The footsteps echoed in the hall, and arrived at her door, which she ran to as soon as she heard the knock. “Oh Roger. It’s so good to see you here. I’m going crazy. My roommate has been making me crazy. Please... take me away.”
“No problem. Your carriage awaits you, my lady...” He gestured towards the elevators down the hall.
She managed a small smile. “Good. Let’s get out of here.”
They arrived at the country club about twenty minutes later. The meticulously manicured lawn, fed and watered with care to a lush green, immediately caught her eye. “Roger, this place is beautiful.”
“Only the best for you, my dear.” He smiled affably.
Holding Roger’s hand, she walked into the country club, admiring the opulence in every detail. “Ooh. I like this. It suits me; this style of living and class of people.” The attendees of the party from last week gathered around the hors d’oeuvres. She waved in their direction, and they waved back.
“Oh good. They’ll help me make Amanda’s life a living hell.”
Roger answered in deadpan. “I’ll leave you to... mingle.” He walked away to join the other guests.
She walked in Kyle’s direction, and waited for a break in the conversation he was having with his male friends. The opportunity presented itself, and she tapped him on the shoulder.
He turned quickly, and looked at her quizzically for a few moments.
She put on her most ingratiating manner. “You don’t recognize me, do you?”
“Umm, no…have we met before?”
“Yes... at Roger Bonilla’s last party... at his house.”
Recognition hit. “Oh yes. Now I remember. You’re that woman whom my wife bumped into that night... was it ‘Perri?’”
“Yes... good to see you again, Kyle.”
“Likewise. Say... how do you know Roger?”
“We have a mutual friend.” She changed the subject quickly before the mention of Shane’s name caused her to break down and cry. “So... how long have you and Amanda been married?”
“In October, it will be three years.”
He looked blasé about the whole thing, which didn’t escape her notice. “Is everything alright with your marriage?”
He looked at his wife across the room, then back at her. His head hung low, as if mulling over a big decision. “Well... we’ve been having our differences lately.”
Excitement built in her as Kyle’s words confirmed the weak spot in his marriage. “Oh... I’m so sorry to hear that... do you mind telling me what’s going on? Consider me an impartial ear.”
A few moments later, he said, “Well, she really wants to have kids, and I... well, I’m not real gung-ho about it right now. I’m just turning twenty-seven in a couple of months, and I feel like we need a little more time as just she and I. I’d like to have my freedom a little while longer.”
“But she doesn’t like that idea at all. You poor dear.” She held his hands to appear more compassionate. “Maybe we should get together and talk about it some time.” She purposefully left out that they should consider whether his wife would agree. Her partner VD and she had talked Evie into ‘talking about it’ to Peter, and breaking up the relationship with Peter and Gracie. However, when she thought about Gracie dating Shane, that too-familiar heartache started to rear its ugly head, and stopped her line of thinking in its tracks. Steeling herself, she turned her attention back to the game at hand. “What do you say, Kyle?” A smile of sweetness and light followed.
At first, he didn’t say anything.
“Oh, come on Kyle. What could it hurt? You need someone to talk to about your problems. I think a woman like me would understand from a feminine point of view, and that’s what you need. Now come on. Let’s just make up our minds and do it. Okay?”
“Well... okay. But she can’t know we’re doing this.”
“I promise: I’m very discrete.”
“What do you say we meet for lunch this Monday... say, one o’clock?”
“Um... sure.”
“Good. I’m proud of you, Kyle. Talking is the best way to get it off your chest, and figure it out. I’ll see you on Monday then.”
Reticently, he managed, “Alright.”
Sympathy and empathy finally accomplished her objective. Smiling sweetly, she held both his hands, gave him a chaste peck on his cheek, turned and walked over towards her ‘support group’ from the last party.
“Hi, Perri,” said Zoe Fischer, one of the more vocal ones. “I’m surprised Amanda hasn’t knocked someone over yet.”
“Yes. I know.” She rolled her eyes in agreement. “She can be so inept.” She looked over towards Kyle, then back at them. “You know something?”
“What?” asked Zoe.
The other members of the group gave her their attention: eyes and ears riveted on hers. “Well, I just had a heart-to-heart with Kyle, and he confided that he thinks he’s...” She lowered her voice to a whisper and leaned into them. “... gay!”
The other women gasped. Inwardly, she chuckled to herself. They were so gullible. She could tell them the sun was purple, and they’d probably believe it. “Just don’t tell Amanda... she’d be devastated.”
“Oh, mum’s the word,” said Zoe. The others agreed.
“Good. Well, ladies, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go rejoin my friend. Enjoy your evening. She walked back over to Roger, who was talking to Amanda and a friend of hers. She stood just out of Amanda’s eyesight. This was too easy. Sure enough, when Amanda turned to excuse herself, she walked directly into her.
“Oh no…not again!” Amanda turned red as a beet, apologizing several times.
“Oh, I
