I chuckled and stood up. I pulled his arm and started leading up the stairs to the bedroom.
“You have no idea.”
* * *
I called and got our spa day scheduled for the weekend. Cleo wanted to do it before she got to the cranky end of her pregnancy.
“Towards the end all I’ll want to do is get little Nicholson out of me. I want to enjoy this,” she said.
Saturday morning Dita picked me up and we drove to get Cleo. Climbing into the car we sped off to our day of massages, face masks, and manicures. A woman in a crisp white suit called our trio and began getting our day scheduled. We decided to start with mud baths, then shower, get full body massages, and finish off the day with head massages, manicures, and pedicures for Dita and I. Cleo couldn’t get her feet massaged, but they would paint them for her.
Relaxing in the mud room was heavenly. We sipped on lemon water and snacked on fruit and little cucumber sandwiches. I closed my eyes, sat back and enjoyed the soothing environment.
Showering, we headed into the massage rooms. They took us to private rooms. My masseuse had magic hands. I told her so and she chuckled.
“That’s why I got into the business. I couldn’t waste such a gift,” she joked. I made sure to tip her well when I was finished and wrapped back in my mint colored robe.
When we all stepped out of our rooms, we all seemed very satisfied with how the day had gone so far.
“What’s next again? I forgot,” Dita asked, her voice sounding far off and almost dreamy. She was beyond relaxed.
The woman who had helped us with picking our activities found us and directed us to get facials. I was so relaxed I was pretty sure I was dozing off in the chair. When they peeled the mask off me my face felt so soft and looked like it was glowing. I couldn’t stop touching my cheeks.
We stopped for a light lunch and then would finish with our nails. They had a small cafe off the lobby, where we got coffee and sandwiches.
“This has been the best day I’ve had in such a long time. Tot is even relaxing. She’s not trying to kick her way out today. She must sense she’s in good company,” Cleo exclaimed. Dita agreed.
“Yes, oh my God. With all the mess I’ve been dealing with Derek and Adrian… it’s nice to have a chance to de-stress.”
“How is that, by the way?” I asked, sipping on my coffee. She shrugged.
“Adrian and I had a good talk and he’s happy with Chase, so he’s not jealous. He’s just angry Derek and I lied to him for so long.”
I could understand that. Adrian and Chase were perfect for each other, so I’m glad him and Dita didn’t work out; and oddly enough Derek and Dita kind of work.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw a flash of red hair that made me turn slightly and then my eyes bulged when I realized who I had spotted. Holly had just walked into the spa. I swung my head back to my friends, but they were both already looking past me and at her.
Dita and I quickly shared a look and then looked at Cleo simultaneously. The blood had ran from her face. She was no longer smiling. Her eyes were glued to the woman who had hurt her for so many years. My gaze returned to the counter where Holly stood proudly, having not noticed the three of us watching her from across the way.
“Hello, I was here just the other day. I filled out an application and wanted to turn it back in,” she said sweetly to the receptionist, handing her a slip of paper I hadn’t noticed before. The receptionist took it, thanked her, and went back to whatever she had been doing before hand. Holly didn’t seem to appreciate that. Her sugary sweet face turned into a sneer. She slapped her hands down on the counter, making everyone in the area turn their heads.
“That’s it? I was told when I turned it in, I would be given an interview time,” she demanded. The woman apologized and shrank away, telling her that she would go get her manager. Holly crossed her arms and turned away, gazing around the room. Eventually she spotted us, and her irritation grew into anger.
Seeming to calm herself she sauntered over to our table, hips shaking, fire-red hair tossed behind her back.
“Of course I’d see you here,” she smirked, looking at Cleo. Cleo shrank in her seat. I could see the tension she had just let go of return back to her mind and body in an instant. I cleared my throat and looked back to the former mistress, current wife, of Cleo’s ex-husband.
“Hello Holly. You’re looking for work? I didn’t realize you two were staying in Cali. Why the sudden move?” I asked innocently. Her eyes turned into thin slits of rage as she gritted her teeth.
“Don’t act like you don’t know,” she seethed. We glanced around the table with confused faces. We really didn’t.
“What are you talking about?” Dita said sharply.
“Chris left me. He’s with your husband’s ex,” she revealed, looking straight at Cleo.
Cleo pointed to herself.
“Mine? Wait, you’re talking about Duchess? Chris is with Duchess? How? When did that happen?”
