Native Affairs (75 page)

The radio blared Christmas carols as Ann bathed and dressed in what she still thought of as Heath’s bedroom. Heath was generous with money if not with himself, and Ann just charged anything she wanted, discovering quickly that she didn’t want much. Heath had told her to buy an outfit for this occasion and she had settled on an evening pantsuit of blond silk, with a tunic top embroidered at the sleeve cuffs with gold sequins. It was elegant and understated, just what she wanted. She was fixing gold studs to her ears when the intercom buzzed. Ann leaned over to flick the switch and said, “What is it?”

“You have a visitor, Mrs. Bodine,” Daniela’s voice replied.

“Now? Who is it?”

“A Miss Horton.”

“Amy? For heaven’s sake, send her in!”

Seconds later Amy burst through the door, her arms loaded with gaily wrapped packages, her face split by a huge grin.

“Surprise!” she said, and threw her bundles in a colored jumble onto the bed.

Ann hugged her friend and said, “Am I glad to see you! I’m facing this shindig tonight and I could sure use an ally. But I thought you weren’t coming.”

“I changed my mind. I broke up with Graham and I found myself with a free night, thought you wouldn’t mind if I just sort of turned up for the festivities.”

“How could I mind, you’re a lifesaver. You’ll be the only person at this party not connected to Heath’s business, which is reason enough to welcome you with open arms.”

“It looks like they’re cooking up quite a soiree out there. The house looks beautiful and so do you.”

“Thanks.”

“Where is Himself?”

“Not home yet.”

Amy sat on the edge of the bed and unbuttoned the light sweater she was wearing. “How is it going with him?”

A shadow crossed Ann’s face and she shook her head without comment.

“But you love him, don’t you?” Amy asked.

Ann looked away, then nodded.

“Any hope?”

“I doubt it. He’s just going to play this revenge game until he gets tired of me, but I think I can keep it going long enough to at least get Tim out of trouble. Heath enjoys displaying me as his wife, having me act as his hostess—Henry Talbot’s daughter on the arm of the self-made man. That’s very important to him but I’m sure the novelty of it will pale with time.”

“Then what happens to you?”

“I get discarded, like the first wives of most millionaires who move on I suppose.”

“It sounds like a raw deal for you.”

“It’s not so bad, except...”

“Except what?”

“Except that I do love him,” Ann said, biting her lip, her eyes stinging with tears. “It’s so hard being around him all the time, having him look through me as if I were a pane of glass. He gives me everything, just not what I really want. Him.”

“How’s the sex?”

Ann smiled wanly. “Come on, Amy. You know that’s not the problem.”

“I didn’t think it was. So, what’s the plan? What are you going to do?”

“Stick it out. I have no choice.”

“Well for tonight at least, I’m here to help you. I brought along a nifty little dress that should liven things up quite a bit once I slip into it. What time are the guests arriving?”

“Eight.”

“I’d better step lively then. Where’s the john?”

Ann pointed and Amy disappeared inside the bathroom, emerging ten minutes later in a spangled black mini sheath and
peau de soie
T-strap shoes.

“What do you think?” she said to Ann, posing with one hand on her hip.

“You’re a show stopper.”

“Exactly the effect I’m trying to achieve. Darling, I hate to be a bore, but I drove three hours to get here and I’m starving. Do you think I could slip into the kitchen for a little something? Otherwise I will be drinking on an empty stomach, which is never a good idea in my case. They never serve anything to eat at these things until everybody is plastered.”

“Go ahead. I’ll call Daniela and tell her to make you a sandwich, okay?”

“Okay.”

Amy had just left when Heath walked into the bedroom, putting down his briefcase and pulling his tie loose from its knot. He surveyed her in silence.

“Is this outfit all right?” Ann inquired, indicating her new clothes.

“Fine.”

“How does the house look?”

“Looks good.”

“Did you see the buffet table?”

“I saw it.”

Ann gave up. “Amy is here,” she said resignedly.

“I saw her in the kitchen on the way in. I didn’t know that you had invited her.”

“Do you mind?”

He shrugged.

“She’s not an employee of Bimini Boat Works,” Ann said dryly, fastening a gold bracelet around her wrist.

“I never said that you couldn’t have your friends here,” he replied, taking off his jacket.

“No, Heath, you never said that,” Ann agreed, running a brush through her hair.

He turned and faced her. “You really think I’m a bully, don’t you?” he said quietly.

Ann didn’t answer.

He unbuttoned his shirt and tossed it onto the bed. “I’m not a bully, Princess. I just have a long memory.” He went into the bathroom and turned on the shower.

Ann heard the doorbell and realized that the first guests were arriving. She put down the hairbrush and went out of the bedroom to fulfill her role.

* * * *

Several hours later, she was in the kitchen slicing a lemon when Amy sidled in behind her.

“Isn’t the caterer supposed to do that?” Amy asked.

“They ran out of lemons.”

“The party is a smash. You’re a hit.”

Ann nodded.

“You don’t seem very happy about it.”

Out on the terrace, the three-piece band switched from “Winter Wonderland” to “White Christmas.”

“No word from your lord and master about what a wonderful job you did?” Amy said.

“No.”

“He’s a jerk, Ann.”

“I guess he just regards my doing this as part of our deal. I didn’t actually cook the food or serve it, anyway. I just hired a bunch of people.”

“You’ve got, what, a hundred people out there? Just coordinating the whole event was a task. Doesn’t he know you were trying to please him?”
 

“I can’t imagine what he thinks. His mind is a closed book.” She sighed. “I used to know him so well.”

“Well, one thing hasn’t changed. He’s still the most gorgeous man I’ve ever seen. He makes every other guy at this party look three days dead.”

“That aspect of it doesn’t exactly help, Amy. It only makes me want him more and he’s very good at keeping me at a comfortable distance.”

“Comfortable for him.”

“Yes.”

“Working all the time?” Amy said.

“Yes.”

“Noncommittal when he’s at home?”

“You got it.”

“He sounds just like your father.”

Ann shuddered. “That would be the supreme irony, wouldn’t it?” she said sadly.

The sliding door to the terrace opened and Joan Jensen stepped through it.

“Hi, sweetie,” she said to Ann, and smiled at Amy. “Everybody is having a great time, including my husband. He doesn’t quite have a lampshade on his head yet but he’s getting there.”

“I’ll just go check on those canapes,” Amy said, raising her brows, and Ann nodded. Amy slipped out of the room.

“Heath must be very pleased,” Joan said brightly.

“I imagine so.”

“He hasn’t said anything?”

“Well, he’s been very busy. He’s the host, after all. I’ve hardly seen him.”

Joan looked around quickly and then stepped into the hall, scanning the immediate area. Then she rejoined Ann, leaning in close to her and saying, “What’s going on, Ann?”

Ann looked at her.

“Don’t give me that innocent face,” Joan said kindly. “I’ve been watching you and Heath for almost a month. You’re both drawn, tense and unhappy. You look thinner every day and Heath is snapping at Joe if my husband looks at him cross eyed. You’re not exactly the picture of blissful newlyweds. What gives?”

Ann looked away from her.

“I thought something was wrong at your wedding but Joe dismissed it. Now even he is beginning to wonder. Why did you marry Heath, Ann?”

Ann sighed wearily. “You remember us when we were kids, right, Joan?”

“How could I forget? I never saw two people more in love. Joe and I were just thrilled when the two of you got back together, that’s why I can’t understand this situation now. You’ve been given a second chance, why aren’t you taking advantage of it?”

“It’s a long story. What has Heath told you?”

“Nothing. He just called Joe one day and asked us to witness your wedding.”

“Then let’s keep it that way.”

Joan stood aside as Ann slid the tray of lemons into the refrigerator. When Ann turned back to her, the older woman was watching her with concern.

Ann smiled. “I’m all right, Joan. Really.”

Joan shook her head. She was a little plumper, a little grayer, than when Ann had first met her so many years ago, but her air of enveloping kindness was the same.

“I don’t know if this helps you but Heath really does have a good heart,” Joan said.

Ann nodded.

“I mean it. The first thing he did when he came into that money was call Joe and offer him a job in management in the company he was forming. Management! Joe never even graduated from high school. And when Joe couldn’t sell the marina, it was the middle of the recession, you know, Heath bought it himself at a loss. He’s been a wonderful friend to us, Ann.”

“Heath was always grateful that Joe gave him a job when he needed one,” Ann murmured.

“He’s very loyal.”

To everyone except me, Ann thought.

As if he had been summoned, Joe appeared and said, “What are you two hens clucking about in here? Everybody is dancing out on the terrace.”

“I’m coming,” Joan said, and put her hand on Ann’s arm. “If you ever need to talk...” she said in a low tone.

Ann nodded. She waited until the Jensens had left and then walked around to the front of the house, nodding at the people she encountered along the way. The party was concentrated at the back of the house and she found herself alone at the front door, the sounds of music and laughter drifting toward her faintly through the rooms.

Ann opened the door and walked out onto the flagstone path, wrapping her arms around her torso. The night was cool for December in south Florida, in the high fifties, but it felt refreshing by comparison with the house, which was warm from collected body heat. Ann looked at the lights Victor had strung in the trees, the floodlit wreath hanging under the point of the garage roof, then gazed up at the stars, thinking about Christmases from her childhood. It was a minute or so before she realized that she was not alone.

She turned to find a young woman standing behind her, smoking a cigarette.

“So you’re the wife, huh?” the smoker said.

“I... uh, yes,” Ann replied, startled.

The woman switched her cigarette to her left hand and extended her right hand. “Stacy Barcroft,” she said.

“How do you do?” Ann said, shaking hands with her.

“I’m doing just fine. I just came out here to grab a smoke. I didn’t see any ashtrays inside so I figured I’d better not light up in the house.”

“There are ashtrays in the pool room.”

“Segregating the smokers, huh? That’s okay, I’m used to it. We’re the new persecuted minority. Actually I don’t mind going outside, it gives me a chance to catch a breath of air. It’s getting pretty close in there.”

“I just told Victor to turn on the air-freshening system in the house.”

“Good idea.” Stacy inhaled deeply, the tip of her cigarette glowing, then exhaled a plume of grayish smoke that danced on the cool night air. She stepped into the light from the windows and Ann saw that she was a petite brunette wearing a stylish red evening suit with black velvet trim.

“Do you work for Bimini in Miami?” Ann asked. “I remember your name from the guest list.”

“No, I’m an architect. I designed the Miami marina, and I have been called in on a few other independent projects. I also dated Heath for a while.”

“Oh.”

“Don’t get nervous; I gave up on him real quick. His body was present but it was clear his mind was always elsewhere, you know what I mean?”

Ann didn’t reply. She knew.

“So you arrived out of the past, right? High school sweetheart or something like that?”

“Something like that.”

“I suppose you know that women have been jumping off buildings all over south Florida since the day you got married.”

Ann smiled thinly. “No, I didn’t know that.”

“It’s a fact. Mr. Eligible decamps with a mystery woman from his student days? It caused quite a stir.”