28
Vulnerability is your strength.
In Search of the Perfect Happiness
They all sat around the dining room table, listening to Angelica recounting her adventure. She didn’t get emotional this time, having processed the experience with Candace. Besides, none of the others knew about her affair. They finished the bottle of wine. It was only the prospect of having to pick up their children from school that prevented them from opening another. Kate insisted her baby enjoyed alcohol in spite of Candace trying to convince her otherwise. Finally, after they had devoured all the sushi and the gory details of dead dogs and bullet wounds, Kate’s moment arrived.
“Go on, tell her,” said Candace.
“You mean, you haven’t already?”
“Of course not. It’s not my story to tell.”
“That never stopped anyone,” said Scarlet.
“What’s happened?” Angelica asked, glancing at Kate’s belly. At least the baby was still in the right place.
Kate said melodramatically, “I’ve walked out on Pete once and for all.”
“You haven’t!”
“I have. It took a lot of courage—”
“And a few drinks,” interrupted Candace.
“But I couldn’t take his philandering anymore.”
“The Haggis is still in the picture?”
“Honey, she is the picture.”
“What about the baby?”
“It might not be his,” Kate conceded.
Candace shrugged and raised her eyebrows at Angelica. “Still no name.”
“It’s irrelevant. Pete is the father of all my children.”
“Unless you have any more,” Scarlet added.
“You never know,” said Kate with a smirk.
“So where are you living?”
“When I said I walked out on Pete, I didn’t mean I literally walked out of the house. God forbid! I walked out of our marriage. He walked out of the house. He’s camping at a friend’s.”
“What about Betsy Pog?”
“That old harridan!” quipped Candace.
“At least we can say we both tried.”
“To be fair,” said Scarlet, “you tried more than him.”
“Darling, he didn’t try at all,” agreed Letizia.
“He’s trying to win me back, but I’ve already moved on.” The secretive smile indicated that she literally had.
“Go on, Angelica, ask!” Candace demanded.
“Who is he?” she complied.
Kate’s grin swallowed her entire face. “He’s, now wait for it . . . Count Edmondo Augustino Silviano di Napoli. And he comes with a beautiful palazzo overlooking the sea.”
“Are you sure he’s not making it up?” Angelica asked.
“Sounds like he owns the whole of Naples.” Scarlet laughed.
“Counts are two a penny in Italy,” said Candace.
“He’s the real thing,” Letizia insisted. “I promise you.”
“It really doesn’t matter,” Kate replied. “He’s gorgeous.”
“So what are you going to do about the Vera Wang wedding dress?”
“Maybe she’ll make use of it in her palazzo,” said Candace.
Kate was appalled. “If you think I’m going to hurry down the aisle with another man after all I’ve been through, you don’t know me at all.”
“Such a waste of a beautiful dress!” Letizia sighed.
“I’ll give a wedding dress party. Everyone has to come in their wedding dresses.”
“Honey, half the guests won’t be able to get into their wedding dresses!” said Candace.
“They can have them let out,” said Kate.
“Why don’t you put it in a box? You’re young. I can’t believe you’re going to go through the rest of your life as a single woman.”
“Single no, unmarried yes. I’ll never trust men again.”
“They all say that,” said Candace.
“I’m having fun. Pete is trying to woo me back. Edmondo is whisking me off to Rome and whispering sweet nothings to me in Italian, not to mention the flowers and jewelry. I’m enjoying the attention.”
“That, I can imagine,” said Candace.
“I’m dying for you to meet him.”
“So what have you done with your tickets to Mauritius?” Angelica asked.
“Given them to Art and Tod. They’re so excited. Two weeks at the Saint Géran hotel, business-class flights on Virgin, all paid for by Pete.”
“They struck it lucky!”
“I think Art deserves it. He’s seen me through the rough times.”
“And Tod deserves it for having put up with him sitting on the telephone with you night after night,” Candace added.