The Arrangement 1

Chapter 10

April slept through most of Saturday. Walter spent the day showing the girls around the new neighborhood. There were trails in the forest and he took them for a little hike. Then he drove them into town for lunch and they came back with ice creams.

When they got home April bathed them and dressed them. They were all invited to the Prentiss’s for dinner. 

When the children were ready she set them down in front of a movie while she got herself ready. She felt an enormous pressure to look good, especially since the other wives would be there tonight and would no doubt be judging her.

It wasn’t just Walter who’d been made partner she realized, but she had two. While Walter would have to prove himself in the office, she would have to do the same here, in this privileged miniature community of four families.

She wondered what the women spent their time doing. They’d all sent their kids away to school and now they were grown up. Maybe they worked. Maybe she’d get back into photography. She’d just been making a name for herself when she met Walter and she was sure she’d be able to get in touch with some of her old clients.

Maybe sending the girls away to school was just what she needed. She felt guilty as soon as she had the thought but there were many wealthy women who weren’t occupied full-time with raising their children. The fact was, it did open up a whole world of new opportunities that she’d thought she’d closed off to herself.

Somehow though, she doubted that the wives worked. They probably busied themselves with more traditional roles like getting involved with charitable causes and hosting dinner parties.

She went and found Walter in the bathroom. He was shaving.

–Didn’t you shave this morning?

–Yes but I want to make a good impression.

–I’ll say. And I thought I was the only one worried about that tonight.

He smiled at her. –You’ll look great, April. You always do.

–I hope so.

–What dress are you wearing?

–I was thinking of the blue one you gave me for my birthday.

Walter shook his head. –If I’m not mistaken, there’s a box for you on the bed.

She looked back into the bedroom and there was a pink dress box tied with a black ribbon. Why hadn’t she seen it earlier? She recognized the name on the box. It was from one of the most expensive boutiques in the city.

–Walter, you shouldn’t have.

–I didn’t.

She went over and read the card attached to the box. It was from Herb. That was strange, she thought.

–Why did Herb buy me a dress?

–I guess he wants us to feel welcome. Open it.

If April was surprised when she read the card, she was even more so when she saw what was inside the box. It was very revealing. It was short and beautiful and the bodice was made of intricate lacework. It almost looked like lingerie.

–Oh my, Walter said when she held it up. Put it on.

She took off her jeans and shirt and pulled the dress over her head. It was a perfect fit around her breasts and thighs and the neckline was flattering, but it was just so revealing. The material was exquisite. She’d never seen such beautiful lace.

But it was too revealing. She couldn’t possibly wear it to the Prentiss’s. 

–It’s a bit naughty, isn’t it?

–Nonsense. He wouldn’t have sent it if it wasn’t appropriate.

–But it’s so short, Walter. And the lace is almost see through. It’s like lingerie.

She turned her butt to the mirror and it was just an inch or two lower than where her butt cheeks ended and her legs began. If she bent over, or even sat down there’d be very little covering her thighs or buttocks. Possibly even the front of her underwear would show. And her breasts were extremely exposed. The lace worked into two delicate cups that seemed to present her breasts to whoever was before her.

–I can’t wear it, Walter.

–You have to.

–Excuse me?

–I won’t have you offending the Kingsley’s on our first night out with them.

–Well he shouldn’t have sent me something so skimpy.

–You have no choice.

–What if I wear something underneath it? Some leggings or something?

–You’re wearing it as it is, and that’s the end of it.

Walter stormed out of the bedroom and went to make sure the girls were ready.

April looked at her watch. They’d have to leave soon. She went into the bathroom and showered and shaved. Then she did the best she could with her makeup and hair before Walter came in to hurry her up. She had a sick feeling in her stomach as she put on the dress. She was absolutely terrified of wearing it in public but she put on the bravest face she could and came down the stairs with her hands straight by her sides.

The girls thought she was wearing pajamas and she had to correct them. Walter brought the cadillac around to the front door and she helped them into the back before getting into the front with Walter.

–April, you look perfect.

–I don’t feel perfect.

He rolled his eyes and sighed. –If you could just go with the flow for once it would be greatly appreciated, he said.

She didn’t understand why he was being so hard on her. It wasn’t like she had forced him to wear something he found humiliating. She appreciated Herb giving her a gift but he didn’t know what women wore. This was underwear, not a dress. She felt like she could do nothing right with Walter though. Nothing she did seemed to please him.

She looked back at the house as they went down the driveway and was amazed at how grand it looked. There were lights in the law shining up at it and at the trees around it and it looked like a castle from a fairy tale. She vowed to correct her attitude and be more grateful. After all, she had Walter and Herb to thank for everything she had.