Sunday morning
It was still early when Harge Aird left his house to go to the Country Club, to meet David Semco for a round of golf. He did not look forward to seeing David, who most certainly would have been informed by now about Carol’s public clash with Richard.
Starting his car, Harge admitted that he was still upset by the confrontation with Carol. During the more than ten years of their marriage they had rarely argued. Shocked, he realized that they had not only rowed last night, but also on Friday night. And he realized that both times their argument had been connected with the New York photographer, Therese Belivet.
Harge Aird loved his wife. As unconventional as their marriage was, he was still bound to her strong, intelligent personality, her beauty and wit. They were partners, working closely together to create the perfect public life they both needed for their careers. But most of all Carol was the mother of Rindy. From a young age Harge had known he was gay and had always assumed he would never have a child. But when Carol and he had started talking about their arrangement, she had brought up the issue of children.
“Have you ever thought about children?” Carol asked, her tone uncertain.
“I don’t know. It never occurred to me, for obvious reasons. Have you?”, he added.
“I have, but for the same obvious reasons it has never gone further than that.” She smiled, a melancholy smile.
They were both silent. A child would of course be the crown on their image as a loving, heterosexual couple, but they both resisted the thought to have a child only for that reason.
“Perhaps we can discuss this later.” Harge suggested. Carol nodded.
And they had. Two years into their marriage and after Harge’s sister Marjorie had given birth to twin girls they both adored, Harge tentatively brought up the issue again. They both admitted that their initial discussion had opened a new perspective, something they had long believed impossible. Next to that, their marriage of convenience had proved to be a pleasant and stable arrangement, based on friendship and respect.
Carol laughed, reaching over the table to take his hand. They were at a restaurant, having dinner together before one or both of them would have to leave for a meeting, as invariably happened.
“Why not?”
Surprised, he looked at their hands, entwined now, on the white linen.
“Are you certain?”
“I think we will be great parents.” She squeezed his hand, leaving him speechless.
After he had parked his car at the Club, Harge remained behind the wheel for a few minutes. He remembered the first time he had held Rindy in his arms and once again felt the total, unconditional love he had for his daughter. He knew Carol’s feelings equalled his.
Then, his thoughts returned to Therese Belivet. He had seen the way Carol had looked at her in the lobby of the Eccles Theatre. And he had seen Therese’s reaction to it. It bothered him. During their years together Carol had had several affairs, but he had never given them a second thought, seeing the detached way in which Carol handled them. But he knew her well enough by now, to know that this could be different. There had been a hunger in Carol’s eyes, a longing he had not seen in her before. Opening the door of his car he admitted he was relieved Therese Belivet would only be with them for a week. For he would never allow her to mess up the happy, well ordered life he had with Carol and Rindy.
___________________
Therese woke up to the buzzing of her phone. Checking the display, she recognized Dannie’s number.
“Dannie”, she croaked, after she had pressed the green button.
“ You up yet?” Dannie’s voice sounded far too cheerful at this early hour.
“No. And I don’t intend to.” She managed to sit up, propping some pillows behind her back. “How’s the party?”
“I’ve just stepped outside to escape one of my too cuddly aunts. But otherwise, just fine. I’m glad I came.”
Therese could hear music and the voices of some of the other wedding guests.
“How’s the job going?”
“Okay. The Airds are nice people and I get all the space I need.” She had no intention to tell him about Carol’s defensive attitude, the incident with Richard and most of all her confused feelings for her hostess. She would talk with him about that later, after she had made some sense of it all. On the other end of the line a female voice called in the background.
“Sorry, I gotta go. Mum needs me.” Dannie apologized. “You go back to sleep!”
Before Therese could answer he had already broken the connection. She put the phone back on the nightstand and got rid of some of the pillows. Lying down again, she pulled the duvet around her. She sighed, knowing it would be difficult to fall asleep again. Perhaps it was better to concentrate on the issues that were bothering her right now.
The incident with Richard had been awkward at first and disruptive after that. After the briefing at the beginning of the dinner, Richard had been following her around like a puppy. He had introduced her to several people, which was useful. But after a while she noticed that he sipped with great speed from a flask he kept hidden in the pocket of his tuxedo. When she found herself alone with him on the terrace she knew she was in trouble. Soon his hands were all over her. And he tried to kiss her when luckily Carol intervened.
With a jolt Therese remembered the anger in Carol’s voice, the fire in her eyes when she slapped Richard in the face. Most of all she remembered her warm hand on her shoulder, soothing her, trying to calm her after Richard’s unacceptable behaviour. She was still astounded by her own courage, touching the soft, light skin of Carol’s breast. Carol had closed her eyes and Therese had felt her shiver before she had turned away and had left her standing alone on the terrace. Surely Carol had felt something too?
Therese breathed hard, feeling how the thoughts of Carol filled her with arousal. This woman was getting under her skin. A married woman, and happily married, by the looks of it. “No way, Belivet", she whispered, “just hold on for a few days.” But she was unable to help herself and, closing her eyes, she let her hand roam and reach for the warm wetness that had gathered between her legs.