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At These Affairs
Right before they were getting ready to leave, Daisy got up to go to the bathroom. There were other women in there talking and they got quiet when she opened the door.
It told her that she was the topic of discussion. She’d felt it enough in her life to know.
She went into the stall and did her thing, then came out and washed her hands. She wished she’d had her purse on her to touch up her lipstick or something like some of them were doing.
Like it’s what fancy women did at these affairs and she didn’t know any better.
Not like she had any lipstick in her purse anyway. She didn’t wear it so she wasn’t sure what she was thinking.
“You’re Theo’s date, right?” one of them asked when she’d come out. It was just the two of them, the other three having taken off.
“I am,” she said, shaking the woman’s hand. “And you are?”
“I’m Debra Brown. I’m married to Kathleen Brown. She’s a colleague of Theo’s. I know they get along well.”
“It’s nice to meet you.”
“Don’t let anyone get in your head here,” Debra said. “I know what it’s like to stand out.”
She lifted an eyebrow. “I wasn’t aware I was standing out.”
“I’m so sorry,” Debra said. “I’m coming off the wrong way. There are so many that are jealous of Theo. And I know there is some talk about him going to the New Haven office now, even part time. Then he walks in with you and well...”
“I’m not sure how to take that,” she said.
“You’re stunning. You really are,” Debra said sincerely.
Daisy smiled. She could tell the woman was maybe trying to be helpful. “Thank you so much. That’s sweet of you to say.”
“My point is. There is a ton of jealousy between doctors. Those trying to move up faster and stepping on anyone in their way. They don’t care what they say or who they hurt to do it.”
“Thanks for letting me know,” she said. “Can I ask what is being said or don’t I want to know?”
“Nothing major other than how beautiful you are. That’s not a bad thing.”
She laughed. “I don’t think so. I don’t think I’m much different than a lot of other women here tonight. Everyone is dressed up. I don’t look like this daily.”
“That’s funny,” Debra said. “Because it suits you. My point is, there might have been some comments like the usual. Beautiful women liking men with great jobs and money.”
“Well,” she said, “that might be the case if the man isn’t very good looking himself.” She leaned down and whispered, “But Theo is pretty hot.”
Debra laughed at her. “Good for you. He is if I leaned that way. I think you make a stunning couple and anyone can see you’re both in love. Please, if you hear anything, brush it off. I have to be dragged to these events, but I suck it up for a night.”
“Thank you for telling me,” Daisy said. “I hope the next time I’m at one of these I’m sitting by you.”
“We’ll make it happen,” Debra said. “Kathleen likes Theo. She was hoping to have a friendly face at the table. And we are just one over from you. The women at the table with you are great ladies for the most part. A little surface, but they mean no harm. So please, I hope you don’t think otherwise if someone says something to you.”
“Of course,” she said, moving on.
That statement made her doubt the intentions of the women at her table, but she’d pushed it from her mind.
When she got back to her table, Theo had her jacket. “Are you ready?”
“I am,” she said. “It was a pleasure to meet you all.”
“Likewise,” the women at the table said. She thought she was a good judge of character, but maybe she wasn’t.
