9. The Good Wife
9 THE GOOD WIFE
Six years later…
Daphne
“Daphne, why aren’t you dressed?” Chandler laughed. “Darling, we’re pressed for time.”
“I know,” I reeled from the realization as he pulled on his watch.
“Well, as much as I’d love to throw you on the bed like that and have my way with you, I don’t think it would be advisable given what I assume you just spent on your hair.”
I self-consciously pulled on a silk robe and stared at myself in my wardrobe cabinet mirror, covering the longline bra and high-waisted underwear required under my evening gown. I met his gaze as he adjusted his tie. He looked ready for a party as I should have been, but I’d been staring at myself for the past twenty minutes wondering how to say what I needed to. And I wasn’t sure how he’d react. His smile faded. I pulled my robe closer and spun to face him.
“So, don’t freak out. I know with leadership elections… it’s not the best time?—”
“Daphne, we’re really running late?—”
I took his hands in mine. “I know. And I know you said no surprises, no changes, no nothing, but, Chandler, I’m… I did something and…”
My voice faded as I stared at him.
Just do it, Daphne!
“I forgot one of my small bags at home,” I said. “In London, I mean. And it wasn’t a problem until… now. It has some important things.”
“What is so important you forgot it?” Chandler groaned.
“Well, my diamond studs and?—”
“Daphne, you really cannot keep your head attached, can you?”
He threw his hands around, wildly.
“Well, that’s not what I’m most concerned about, Chandler. It also had my pills in it. So, without them… if you want to… well, we are in a bit of a pickle.”
“Are you saying what I think you are?”
I tread softly. “I’m saying if you want to have sex, you’re either buying some condoms on the way to the party or we’re just diving right in.”
He threw his hands up and I winced.
“Daphne, I am not about to hit you,” Chandler chuckled. “I know I said no changes, but it’s wonderful news! Yes. I want that. Why were you so worried?”
“Because I thought you’d…”
I didn’t finish the statement. Focusing on past squabbles and Chandler’s tumultuous temper around elections wasn’t helpful. This was progress. He beamed. I’d finally made him so happy. He kissed me the way he had when we first got together—sweetly, deferentially. I felt loved up for the first time in weeks.
Mum knocked. “Daphne, we are leaving. Are you dressed?”
“Just wrapping up, Lady Danna,” Chandler answered. “I distracted her a bit.”
“Fine,” Mum’s footsteps disappeared down the hall.
“This is the best news, Daphne. The best news.”
“I’m scared,” I fought tears. “I don’t know what will happen or if I will ever be ready.”
He cupped my face, rubbing my cheeks with his thumbs lovingly. “You will be a wonderful mother. And then you can quit your job for a bit and focus on that. Won’t that be a relief?”
I dropped my gaze and cleared my throat. “Yeah. Of course. Uh… I need to get in that dress before Mum burns the house down.”
Chandler took the dress from the wardrobe and carefully pulled the hanger. “Your mother is like a drill sergeant.”
“I know,” I sighed. “Some things never change.”
* * *
Cal
“Kristy, I have to go. This is a critical?—”
“You have to go or you just don’t want David’s rich friends to be offended?” My girlfriend, Kristy, demanded.
I shook my head and leaned on the doorframe of my condo’s bathroom, trying not to lose my cool. She was beautiful, but I’d somehow set her off. I had the worst timing.
“Kristy, baby, you know that I am showing up because it’s Dora’s sweet sixteen. It’s a big deal. Everyone is going.”
She threw down her toothpaste on the vanity in annoyance and began applying her makeup aggressively. “Don’t look at me like that!”
“What?”
“With puppy dog eyes!” She waved a makeup brush at me before bending over to apply something to her brows, inching closer to the mirror. “It’s a black-tie event for a teenager.”
“Kristy, David is your boss?—”
“Yes, well, I’m just the help. You are the one he wants there.”
“Kristy, I do not have time to fight about this?—”
“Just admit it. Ever since Eric Stevenson came up to you and suggested you should run for mayor; you’ve been lining up endorsements. Cal Markham has once more moved his own goalpost.”
“Kristy, we don’t?—”
“We don’t what? Cal, I’ve stood in the background watching you win awards and make money and accomplish all your dreams.”
Ever since I confided in her about our local kingmaker’s interest in running me as a reform candidate, she never let it go. Kristy didn’t understand that none of this was set in stone.
“And that means so much to me, baby. God, you’re my rock!” I said. “I am not going to do anything to?—”
“I want to build my own business, live a life I am proud of, and answer to no one, Cal. I do not want to be a politician’s wife. You know just how much I hate stuffy society parties. I’m not doing this for the company. I’m doing it for you. I’m all a part of your strategy.”
I balled my fists and turned.
“It was my turn, Cal!” Kristy called. “It was supposed to be my turn.”
I spun. “Kristy, I promised you that when the building was done?—”
“No. You won’t, though. You won’t stop. If you’re mayor, I’m not building a business.”
“It’s years from now, Kristy. I know you want me to take a backseat, but can’t we both?—”
“You loathe the idea of me flitting between here and New York. I will need to do that for two years. If you’re running for mayor, what would the press think? It’s better if we end it. It’s better if you just find the perfect political wife who will smile, nod, and just do what you need her to do. We’re not getting married. I’m not settling for the shadows. And I’m not a mayor’s wife.”
I adjusted my tie. “Can we rehash this at another time?”
Kristy turned from the mirror. “Fine. But this isn’t a place I’m willing to negotiate. Let’s table it.”
I checked my watch. “We’re running so late, Kristy.”
“Go ahead. Schmooze and apologize to David that I’m late. Make up an excuse.”
“He will not care if you’re late,” I said.
Knowing a bit of space might be good for us, I climbed into my waiting car and left for the Palmer House Hilton. The entire place swarmed with grown-ups dressed in their finery and teens turned out like movie stars. Lady Danna had outdone herself by transforming the historic hotel’s ballroom into some sort of fairy castle six months after her daughter’s birthday. It was a showpiece, so the date had to avoid society weddings, holidays, and all the usual charity events. This date meant the most people could attend and gaze at her handiwork.
I entered, greeted by David himself.
“Cal, how are you?” He shook my hand and patted my arm.
“I’m doing just fine. Kristy apologizes. She’s running late.”
“Oh, that’s too bad. She’s going to miss the harpsichordist.”
I furrowed my brow, confused.
“I have no idea why we needed one. Dora Elizabeth was rather… insistent. Well, I sense this was about a power struggle she fought with her mother over a preference for classical or baroque music.”
Much like Kristy’s point about the black-tie event for teens, Daphne’s sister’s preferences didn’t have to make sense. Little about the Delphine’s did to an outsider. And try as I may, I remained the man looking in.
“Come in, get a drink. Enjoy some food. Dinner will be served in twenty minutes,” David said. “I’ll find you in a bit. I was going to run something by you.”
I patted his shoulder. “Sounds good, man. See you in a bit.”
I approached the bar, sidling up to a short woman in a long gold dress. I turned to look at her only to discover who it was.
“Daphne, hi,” I said, surprised. “You made it?”
She turned, giving a timid smile. “Yeah. I mean, if I didn’t make it, I think Mum would have disowned me.”
I chuckled and ordered a drink while she hung around. Daphne was cheerful, but reserved. The gown clung to her in all the right places. I hated myself for noticing it, but it was hard to ignore her. She was still a smoke show.
As if sensing my stare lingered too long, she blurted, “My husband came, too, of course. He’s taking a few days off—a miracle, really.”
She nodded in Chandler’s direction.
“Ah, sure” I took my drink from the bartender and stepped back. “Kristy is on her way. She had a makeup snafu.”
“Cool, cool.” Daphne nervously looked off in the distance.
I turned where she looked and saw Chandler approach. While the man always smiled, it appeared fake. I wondered if anything about him was ever genuine. Daphne bristled as he wrapped his arm around her waist possessively. I didn’t like this man and sensed something was off. Of course, Daphne would never admit it.
“Hello. You’re… Cal?” Chandler asked.
“Yes,” I said. “David’s business partner. And you’re Daphne’s mysterious husband?”
The prick chuckled nervously. “Mysterious? No!”
“You never visit with her.” I sipped my drink.
“Well, I’m a busy man. And she is, too—for now. Maybe in the next year she’ll have a reason to slow down?” He winked at his wife. She flushed red even in the low light. “I need another drink, darling. And since you didn’t offer?—”
“You were busy chatting with Aunt Anita. I—” Before Daphne finished, he was gone.
She sighed, annoyed. “Sorry.”
“Are you about to change jobs?” I asked.
“No,” Daphne looked down at the ground. “We’re trying… for a baby. And… he thinks once I get pregnant, I will want to stay home.”
I cocked my head. “Is that what you want, Daphne?”
“I don’t know. But… he’s going to be busy in parliament. It makes sense for me to be home to support him and our children. It’s not forever.”
“Okay, okay. I made it!”
Kristy derailed my questioning, appearing in the red dress I loved most. I kissed her cheek quickly.
“Kristy, you look gorgeous,” Daphne suddenly changed the subject.
“Thanks. Apologies for the delay. I got out of the gym late and it all sort of fell apart. How are you? You look good.”
“I’m—”
Chandler grabbed Daphne’s hand, cutting her words short. “Darling, your mother wants to introduce me to someone. Come along.”
Kristy watched them leave in horror. Chandler didn’t even bother to apologize as he hauled Daphne away like a mother would a wayward toddler.
“He’s such a dick,” Kristy said.
“He really is.”
“I keep hoping she leaves him, babe.”
“That’s not nice,” I whispered. “They’ve been married five years. They’re good.”
“Uh-huh.” Kristy held a hand out, signaling I should give her part of my drink.
I handed it to her as she sipped authoritatively. The woman wasn’t subtle. Her eyes never left Daphne and Chandler.
“I honestly don’t know why she puts up with it.” I shook my head. “She’s the one with the power and influence.”
“She’s the good wife—the good little wife of a politician. She was bred and raised by Lady Danna to do her job. Just wait. She’ll pop out a kid soon and we might never see her again.”
“Kristy!”
It wasn’t that I denied she was right. It was that I didn’t want it to be true. Daphne was wasted on a middling position at a law firm. I saw Kristy’s point about me moving the goalpost, but didn’t know how to make it right. I didn’t wish to see her turn into an introverted, subservient woman like this iteration of Daphne. I also didn’t want her to leave me.