Happily Ever After_ - Benison Anne O'Reilly [99]
When I arrived home Tony came up and gave me a kiss. I was still getting re-used to that. ‘You should have seen Issy when I picked her up,’ he said. ‘She was so excited I thought she was going to wet her pants.’
‘She’s such a daddy’s girl these days. And she’s been stuck with cranky old mummy for weeks. In fact I think it would be an excellent idea if you spent the whole day with her tomorrow. I’m going to the hairdressers in the afternoon and then to my work dinner dance, remember.’
‘Fair enough,’ he said, ‘although I might go and visit Mum and Dad for a couple of hours. But aren’t partners usually invited to the dinner dance? I wouldn’t have minded going.’
‘Oh…I thought you usually found my work things boring so I didn’t ask you this time. And I’m going out with Melanie and the girls afterwards for a few drinks. It’s my last hurrah.’
‘So I get to have a big night in with Isabel.’
‘That’s okay isn’t it?’
‘Yeah I guess so…I’m pretty exhausted anyway. I’ve got lots of reading to get on with too. But maybe you can pay me back tonight in some way.’
‘I’m sure I can, just as long as you don’t mind the smell of fake tan.’
***
I spent most of the next day perched on the loo. Then my hairdresser was running an hour late, which did nothing to help my anxiety. I didn’t get home till well after 5pm and had to make an immediate beeline for the bedroom to do my makeup and get dressed before the taxi arrived. The dinner dance was being held at a venue in Darling Harbour and Melanie and I organised to share a cab in together.
At 6.45pm I checked myself in the bathroom mirror and ticked all the boxes: the tan looked subtle and natural, my hair glossy and sleek, the dress was subtly sexy, and my shoes sparkled and glittered in concert with my eyes. I knew I hadn’t looked so good in a very long time, maybe even since my wedding day.
When I emerged from the bedroom Tony and Isabel were sitting on the lounge together watching Australia’s Funniest Home Videos. Tony did a double-take when he saw me. ‘God you look amazing! I don’t remember that dress. I’m sure I’d remember that dress. Is it new?’
‘Ah yeah…I bought it the other day. Hope that’s okay.’
‘I’m not complaining. You can buy all the dresses you want if they look like that one. I wish I was going now to show you off.’
Tony didn’t seem to notice my new shoes. I don’t think he could take his eyes off the dress. Just then I heard the taxi’s horn. ‘That’s Melanie. I’d better go. You be a good girl for Daddy,’ I said, kissing Isabel.
‘Make sure you don’t stay out too late,’ Tony called out as I was opening the front door. ‘I’m looking forward to taking that dress off you.’
Melanie’s reaction when she saw me was almost as gobsmacked as Tony’s, although she didn’t express any desire to have her way with me.
Unfortunately for a while there I thought that was going to be the highpoint of the evening. The menu was unoriginal and my chicken overcooked, the managing director gave the longest and most mind-numbingly boring speech of a career noteworthy for its boring speeches, and the repertoire of the five-piece ensemble seemed to consist entirely of the kitsch songs from the 1980s.
We girls danced together. A lot of people had brought their partners and it was diverting for a period to observe their other halves: some couples seemed the perfect match whereas others didn’t at all. A few co-workers looked to be getting cosy, too and I hoped for their sakes it wasn’t just the alcohol talking. I kept my own drinking in check this time; I was planning a long night and didn’t want to make a fool of myself.
Edward danced with me for a couple of dances, although he seemed a bit embarrassed, as if he didn’t quite know where to look.
Alex was there but avoided me all evening. He remained at one of the other tables across the dance floor, hanging with most of the marketing crowd. To all appearances he was having a great time. He danced with Rosanna and then he danced two dances with Amanda. I had a feeling