Chapter 28 Annabelle
Annabelle
James spritzed cologne on his jacket and glanced over at Annabelle, who was finishing her makeup.
“We’re going to be late,” he said, shaking his head.
“You know I hate to arrive right on the dot. It’s three houses away. We’ll be fifteen minutes late, tops. Fashionably late.”
“You say fifteen, but that means a half an hour.” He walked over and kissed the top of her head. “Try to move it along, please.”
Every first Friday of the month, five couples in the neighborhood, including James and Annabelle, alternated hosting a “First Friday Fiesta.” All their neighborhood activities had cute names like that.
It was a little cringeworthy, she’d admit, but James loved the sense of camaraderie and belonging their neighborhood provided.
Her friend Kiera joked that Annabelle was becoming a Stepford wife, but the women were anything but subservient robots.
They were smart with varied careers and backgrounds.
The neighborhood she’d grown up in was friendly but not social, and while she enjoyed a party as much as the next person, it sometimes got a little old, hanging out with the same group so often, hearing the same complaints and jokes.
Tonight’s party was at the home of Phil and Anita, a couple she and James often played tennis with. Phil was a dentist, and Anita was an editor for a large publishing company.
Annabelle finished with her makeup and got dressed.
It was a beautiful October evening, but it would be cool, even with outdoor firepits.
Most of these gatherings took place outside until it turned too cold.
She slipped on a pair of black silk pants and a champagne camisole.
A red silk jacket completed the look. When she went downstairs, the girls were watching a movie, Parker on the couch in between them.
“What did I say about letting the dog on the sofa?” she asked, only half serious. All he had to do was look at her with those big brown eyes, and her resolve melted.
“He likes to sit with us,” Olivia said, beginning to pet him.
“All right. Scarlett, keep your sister company. We shouldn’t be too late.”
James looked at his watch. “I stand corrected. You made it in fifteen.”
She gave him a stiff smile in return. Did he have to make a point out of everything, even if it was to concede that he’d been wrong? It was tiresome. They stepped outside, and he put an arm around her as they walked down the sidewalk.
“Listen, babe. I don’t want to be a party pooper but take it easy on the wine tonight. Remember we promised Scarlett we’d go sailing to Port Jeff in the morning, and I don’t want you to have a hangover.”
“You act like I’m an alcoholic or something. Just because you hardly ever drink, don’t try to make me feel bad for having a few glasses of wine on the weekend.”
James sighed in exasperation. “I’m not saying you’re an alcoholic. Why do you have to be so dramatic? I’m simply asking you to take it easy, so we can get an early start tomorrow.”
“Fine.” Her mood spoiled, she didn’t even feel like going now.
“Thank you,” he said, completely missing the note of annoyance in her tone.
They walked through the gate and around to the large backyard, where music was playing and white twinkling lights gave the patio a festive feel.
The bar was set up in the pool house, and four firepits were surrounded by cozy seating areas, but most of their friends were standing around the patio. Anita approached them as they came in.
“Welcome! Phil’s been waiting for you, James. Wanted to ask you something—Oh, here he comes.”
Her husband joined them, and Annabelle thought once again how much better he would look if he shaved that ridiculous mustache. Every time she saw him, an image of a villain tying someone to the railroad tracks came to mind.
“Hey, I picked up that 5-Star Baller’s Choice from Honma Beres. Watch out next Saturday!”
James whistled. “You must have done a lot of root canals this month.”
Phil laughed. “I do okay.”
James arched an eyebrow. “I decided to pull the trigger on the Damascus Grand putter.”
“Nice. Let’s hope you don’t snap that one in half when you miss your putt.” Phil turned to Annabelle. “Your husband is quite the hothead on the course. But then again, I guess I’d be pissed, too, if he was the one who’d gotten the hole in one that day.”
Annabelle needed a drink. She couldn’t stand here another minute listening to these two one-upping each other. She turned to Anita. “Shall we leave the golf talk to the boys?”
Anita looped her arm through Annabelle’s as they walked away. “So, I invited the new neighbors from fourteen. He’s a builder, and she’s a therapist. Rumor has it that he left his first wife for her.”
“What kind of therapist?” Annabelle asked, not taking the bait.
Anita was nice enough, but her fondness for gossip left a bad taste in Annabelle’s mouth.
It was one of the reasons that she never confided anything to her.
She remembered her mother often repeating the adage: If a person talks to you about others, they will also talk about you to others.
“Some sort of holistic practice doing Reiki, acupuncture, that kind of thing. She has weekend retreats to help people realize their goals in life and self-actualize, or something.” Anita waved her hands.
“I’m not sure about all of it, but it’s in Westport, and from what I gather, she does very well.
Anyhow, I thought they’d make an interesting addition to our group. ”
“Are they here?”
“Right over there.” She pointed.
Annabelle looked across the yard to see an attractive couple walking toward them. They both looked to be in their early forties. He was tall with blond hair and she was a redhead, who, as she got closer, Annabelle saw was stunning.
Anita introduced them. “Juliana, Kenton, this is my dear friend Annabelle. She’s three houses down, at seven.”
“Nice to meet you, and welcome to the neighborhood,” Annabelle said.
They made small talk for a while, then moved in to join everyone else.
Annabelle headed to the pool house and poured herself a glass of pinot noir.
Still annoyed, she held it up in a silent salute to James, who was watching her from across the pool.
She was about to go sit with some friends by one of the firepits when Juliana appeared in front of her.
“Anita tells me that you’re a social media genius.”
Annabelle laughed. “I wouldn’t say genius, but I know a thing or two about it.”
“I’m looking for help growing my business. I’d love your card.”
Annabelle pulled out her phone and navigated to her dot card. “Have your phone?”
“Um, yeah.” Juliana dug in her purse and brought it out.
Annabelle brought up her digital card and held the phone next to Juliana’s. “Voilà.”
Juliana looked at her in surprise. “Very cool. Love this. I just save and it goes to my contacts?”
“That’s it.”
Juliana put her phone away then poured herself a glass of white wine. “I already see that I can learn a lot from you.”
“Tell me about your center. Anita said it recently opened?”
Juliana held her gaze for a long moment.
“You should come by. I’ll give you the tour.
We’re traveling for the next few weeks but will be back by the first of next month.
We have all sorts of healing modalities: meditation, energy healing, craniosacral therapy.
” She took a sip of her wine. “But I think you’re interested in something else. ”
Suddenly Annabelle felt uncomfortable. Juliana’s gaze was searing. She felt as though the woman could see into her very soul.
“You’ve had great loss in your life. You’re still mourning someone very deeply,” Juliana added.
Annabelle felt her eyes tear up. She blinked, trying to keep them from spilling over. “Everyone’s had loss.”
Juliana nodded. “Yes. But there’s unfinished business waiting for you.”
Annabelle took a step back. She didn’t want to hear any more. “I’m going to go find my husband.” She began to walk away.
“Annabelle?”
She turned back around. “Yes?”
“They’re real.”
“Pardon me?”
“Your dreams. They’re real.”