Friends Forever Or Not

Chapter 6

Dexter has been in meetings most of the morning. He thought about backing out of their holiday vacation. That is until his father reminded him that he needed Kaleigh’s father's vote to influence the Board of Directors if he wanted to become the CEO of the hospital. Edmar informs him that now isn’t the time to upset Kaleigh. Right before the call ends, Edmar tells Dexter not to stray. If he does and Hayley finds out, he will force Kaleigh to divorce him. Dexter would end up with nothing and all their hard work would be in vain.

Hayley, Kaleigh’s father, was a top-notch surgeon before he decided to become a Plastic Surgeon and open a practice. All the doctors still think highly of him and never underestimate him. That is one reason Hayley is the President of the New Mercy Hospital.

He has never liked being told what to do, how to act, and most importantly, how to treat his wife. Every day, his mother or father calls him, ordering him what to give or do for Kaleigh. If he doesn't answer their calls, they will call his secretary saying it's an emergency. They know he'll answer the call because he doesn't want to appear to be an uncaring son.

"When is that damn man going to let me live my life the way I want to, not the way he and my mother think I should? I got to be the head of pediatrics because of my hard work and skills, not because of who I married.” Dexter mumbles while calling the florist to have two dozen-long stem roses delivered to Kaleigh. He walks out of his office and is met by An Li and Sharli, who are flirting with him as usual. He ignores them and walks past them. That's the first time he has done that. Usually, Dexter would say a few sweet words and give them a wink.

Sharli and An Li know something is wrong with him. Because Dexter never passed up the chance to flirt with any woman. The only time that he ignores women is when Kaleigh or her family are around. Any other time he loves playing the game. Even after being ignored, Dexter’s action only turned them on more.

****

Jewel got out of bed as soon as Kaleigh, Dexter, and their two daughters and son left the house. Marion and Lorrie started their morning routine when Jewel commanded Marion to cook her a steak, medium rare and two sunny sides up.

Marion glanced at Lorrie. “It seemed as if someone got up on the wrong side of the bed. Mrs. Bale told you that your breakfast is in the warming draw and for you not to ask us to do anything. We know she said it because we were behind her. She also wrote it on the message board. Now, if you will excuse us, we have work today.”

Lorrie and Marion walk down the hall laughing and talking about Jewel. Neither woman has ever liked Jewel or her arrogance and how she’s always looking down on them. They’ll be glad when she leaves. Lorrie looks back at her and then whispers "I overheard she was caught cheating on her husband. That was all I was able to hear. Mrs. Bale saw me in the hall and changed the subject."

Marion cut her eyes at Jewel. "I never doubted once that she wasn't that type of woman. Mr. Russo is a good man."

Jewel knew the two women were talking about her but couldn't hear them. She didn't like the way the maids spoke to her and that Kaleigh told them not to do anything she told them to do. She threw the breakfast away. Her thoughts go to Ferris and the holiday vacation. Jewel knows if she doesn’t go to Aspen she won’t have anywhere to stay. Dexter made it clear last night when he came home she couldn’t stay in their house while they were away.

She called Kaleigh, Tanesha, and Americus to meet her at Hudson House for lunch. She was hesitant about calling Americus. She knew Americus only tolerated her because of Kaleigh. She orders two Cosmopolitans and quickly drinks one, exhales, looking at Kaleigh being shown to the table. As soon as Kaleigh sits down, Jewel asks her to help talk Americus to uninvite Ferris and goes on saying she can't face him right now.

Kaleigh waves a waitress over and orders her an Island Breeze, Tanesha Apple Martini, and a Mojito with double rum for Americus. “I can’t tell Americus and Cristiano who to invite or uninvite into their home.” She looked at Tanesha and Americus walking toward them and thought “Darn, am I glad to see you two.”

“Try to be a little nice.” Tanesha mutters, looking at Jewel ‘In other words, say as little as possible.”

“Little as possible sounds good to me,” Americus says before she speaks to Jewel and Kaleigh.

“We should order first. The last thing Cristiano said before he left was to make sure his wife ate.” Tanesha shoves a menu in Americus's hand. "We all know what that man is about you. Pampering your ass all the time. My mother and I are still getting over that clause he has in his contract. When you're on your period he doesn't work, he's home with you."

"My husband loves taking care of me. There isn't anything wrong with that." Americus chuckled while reading the menu.

"Spoiled your tail more than what you already were." Kaleigh laughed and cut her eyes at Jewel.

Americus orders the Beverly salad (shrimp), and chocolate silk pie, and Kaleigh orders Greek salad (grilled chicken, Key Lime pie. Jewel orders a Cheeseburger with skinny fries, and Tanesha orders a Lobster Roll with skinny fries.

After the waitress leaves, Tanesha and Americus give a fidgeting Jewel their attention. They notice Kaleigh pretends to be interested in something in her purse.

Jewel drinks the rest of her Cosmopolitan. "That was the first time I was unfaithful in my marriage. I don't know why I did that. I had been avoiding Elia's advancement for months. Yesterday got the best of me and I slipped."

"Okay," Americus, Kaleigh, and Tanesha mumble, looking at each other.

Tanesha picks her drink up. "Did you explain that to your husband?"

"No," Jewels starts crying. "He didn't give me a chance. When I arrived home, all of my things were packed in on the front porch for all the neighbors to see. Do you know how embarrassing that is?"

Americus shakes her head and starts to say something when Tanesha says "little as possible." So Americus started eating and thought "Ask a stupid question. What was he supposed to do? Throw you a coming out party."

Jewel continues, saying she can't look at him right now. She cut her eyes at Americus. "Can you and Cristiano tell Ferris not to come?"

"Wrong question." Tanesha covered her mouth.

Americus closes her eyes thinking “This woman has some nerves.“ She looks at Jewel. “Ferris is my husband’s friend and also my friend. Why would I tell him not to come? He has the right to come just as you do. My house has enough room, so you don’t have to worry about sleeping with him. It’s up to you if you decide not to come. But Ferris is coming. Besides, Cristiano is looking forward to the ski tournament. I'll never disappoint my husband.” She looks at Tanesha. "Was that little possible enough?"

"Yeah, it was." Tanesha pats Americus's hand and exhales. She thought for sure Americus was going to be harsh with Jewel. For Americus, that was sweet.

Kaleigh hasn't said a word, she has been eating. She knew Americus wasn’t going to tell Ferris not to come. All of their husbands are close friends. Cristiano and Ferris seem to have a closer friendship than the others.

Jewel knew Americus probably wouldn't uninvite Ferris. But it was worth a try. Her phone beeps and she smiles, reading a text from Elia telling her to come to her place before she leaves for Aspen. She wants to give her an early Christmas present. She calls the waitress over to take her check. "I have something to do before we leave tonight."

Kaleigh tells her to go ahead, she'll pay her check.

Tanesha's drinking her second Apple Martini. "Do you believe that was her first time with Elia?"

"Nope." Kaleigh and Americus say in unison.

Outside in the parking lot, Jewel calls Gabi and tells her she's going to be late. But she'll be there, and she has a surprise for her. When Jewel drove out of the parking lot she didn't notice a black Toyota Camry following her.

After driving for about forty minutes, Jewel parked in the driveway of a townhouse. Elia ran out of the house, wrapping her arms around Jewel and kissing her.

"Got you." The man in the Camry says as he's recording Jewel and Elia wrapped around each other walking toward the townhouse.