Authors: Greg Herren
*
Mike poured steamed milk over their espressos and created lattes for herself and Eryn. After making sure Martha had everything in the café under control, she sat down on a stool behind the counter. “Okay. Spill the beans.”
“About getting lucky, I suppose.” Eryn sipped her latte after licking the tall spoon. “Well, since I’m so curious about you and Vivian that I could self-combust, I’ll share first. I’m hoping to woo Manon with my sexy dress tonight.”
Mike smiled, but other, darker, feelings stirred in her heart, which felt as hot as her latte. “So you’ve got it bad for the beautiful heiress,” she teased. “I don’t blame you. She has everything you could want: brains, looks, heart, money.”
“Money isn’t a factor.”
“I know that. I just said she has it.”
“She also has a very large closet where she’s taken up permanent residence.”
Mike placed her chin in her palm. “Damn.” So, they were in the same boat, almost.
How strange, really.
“My thoughts exactly.”
“So what’s your plan?”
“I don’t have one, other than try and try again.” Eryn shrugged. “She’s good at thinking of a million reasons why we should be just friends.” She laced her fingers tightly. “I couldn’t do the ‘just friends’ part, Mike.”
“I know. Neither could I.” Mike murmured her words into the tall glass.
“You’re attracted to Vivian.”
“Very.”
I’m crazy about her. I dream and breathe her.
“And what about her? I saw how she looked at you yesterday.”
Mike placed the glass back on the counter and let her finger follow the rim, over and over. “I know she likes me. I also know she’s attracted to me, despite everything.”
“What do you mean, despite everything?”
“Despite my background, my age, my gender.” Mike’s voice hardened. “Despite everything.”
“You’re a gorgeous, self-made woman. You’ve come a long way.”
“A long way since the streets of Providence, you mean? Yes, I know. But Vivian deserves someone in her own league. And she’s only in East Quay for a while. She’ll move on, once she’s…done.”
Eryn placed a hand on Mike’s. “Are you sure about that? I mean, the way she looks at you…those are strong feelings.”
“She’s an artist, a performer. Strong feelings are her thing.” Mike knew she sounded bitter, but couldn’t stop herself. “She can identify with roles, with different characters. And right now she needs me, for some unfathomable reason. She’s made it pretty clear that she’ll leave once she’s…over things.”
“Things? You mean, you?”
“Partially.” Mike didn’t want to betray Vivian’s confidence about her medical condition.
“That doesn’t strike me as something she’d say. She seems so straightforward. Even more so than most regular people.” Eryn smiled. “A typical New Englander, if you ask me.”
“Perhaps.” Mike’s stomach lurched for what seemed the thousandth time lately. “I wish I could back out, but I can’t.”
Eryn studied her closely. “You’ve got it bad, haven’t you?”
“Really bad.”
“What a pair of fools we are. Falling for difficult, hell, damn near impossible women. One straight and the other closeted. Ridiculous, when you think about it.”
“Yes. We’re so silly.” Mike raised her glass and clinked Eryn’s. “Here’s to endangered hearts.”
“Endangered hearts,” Eryn echoed and sipped her latte. “You said it.”
As they sat in silence, Mike knew Eryn had quickly gone from a good friend to a close one today. “Thank you for understanding.”
Eryn looked up, her eyes warm beneath the now-fading bruise on her forehead. “Thank
you
. Anytime, Mike. I mean it.”
Comforted, Mike knew she’d probably need Eryn’s understanding and friendship even more very soon, when Vivian left East Quay.
*
Manon distantly acknowledged her image. She wore the pale yellow cocktail dress she’d bought at Genevieve’s, with a white lace bolero jacket sprinkled with rhinestone crystals. Diamond studs glimmered in her earlobes, and she wore her hair in an intricate low twist kept together by her grandmother’s diamond hairpins. They were priceless, not only because of the stones, but because they belonged to the only woman in her life after the age of fourteen.
Clarisse Beloc had been a strong, almost hard, woman, forged by her experiences in France and London during World War II. She hadn’t been easy to approach, since she prized formality, which made her very reserved. Only after Manon’s mother left her father did Clarisse melt a little. She made sure Manon learned what she called “
le devoir une femme d’avoir l’air d’une reine,
” the duty of a woman to look like a queen. She gave Manon lessons in etiquette and other social graces, interrupted only when Manon’s father sent her to boarding school. When she returned home her grandmother kept instructing her, and along the way Manon and Clarisse found a mutual interest in classical music, which allowed them to become close, in part thanks to Marjorie, to whom Clarisse introduced Manon. Marjorie helped Manon understand Clarisse. Eventually it was their mutual love and adoration for J.B., Manon’s grandfather that welded their relationship solid.
Manon checked her stockings and slid into her gold high-heeled sandals, which added another two inches to her height. After one last look in the mirror, she wrapped the fake fur stole around her shoulders and grabbed her small matching bag.
Downstairs, Benjamin saluted her, and she wrinkled her nose a bit, since she knew full well he did it in jest.
“And now, ma’am?” he asked, as he took his place at the wheel.
“We’re picking up my date at the Thatcher Victorian Inn.” Manon checked her gold watch.
“Very well.” Benjamin pulled out into traffic.
Feeling cold, Manon pulled the stole closer.
Eryn. She’ll be there. She’ll know why we can’t pursue this. No matter how much—
Interrupting her own thoughts, she adjusted the air-conditioning vent for more warmth.
“We’re here, ma’am.” Benjamin pulled in along the sidewalk and stepped outside.
The door opened to Manon’s left and a handsome man in his late thirties climbed in, flashing a smile. “Manon. Wonderful to see you again.”
“Dustin.” Manon smiled politely. “You look dashing, of course.”
“Of course. Nothing but the best for you, love.”
Manon had used Dustin Pender twice before, over a year ago. “Good. You know where we’re going and why?”
“Yes. Pearl gave me all the details.”
“Very well.” Manon looked out the window. “It’s showtime.”
Dustin Pender stepped outside first and then offered Manon his hand as she followed him. She tucked one hand into the bend of his arm and held her purse in the other. As they walked through a large crowd, Manon realized the press must have gotten wind of Vivian’s presence at the party, since several media vans were parked farther up the street.
Our world-famous, and lost, daughter returns to celebrate our Grand Old Lady, as well as to perform for free. Of course the vultures are here.
She blanched. If Marjorie hadn’t given Eryn a special invitation, she would’ve been one of the “vultures.”
No, never!
As they entered the enormous marble hall that led into the huge auditorium, also used occasionally as a ballroom, Marjorie stood just inside, resting her hand on an ebony cane.
“Manon, precious one. Welcome,” Marjorie said, and leaned forward to kiss Manon’s cheek. Unlike so many others in their circle, she actually kissed Manon’s skin.
“Happy birthday, Marjorie. I had your present delivered earlier today. I hope it made it.”
“I’m sure it did, and I’m very curious. Now, speaking of curious, who’s this handsome young man?”
“This is Dustin, Marjorie. You met him once before, in Newport at the yacht club.”
“So I did.” Marjorie extended her hand, and Manon was pleased when Dustin kissed it lightly.
“You look most youthful, ma’am, if I may say so.”
“Oh, of course you may.” Marjorie smiled. “As long as you say nice things like that, you are more than welcome.”
“She enjoys flattery,” Manon theater-whispered to Dustin, which made Marjorie laugh aloud.
“Go on, children.” Marjorie winked. “Go mingle and find out where you’re seated. I need a break, but I’ll be back when it’s time for dinner.”
When Manon and Dustin strolled over to the seating charts, Manon accidentally nudged a tall woman in a deep blue dress. “Oh, I’m sorry, I…Eryn…”
It was indeed the woman who’d kissed her in the elevator yesterday, but she was nearly unrecognizable. The dress made Eryn look taller than usual. Tight, high-heeled boots, surely the same kind her mother had worn when Manon was little, hugged Eryn’s feet. Manon gazed up the long legs, along the surprisingly curvaceous body, until she rested on an expertly made-up face and blood-red hair pulled back in a perfect French twist. “You’re stunning,” Manon breathed. Something blue flickered in Eryn’s earlobes, and Manon could only shake her head.
Breathtaking.
“Manon,” Eryn greeted politely, sending Dustin a confused look. “Don’t you want to introduce me to your friend?”
Friend?
Manon struggled to find her bearings. “Yes. Of course. Dustin, this is Eryn Goddard, my neighbor. Eryn, this is Dustin Pender, my date for tonight.”
As soon as she spoke, Manon wished she could have taken her words back. Eryn’s green eyes lost all color, and her face grew pale.
“Your date?” Eryn’s voice sounded normal, but without its usual energy. “Of course. Nice to meet you, Dustin.”
“Likewise, Eryn,” Dustin replied, and Manon knew he was checking Eryn out, discreetly. “You look beautiful.”
“Thank you.” Eryn glanced away, and then she turned quickly toward the chart. “I better find my place. Oh, right there.” She pointed toward a table in the middle. “But there must be some mistake.”
“Why?” Manon leaned closer and Eryn’s perfume, a scent of light vanilla and citrus mixed in a seductive blend, wafted past her.
“It’s the head table!”
“So it is. It’s quite a large table too,” Manon observed, trying to keep her voice noncommittal. “You’re there, right next to…oh, my God.”
“Right next to Rex.” Eryn stepped back. “That’s it. I can’t—”
“Of course you can’t,” Manon said, and clutched Eryn’s arm without thinking.
Eryn took yet another step and Manon’s arm fell down, apparently unwanted. “I’ll take care of it. Rex was probably invited long before last week’s events. The person in charge of the seating arrangements obviously hasn’t followed the local news very well these last few days.”
“And you’re seated right across from me.” Eryn’s voice had lost its lilt and now sounded tired and disappointed. “Five minutes ago that would’ve made my day.” Dustin had walked a little to the side to let a larger party of guests pass. Eryn sent him an empty look and lowered her voice further. “Now, it really doesn’t matter, does it?”
Manon’s heart nearly shattered at Eryn’s defeated look. She wanted to tell her the truth, but suddenly she wasn’t so sure what the truth really was. She could’ve canceled the escort service if she’d wanted to. Hadn’t she brought Dustin as a message to Eryn? A cruel, definite message that whatever existed between them was doomed to fail. And now…Manon was calm on the outside, but inside, her stomach was in a knot, her heart beating hard and fast. She was sure it was visible on the front of her dress.
“Let’s find our seats,” Manon suggested, half expecting Eryn to refuse. “I’ll find Marjorie’s assistant and fix the problem.”
“Fix it?
All
of it?” Eryn’s eyes were now like green polar ice. “That’s impossible.” She glared at Dustin, and raised her voice. “You’re being rather obvious. I know he’s a fake, but he’ll help confirm your status as a man- eater.”
Trust Eryn to be nothing but blunt and honest, even in this setting. I’m glad we’re among the first ones here. No one within earshot.
“Please, Eryn. Not here.”
“Of course not.” Eryn smoothed the dress down over her hips, then looked up and smiled. “Let’s play the keeping-up-appearances game all the way through.” She walked closer to whisper her next words, her face blank. “But just so you know. If you think bringing Mr. Stud Number 375 here will help keep you safe, you’re fooling yourself. One of these days people are going to figure out what’s going on. Instead of being proud of who you are, with all it entails, you’ll have your big secret revealed whether you want to or not. And you’ll face it alone, since you chose to push me away.”
Eryn’s eyes became shinier. “I knew we were invited separately. This wasn’t a date. But…I thought…you’d at least come alone. I can’t believe you did this.”
“But, Eryn—”
“Don’t worry, Ms. Belmont. I’ll keep up appearances for tonight, but to do that…I need a drink.” She turned and stalked toward one of the bars in the far corner of the ballroom.
Manon stood frozen, wondering if she’d ever feel warm again.
Vivian replaced the cap on the bottle that held her painkillers and put it in her pearl-embroidered evening bag. She had deliberately waited to take them so she would be pain free during the most important hours. She knew a lot of eyes would be on her, even if this was Marjorie Dodd Endicott’s birthday party. Just the rumor that the town’s most elusive celebrity would attend was bound to attract the media.