31906844db5c02010017a90f3f2ca805

I still didn’t get it. “Fixed? Fixed for what?”

“You can’t have babies, all right? Trust me on this—you just can’t!”

As the horrible truth dawned upon us, our collective jaws dropped.

“WHAT?!!!!!” we all yelled simultaneously.

Chapter 9

The evening wound down shortly after midnight, when Emerald decided to call it a night. And even though she insisted her guests stay and have a good time, her departure was the cue for the others to retire to bed soon after.

Odelia was actually glad to hit the hay. She’d probably had a few glasses too much to drink, and the prospect of her head hitting the hay, not to mention that appealingly soft, downy pillow, was suddenly very appealing.

“Well, that was quite an evening,” said Chase as he took off his shirt.

The room was an opulent one, with a hardwood floor, a four-poster bed, and pink silk wallpaper. The bathroom, which was the first thing Odelia had checked upon arrival, actually had golden taps and a white marble bathtub.

“So what’s on the program for tomorrow? asked Chase.

Next to the bed, on the nightstand, lay the weekend’s itinerary. “Friday night welcome dinner, Saturday morning breakfast then a game of croquet,” she read. “Huh. Croquet. Is that what the rich get up to when they have some time to kill?”

“Sounds good to me,” said Chase. “I could use the action.” He patted his belly, which was a little bloated after the feast they’d just enjoyed.

Odelia had a hard time dragging her eyes away from Chase’s torso and back to the itinerary. “Saturday night is movie time at the Cinema Emerald.”

“Of course Emerald would have a home theater,” said Chase, throwing himself onto the bed, his hands behind his head.

“I wonder what movie she’ll show.”

“Probably something from her own long and illustrious career.”

“Probably,” Odelia agreed. She remembered what Kimberlee’s boyfriend had told them about Emerald not being sincere when she spoke about announcing Kimberlee as the successor to her acting crown.

“And now,” she said, yawning and stretching, “I think I could do with some sleep.”

Chase took her by the waist and dragged her down on the bed.“But first… dessert,” he grunted, and kissed her.

She giggled.“Wouldn’t that be something? Making love under Emerald Rhone’s roof. Something to tell the grandkids one day.”

“I’d love to tell the grandkids,” Chase murmured.

She gazed lovingly up into his handsome face and placed a hand on his cheek. She was tired, but not that tired, and then they kissed again, slower and with more passion this time.

And they would have kept on kissing—and maybe something more—if there hadn’t been a loud ruckus just outside their door. It kinda ruined the moment.

“I know what you’re up to, you horrible dirtbag!” someone was screaming. It was a woman’s voice, and it sounded a lot like… Alina Isman.

Odelia opened the door a crack and peered out. Right outside their door, Alina and her husband Reinhart were arguing loudly, Alina dressed in a sheer negligee, and her husband in striped boxers and nothing else.

“I was only going down for a nightcap, I swear!” the singer cried.

“Nightcap, my ass! You were going to fool around with that floozie!” the redheaded actress screamed. She slapped his chest. “Admit it, you bastard!”

“Uh-oh,” said Chase. “Busted.”

“I wonder what floozie she’s talking about,” whispered Odelia.

More doors opened up and down the hall, and Alina and her husband now had an audience. She didn’t seem to care, for she kept laying into Reinhart. The latter tried to neutralize the situation by holding up his hands and producing a nothing-to-see-here-folks smile, but it was obvious he’d been busted.

Suddenly another voice joined the chorus.“What’s going on here?”

It was Emerald, and she looked ready to go to bed, her hair mussed up, her nightgown casually wrapped around herself, her face make-up free now. She was beautiful, Odelia thought. Even at seventy she had that amazing bone structure that’s the hallmark of true ageless beauty.

“He was sneaking downstairs to meet that, that… slut!” Alina cried, her voice shrill.

“I was only going for a nightcap!” said Reinhart. “I swear on our children, Alina! I swear!”

“Don’t you dare!” she cried, wagging a finger in her husband’s face. She was shaking, her eyes shooting fire, her face a mask of fury.

Odelia wondered if this was all a performance or if it was for real. At any rate, Alina was an amazing actress. Odelia didn’t think she could ever get this emotional with a dozen people standing around. She’d probably feel too self-conscious and pipe down the moment she knew she had an audience. But not Alina. It was almost as if having an audience fueled the flame of her anger.

Suddenly, Alina’s fury turned from her husband to a young woman who’d just joined them. Kimberlee was dressed in colorful PJs and looked absolutely adorable, Odelia thought.

“Don’t think I don’t know what you’ve been up to behind my back,” Alina snarled.

“I honestly have no idea what you’re talking about,” said Kimberlee, her face impassive.