A New Kind of Bliss (20 page)

I decided I’d rather see Teddy with Marsha than Shelly. He was a good catch. A sistah should get him. “Is that such a bad thing? You have to agree that Marsha’s looking pretty good these days.”

“She went and got herself some new teeth, just like Tanis has a new nose. I say let her flash her choppers at somebody else. I watch the news, Emily. I know all about that guy she married. The drug czar who got his head blown off.”

“So what?” I bristled. “She married a criminal, one who took her nice places, really courted her, and misrepresented to her how he made his money. That doesn’t mean she isn’t a nice girl, Teddy.”

He gave me a playful poke in the side. “I’ll tell you a secret, Emily. There’s a whole bunch of nice girls out there looking for nice men, and there’re more than enough females for men to choose from. With all those available women out there, a man would have to be crazy to get involved with somebody like Marsha. Talk about baggage. She might be sitting on all kinds of knowledge that might be of interest to her husband’s business associates. The phrase ‘knowing where the bodies are buried’ takes on a whole new meaning. What she may know about his business puts not only her, but everyone close to her, in danger.”

“You’ve been reading too much James Patterson,” I said, rolling my eyes.

“Hey. You’re her friend, right? Do us all a favor and tell her to forget about me. I’m not interested.” Hands in pockets, he sauntered off. Moments later I saw him dancing with Valerie.

I cornered Marsha the first chance I got. “Listen…Teddy’s been getting your signals, but I’m sorry to say he’s not interested. He thought I should be the one to tell you.”

Her shoulders drooped, and I tried to soothe her. “Hey, nothing ventured, nothing gained. He’s not the last man on earth, you know.” I scanned the room. “What about Wayne? He’s unattached.”

“He’s ugly.”

“He is not,” I said indignantly. “He’s just…not particularly handsome, that’s all.”

“Besides, he’s got eyes for Tanis. Not that he’ll ever get anywhere with her, that’s for sure.”

I watched Wayne and Tanis dancing. So Marsha, too, had figured out that Wayne’s heart burned for Tanis. I wondered if Tanis knew about his admiration.

“What about James Hardy?”

“Are you kidding? He’s even uglier than Wayne. And he’s dumb, to boot. He got left back twice, for God’s sake.”

“No, he didn’t. They put him in our grade when he moved to Euliss. I guess that’s the level he tested at. His family were migrant workers, Marsha. It’s not unusual for kids from those circumstances to be behind in school.” We’d all giggled behind James’s back about how ugly and stupid he was, but this wasn’t fourth grade anymore. “If those bars on his sleeve are any indication, he’s done pretty well for himself in the Marines.” Then I played my trump card. “Besides, I don’t see a wedding ring on his finger.”

The deejay announced he was slowing it down, and Tanis appeared to excuse herself, leaving Wayne looking dejected. James Hardy, who back in the day was a not too bright tough guy with a flat head, small eyes, overly thick lips, and a swift right hook for anyone who dared make fun of him, approached Marsha with an outstretched hand, and they began dancing. With the typical heartlessness of a child, I used to make fun of James myself…privately, of course. It was nice to see that he’d done well. He had apparently made a career out of the military, and he looked almost handsome in his uniform…at least from a distance.

Now Aaron was chatting with Teddy, which made me uncomfortable. I rushed over to join them, but I was stopped by someone who told me what a nice party it was. In the few seconds it took for me to acknowledge the compliment, Tanis beat me to it, and she and Aaron fell into step just seconds before I reached them.

“Come on, let’s dance,” Teddy offered.

I was annoyed at having missed Aaron but decided to have a little fun with Teddy. “That Shelly Muldoon looks fabulous, doesn’t she?”

“Yeah, not bad.”

“Have you seen her since graduation?”

“Here and there.”

Yeah, right.
“What’s she up to these days?”

“She sells medical equipment. I hear she’s really good at it, too. Looks like she’s trying to interest your boyfriend in some.”

My head jerked at his phrasing. Anyone who didn’t know better would interpret Teddy’s words as meaning Shelly was trying to interest Aaron in something
else.

Teddy turned his head so that his lips were close enough to my ear to kiss it without leaning. “I was just talking to your boyfriend.”

“You can tell me that normally.” He was entirely too close, and I didn’t like the way that looked, even though the floor was crowded with couples. If Tanis saw she’d be sure to say something to Aaron about it.

“Lighten up, Emily. I’m not gonna start nothing. Why do you think I told Tanis she’s barking up the wrong tree? You think I want him coming after me if he finds out you’ve been sharpening my pencil?”

I spoke in a murderous whisper. “Teddy.”

“That wouldn’t be the problem, would it? Am I able to give you something you can’t get from him?”

I decided that Shelly must have been praising his bedroom skills and given him a swelled head. “No. It’s just like what I told you before. We were going through a rough time, and now everything’s fine between us.”

“That’s not enough for you to end up in bed with me. Remember what I told you. We’re compatible, in bed and out of it.” He tightened his grip around my waist.

Considering the words that came out of his mouth, now I was glad he spoke so close to my ear, lest anyone overhear. But we were dancing too close. I tried to wiggle free.

Teddy kept his grip on me. “Relax. Tanis isn’t watching. She’s too busy dancing with your doc. She’s got her eye on him, you know.”

I perked up immediately. “What makes you say that?”

“Because she’s a little too interested in what went on that night she saw us at Hardy’s. Plus she’s been in his face tonight every chance she’s had.” He’d continued to speak softly into my ear, but now he straightened up. “Just don’t say I told you. I don’t believe in getting in the middle of shit.”

“No, actually I knew about it. I’m just kind of surprised that you noticed as well.”

“Yeah, well, I’m an observant type of guy.”

By two-thirty in the morning most of the attendees had left, including, thank God, Teddy. It didn’t surprise me to see Wayne still hanging around—he probably hoped to have another shot at Tanis—but I didn’t expect James Hardy to be one of the last ones out the door.

Rosalind, Valerie, Marsha, Tanis, and myself surveyed the leftover food. To our relief, the great bulk of it had been consumed. We decided that everyone could just take home what she had prepared. We’d given the kitchen a thorough cleaning earlier, in the afternoon, right down to mopping the floor, so all that remained to do was a quick wipe down and then simply cover the dishes with foil and put them in our respective vehicles.

I soon saw why James had lingered. When Marsha said good night to me, she added, “James was kind enough to offer me a lift home. This way I won’t have to trouble Valerie for a ride. I’m sure she wants to get back to City Island.”

“That was nice of him. Thanks for everything, Marsha. You were a tremendous help.”

“I just wish I could have contributed more,” she said wistfully.

“You can’t put a price tag on time,” I pointed out, giving her a hug. “Now, run along, and be a good girl. No hanky-panky with James.”

There was no way was I letting Tanis cozy up to Aaron for a ride home.
I
was leaving out of here with him, even if I had to leave my car parked here overnight. But it really wasn’t fair for me to ask him to drive me all the way to Euliss when I had my car.

I was pondering how to handle this when Aaron came up behind me, putting his arms around my waist. “I’ve got a suggestion.”

“Aaron, I really don’t want to go to that motel.” I’d never warmed up to the idea of spending nights there. It was the type of place where you’d see Acuras and BMWs parked outside at noon…a time when the occupants clearly were supposed to be at work, which was likely where their spouses believed them to be. I felt out of place with all those adulterers and the other group that constituted the majority of the motel’s clientele: twenty-something live-at-homes who had their sex on the weekends.

“I know. I don’t, either. Why don’t you come home with me? Everybody’s asleep.”

“Isn’t that a little brazen, my spending the night? I know Beverline is a big girl, but what about your kids?”

“I’ll sneak downstairs and lie down on the couch in my office before anyone gets up. I’ll just tell them we were out too late for you to go home.”

Before I could answer Tanis approached us. “Well, it looks like that’s that,” she said briskly. “Aaron, can I get a lift with you?”

“We’d be happy to drop you off.”

She looked startled. “We?”

“Emily and I.”

“Oh. Emily, didn’t you drive over from Euliss?”

“Yes, I did.” I refused to give her any more information. It was none of her damn business.

Wayne came to my rescue, carrying Tanis’s coat. “Tanis, can I take you home?”

“Well, I hate to take you out of your way….”

“Not a problem.” He looked at Aaron and me. “I think Emily and Aaron have plans.”

Even in the dim lighting I could see the disappointment on Tanis’s face. “Um…all right.” Wayne moved behind her and slipped her coat on her shoulders.

After Aaron seated me in the Jag, I turned to look at Wayne and Tanis crossing the street to Wayne’s car.

I wasn’t surprised when Tanis turned to look at Aaron and me.

“I think you girls did a good job,” Aaron said.

“Thanks. It was a real success. I hope you didn’t mind being around a whole bunch of people from Euliss.”

“Emily, I hope you don’t think I’m such a snob that I would judge someone strictly by where they’re from.”

“No, of course not.” What I’d been doing was trying to work the conversation so I could find out what he and Teddy were talking about, but of course this had to be deftly handled. “I guess I’m saying I hope you weren’t too bored. I’m not sure you have anything in common with Wayne, or Teddy, or anybody.”

His forehead wrinkled. “Now, I know Wayne, but I’m not sure who Teddy is.”

I had scored the perfect opening. I offered a brief physical description of Teddy. “You were talking with him. I don’t know if it came up, but he’s a denture technician.”

“Oh, yeah. Nice fellow. He certainly thinks very highly of you, Emily.”

“What did he say?”

“Just that he’d known you since grammar school and what a sweetheart you are.” Aaron grinned. “Of course, I had to agree with his assessment.”

“Of course,” I teased back. I was dying to know what else Teddy had said, but my instincts told me to leave it alone. Aaron didn’t seem disturbed by anything Teddy might have told him, and if I pressed it would only make him suspicious.

“W
hat are your plans for Christmas, Emily?”

“We usually drop in at my oldest niece’s place in the afternoon. She assigns a dish for everyone to bring, and we have a wonderful family dinner. What about you?” I imagined the holiday had to be rough for Aaron’s family since Diana died.

“We spend it at our summerhouse in Sag Harbor. It makes it easier, since…”

I understood. Changing the location of their holiday celebration probably went a long way toward their being able to enjoy it without guilt. Of course, it helps when you have a summerhouse.

“We usually drive out Christmas Eve and put up the tree,” Aaron continued. “I usually stay out there for two or three days, and Beverline brings the kids back New Year’s Day. I just hate the idea of not seeing you over the holiday.”

I tensed. There was no polite way to say that I wasn’t ready for a family get-together that would run longer than ten minutes—not with
his
family.

“What about the night before Christmas Eve? You know, Emily, if we’re going to live so close to each other, we probably need to spend a little time together socially.”

“Yes, I suppose you have a point.” I’d hoped to avoid this. Thanksgiving had given me a reprieve, for the Merritts had gone to Delaware to spend the holiday with Aaron’s side of the family, coming back on Friday so Aaron would make my class reunion.

“Why don’t I bring Beverline and the kids down for a quick visit, maybe an hour? I think it’ll do the kids good to see you at home, in your own environment. They need to understand that you have a life outside of coming by our place.”

I noticed he didn’t say anything about his mother-in-law. That told me he felt his kids would warm up to me, but he had no such hopes for Beverline.

“All right,” I said with more enthusiasm than I felt. “Y’all come over.”

I answered the door to see two smiling faces and three unsmiling ones. I joined the former camp, pasting a big smile on my face that wasn’t entirely false. As with every year, the holiday spirit had enveloped me like a warm blanket. One couldn’t help but get the spirit, what with the airwaves full of the familiar holiday tunes and the streets and apartment windows all lit up with colorful decorations. The streets of Euliss actually looked pretty. “Welcome, everyone!”

Billy greeted me with his usual enthusiasm. “Merry Christmas, Miss Emily!”

“Hello, Billy! Merry Christmas to you!” I gave him an affectionate hug, then gestured to Mom, standing a few feet behind me. “Billy, do you remember my mother, Mrs. Yancy?”

“Yes. Hi,” he said to her, punctuating his words with a friendly wave. “Merry Christmas!”

“Merry Christmas, Billy. You know, I think Santa Claus left something for you here.”

He made an all-knowing face. “Santa Claus? Come on, Miz Yancy.”

“Billy,” Aaron admonished.

“Oh, that’s all right,” Mom said. “Emmie never believed in Santa Claus, either. It’s because her sister and brother are so much older than she is.” She turned to Billy. “You come with me.”

“Everyone, take off your coats,” I urged.

Although it was a bit on the warm side for late December, Beverline had worn a full-length mink and matching hat, no doubt to accentuate her membership in the Other Half. “What a lovely little tree,” she remarked in a condescending tone as she handed me the dark fur.

“Thank you, Mrs. Wilson. My goodness, you must have melted in this.”

“I was actually quite comfortable. I often get chilled in the winter.” Her tone had an unmistakable tinge of indignation, which told me I’d hit my mark by pointing out that it wasn’t cold enough for mink.

I moved on to Arden and Kirsten, figuring Mom could hold her own with Beverline. “Hello, girls. I haven’t seen you in ages. I, uh, missed you when my mother and I were over a few weeks ago.”

“Yes,” Arden said. She was clearly The Voice out of the two of them. Her younger sister just nodded. “We were up in our room that day…watching a really good movie on TV.”

“I see. Well, go and sit down. I’ll just put these coats away.” I went into the bedroom and put the coats on Mom’s bed.

When I returned I heard laughter coming from the kitchen. Apparently Aaron was helping Mom bring out the refreshments she’d prepared.

Beverline was telling Billy to take his gift home with him and open it Christmas morning with the rest of his presents. Arden and Kirsten were standing awkwardly.

“Please, sit down,” I said.

The girls sat together on the sofa. Billy sat on one of the floor pillows. I wondered if Aaron had told him ahead of time to sit there, because there wouldn’t be enough room for everyone to sit on the furniture. Beverline chose the single chair that matched the loveseat and sofa. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Mom and Aaron coming toward us, Mom carrying a tray of pinwheel sandwiches and an ice bucket, and Aaron holding a tray with two small glass pitchers, one of eggnog and the other of Sprite, plus highball glasses.

Then two things happened. “Can we watch TV?” young Billy inquired as Beverline paused mid-descent. When her right hand swung behind her, I gasped. Was she going to do what I
thought
she was going to do?

Then Beverline brushed the cushion of the chair with her palm before sitting down.

I was rendered speechless, something that rarely happens. But the cat didn’t get Mom’s tongue.

She bent to place the tray down on the coffee table, then stood straight up and faced Beverline. “I may not have a housekeeper, Mrs. Wilson, but I keep a clean house. There’s no need for you to brush away imaginary dust.”

“Beverline? Did you do that?” Aaron sounded astounded.

She shrugged guiltily. “It’s a reflex action. I do it every-place. I didn’t mean to imply your apartment isn’t clean, Mrs. Yancy.”

Mom gave a tight little smile that told me she didn’t believe that for a second. She then focused on Arden and Kirsten. “Girls, help yourselves to eggnog, or soda if you prefer.”

“What are these?” Kirsten asked, pointing to the sandwiches.

“Dear, you’ve had those before,” Beverline said quickly. “They’re sandwiches, made on that Middle Eastern bread, then rolled into wheels and sliced.”

“Oh, yes.” Kirsten took a sandwich and a napkin.

I quickly turned on the television for Billy, thinking it might provide a welcome distraction. I handed him the remote control.

Aaron poured Beverline an eggnog and sprinkled it with nutmeg. I wished it was strychnine instead.

“Where’s the HBO?” Billy asked as he flipped from channel to channel.

“I’m sorry, dear, I don’t have HBO,” Mom replied.

“All you have is news stations,” he complained as he passed through a series of channels.

“Billy, you know better than that,” Aaron admonished.

“If you flip around some more you’ll find the Cartoon Network,” I offered. I glanced over at Mom, who had taken a seat on the loveseat next to Aaron. Her eyes had narrowed into slits so small I was amazed she could see anything through them.

I sat in the only vacant seat left, the opening on the sofa between Arden and Kirsten. The eggnog I’d poured for myself just before they arrived still sat on a coaster on the coffee table. “Are you all ready for the holidays, girls?” I asked pleasantly.

“Yes,” Arden and Kirsten responded simultaneously.

In a legal setting, this would be considered a question asked and answered. And the answer was delivered with as much personality as someone on the witness stand.

I tried again. “Are you looking forward to spending your holiday out of town?”

“Yes.”

Oh, fine. I hadn’t fared so badly since I interviewed a recent certified nursing assistant graduate for an opening my employer had. The girl had excellent grades, but Calvin Coolidge would have viewed her as a conversational challenge.

I tried for what I told myself would be the final time. “Are there many people out in the Hamptons this time of year?”

“Yes,” Arden said.

I took a gulp of my eggnog, glad that I’d spiked it with some of Pop’s old bourbon. I silently acknowledged defeat, but Arden surprised me by continuing to speak. “Lots of people spend the holidays out there.”

“It’ll be nice to get out there and see our friends whom we haven’t seen since
July,
” Kirsten said, accenting her last word.

Beverline made a sighing sound just before taking a demure sip of her eggnog. I knew it was directed at me, just as Kirsten’s remark had been, but I let it slide. The bourbon was making me mellow.

Aaron spoke up. “Keep that up, Kirsten, and you won’t see them until
next
Christmas.”

My eyes immediately went to Beverline to check her reaction. She pretended to be studying her eggnog…maybe for poison.

“Aaron, I’m so sorry you and Emily won’t see each other over the holiday,” Mom said.

“Actually, Mrs. Yancy, I’ll be out on the island for only a few days. I’ll be driving back at home on the twenty-seventh. I’ve got a few loose ends to clear up before the first, and of course I want to spend some time with Emily.”

“Will you be going back to Long Island for New Year’s?”

I reached for a sandwich. I knew what Mom was up to. She’d already asked me about Aaron’s plans. She knew Beverline didn’t like the idea of Aaron spending a special occasion with me and wanted to hear him state his plans aloud just to irritate her.

“No. I’m going to spend New Year’s with Emily at home.”

Beverline suddenly perked up. “Aaron’s arranged for a limousine service to drive us back New Year’s Day.”

Mom beamed. “Well, I’m glad you two will get to ring the New Year in together, since you’ll be separated on Christmas.”

I flashed her a look that I hoped she would interpret as a warning not to go overboard.

“I understand you’re going out of town yourself, Mrs. Yancy,” Aaron said, deftly changing the subject.

“Yes. My other daughter lives outside of Pittsburgh. Her children live here, but they always go out after Christmas and spend a week or so. She and her husband give a large New Year’s bash every year. It’s really quite lovely.”

“When are you leaving?”

“The twenty-seventh. The same day you’ll be driving back to New York.”

Arden, who’d been eyeing the tray on the coffee table in front of her, said, “Those sandwiches are good. Is it all right if I have another one?”

“Of course, dear. You go right ahead,” Mom said.

“Now, Arden, you don’t want to eat up all of Mrs. Yancy’s food,” Beverline cautioned, effectively giving her grandchildren the impression that Mom and I were starving.

Aaron tried to defuse the potentially explosive situation. “Beverline, I’m sure Mrs. Yancy’s cupboards are full,” he said easily. He nodded at his uncertain daughter to go ahead.

“Thank you, Aaron,” Mom said. “You know, I’ve always hated it when people put out food and liquor for guests and then turn around and complain about how much they ate or drank. That’s definitely not me.” She looked directly at Beverline as she said the last sentence, as if defying her to make another implication. I could swear that Beverline’s complexion darkened a shade at Mom’s insinuation.

Aaron got up. “I’m going to have another one of those sandwiches myself, and then I’m afraid we’ll have to run. I want to hit the road early tomorrow, by six-thirty.”

Just minutes later I was handing out coats. The visit Aaron estimated would run about an hour had lasted barely half that long.

Mom said good night to everyone and promptly made herself scarce, disappearing inside her bedroom, knowing that Aaron and I would want a few minutes alone. Beverline, on the other hand, showed no such consideration. She waited expectantly in the doorway after the kids had already left the apartment. “Aaron, aren’t you coming?”

“Why don’t you start the car up? I’ll be out in a minute.”

She flashed an expression that looked like he’d just slapped her, nodded curtly to me, and left.

I turned to Aaron. “Well,
that
went well,” I said brightly. His hangdog expression made me giggle.

“Kirsten and Arden don’t dislike you, Emily. They’re just having a little difficulty with the idea of there being another woman in my life. I’ve talked to them about it and assured them that I won’t ever forget their mother. But it’s hard for them nonetheless.”

“Billy doesn’t seem to have a problem,” I pointed out.

“No, but he’s younger. He doesn’t have the memories of Diana that his sisters do. I was hoping they would open up to you a little bit. You know, talk to you about things teenage girls worry about. I hoped they would see you as someone who’s a little more in touch with their generation than their grandmother.”

“I guess we have to give it more time. They’ve only seen me a handful of times, and it’s clear Kirsten blames me for kicking them out of the Sag Harbor house. Things might change for the better once Mom and I move into your guesthouse.”

“You’re right. Of course, there’s also the possibility that Beverline is influencing them in a negative way.”

“She really hates me, doesn’t she?”

“I think she’s just scared. Arden asked me just the other day if I would put Nana out if I were to remarry.”

“Does your own daughter really think you’d do something so cold, Aaron?”

“Not on her own. At least I hope not. But I think Beverline is trying to get her to think that. The truth is, my house probably wouldn’t be big enough for Beverline and any other woman.”

“Did she honestly think you would never start seeing women again?”

“Well, I was pretty broken up when Diana passed…but someone of Beverline’s generation probably should know that widowed spouses have to move on…eventually.”

Part of me understood Beverline’s fear. But didn’t she realize that by being so unpleasant she was setting the stage for Aaron’s next wife to throw her ass out?

“I guess I’d better get going,” he said reluctantly.

I suddenly felt an almost overwhelming sadness. Tomorrow was Christmas Eve, and my boyfriend was going out of town. Yes, that’s what he was now, my boyfriend. He was handsome, successful, rich…and he was in love with me. When he pulled me to him I threw my arms around his neck and kissed him fervently. Aaron pressed his cheek to mine and squeezed me. “I know how you feel, but I’ll only be gone three days, Emily. We’ll have dinner the night I come back and celebrate Christmas then. Plan on staying at my house the rest of the week. How’s that sound?”