NATALIE’S POV.
It made a lot of difference, his being cool-headed at that moment when we went into the airport to see off Brandon. My thoughts were furtively going back to his face, all wrinkled in worry while he was leaving, and thought clung to how long he thought this time would last. It was heart-wrenching, soul-crushing hollow agony at the pit of the stomach. But deep down, I knew it had to be done for our sake.
I walked into the living room to meet Rebecca. Sprawled out, like it was an everyday thing for her to be doing so, she seemed to sit in some other way that which was upright and classy at the same time. Her eyes rose from the book they had trailed into, then she let fly her warm smile in my direction.
“Natalie honey,” she said, standing and coming over to me. “Glad to see you.”
“Rebecca, I had not anticipated your coming,” embracing her back, and though this was quite a formal relationship, there was something about her that made one feel comfortable.
She said to me, pulling a bit back to regard me squarely in the face, “Well, I figured I haven’t been around much lately, so I should make up for it. How about we spend the day together, just me and you? You do some mother-daughter stuff?”
Truth be told, at that point, that had really all come as a bit of a surprise to me. I nodded automatically. “That would be nice. I would like that.”
A smile was visibly replaced by a grin on Rebecca’s face. “That’s super! Well, I have a few ideas, maybe we can start off with a day at the spa. You really do need to be pampered.”
The ability to have just one day of stress-free lazing around in a spa would surely seem heavenly if one considers the recent ordeals over the last few days. Wow. “That is great, Rebecca. Thanks much.”
He shared with us some of Brandon’s stories back in the day-just how much he actually felt for Rebecca. But that feeling, ‘nice-overall-good for your self-esteem,’ in his mind, towards him, she could fake that very few times.
There was a deep tissue massage, facial, and nail treatment all going on simultaneously, so I was pretty renovated. And the thoughts wandered back to Brandon as the knot was kneaded out of me. It was really weird not having him around. As much as we were on and off, in between the lines, I realized I had grown used to him being around.
“Now come along. Let’s see if from this very parlor over here we can get our hair done with some makeup. Tonight there is a huge party that I want you to attend-an elite crowd, and I think it is just about high time that you started going to these functions as Brandon’s wife.”
I think a lump sat in my stomach and thumped a cocktail between expectation and dread. I’d been het up for parties; everybody had to at some point give up, and become a little tinny from disappointment in their Christmases. But nothing at all like what she was going on to suggest this was going to be. Still, I agreed-it was just part of my life now.
The salon was truly luxurious, and in no time, the stylists were up to making us look gorgeous. It was just a classic updo-very chic but not overdone. My makeup was very soft and natural yet enough to bring out my features.
They were taking me to all the high-end shops to buy some evening dresses; I would try on, and finally, I would make selections that would render my eyes full of entertainment.
It was deep emerald silk, sweet-hearted enough at the top to knee a hint but not so much exposed in a way that is considered indecent. The bodice fit so close you could make out almost every inch of my overly curvaceous body.
It started to flare out a little at the base of my ribcage and then went on down to billow, giving it that definitely out-of-this-world feel. Down at the waistline, tiny beads flashed in all the lights, twinkling with every movement I made.
“Absolutely beautiful, Natalie.”
I had to smile again before thoughts of Brandon not being here now and seeing me like this lasted less than half a second. Jerking back to the evening ahead, I answered quickly.
Indeed, open all doors and indulge in the chandelier-graced, marble-floored opulence of one of those estates smelling of old money and power. You could at least see Rebecca and me scan around, checking there were some of those same upper-class faces the second we walked onto the scene.
With all the hubbub and bustle, though, it wasn’t long before Rebecca, pride ringing in her voice and with her at my elbow, began to introduce me to every small person we passed.
After I had done bellowing into them the news of our victory, I said that I would like a drink. As I elbowed my way to the bar through the crush, I became aware of a familiar figure beside me.
“Natalie.”
I turned, and there he was: still just as devastatingly handsome, Robin. He had been immaculately turned out in a slick, molded-to-him black suit. His eyes still sparkled with that friendly sheen that seemed obvious to me since childhood, but if I squinted, there was something else now, something that seemed to tip my balance.
“Hi, Robin,” I said as neutrally as possible.
He smiled, but his eyes said nothing of the sort. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
Yeah, I nodded. Not like there was any need to say. Silence hung between us, cases that I needed to catch, and my mind fetched the wish of Brandon being there.
“How are you doing?” he asked, bending a little bit toward me. Maybe it was the familiarity in those eyes, or the way he looked at me, reminding me of times bygone.
“I have been good,” I answered, sipping my drink once more, which helped me in thinking. “And you?”
“Not much, same”, he said, his voice, however, betrayed his hypocrisy. “Natalie, I have missed you. It didn’t seem normal without you the way it was before.”
And again he suggested something, and I understood Robin well enough to know that he didn’t mean our friendship.
“And I’ve missed our friendship,” I said, probably laying on no small part of that word, ‘friendship,’ a bit thick.
He turned this into a pout, and then she suddenly tried to cover it up, saying, “I was just hoping the two of us could spend some time together, you know? Just like old times.”
“Sure.”
“I’ll text you later then.”
“Okay.” I nodded.
He used to be one of my biggest supporters, so I felt guilty for cutting me off. Maybe I could continue our friendship and stop things from being awkward between us.