of her, his attention squarely on her father.

  Look at me.

  "My father sends his regards. He was called away on business last minute, so I wanted to come on his behalf—to represent for our family and our firm."

  "Have you brought your firm out of the stone age yet?"

  "Working on it, sir, but I have my work cut out for me." They both chuckled.

  Look at me.

  "I heard you had Nancy Belosi crying like a baby...that she-beast needed to be taken down a peg. More interested in victory than ethics these days."

  "It seems the story has embellished with each telling. There were no tears, but she was quite put out to earn her first loss in a decade." More mannish chuckling. Tess rolled her eyes...boy's club.

  Look at me.

  "Wesley, do you know my daughter Tess? I believe you were at Crest Ridge at the same time."

  She stood nailed to the spot by his gaze, her only movement the rapid blinking of her eyelids. "Yes, we're acquainted. Hello, Tess. Good to see you again."

  It took her less than a second to throw her shoulders back and say, "You, too." Two words were all he was getting from her, but they weren't the two she really wanted to use. "Dad, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to find my friends. I need some fresh air. It's feeling a bit stuffy in here." She kissed his cheek and walked off.

  Part of her wanted him to leave her alone, but a bigger part of her wanted him to follow her. Damn it. She hated getting twisted up about anyone, especially a guy who acted like he was interested then blew her off.