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Genevieve has dark hair and sharp, pixie-like features, with large doe eyes that look a little shimmery, like she’s constantly either enraptured or on the verge of tears.
Lorraine has a wide face, but she knows how to apply makeup the right way, and she has an air of importance I doubt anyone is willing to challenge.
“It’s so nice to finally meet you,” Lorraine says to me with a Southern accent. “Laura can’t stop talking about your skills as a coordinator and that you are excellent in design."
“Oh, I’m sure she exaggerates,” I say.
“Oh, honey, no. If she allowed you to plan the wedding, you must be made of the right stuff. Laura is very particular.”
I don’t point out that Stacey is the one who asked me to plan the wedding, and Laura wasn’t very happy at first. Laura needs to save face.
“This whole wedding is going to be so romantic,” Genevieve says with stars in her eyes. “The union between two people is just the most beautiful thing.” She sniffs lightly before she turns to Stacey. “I wish only happiness for you, dear. But if I can tell you anything…keep fighting for it. You hear me? Because when you lose it…”
Her voice catches in her throat, and her eyes well up with tears.
“Oh, honey, it’s going to be okay,” Lorraine says, patting Genevieve’s free, as yet unpolished hand. “You’ll learn to love again. You’re still young; there’s time.”
“Is there?” Genevieve asks bitterly. “I don’t think there is. Look at me. I’m second-hand goods now. I don’t know who will ever look at me.”
We all stare at her. Genevieve is one of the most beautiful and regal women I’ve seen to date, and I’ve catered for quite a few posh people in my line of work. But Laura and Lorraine both fall for the bait, giving Genevieve all the compliments she’s fishing for.
I glance at Stacey, who just rolls her eyes.
Nina and Kelsey are very quiet. They’re probably trying not to die in front of Laura. She would be upset that we’re making life difficult for her and we’ll look bad in front of her friends.
“Marriage isn’t all it’s chalked up to be, anyway,” Lorraine adds. “You dodged a bullet, Gen. Trust me, I know what I’m talking about. Louis is a pain in my ass on a good day. And we don’t have a lot of those anymore.”
“You’re just going through a rough patch,” Laura says sympathetically. “Things will get better; you’ll see.”
“Rough patch? It feels like a rough life at this point.” She sighs dramatically. “I wish he would take another mistress. Since he got rid of that old hag he was traipsing around with before, he’s taking out all his bad moods on me, and it’s really throwing my chakras out of line.”
I can’t believe what I’m hearing.
“You…want him to have a mistress?” I ask carefully.
Lorraine looks at me like the question is a stupid one.
“Who else is going to keep him busy? Honey, I don’t have time to babysit him. I have things to do. Do you know how many charities I’m involved with?”
I shake my head. Laura gives me a pointed look, but I don’t know what it means.
“He had a woman that took care of him. He thought he was so clever, sneaking around behind my back, too. But his excuses were terrible, and it didn’t take long to figure out what was going on. But I let him think he’s so smart.”
“It’s the only way to do it,” Genevieve nods. “I just wish it was that simple with Tony. If it was just another woman, we would have been fine. But he had been daring with his investments.”
It gets worse and worse the more I listen.
“Doesn’t it bother you that he has someone else he’s going to when you’re supposed to be in love?” I blurt out.
They all stare at me. I suddenly wonder about Laura and Harvey and what their relationship is like. What did Stacey grow up with as an example of what a marriage should be? I hope she’s not planning on walking the same road with Marc. I know he would never do that to her.
“Sweetie, you’re still young,” Lorraine says. “You’ll learn what it’s all about when you’re finally married. Men and women aren’t meant to coexist. The men make the money, and we build a home, give him children, do what needs to be done. In exchange, we get the life we want, and he can do whatever he wants, as long as it doesn’t embarrass us.”
I shake my head. “I don’t think that’s the kind of life I want to live.”
“After being married for a while, you’ll be begging someone else to take him off your hands.”
If I feel that way about the man I’m marrying, I probably shouldn’t marry him. But I don’t say that out loud. These women have a very different outlook on life, and I’m not sure they’ll see where I’m coming from if I explain to them that I believe in true love and soul mates and exclusivity.
