The House Fills Up
Amanda stood next to David solemnly watching Carmen shake a martini for him.
“I want to drink something, but I don’t normally drink;” she said, “what would you suggest?”
“Have Carmen mix you a series of peach champagne Bellinis,” David replied, adding, “but don’t actually finish any of them.”
“Carmen, would you make me a peach champagne Bellini?” Amanda asked.
“I’ll fix you a classic Bellini, with fresh white peaches, Prosecco and a dash of cherry juice,” said the agreeable bartender, who had met Amanda before, at Michael’s tavern.
At that moment, Hugo and Marion Craig walked in. Amanda had seen the attractive Marion’s photo and was expecting a sophisticated brunette in her early 30’s, leggy, slim and minimalistically chic. But it gave her a jolt and a pain in the pit of her stomach to see how much more attractive Marion was in person. There was nothing remarkable about her plain black cocktail dress and heels, yet the outfit was exactly right for her.
Hugo introduced Marion to David and Amanda. Marion and Amanda shook hands, but Amanda was at a loss for any words beyond a faint hello. Looking at the confident older woman, Amanda felt choked with jealousy. Why was it so easy for her to not care about Colby with Pamela, Colby with Diana or even Colby with Bettina in Hammerfest, but so impossible to be indifferent to the concept of Colby with Marion Craig?
“It’s so nice to meet you, Amanda,” said Marion. “I’ve wanted to thank you for that introduction to Marty for some time.”
“Oh, Marty! I forgot I gave him your number. That did work out well?” Amanda cried. “He never did let me know. But men don’t kiss and tell, do they?”
“It went beautifully for a couple of weeks. Then he got a job offer on the West Coast and left Boston.”
“Oh, I see,” said Amanda.
“Is that where you live?” asked David, as he had finished his first martini and ordered another to be mixed.
Marion said she did, looking David up and down in the shamelessly appraising way that she had first regarded Colby when she took him for an escort. He told her she had better take the martini that was being made for him and said that he’d wait for the next one. She agreed. David didn’t have to ask or guess her orientation.
“So, I asked Colby but he didn’t seem to know, is this going to be a play party?” Marion asked.
“I’ll play with you,” said David, handing her a drink.
“Really? Are you a top?”
“What do you think?” he asked.
“Do you play flawlessly?”
“Yes,” said Amanda, helpfully, “he does. He’s an actual schoolteacher. And we have an actual schoolroom in the house.”
“What are we waiting for, then?” she said. Amanda smiled at David as he led Marion out of the room. Then she told Carmen she would take the Bellini now.
Carefully sipping the fruity drink, Amanda hurried towards the front door to open it at the most recent knock. At first she didn’t realize that it was Raphael Price standing before her, for his long hair had been cut short and his clean cut face, which had formerly appeared perhaps a bit too refined, now featured a rugged mustache and short trimmed beard. He wore black pants and boots and a dove gray tucked out shirt that clung to his broad shouldered V-shaped torso. His smile was sweeter and more ingenuous than ever and she remembered it, before she did him.
“Raphael, I didn’t know you were coming!” she cried, finally realizing who her new guest was and drawing him inside.
“Why would I not come to your birthday party?”
“Oh, it’s only ostensibly my birthday party. It’s really a party for the opening of the club.”
“Well, I plan to become a denizen of the club any week now,” he told her, presenting her with a small, beautifully wrapped package.
“Oh, that’s right, under the tutelage of my glamorous aunt,” she laughed, sitting down on a hall bench and bidding him to sit beside her. Pulling open the ribbons on the small box, Amanda lifted the lid to reveal a small pair of white gold hoop earrings.
“How kind you are!” she said, hugging him.
“Is your boyfriend here?” he asked in an undertone.
“Not at the moment,” she disclosed as softly. Then she mischievously allowed her hand to fall on his thigh and momentarily creep towards his crotch. But just as abruptly, as they heard someone stir at the end of the hall, she pulled her hand back. The gesture was not lost on Raphael, who turned up her chin and lightly brushed her lips with a kiss as soon as they were once again alone.
“You know I’m at your service any time,” he promised her.
“I shouldn’t have touched you like that,” she said, jumping up. “But your new look is so attractive. I forgot myself.”
Just then, Carola emerged from her bedroom in a skin tight black leather cat suit with a mock turtle neck, short sleeves, gloves and boots and strode up to them.
“Oh, what a wonderful cat suit,” said Amanda. “It’ll cause a sensation because everyone else is wearing a dress,” Amanda hugged Carola affectionately. “What a waist she has, don’t you think, Raphael?” Amanda said, placing her hands around her aunt’s tiny waist.
“Exquisite,” he agreed.
“I’d better go check on things in the kitchen,” said Amanda abruptly, relieved to be able to detach herself from the dangerous Raphael so gracefully. Though she couldn’t resist looking back at him once over her shoulder to again marvel at his new and much more masculine look. “Hot enough for a fireman calendar,” thought Amanda with a smile, as she went to order another Prosecco Bellini.
But the doorbell rang and now Amanda ran to admit Marguerite. The bookstore owner’s flame-colored hair was down on her shoulders and her magnificent curves were set off to advantage in a metallic gold gown. Right behind the redhead on the doorstep was the white blonde Polyxena Guzman, also splendidly clad, in a platinum halter gown with a diamond pendant necklace accenting her cleavage. After depositing the two glittering sirens in the lounge and promising to bring them back dishes of dainties and champagne, Amanda ran back to the dining room.
Before she was finished loading up two plates for the new arrivals, Dru ushered Tai and Lydia, Carola’s submissive staff from Boston, into the room. Quick introductions were made and as Tai and Lydia admired Amanda’s shiny red dress; she in turn, made a fuss over their matching blue and green tartan, stretch cotton cocktail dresses, each with a short pleated skirt. Then she made use of them by handing each a plate to bring out to Marguerite and Polyxena in the lounge, while she promised to follow with champagne.
Bringing four glasses and Dru carrying a champagne bottle, Amanda returned to the lounge and saw Lydia and Tai immediately rewarded for doing her bidding with flutes of champagne.
“I’m sorry to say that Michael won’t be able to leave the bar and come over until ten,” Marguerite reported. “Oh, and by the way, in case you’re looking for your boyfriend, he’s over at the bar watching the baseball game.”
Now William, Damaris, Ambrose and Pamela walked into the lounge. Anthony waved from the piano. Amanda ran to embrace Pamela. Marguerite eyed Damaris’ black leather crop top and pencil skirt outfit, which echoed the longer blush silk version that Pamela wore. Marguerite would always think of Michael’s first wife as her archrival and Damaris was in very good looks that night.
Taking Pamela with her to fetch the new group drinks, Amanda interlaced arms with her friend as they walked down the hall.
“So you’re going back to school in two days,” said Pamela. “I’ll miss you, my love!”
“I’ll text you every day,” Amanda promised. “And come back here as often as I can.”
“With you and Dru gone, it’ll be terribly quiet around here,” said Pamela.
“But you’re showing at Fashion Week. That won’t be quiet.”
“No, that will be a gigantic stress headache.”
“Will you have any time in New York to be naughty?” Amanda asked.
“Ambrose is coming with me, so I’m going to be naughty with him,” smiled Pamela.
“Speaking of the top that never rests, how are you dealing with the hottie from The Hague?” asked Amanda.
“She is something tonight,” said Pamela, “I’ll give her that. She looks like she stepped out of an MGM blockbuster from the 1950’s.”
“Oh, I agree, she’s channeling Maria Schell,” said Amanda. “But doesn’t that worry you?”
“No. She’s got her gig, the gym. She’s not going to try and move in on mine. And anyway, look at those hips. In five years she’ll be a chubby forty-year-old. And you know Ambrose’s taste in waists. She’s pushing it at a size eight.”
“Oh, speaking of waists, have you met my Aunt Carola?”
“Ambrose and I saw her shopping in the store today with Dru.”
“Did he notice what a skinny bitch she is?”
“Of course, he was instantly intrigued. And then, she being your aunt makes her even more exciting.”
“We’ll go and find her in a little while. Right now she’s mesmerizing Raphael Price.”
“And where’s our darling Colby?” Pamela asked.
“He’s more like Michael Flagg’s darling at the moment. He’s at his bar right now.”
“Why?”
“Baseball game. And maybe he had to collect himself after spending the last two hours fucking Marion Craig.”
“Do you want me to go and get him?” Pamela asked.
“All the way over there in the rain? You’ll get the bottom of your dress wet.”
“I don’t mind. I want to put off that moment when I’ll inevitably run into Sloan and Paula anyway.”
“Are you serious? That’s going to bother you?”
“I get such a terrible pain when I see them together,” confided Pamela.
“It’s no use. If he’s watching the game, he won’t leave until it’s over. You’d better stay here,” said Amanda, “and have a Bellini with me.”