Insecurity and a Bottle of Merlot (2 page)

“So you didn’t listen to, or read everything he sent?”

“Nope. I was so relieved the night was over, I didn’t want to hear his ranting. I read one text and deleted everything else.”

“Did you call a divorce attorney yet?” Aaron asked. He stirred the sauce on the stove. Concern for Mia furrowed his brows.

“I called on Monday and met with him this morning. He drew up the papers for me, and sent copies to Jack’s brother’s house. That’s the only address I’ve got. I might be wrong, but I assume that’s where Jack is staying. I’m glad I found an attorney right here in town. Everything should go faster working with a local attorney rather than one in the city. Oh, and by the way, I want to give you my spare key. I’m not going to leave one outside anymore. Jack knew where my hiding places were.”

“Good idea, sweetheart. Better safe than sorry. I’ll be happy when all of this negative stuff is behind you and we can tell everyone we’re a couple.”

“Me too, Aaron. I love you
and
your bar-be-cue chicken. Let’s eat already, I’m starving.”

***

Vic tossed and turned all night with excitement.
Damn it, I need to sleep! I can’t go to this wedding tomorrow with bags under my eyes.
She barely dozed, then finally got up at seven-thirty, irritated by her lack of sleep. She had a big day to get ready for. A strong pot of coffee brewed while she wrapped the wedding gift for her cousin.
Who wouldn’t want a back massager,
she thought, as she finished the box off with a large silver bow. At eight-thirty she called Tina. “Hey, girl, why don’t you and Sasha come over now? I’m going to need help with my hair and nails anyway, plus I’ll make breakfast. How about it, pleeease?”

“Sure, we’ll be over at nine. Out.”

Vic reclined on the couch with a pillow under her head and cucumber slices over her eyelids when someone banged on the door. “It’s open if you’re Tina and Sasha. Otherwise stay out,” she yelled from the couch.

The door opened and Sasha walked in with Tina right behind her carrying a satchel of hair and makeup products. “Check out Vic,” Sasha said, laughing. “That actually works. Models do it all the time when they party too late.”

Vic got up and welcomed her friends into the kitchen. “What do you guys want for breakfast?” she asked.

“I’ll have dry toast,” Sasha responded.

“The hell you will. Not in my house, chicky mama. We’re having pancakes with a lot of butter and maple syrup,” she said, as she smacked her butt. “I didn’t get this big ass from eating dry toast.”

“Fine. I’ll have one pancake. Can I help you cook?” Sasha asked.

“Of course, get over here. Have you ever been in a kitchen before?”

“Yes, smarty pants. Oh, and guess what? Somebody put an offer in on my apartment. How exciting, right?”

“That’s awesome, babe. It’ll be a riot helping you house hunt. Then, of course, we’ll hold a huge house warming party. Better start stocking up on the wine,” Vic said, winking at her new friend. Vic’s phone rang as she was flipping the pancakes. “Take over Sasha, I gotta see who wants me.”

“I’m afraid, Vic,” Sasha whined, almost in a panic.

“Let me do it. Remind me to teach you how to cook when we get home,” Tina said.

“Thanks, Tina.”

“Hey, Vic, how’s it going?” Max asked.

“I’m awesome, of course,” she laughed.

“Yeah, I know you are. I have a slight problem.”

I bet his pants zipper is stuck, and he needs my assistance. I could only wish.
“That’s impossible, Max, you’re perfect.”

Max laughed at Vic’s quick wit and comebacks. She was a fun gal, and he liked her a lot.

“Anyway, here’s the deal. I have my Harley, which you’ve seen, and a pickup. Not the best options to take a beautiful woman, such as yourself, to a wedding in. Would it be too gauche if we took your car today? I have to bring my truck. I’ll end up with dead bugs on my clothes and teeth if I show up on my Harley. I’d love to take you out on my bike some other time though.”

“So we’re going out again? Is that what you’re saying, Mr. Cole?” she asked, coquettishly.

Max laughed out loud again. “Only if you want to, babe.”

“Of course I want to,” she replied, with a fist pump.

“Cool then. I’ll see you at twelve-thirty. Bye, hot stuff.”

“Bye, Max.” Vic hung up and danced around the kitchen while her friends laughed.

“Excited a little?” Tina teased.

“Oh yeah… oh yeah… oh yeah. You’ll understand when you see Max Adonis. I guaran-damn-tee it.”

The doorbell rang. “It has to be Karen,” they chimed in together, as Sasha ran to the door.

***

That’s strange
, Mia thought as she stood in the foyer staring at the key rack.
Where in the hell is my spare key? There’s no other place I would have put it. I’m positive it was hanging here.
Mia felt goose bumps forming on her arms even though it was perfectly comfortable indoors. She searched her purse, the house, her car. The spare key was nowhere to be found.
I’m not going crazy. It was here, I’m sure of it.
She continued searching for another thirty minutes before giving up.

She called Aaron at the camera store. “Hi honey, it’s me.”

“I hope so. I wouldn’t expect anyone else to call me honey,” Aaron joked. There was silence. “Mia? Is everything okay?”

“Aaron, I know the answer, but I’ll ask anyway. Did I already give you my spare house key?”

“No you didn’t.”

“That’s what I was afraid of. It’s missing.”

“How is that possible? You just changed the locks a week ago. Mia, you never misplace anything,” Aaron said.

“Yeah… and that’s what has me rattled. I had the new key fitted for every door in the house. I haven’t put the spare outside, not once, since they changed the locks. It’s been hanging on the key rack in the foyer since last Saturday. Now it’s gone.”

“Do you think one of the movers took it when they packed up Jack’s things?”

“I bet you’re right, but why? Those guys don’t know me from Adam. Why would they want my house key?”

“To steal things, honey. You’re going to have to change the locks again, and the sooner the better. You can’t risk it, Mia, not living alone like you do. Reggie is a good watch dog, but what if you aren’t home and someone sneaks in?”

“You’re right, damn it. That cost me three hundred bucks. I call the locksmith again. I hope they can just re-key the locks. Okay, I’ll let you get back to work. Thanks, honey.”

“Come over for dinner, Mia. Sounds like you’re a little stressed. I’ll be home by five-thirty.”

Chapter Three

Tina worked on Vic’s unruly hair, comb in hand, and a dozen bobby pins pinched between her lips. Sasha painted her nails, wearing lime green, cat-eyed readers, so she wouldn’t make any mistakes. The coral colored polish would look great with Vic’s olive skin and raven hair.

“Vic, am I’m doing a good job?” Sasha asked.

“Sure, hon, just make sure to keep the polish off my cuticles.”

“Maybe I can work at the salon doing mani-pedi’s,” Sasha suggested, enthusiastically.

“
Yeah
…
no.
Are you deranged, Sasha? You make more money in one hour of modeling than you would in a month of polishing someone’s nails. Anyway, Mia is going to start taking pictures of you for your portfolio and our advertising. Make sure your little fanny is at the salon on Tuesday so we can get started.”

“Okay, Vic. That sounds exciting. When can we start house hunting?”

“We’ll get together next weekend and start looking, okay?”

“Cool. You guys know the best areas anyway, even though Tarrytown isn’t very big.”

“That’s right, leave it to us. We won’t steer you wrong.” Vic glanced at the clock: 11:58 a.m. “Are you guys almost done? I have a dress to put on.”

“Yep, go ahead and get dressed, we’re finished,” Tina said.

Vic left for the bedroom. “No peeking. Wait until I come out.”

Tina, Karen and Sasha waited in the kitchen for Vic’s grand entrance. They gossiped while enjoying a fresh pot of coffee and cookies Karen found in the pantry. The clip clop of Vic’s heels sounded on the glistening hardwood floors as she neared the kitchen. They spun their chairs around to face her as she entered.

“Holy shit, Vic! Are you hot or what?” Tina squealed. She let out a long wolf whistle while Karen and Sasha gasped with their mouths gaping open.

“Do you really think I’m hot? Is my ass too big?” Vic asked, knowing the answer to both questions already.

“You look amazing. You’re even hotter than me,” Sasha said.

Vic pranced around the room pleading with Sasha to show her how to strut like a model on a catwalk. The girls were enjoying the moment when the doorbell rang.

“Shit, he’s here!” Vic yelped, almost in a panic.

“Yeah, he’s supposed to be, dummy. You should be happy he’s on time. Points for Max,” Karen said, as they gathered on the couch to watch him enter. “I wish I had a bag of popcorn.”

Vic took a deep breath and opened the front door. Max stood on the porch with a grin that almost reached his ears. He gave his own version of a wolf whistle as he looked her up and down. “Somebody get me the smelling salts before I pass out,” he joked. “What a beauty. Good God, I’m going to be the envy of everyone today.”

“Oh stop it,” Vic said, loving every word of his praise. “Come in already and meet my friends. Max, this is Karen, Tina and Sasha, my girls.”

“Hi, Max. We’ve heard so much about you from Vic. She can’t stop raving,” Tina said, just to embarrass Vic.

The three of them looked Max up and down, appreciating everything they saw. “Wow… Vic wasn’t kidding,” Sasha added, “you’re hot.”

“
Sasha, jeez! Can you please zip it?”

“Sorry, nice to meet you.”

“Well it’s nice to meet you too. I’m sure we’ll all be close friends soon,” Max said, with a positive nod. “What, no Mia?”

“Not today. Should we head out? You can drive my car, while I call out the directions. Lock up girls. See you later,” Vic looked back, grinned and blew air kisses to her friends.

“Wow, not bad… not bad at all,” Tina said, as she downed her cup of cold coffee. “Wanna go out to lunch? Karen, call Mia and see if she wants to meet us at Morey’s.”

A late lunch at Morey’s was just what they needed. Mia had something to run past the girls, and of course, they had to ooh and aah about Max. Mia sat at a bar table waiting for everyone to show up. She ordered two bottles of Merlot because she knew that’s what they’d be drinking anyway. Mia poured four glasses. The girls arrived and air kissed her when they reached the table.

“Why didn’t you come over to Vic’s house this morning?” Sasha asked. “That Max is way too gorgeous.”

Mia laughed. “You’re preaching to the choir, sister.”

“What does that mean?”

“Never mind, sit down. I have something to run by you guys. It’s kind of scary, but I want everyone’s individual opinions of what I should do.”

All eyes were on Mia, wine glasses suspended in mid-air.

“What?” Tina asked.

“Okay, so I changed all of my locks last Saturday morning, right?”

“Yes,” they agreed.

“What I didn’t tell any of you, was that Jack texted me, and called about eighty-five thousand times Friday night after the ordeal at the promotion party.”

“He did that to me too,” Sasha said, sounding worried.

“Same here,” Karen said, as she looked at each one of them.

“Well, shit! Why didn’t we tell each other?” Mia asked. “He actually threatened me in one text. Everything else, I deleted without reading or listening to. I didn’t want to focus on Jack or even hear his voice again. Now, my extra set of house keys are missing. They were hanging in the foyer. I was going to give them to Aaron instead of putting them outside. I went to grab them this morning, and they were gone.”

“I wonder if Jack had anything to do with it. So now what?” Tina asked.

“I’m not sure. Aaron thought it might be the movers that loaded Jack’s stuff in the truck. I guess that makes sense. They were in the house after all. How would Jack have gotten in? I thought that for a minute myself, but Aaron’s theory makes more sense. I guess I’ll have the locksmith come in and re-key the locks.”

“Or catch the thief in his tracks,” Tina suggested.

“How am I going to do that without risking my own safety?”

“That’s a great idea, Tina. Just hide a spy cam outside. They’ll never get their foot in the door because you have deadbolts and chain locks anyway. Why spend more money re-keying the locks? We can catch the person on camera and have their butt arrested. You can download the video app right to your phone. You don’t even need to be home to catch them,” Karen said.

“That idea sounds too scary to me. I’ll just call the locksmith. So, I wonder how Vic and Max will hit if off after spending an entire day together?”

“I don’t know, but man would I love to be in her shoes,” Tina said, to the point of almost drooling.

“You said it, sister. Max Cole is one hot hunk of manflesh,” Karen agreed.

“Did anyone take a picture of them together before they left?”

“I did,” Sasha said, triumphantly. She was the only one who had enough brain cells left after staring at Max, to snap a pic of them together.

“Well let’s see it.” The girls crowded around Sasha’s cell phone and hyperventilated over the picture. Max and Vic looked like they just stepped off a Vogue magazine cover. Mia’s heart did a little flutter as she looked at the snapshot.
What the hell was that?
There’s no way I’m going to let myself become jealous of Max and Vic. No way in hell.

***

Vic directed Max to the Pelham Bay Golf Course in the Bronx. The manicured gardens and lawns made a beautiful setting for the outdoor wedding planned today. The afternoon was sunny and 82 degrees.

“Just a head’s up, Max, my family is pretty crazy. There’s a lot of us, being Puerto Rican, and all. Plus we like to let loose and have fun. You do like to dance, don’t you?”

“I haven’t danced since I went to my junior prom in high school,” he said, with his sexy grin. “But something’s telling me I’m not going to have a choice, am I?”