Despondent Lives 2

Sean glanced across into Mrs. Dorothy’s house. That leggy lass had arrived. He could hear the wails of her five month old baby since the afternoon. Maybe she was not as attractive as before. Pregnancy must have taken its toll. Just then, she came into view. Mature, chronically beautiful and nevertheless attractive, she passed him a neighborly smile and walked off. His heart shook his rib cage as she walked by.

He had been researching about Mrs. Smiley Mather through the afternoon. She was a model turned designer. Half the income of the Mather household must be coming from her. She being the owner of the ‘Celebrations’ brand of bridal wear. Why did Jack say that she took his money for granted when she herself was an earning woman? Strange! He decided to wait for Mr Mather’s call and ask why exactly he wanted his wife dead and why exactly did he lie to him about the reason?

***

Smiley shifted past her creations and reached the safety vault. 43 year old bride-to-be, Ms. Laura Fathom walked carefully behind her. Smiley declared proudly, "Ms. Fathom, I present… the million dollar dress for the most special moment of your life…"

Smiley turned around and undid the lock, as the door swung open she heard a gasp. With a satisfied smile, she led the astounded lady inside. It was a beautiful white dress. Simple yet looking as if it was licked by heaven’s angels. The shining diamonds glimmered in the soft lighting of the room. Over all it looked simple, no frills but as one approached the bottom of the dress, a circumferential froth stayed. That was where the tiara ended. A crown of equally precious rubies and emeralds sat on the accessories table with a pair of exotic pearly white pencil heeled shoes. Their pointed tip had a bow a bit behind set with pearls. Laura forgot the other details around the room as she took in the dress with a hanging jaw.

"I can’t believe he could actually buy something this beautiful for me!" tears in her eyes she said to Smiley. Smiley managed a forced smile. Things were not exactly going easy with her. Smiley had worn something much better at her marriage with Jack. She had bought the dress after pooling six months of salary with Jack’s two months of pay. Today it stood shadowed under shelves of satin. It was for rent. Few knew she had a piece like that. Even though that damned dress could fetch her a fortune every time she would lend it, Smiley kept the fact from others. She had selected each stone of that dress, if not Jack. Smiley stood there under the light, envying the woman who was older to her but still enjoying something she had only dreamed of.

"Mrs. Mather… uh… Mrs. Mather?"

Smiley bolted back to the present and apologized, "Sorry, I was just lost somewhere. How may I help you?"

"Nothing much really, I was wondering if you would like to have a cup of coffee at the shop across. I made a friend there. She could get it for us…"

Smiley felt good to have taken the right decision- to step out of her house and find where she belonged. She nodded, "That would certainly be a pleasant excuse to relax!"

Ms. (soon to be Mrs.) Fathom beamed and took one last look at her dress before turning to go upstairs.

Smiley couldn’t get all those stinky thoughts about Jack out anymore. They lived like tenants more than a married couple. If only he would give their marriage a chance to thrive. Her apartment in the city was in a place where distractions were plenty but memories too many. She had thought of relocating but went against the idea. When would she stop running from her marriage? Where was her life leading her to?

"Have you got something on your mind? You’ve spaced out for like the fifth time."

Smiley apologized and said- "Just a few past memories trespassing on this beautiful afternoon!"

***

The phone was ringing like crazy. She had been driving and so Smiley did not care to pick up the call. 7o’ clock. ‘Must be Jack…’ Smiley couldn’t help but sigh at the very thought of him. For how long was she supposed to run… from her marriage and herself?

"How you doing honey?" she heard her husband’s voice come over the mobile phone. There was the usual steel in his voice. She decided to reply with equal grit.

"What do you expect with the exquisite treatment you have given me?"

There was silence at the other end, a few crackling seconds later, he said, the cold gone, replaces by an unexpected softness, "I just wanted to arrange a dinner together for the two of us, it’s been a long time, you know?"

Smiley gazed unconsciously at her evening coat. Would it be used again? She said hesitatingly, "Yeah… sure, I’ll be there; who does the booking? You or me?"

She got a reply, again unexpected, "Me. I hope to see you there… gorgeous…"

An iota of anger rushed through her as she said, more curtly than she would have wanted, "Cut the crap, you know as well as I know that the gorgeous wasn’t exactly what you have the habit of using ingeniously…."

Jack said, dying to maintain the politeness, "Smiley, don’t hang up! I wanted to talk to you about your boutique, and an offer a friend gave… please, I want to be forgiven…"

Mirth in her laugh, Smiley spoke in her business like voice, "I’m touched! But anyways, cause you are talking sense now, I’d rather meet you. Name the hotel…"

A sigh of relief came from the other end of the line as she heard, "The Niagara Rise."

"Alright… I’ll see you then at 8:30 sharp."

"No no, I’ll be there at around 8:30 to pick you up. It might be a business meet for you , for me it is a date, with my wife."

The words touched her stoned emotions. He knew it. Very well. She wanted to let go and get back to him, safe and secure in his arms, like a caged bird.

"Fine, Jack! I’ll… I’ll wait."

"Sure honey, and uh… Smiley, thank you for accepting this date."

Jack smirked in his softly lit room and thought- the very last date.

"Ok then, I’ll see you then." Smiley tried to keep her emotions out of the way.

"Yeah, gotta go get ready! Bye!"

She heard the phone click. Heaving a sign of relief, she hugged the phone to her chest. Joy or tears? What was in store for her? Only time would tell. Considering her options, she decided to look a little better than her office look, a little makeup, a deeper neck line, a heavier set of pearls and then after coming back thousands of tears and a heavier dose of the sleeping pills next to the bed. All that joy for a price- tears; now and forever.

Smiley had a quick shower and blow-dried her hair. She settled for a conditioner Jack had gifted her a few months back, when they were together, when she had dared to dream about a happily ever after for herself and for Jack. She had left her career as a model at the peak of her career for Jack. To save his self respect. ‘Ego’ she corrected herself poignantly. A few minutes later she was slipping on a beaded sleeveless top that went down to her thigh over a pair of well fitting jeans. Her shoulders looked polished, graceful. She heard a car honk below. How romantic! Quickly getting into her ‘in blu’ platforms, she locked the door. Jack was waiting in a cool blue coat and jeans. He kissed her lightly on the cheek as she returned his peck. No love, no lust. Till now.

"So… you ready for a glorious evening?" Jack said as he thought – you better do missy, might be one of your last evenings out…. Wicked he was.

Smiley settled on the passenger side of the seat as Jack continued to flatter her about what a hit her designs were in the market. Since when did he dump the news and start a hunt for stuff in fashion? Smiley wondered wryly.