Getting sexy: Obsession / Getting Some / Getting Even

“…fucking son of a bitch,” a woman is saying as we enter. She’s passing Kleenex to another well-dressed woman, who is also crying.

Drama. There’s always drama in women’s bathrooms.

I lead Annelise to a sofa on the opposite side of the bathroom’s sitting area. “Tell me everything,” I say in a hushed tone.

“I don’t…” Her eyes sweep the bathroom. “I don’t want to talk about it here.”

“Is it serious?” I continue. I hate seeing my friend like this. “That’s what I want to know.”

“It’s just…I was supposed to do a wedding in the morning. But the woman called and canceled when I was already at the church. Said she found her boyfriend making out with a stripper at the bachelor party and she ended things.”

“And you’re this upset about it several hours later?”

“No…I also had a fight with Charles. But I think we’ll be okay,” she adds bravely.

I wrap an arm around her as we sit. When the two other women in the lounge area get up and leave, I immediately ask, “What do you mean you think we’ll be okay. You just had a fight, right? Nothing serious.”

Fresh tears fill Annelise’s eyes. For a moment, she can’t even speak.

“Oh, no.” I shake my head. “Annie, no.”

“He said I’m driving a stake into our marriage, that I’m pushing him away.”

“What?”

“Me—the one who’s always there for him. Always washing his clothes, making sure even his briefs are neatly pressed.”

“You’ve been nothing but a great wife to him.”

“According to him, because I’m doing everything I can to get him in the mood, I’m putting too much pressure on him.” Annelise pauses to blow her nose. Gone are the tears, replaced with a look of defiance. “You know what got him so pissed? That I booked a weekend away for us at that retreat in Arizona. Earlier this week, he told me he’d take some time off. Then I tell him I tentatively booked something for next weekend, and he got upset.”

“Come on.”

“I’m serious. I’m trying to save our marriage, and he got upset. Told me that he’s knee deep in work with the lawsuit, and yeah, I know he is. But he’s got to be able to book some time off, can’t he? He’s not the only one working on that case. Marsha Hindenberg can pick up the slack for one day, can’t she?”

“I agree.” I rub Annelise’s back. “I don’t know what’s wrong with him.”

“And it’s not just that. On Tuesday, I made reservations for dinner at his favorite restaurant. I’d called him earlier and he sounded excited about going out. But you know what—he never even made it home. He called from the airport to say he had to go out of town for a couple days.”

“Why didn’t you call me?”

“I’m so embarrassed about all of this. Is this my husband or a stranger? I don’t know anymore.”

“You’ll get past this. I know you will.”

“What if we don’t? What if he leaves me?”

“No. Oh my God, no. Listen, there were many times my father left my mother waiting after promising he’d be home at a certain time. Charles has a high-profile career. He’s working on a high-profile case.”

“Then why did he say I’m pushing him away?”

“Couples have arguments like that all the time. Say things they don’t mean.”

“I hope you’re right.”

“I am. Annie, you had an argument. That’s all.”

Annelise seems to consider my words but doesn’t comment. Instead, she gets to her feet and straightens her buttercup-yellow gown. It looks fantastic on her, highlighting her blond hair.

“We’d better get back out there,” she says.

“You’re okay?”

“I’m fine,” she assures me, and thankfully, she does seem fine. “Let me freshen up my makeup, and I’ll be good to go.”

We both spend a couple minutes retouching face powder and lipstick, then we head out the door.

I bump right into someone entering, and offer a quick apology before I see who it is. It’s Arlene Nash, and unlike me, she doesn’t offer an apology. Instead, she gives me the quick once-over, checking out my gown. Her lips turn ever so slightly in a barely noticeable frown.

“Arlene,” I say. I have to admit she looks gorgeous in a form-fitting black gown. I saw the same gown at Fendi and almost bought it myself.

She forces a smile. “How nice to see you, Claudia. How are the wedding plans going?”

“It’s going to be the event of the season.” I can’t help boasting a little. I’ve often heard rumors that Arlene is interested in Adam. When I started dating him, she stopped inviting me to events.

“I can’t wait,” she says, but I don’t believe her.

Arlene continues into the bathroom, followed by a woman I don’t recognize.

“Whoa,” Annelise comments. “She’s a royal bitch, isn’t she?”

“You’ve met her only once and you figured that out.”

“I’m guessing there’s a story there.”

“Yeah, but I won’t bore you with it. Let’s find Charles.”

There’s something electric about Adam when he speaks. Something captivating. He has the power to mesmerize people, make them stop whatever they’re doing and listen to him, just as they are now.

And he’s so natural when he’s speaking before a crowd. It’s obvious to me and anyone who knows him that he should be in the public arena.

“The mother came to me in tears, and told me that the vacation to the Turks and Caicos brought a smile to her son’s face that she hadn’t seen since he’d first become ill. For the first time in a year and a half, he was able to be a child. To laugh and have fun without worry about treatments.” Adam pauses as his eyes move over the crowd. “That, ladies and gentlemen, is why I do what I do. It’s important work. The most important work.” There are nods and hums of agreement. “I thank each and every one of you for coming out tonight to support this great cause. With your help, we’ll make every child in need’s dream come true in Georgia!”

The crowd erupts in applause. I smile at Adam with admiration. He raises a hand in a wave to everyone, then, as the applause dies, makes his way off the stage.

I wrap my arms around him. “That was a great speech, Adam. You knock ’em dead every time.”

“Thank you, babe.”