The Problem with Dreams

Chapter 20 - The Party

Susan was out of the shower, dressed in her bathrobe and working on her makeup and hair when Greg came upstairs to take his. He undressed and stepped into the glass enclosure while still watching her. By the time he got out, she was more or less done with her makeup and was starting to get dressed, standing in the middle of their walk-in closet dressed in stockings and underthings. Greg watched as she slid the new dress down over her head and struggled to zip it up.

"Can I give you a hand?" he offered as he wrapped the bath towel he'd been drying with around his waist and stepped towards her.

"Please. This is so tight now, I think I'll tear it by trying to reach around to the back to zip it myself." Susan willingly turned her back to him to allow him to do up the zipper, before turning around to regard the image of herself in the mirror.

"Oh my God," she murmured.

"That dress does accent you new figure rather nicely," Greg said in an admiring tone.

"I can't wear this! I look like Madonna wearing her bullet bra outfit," Susan protested.

"I don't think it's quite that bad Susan, but it does accent your cleavage quite nicely," Greg assured her.

"You like it," Susan realized. "You actually like the way this looks."

"What's not to like," Greg said coming to feel her shape from behind. That seemed to be a favorite pastime of his these days and normally Susan didn't seem to mind, but this time she shook him off.

"Greg, these people are coming to celebrate you. I don't want to detract from that by wearing something this inappropriate," Susan insisted.

"It is simply a cocktail dress that you happen to fill out superbly. There is nothing inappropriate about it," Greg countered.

"And it wouldn't bother you for your friends or colleagues to see me like this?" she asked in surprise.

"What man in his right mind would mind being accompanied by a sexy wife? Especially one in my business," he replied. "You are beautiful Susan, absolutely glowing tonight. I am honored to have you for my wife and to have the opportunity to show you off a bit."

Susan nodded doubtfully. "Well okay, if you want me to, I'll wear it, but I think I'll at least take a scarf with me. I can cover up a bit so it's not quite so revealing," she said and she pulled a one of a complementary color from the shelf, wrapping it around her shoulders to create a shawl-like effect. "Okay?" she asked.

"If it makes you more comfortable," Greg told her.

"Okay," Susan repeated as she put the finishing touches on her makeup and hair, fastened their two-toned pearl on it's chain around her neck, and grabbed her evening bag and heels from the closet while sliding on flats. "I'll see you there, Greg," she said and she hurried down the stairs.

c

Matt was ready to go when Susan was and was more than willing to drive his mother to the cottage. They took the convertible and Susan did her best to enjoy the ride, trying not to be nervous about the evening ahead.

They still had thirty minutes before she expected the first of the guests would arrive as Matt dropped her off and she stepped from the car, giving her plenty of time to inspect things one last time before the party got started, going over once again when to serve the various foods. The party planner had hired waiters to see to drinks for the guests and to pick up any abandoned glassware or dishes, and they stood ready and waiting for the party to begin. When Susan went out to do a final check of the outside decorations including those lining the sides and marking the entrance to the driveway, she noted a parking lot attendant was already standing by. Feeling satisfied with the arrangements, Susan turned to go back to the cottage as the first car pulled into the drive and music wafted towards her through the open cottage door.