After dinner, the women adjourned to the drawing room to talk, play cards, and sip hot wine, while in the dining room the men swapped stories over port and cigars. Those who hated cigar smoke broke away for a game of billiards.
He actually enjoyed this old-fashioned tradition. It fostered an anticipation of returning to the company of the women.
The archaic rituals faded in the mid-twentieth century, but even in the age of instant communication, the old way fostered quick friendships. By Saturday night’s ball, the guests would be fast friends.
In his apartment, Gus took a moment to unwind after the three-hour meet and greet. He wanted to process before meeting with Coral and Chuck. Wanted to unpack the foyer reunion.
Chuck was a bear of a man with a tender heart. Coral had chosen well, and Gus liked him. That made him laugh.Six weeks ago, he still resented her. Deeply. Maybe even hated her. And now? She was his friend.
He owed so much to Daffy and the power of true, sincere love. Being with her conquered his fear. He could not genuinely love her while resenting Coral—which held him locked in the past.
Fear of the truth. Fear of rejection. Fear of not measuring up. But right here, right now, a warm peace had replaced the zings of anxiety. He noticed when he spent time with Emmanuel, peace rose within him. The old carpenter was a mystery, to be sure.
When they arrived, Coral greeted him with a kiss, while Chuck shook his hand. She’d changed into a red dress, which she wore well. Another reason he’d fallen for her.
Chuck, blessed chap, was a wall of muscle squeezed into a shiny designer suit. He appeared both amused and uncomfortable.
“I’d say nice place you got here but makes me sound like an idgit.” Chuck sat with anoomph!, his pronounced New Jersey accent confident and loud.
“Darling.” Coral motioned for him to stand.
“Oh, sorry, still learning the protocol.” The Uber driver stood, straightening his jacket.
“No protocol here.” Gus motioned for them to sit. “I spent a year in Florida as a barback named Pete George. Can I get you something to drink?”
“None for me, Your Highness, thank you.” Coral perched on the edge of the couch cushion.
“Same here.” Chuck exhaled as he unbuttoned his jacket. “Thanks for seeing us, um, Your Highness.”
Gus took a water from the mini fridge. “Call me Gus or I’ll call you Mr. and Mrs. Mays.”
“I didn’t want to assume.” Coral exhaled with a glance at her husband and sat back under his arm.
“I’m too new to all of this royalness to assume. So you’ll have to forgive me,” Chuck said. “American bull in a China shop coming through.”
“Do you by chance play rugby, Chuck?” Gus took a sip of water. “If so, you’re on my team.”
Charles had texted a presumed match in the morning. Stephen and Gus would be captains.
“Played football in high school. American football anyway. Anything involving a ball, running, and tackling, I’m in.”
Crikey, Gus liked the guy. Not only his eagerness to knock some heads on the pitch, but how he supported his wife. How he’d helped her heal.
“I’d say this is long overdue, eh?” Chuck got the ball rolling with a blast of honesty. He glanced at Coral, then Gus, adjusting his tie. “Might as well break the ice.”
Coral laughed. “All he’s heard since we arrived was how nervous I was.”
“Had a bit of that going on myself.” Gus met honesty with honesty. But now that they’d wept through forgiveness, she didn’t seem like the evil witch he’d fabricated to pay for his pity party.
“How’d you two meet?” he said.
“At a library, if you can believe it.” Coral spoke first. “One that belonged to my great, great grandfather. Five of us received odd, mysterious invitations to the Fifth Avenue Story Society. We thought it was a prank at first, but it turned out to be rather divine. We became fast friends, helped each other through some trials. Turns out we were all a bit stuck in life.”
“I never thought she’d fall for a dolt like me, but God had other plans.”
God? So the Almighty was still part of Coral’s equation.
“Now all of us in the society are married.” She angled toward Gus. “I’m a stepmom now. Can you believe it?”
