Society Wives (34 page)

With so much going on around her, she craved a drink. If she could just have one, it would help mellow her out just a little. Pearson had kept her smile all through the ensuing chaos, but the more that came her way, the more she wanted to crawl into a corner with a bottle of scotch. Right now, a single glass of wine would help settle her nerves.

“Babe.” Pearson jerked at the sound of Niles' voice. “Sorry. I didn't mean to startle you. I just wanted to let you know that we worked everything out. They'll be ready to start whenever you are.”

Pearson sighed. “That's great. I was starting to get a little anxious.”

“I'm here.”

Pearson took that to mean that he was there for her both literally and figuratively. She didn't need a drink. She had Niles. Pearson looked toward where her mother sat. She had Candice too, if just for a while longer.

“My man, my man!” Anderson greeted Niles with a hug. Giving Pearson a quick once over and approving nod, he smiled and greeted her as well. “Looking lovely as always.”

“So glad you're finally here, Anderson. You scared me for a minute. I have a few things I want to run over with you before we get you up on the podium. Excuse me, Babe,” Pearson said to Niles and led Anderson away. She wanted to ask about Ryan, but kept her mouth shut.

As they snaked their way through the crowded reception, Pearson thought about the fact that she had seen everyone, but Ryan, Vonnie and Mike. Based on her conversation earlier that day, she knew that there was a good chance that Vonnie and Mike wouldn't show up, but she remained hopeful. She was serious about them coming without having tickets. She was also very serious about remaining friends with Vonnie after they moved.

Within the next few minutes the Maître d announced the event would be moving into the banquet hall. Once all the guests were settled, Pearson took to the podium, offering up a moving speech about pulling the event together despite so many unanticipated occurrences in both her professional and personal life. She credited Niles, her mother, her diligent staff and the young women the organization supported for being her motivation to help her get through it all. Trying her best not to shed tears in front of her three hundred guests, she introduced Anderson, reading his bio and highlighting his most well-known films to date. The sophisticated crowd stood to their feet as he made his way to the podium. A few cat calls rang out as he stepped up, looking especially handsome in his well-fitting tuxedo.

Anderson graciously smiled, nodded and gestured for the guests to be seated. Pearson followed his line of sight and noticed Ryan seated at the table with Niles. She was happy to see that she showed up, but wished things could have turned out different for them. Vonnie and Mike were still missing.

Pearson focused her attention back on Anderson, who was effortlessly stealing the hearts of the audience. She was glad she'd asked him to be her emcee. She knew he was a great actor, but she hadn't realized just how charming he would be in this capacity. She considered the crowd captured.

Once the young girls from this year's program got up to tell their stories and talk about how the foundation impacted their lives, she was sure her guests would be impressed and be more than happy to write big checks to help G-Day continue their work.

Movement at the head table caught Pearson's attention. She peeled her eyes away from Anderson's speech and was elated to see Vonnie and Mike taking a seat with the rest of the crew. She looked over and Vonnie winked and threw her an air kiss. Everyone whom she considered essential in her life was in attendance on the most important night of the year for her.

Once the program was over and dinner was served, the electric slide, followed by a series of other popular line dances got the party started. Guests kept the dance floor filled as the band played a dynamic mix of pop, jazz and R&B from hits from the sixties to the best of what was currently gracing the airwaves.

Pearson was pleased with the outcome and enjoyed watching everyone have a great time. She also saw that Ryan and Anderson barely spoke, but she did appreciate the new air of confidence that Ryan seemed to wear.

Getting back to business, she walked around to see how the silent auctions were going. Her assistant had found the missing folders with the vendor's checks and Pearson's relief washed away her anxiety. The bids for the fur coat that Nadalia had designed and donated had reached upwards of fifteen thousand dollars. All the other bids were also going well. Pearson beamed and discretely prided herself for getting through this without a drink.

Niles had really stepped up to be by her side and help her get through, showing firm patience during the times she became weak and gave in. His love and support helped her overcome until she got to a point where she refused to take a drink for both her sake and his. She didn't want to disappoint him.

Thinking about Niles, Pearson went searching for him, spotting him at the table chatting with her mom.

“May I have this dance?” she asked, holding her hand out to him.

Niles looked at her mother and stretched his eyes. “What do you think?” he asked jokingly.

Candice pretended to think about it for a while. Pearson pursed her lips and put her hands on her hips.

Candice laughed. “Go ahead. She's kind of cute. I heard she put this whole thing together. She's probably pretty smart too.”

“Brains and beauty,” Niles said and nodded his approval.

Pearson took him by the hand and led him to the dance floor.

“I'm proud of you,” Niles whispered in her ear as they swayed to one of his old favorites by Nina Simone.

“I couldn't have done it without you, so thank you.”

Pearson closed her eyes and snuggled into Niles' shoulder, letting herself be taken away in the comfort of his arms. When Pearson looked up, she saw Nadalia heading out. Sage was still seated at the table with Candice.

“Excuse me a moment, babe.”

Niles kissed her forehead before releasing her. Pearson ran through the swaying bodies and pushed through a few chairs trying to get to Nadalia.

“Nadalia! Wait!” Pearson could have sworn Nadalia started walking faster after hearing her call her name. She gestured for a gentleman to get Nadalia's attention and she continued running in her direction.

Nadalia turned back, following the man's finger as he pointed. Pearson thought she saw her sigh. Nearly out of breath, Pearson caught up with her just as she was about to exit the venue.

“You're leaving already? Where's Sage?”

“Yeah.” Nadalia didn't bother responding to Pearson's second question.

“Wait.” Pearson took Nadalia down a quiet corridor where the two of them could be alone. “I just wanted to make sure you were alright.”

Nadalia tilted her head and smiled. “I'm fine.”

Pearson pulled Nadalia into an embrace. “You call me for anything, you hear me?”

Nadalia nodded and hugged Pearson again.

“You better keep in touch. I don't want to lose you as a friend,” Pearson said. “Who would I have to bicker with?”

Nadalia chuckled.

“I love you,” Pearson said.

The declaration seemed to put Nadalia on pause. She closed her eyes and nodded before saying, “Believe it or not, I love you, too.”

They embraced one last time before Pearson followed Nadalia to the exit, then watched her leave. She was so caught up with what Nadalia had just revealed, she never heard Niles call her name.

“Pearse! Babe! Come on!”

“Huh? What?” Pearson turned and stopped short, alarmed by the look on Niles' face. “What's going on?”

“It's your mother.”

Niles took her hand and they ran back through the hall. People cleared the way as they passed by. Gripped by fear, Pearson's breathing struggled past the sudden lump in her throat.

Inside, a small crowd gathered around the table where her mother and friends sat. Pearson quickened her pace, pushing through the guests.

Candice lay on the floor, wearily lolling her head from side to side. Several people were around her, fanning her while Vonnie held her head in her lap.

“I need a towel. Get me a glass of water for her,” she ordered. “Please back up a little people. Give her some air.”

“Oh my goodness. Ma! What happened?” she asked frantically to no one in particular as she fell to her knees beside Candice.

Sage handed Vonnie the glass of water.

“I need you to try and take a sip for me. Okay?” Vonnie said to Candice in a cajoling voice.

Candice tried, but her head lolled and fell back into Vonnie's lap.

“Ma! Drink the water!” Pearson felt her own chest become tight. “Ma!” she cried out. “Please drink it. Please!” Holding her hand behind her head, Pearson tried to lift her up enough to get a good angle. Vonnie put the glass to her mouth, but Candice was too weak to drink. She laid her head back and let it fall to the side. “No! Mommy, please!” Pearson could no longer control her emotions and the cry that she released shook her entire body.

Pearson felt strong arms lifting her and at first thought it was Niles. Sage helped her to her feet and sat her in a chair.

“Thanks, man,” Niles said and hugged Sage before lowering himself beside Pearson. “It's going to be alright, babe. An ambulance is on its way.” Niles rested her head on his chest and caressed her back.

All Pearson could think of was that she wasn't ready for her mother to die.

Chapter 52

Three months later…

Pearson looked around at the few people left in her mother's home after the repast. The ones who were here now were the same ones who had been by her side for the past few months as she witnessed her mother wither away. Candice went out like a true diva, keeping her spirits up until the day she passed.

Dressed in all white, because she insisted on making an impressive entrance to the party going on upstairs, and adorned with her favorite jewels, Candice looked as glamorous and regal as she had in life. Pearson followed her instructions to the letter, ensuring that her ‘going home celebration' would turn out exactly as Candice wanted it to. The intimate, but elegant ceremony seemed more like a celebratory gathering than a funeral, with no one in black—per Candice's instructions.

Pearson turned to face the person who had touched her shoulder. With glistening eyes, Walter hugged her one last time and let her know that he'd be heading home for the night.

“Call me if you need anything at all.”

“I will,” she said, squeezing his hand before letting it go. The sadness in his eyes made her heart break into a billion pieces all over again. “Thank you for being so good to my mother.”

Walter smiled and lowered his head for a moment. “She was a wonderful person. Most people just didn't understand her like I did.”

Pearson smiled because she finally came to understand the woman her mother was, too.

“I'm going to miss her,” Walter said shaking his head.

“Me, too.”

Walter took her hands into his and gave them a gentle squeeze before turning to leave.

“Don't be a stranger,” Pearson called out to him.

Walter turned, winked, straightened his back and proceeded out the front door.

“Pearson, honey,” Vonnie whispered.

“What's up?”

“The girls and I cleaned up the kitchen and packed up all the food. We left everything on the counter. If you want, we can have the men carry the pans to the car.”

“Thanks, Vonnie. Don't worry about it, Niles and I can manage.” Then, she added, “Don't you have a big day tomorrow? You better get home and get your beauty sleep.”

“Girl, I'll be just fine.”

“I'm so happy for you. We're going to have a Dr. Oz party in the conference room at the office so we can see you on the show. We're going to have popcorn and everything.”

“You're kidding!”

“No, I'm not. I told them they all have to watch my friend on TV.”

Vonnie laughed. “Aww Pearson. Thank you. Everything has been happening so fast. I keep getting calls for interviews. The other day, I got a call from a publisher talking about helping me write a book about the childhood obesity program that I started with my patients.”

“You didn't tell me that!”

“After everything happened, the last thing I was going to do was call you about that. It seemed so trivial after…well you know,” Vonnie said.

“What's going on over here?” Ryan interjected, rubbing her belly. At six months, the small baby bump made her look like she'd swallowed a soccer ball.

“I was just talking to the famous doctor about her television appearance tomorrow.”

“Oh yes! I forgot.” Ryan clapped. “Are you nervous?”

“Not really. I could talk about this stuff all day. I was a fat kid myself.”

“Vonnie!” Ryan scolded.

“What's going down in this corner? Are you conspiring about something?” Nadalia joined the ladies in conversation.

“Who us?” Pearson feigned innocence.

“You're the main one!” Nadalia teased.

“I've turned several new leaves!”

“Yeah, right,” Nadalia said.

All the girls laughed.

“Okay, I'm heading out.” Vonnie gave hugs and kisses all around. “Like you said Pearson, I need to get my beauty rest so I can look good for the camera.”

“How about I come with you so I can sit next to you? That will make you look even better and get me closer to that handsome Dr. Oz. Ha!” Nadalia snickered.

“If I don't get to him first! Who cares if I'm pregnant?” Ryan said and they all burst out laughing.

“Ladies, don't forget, when we meet for dinner this Friday, we need to figure out where we're going for our ladies getaway,” Vonnie reminded them.

“Oh, yes! Let's lock in some dates. I want to go sometime soon,” Nadalia said and then looked at Ryan. “Aw dang. I forgot about Mrs. Baby on Board over here.”