“So, she lives with her son? He owns that big mansion, I understand?”
“Yes.” She didn’t want to talk about him.
“What’s his name again?”
“Michael. Why all these questions?”
“Do you find him attractive?”
Angela was taken aback. “Well...he’s all right I suppose. Not really.”A little white lie never hurt anyone.
“His wife is gorgeous.”
“Yes, she is,” Angela agreed and did not correct his inaccurate assumption.
As Angela sat down opposite Dot, book in hand, she got right down to business. “I had a great time at your party.”
“Me too. It was quite fabulous, wasn’t it?”
“It sure was. Michael did a great job organizing it.”
“Michael does a great job with everything. He’s a perfectionist.”
Angela had never quite thought of him like that; she pondered this for a second. Yes, maybe he was.
“Did Michael meet your fiancé?” Dot asked, smirking.
“Yes.”Yes, Robert did meet the man who, just the night before, passionately kissed his wife to be. Thank you for renewing the guilt.“Anyway, not to change the subject but I’d like to discuss something.”
“Yes sure...” Dot said as she sipped her cup of tea, intrigued. What could Angela possibly have to discuss.
“Unfortunately, I will not be going to the cottage with your family next weekend.”
“But Angela, I need you there.”
“No, you don’t.”
“You can’t leave me there with Michael and the two kids. I need an ally. We can read our stories.” Dot was laying on the guilt – thick.
“I’m sure you’ll be fine.”
“But why?” Dot asked.
“No reason. I don’t want to talk about it.”
Dot looked away. “You promised. I’m very disappointed in you.” She had completely succeeded in making Angela feel like a selfish evil woman; looking out solely for her own interests.
Dot rang the bell as she always did when she needed Ellie. Angela couldn’t get over the gall of the woman; treating her employee like a dog. Although because of her age, she could get away with it.
Ellie promptly appeared.
“Ellie, could you go fetch Michael for me. We have something to settle. Tell him it’s urgent,” she urged, her gaze piercing through Angela who wanted to crawl under the cushion. The last thing she needed was for Michael to get involved.
Michael came to the study within seconds.
He gave Angela a quick nod.
“Ellie tells me you want to speak to me; says it’s urgent,” he said, addressing his mother, knowing very well this was probably not life and death.
