* * *
One afternoon when Mia was lying out by the pool, her sister called. As usual, the conversation centered on Brian and what a terrible man he’d turned out to be and how Mia should have somehow known this would happen. Meanwhile, two guys arrived on the property to check the air-conditioning units.
When Mia hung up she noticed that one of them was standing just a few feet away. He was an unusually handsome kid with bright eyes and enticing lips. It briefly crossed Mia’s mind that he was too young and too cute to have already settled on a career fixing air conditioners.
“We’re finished,” he said.
“Terrific.” Mia gave him a polite smile.
But instead of turning away, he hesitated as if he wanted to ask her something.
“Yes?” Mia said.
He suddenly held out his hand. “I’m Jess, by the way.”
“Mia,” she said. She noticed that his palm felt soft and friendly.
He smiled in a manner that Mia thought indicated he knew he was good-looking and was confident that his looks were a ticket to something better. “I couldn’t help overhearing a bit of your conversation. Are you married to—” He blurted out Brian’s name with reverence.
Mia stiffened. Hearing Brian’s name come out of this kid’s mouth was like a slap. Her anger toward Brian and by extension anyone who knew him, including this kid, was freshly aroused along with her suspicions. Why on earth was this kid asking about Brian? Did he know him? Had Brian sent the kid here to spy on her?
“I was,” she said coldly. “Why?”
“I just wanted to let you know that he’s my idol.”
At first, this didn’t make sense. Brian was someone’s idol? How could that be? But it could, easily, Mia thought. There was always some misguided kid ready to worship at the altar of money.
Mia suddenly lost it. “My husband is a shithead,” she snapped.
She immediately regretted saying it, because the kid, Jess, began apologizing profusely for mentioning Brian’s name.
This was its own kind of agony. Jess was young and insecure, and it took her at least ten minutes to reassure him that it was okay, she was okay, and no, she wasn’t angry at him and he wasn’t going to lose his job.
He finally left, exiting through a side gate located behind a strip of hedges where it was difficult to see who was coming or going.
Mia went into the kitchen, passing one of the two live-in housekeepers who was on her way to the store. They briefly discussed the air conditioners, which reminded Mia of the conversation she’d had with the guy about Brian. As she poured herself more wine, she noticed that her hand was shaking in anger.
“Mia?”
Mia nearly dropped the glass as she turned to find that Jess had not only returned but was standing in the kitchen.
“I’m sorry. I forgot something. Are you okay?” he asked.
“Do I look okay?” Mia said, glaring at him as she took a gulp of wine, hoping the alcohol would help her regain control. It didn’t. Instead, when Jess took a step forward and asked what Brian did to her, Mia, who had been telling the story over and over again to her friends by rote, told him the whole terrible tale with all the intimate details.
It wasn’t until the housekeeper returned that Jess finally left, saying he or someone else would be back in a few days to make sure the air-conditioning unit was wo
rking properly.
Mia spent those days drinking rosé and talking on the phone. Sometimes she went through a bottle by 6:00 p.m., at which time her head hurt and she could blessedly pass out for a few hours. And indeed, on the afternoon when Jess came back to check on the unit, Mia had gone through nearly a bottle.
She was a little pissed and a little pissed off. She followed him out to the side of the house where the massive units were hidden behind cypress trees. She asked him why Brian was his idol and Jess explained that Brian gave money to a scholarship fund at his school to encourage kids like him to go into business.
And now he had. He was also studying at Southampton College. And when he wasn’t working or in school, he was surfing. He told Mia she should take up surfing and she laughed and said she would think about it. And once again, Mia found herself shaking. This time, not with anger but with a sudden and unexpectedly strong desire for Jess.
* * *
Two days later Mia was at the liquor store buying a case of rosé when she ran into Jess in the parking lot. He asked if she was having a party and she said no, a few friends were coming over and they liked to drink.