Mavis Schuyler sat on her bed for quite a while after Peter left. The house seemed to be echoing around her, the large, lavishly decorated rooms silent reminders of how empty her life had become.
"Oh, so what? Good riddance to Peter Van Husen. I've been wanting him to leave simply forever!" Mavis said out loud but her voice sounded a little shaky. True, she wasn't what anyone would call sorry to see Peter walk out the front door. Their relationship had run out of steam ages ago and the thrill of fooling around with a younger man who wore a uniform had worn off around the same time she realized that Peter was always going to want to drive a pick up truck and didn't seem to be capable of learning how to make a decent martini. It had been nice while it lasted but a long term thing? Never.
Getting to her feet, Mavis decided to get dressed in something really fabulous and go to the club for dinner. Tyler was out with his irritating new girlfriend, Rosanne had gone home to her own family and Tiffany no longer lived in Schuyler Manor, leaving Mavis alone. Mavis didn't like being alone in the big house. She wasn't sure if she liked being alone period.
The parking lot at the Schuyler Square Country Club was filled with fancy, expensive cars--not a pick up truck in sight--and Mavis felt her mood improve the moment she turned her Mercedes over to the red jacketed valet. People--rich people--were exactly what she needed. Who knew? She might meet a man that night who was more handsome than Peter and definitely more wealthy. Tossing her freshly frosted hair over her shoulder, Mavis headed for the dining room.
"Mavis! It's been too long!" Brenda Wagner greeted her with a hug the moment Mavis entered the dining room. Brenda peered past Mavis. "Where's that good looking boyfriend of yours?"
"Peter and I are no longer together," Mavis said coolly.
"Got tired of slumming it?" Brenda asked. "What a pity. He was quite yummy to look at. Did he go back to his pregnant wife?"
Mavis didn't respond. Instead she gave Brenda a stare that would have stopped a raging hippopotamus in its tracks.
Brenda took the hint. "Don't worry, darling. I'm sure you'll find someone new and just as yummy to replace your police officer. However, might I suggest that you aim just a wee bit higher next time? Someone more of your breeding. I don't like to bring it up but you aren't getting any younger, dear. You need to think with your brain, not your hormones."
"I need a drink," Mavis announced. "It's been divine seeing you again, Brenda." Leaving Brenda and her rude opinions behind, Mavis went to the bar and ordered a double martini.
"Mind if I join you?" A deep masculine voice asked behind her. The voice had a charming accent that Mavis couldn't quite place. Mavis smiled to herself as she mentally stuck her tongue out at Brenda Wagner. I'm not that old, Brenda!
Turning, she found herself looking directly into beautiful ice blue eyes that belonged to a very handsome man. "Of course," she replied.
The man sat down smoothly on the bar stool next to Mavis. "I feel a bit out of place here," he confessed.
"Are you new in town?" Mavis inquired.
He shook his head. "I was a student at Schuyler College many years ago but now I'm back to stay. My name is Vlad."
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