Chapter Five
On the day of the charity ball, Lily and Scarlet visited Opal at home. They helped her with her hair and make-up.
“I can’t wait for Tony to show you off to his friends,” Lily said.
Opal smiled and didn’t say anything. Her nerves had been fried ever since he’d left her after their shopping trip. He’d ordered plenty of clothes for her to enjoy. The problem she found with the clothes was every time she looked at them she thought about the way he’d made her dress for him. Did every man do that?
Scarlet put a hand to her back and moaned.
“Are you all right?” Opal asked, concerned for her sister-in-law.
“Fine. This baby is just making his presence known more than the others.”
Lily left the room.
“Can I ask you something, Scarlet?” Opal asked. She didn’t feel comfortable talking to Lily. The other woman was nice, but she preferred to speak with her sister. Well, not completely a sister, but a sister by marriage.
“Sure, darling.”
“Can men be attracted to a woman who is a little heavier than his other dates?” Ever since he’d rubbed himself against her stomach, she’d been confused.
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Well, what if a guy kisses you, and you know....rubs up against you and his erm....bit is hard, is that a good thing?” Her cheeks were hot, and she wished she’d kept her opinion to herself.
“Are you talking about Tony?”
“No. No. Don’t worry about it. Just me and my curious mind, which I’ve been told will get me into trouble soon. Not like you and my brother.”
She noticed her brother’s wife held a frown and didn’t say anything else. Lily walked back in with a glass of water. Opal wondered what could be wrong. As always, time was flying by, and she didn’t get chance to ask. The two women left early, and she had time to put on her gown before the bell pinged to let her know Tony had arrived.
She opened the door with a smile on her face. Pausing, she stared at him. He looked extremely handsome in a black and white tuxedo.
“Wow. You look handsome,” she said, then proceeded to blush at her childish words.
“Not nearly as beautiful as you.” He held out his arm. She took it, grateful for his support. The heels she wore, which she’d been practising in ever since Tony had made her buy them, were dangerously high. He helped escort her to the limousine he’d brought with him.
“In you go. Frank will take us where we need to go.” Tony got in beside her. The glass sheet was up between the driver and passengers.
“This is nice,” she said.
“I love your hair.” He leaned over and wound a lock around his finger. “So silky.”
When they were together like this it was like they were in their own little world. Tony changed with her. As if he could be more of himself when the world was shut away.
“Scarlet and Lily helped me,” she said.
“You look nice. Your hair reminds me of when I found you on the swing on your wedding day with that loser. The spiral locks are the same. All you’re missing are the flowers.”
The drive didn’t last long before Frank was pulling up outside a really fancy looking house. “This is someone’s house?” she asked.
“The event is being hosted by his wife. There will be media present, so try to act your part as my adoring wife.”
The moment the doors opened, the flashing of the light bulbs started. Tony reverted back to his old self, laughing and smiling for the camera. She didn’t get him. One moment he was really intense, while the next he was the happy-go-lucky man.
“Sir, your parents are here,” she heard a man say into his ear. He froze up in front of her.
He took her hand to help her out of the limousine. An arm went around her waist.