Chapter 17

“I hate to break up the party,” Margo said, yawning, “but it’s way past my bedtime.” She rose from the loveseat she shared with Andrea, straightened the skirt of her ivory dress, and picked up the rhinestone-studded sandals, slinging them on her fingers behind her bare shoulder as she moved toward the staircase. “Wonderful evening, Caro. A wonderful weekend. I can’t thank you enough.” As excited as she was about meeting up with Preston, she wondered if she could muster the energy. After all, she wasn’t twenty-one anymore, and it was already after two a.m.

***

As if waiting for someone else to be the first to say goodnight, Julia, Kitty, Vicki, Andrea and Caro also stood and stretched. “I’ll go stick my head out on the porch to see if Stan is ready to leave,” Andrea said. “Go on upstairs, girls.”

Caro replied, “I wouldn’t dream of it. I’ll just say goodnight to those of you going upstairs. Don’t rush to come down for brunch tomorrow. Let’s all just sleep till we wake up.” She air-kissed each of her sorority sisters in turn and sent them on their way to their bedroom suites. “Let me check on Nicole while you go check on Stan,” Caro said to Andrea.

Caro tiptoed into the family room, where Nicole was sleeping. Nicole had thrown off the down comforter, so both legs and her torso were exposed to the cool air. Caro felt a twinge of maternal concern for this miserable girl. She reached across the sofa to lift the comforter up and over Nicole’s frame, causing her to stir.

“Ummm,” Nicole murmured, her eyelids still shut. She tried to roll over to her side, but apparently felt a jolt of pain from her ankle. She shot up straight, eyes wide open, and looked about.

“I’m sorry I woke you,” Caro apologized. “I was just checking to see if you need anything.”

Nicole licked her lips then ran her tongue around the inside of her mouth. “Where’s Preston?”

“The men are smoking cigars on the porch. I’m sure they’ll be coming in soon, and I’m sure Preston will check on you. Is there anything I can help you with?”

“I’d really like to use the restroom, if you wouldn’t mind.”

“Not at all,” Caro said. “Wheelchair or walker?”

“What great options. I think I’ll try the walker this time?”

Caro was amazed by how nimble Nicole was, considering the severe swelling of her foot and the painful-looking fixation device. “I think you are getting better already,” she ventured. “I don’t think I’d be able to move that well if I were in your condition.”

“Maybe all those hours of spinning and Pilates classes have paid off,” Nicole mused, as she manipulated the walker. “I just wish I could go upstairs to sleep with Preston. We’ve never slept apart since we’ve been married. Somehow I think it’s bad luck to start?”

“There will be plenty of time to sleep with Preston after tonight,” Caro replied, patting Nicole lightly on the shoulder. “Right now you need to focus on getting that ankle healed.”

***

“Good night, Caro,” Andrea and Stan said in unison, as they passed Nicole and Caro, coming out of the powder room.

They were en route to the entry hall, to fish their coats and boots from the closets. The last of the servants had left a half hour before.

“It’s good to see you up a bit, Nicole,” Andrea continued. “I hope you feel better soon.”

“Thanks,” Nicole said, as she hopped with the walker back toward her sofa. “And thanks again for calling the paramedics and all, Andrea. I don’t know what I’d have done without you.”

“You were very brave. Glad I was able to help.”

“See you tomorrow, I guess,” Nicole said, as she continued to hop and slide. She had to admit both Caro and Andrea had defied her expectations of one percent wives. Both had been kind and supportive.

As soon as Andrea and Stan departed, the smoke party broke up on the porch, and the men passed through the family room on their way to the staircase, the pungent odor of cigars permeating the parade.

Preston was surprised to see Nicole sitting up on the sofa, her soft blonde hair freshly combed and a smile on her face.

She waved him over. “Hey, Preston. Aren’t you going to say goodnight?”

“Uh, sure, Nicole,” Preston replied. He had been hoping to find his wife in an oxycodone stupor, so he could go upstairs and prepare for Margo. It was late, and he was tired. He also didn’t feel so great after all of the eating, drinking and smoking. “I didn’t think you’d be awake at this hour.”

“I’ve slept so much all day and night. I guess I’m starting to feel a bit better.”

“That’s good, but don’t you think you should take another pill and go back to sleep? Tomorrow is another day, Miss Scarlett.”

“I want to come upstairs with you, Preston. If you help me, I think I can go up the stairs on my butt.”

“Not in your best interests, Nic. I’d never forgive myself if you knocked the pins loose and re-broke your ankle.”

“Then you sleep down here with me,” Nicole pleaded. “I think we should be together, especially after our little spat at dinner. Please, Preston? I’m feeling better, and I think we might even be able to fool around.” She had never known Preston to pass up an opportunity for sex.

“Tempting offer, but I’m beat. I just want to go upstairs and go to sleep.”

“But, Preston...” Nicole’s wheedling turned into a whine. “I’d feel so much better with you here. What if I have to get up and no one is around?”

Preston closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. “Just call me on my cell phone, and I’ll come down.” He lifted her cell phone from the table next to the sofa, held it to his ear, and put it back down. “I’m only a phone call away.” He smiled and kissed her lightly on the nose. With that, he turned and headed for his fourth floor suite, checking his watch as he mounted the first stair.

***

Margo was debating about whether to go to Preston or not. Her head was pounding with dueling impulses. On the one hand, she simply could not bury the past, not entirely. Preston’s infidelity all of those years ago had left an indelible imprint on Margo’s life.

Her inability to trust him, and men in general, had made her relationships, even her marriage to Roberto, tenuous. How could she, in the space of two days, forgive Preston enough to go to bed with him tonight?

On the other hand, the past two days had awakened feelings in her that she didn’t know she still had. Preston claimed to love her, promised to give up his young wife for her. Didn’t that count for something? Besides, they weren’t getting any younger, and opportunity like this may never come again. And then there was that boyish look of hunger in Preston’s handsome eyes, those incredible dimples, and the supreme confidence that allowed Preston to go after whatever he wanted in life, even her.

I’ll sneak upstairs, she decided, check to see if his door is open, and then make up my mind.

She smiled and nodded her head. Inside, she knew that, open door or closed door, she was going to play this out to its natural conclusion. Not to do so would be to die.

***

As Preston passed the second floor on his way to the fourth, he slowed his step and strained to hear a sound that would suggest Margo’s decision to come to him. He hoped to hear her showering, brushing her teeth, even humming a tune, anything to let him know that she was still awake. So much depended on this. It was not only lust that had drawn him to Margo. It was the chance to redeem himself for his brutish behavior toward her all of those years ago. Finally, he thought, I feel ready to settle down and have a real relationship with a fine woman, not the flash and dash of fast cars and young women.

All was quiet on the second floor, and on the third. Preston entered his fourth floor bedroom, turned on the Oriental lamp at the bedside, and left the door open. He knew it was dishonest. He hadn’t, in fact, told Nicole he wanted a divorce. But he had laid the groundwork. And he couldn’t stop himself from pursuing Margo any more than he could turn back time and undo any of the mistakes he had made, some of which were heavy on his mind since being confronted by Julia and Vicki today.

I wish I weren’t so tired. Margo deserves the best love-making possible. Preston walked about the bedroom suite, picking up articles of clothing and toiletries. As he did, he felt a sudden dizziness.

Concerned that he might not be at peak performance, he opened his buttery leather Dopp kit and took everything out to search for the Viagra. Margo should be here any minute, he thought. He quickly swallowed the blue pill, chasing it with a couple of swigs of tap water. He leaned into the mirror to check for whisker stubble that might have sprouted since he had shaved hours earlier. Finding none, he combed his thick hair into place, brushed his teeth, and smiled into the mirror, admiring his dimples. All that was left to do was wait.