Vlad was a nice, handsome man and Mavis adored his incredibly sexy accent but she wasn't completely sure if she wanted to pursue a relationship with him. For starters, he was a touch too nice. Nice people seldom seemed to get anywhere in life. Plus, nice people tended to get annoyed with Mavis, although she wasn't totally sure why. Nice people somehow always acted like Mavis wasn't so nice. It didn't really bother her since she was used to it, but it could get a little dreary.
Then there was that looming paternity issue. Did Mavis really need to be dating a man who might be the father of her late sister's only child? She didn't think so. Her own children were grown and she had taken care of Tiffany for months so she was pretty much done with the mommy thing. Finally, there was Vlad's job. While being a college professor was a perfectly respectable profession, it wasn't that far above the married policeman Mavis had previously dated. Mavis wanted to be with a man who was a little higher up on the economic pecking order. No, wait, she was lying. She wanted to be with a man who was way higher up on the economic pecking order. Like on top of it. Like her husband Ron had been.
But who would that be in Schuyler Square? There just weren't that many movers and shakers. The men of Schuyler Square seemed content to simply enjoy life, an attitude that Mavis simply didn't get. How could one enjoy life when one wasn't wealthy? It wasn't possible.
"Let's face it," Mavis said to herself. "When you've been married to the richest man in town, it's not that easy to find someone to replace him."
"What did you say, Mavis?" Rosanne set a cut of coffee down in front of her boss.
"Oh, I was just talking to myself." Mavis eyed her housekeeper idly. Rosanne was another one of those souls who seemed content with her life. How did she stand it? She had to shop at secondhand stores and color her own hair, for Pete's sake! Mavis knew she'd rather die than live like that. "How have you been, Rosanne?"
Rosanne looked startled. "What do you mean? You never ask me how I've been."
"Don't I? Well, I was thinking how you've moved into that haunted house. What's that been like? Have you heard a lot of strange noises and things going bump in the night?"
"No, we haven't heard a thing. Everything's been fine. Mike and I are celebrating our 30th anniversary next month and life is good."
Mavis studied Rosanne and decided that she was telling the truth. Rosanne always told the truth. Wow, what would that be like? "Are you happy, Rosanne?"
Rosanne almost dropped the pot of coffee she was holding. "I beg your pardon?"
"Are you happy? Do you like your life? Is there anything you'd change if you could?"
"Excuse me, Mavis, but why are you asking me all these questions?"
Mavis shrugged. "I was just wondering what it's like to be you. You know, ordinary. Average. Married to the same guy, mortgage on your house, shopping at chain stores instead of boutiques, going out to eat at Burger King instead of the country club. What's that like?"
Rosanne smiled at her boss. "Let's just say that I wouldn't trade places with anyone in the world."
"Not even me?"
"Especially not you."
Rosanne returned to the kitchen as Mavis pondered her housekeeper's remarks. Why wouldn't Rosanne want to be Mavis Schuyler? She'd thought everyone in the town wanted to be her. Make that everyone in the world.
Mavis sipped her coffee. Hmmmm. Interesting. And a little disturbing...and undoubtedly wrong. What would Rosanne know about happiness anyway?
Putting her maid firmly out of her head, Mavis returned to thinking about her favorite topic. Herself.
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