New York, Summer, 1921 . Your new neighbor across the lake is the mysterious bachelor , Dutch. His reputation for excess and extravagant parties precede him in the prohibition era. But after an invitation to one of his soirees, you discover your...
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"Dickie, there you are! You owe me four dollars, you bimbo!" someone called from the steps. The three of you looked up at the boisterous woman approaching. Richard put his hands in his pockets and dropped his head.
"I said I'd get you later," he grumbled.
The woman rolled her eyes dramatically and grabbed Richard's arm to steady herself while she adjusted her shoe.
"Ha! You slay me, Dickie," she said, fumbling with her strap, "What happened to the ten clams you owe me from the last party, hmm?"
You were taken aback by her brazenness with him. Furthermore, you couldn't believe he'd let some gal speak to him like that. You glanced over at Harrison, who watched her ankles with wide-eyed curiosity, then shifted your gaze to Richard with question.
"Is this your fiancé?" she asked Richard and extended her hand before he could answer.
"The name's Maribel, sweets, but only my husband and priest ever called me that and they've been dead for years!" she shook your hand enthusiastically, following it with a gale of laughter. It was loud and brash just like her. She was decked out in all black, even down to the slender cigarette holder perched between her lips. Her chin-length hair was perfectly coiffed and as dark as the rest of her ensemble. It framed her round face like a portrait, making her icy blue eyes pop. It was a striking combination.
"Violet," you responded stiffly. You weren't quite sure what to make of this woman just yet. She was obviously very familiar with Richard, perhaps too much so. It would come as no surprise to you, though, given Richard's reputation for the fairer sex.
"This is my cousin, Harrison," you said, giving a little wave at him.
"Harrison," he said with a broad smile and shook her hand with vigor.
"Ooo, an English fellow like our host!" she cooed. Harrison nodded, still smiling stupidly, still shaking her hand.
Maribel looked down at her hand and then back up at him with a sarcastic smile.
"I'm gonna need that hand back, sweets, or I may just have to join the circus as a gimp!" she laughed loudly again and Harrison quickly let go, turning a deep shade of pink. You stifled a smile. You've never seen him like this.
"Maribel and I went to university in Connecticut," Richard finally explained. He had a slightly annoyed tone when speaking of her, the same you used when you spoke of your sisters.
She nodded her head rapidly.
"Right, right and Dickie here is about as practiced in poker as I am in manners!" she burst out laughing again and shook her head.
Richard clenched his jaw and flared his nostrils. His gambling was always a source of contention during your courtship. He lost hundreds of dollars on silly card games, forcing him to beg and borrow from family...and old friends apparently.
