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“I’m actually surprised that you accepted my invitation,” he admitted as he looked around the room.
I took a sip of my wine before I asked, “Why is that?”
“You haven’t attended a single event professional since Elijah passed.”
I sighed.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring the mood down.”
I smiled politely at him. Lloyd was someone who I trusted and could be honest with.
“You didn’t bring the mood down. I was just thinking that it was time for me to come out into the world again. It’s time for me to live.”
“I’m glad you’re starting to see that on your own. May I have this dance?” Lloyd asked.
“I would be glad to.”
We walked to the floor and danced as the hired band played a classical song.
“For a long time, I felt that Elijah’s suicide was a reflection of my role in his life.”
“You know that’s not true. I told you that back then.”
“I know that, Lloyd. It was difficult for me to comprehend, though. I understood it on a professional level, but I couldn’t get it on an emotional level. Here I was, a mental health professional, and I couldn’t even help my husband. In my mind, it said that I was a failure as a wife and a professional. I was embarrassed, and I felt like people were looking at me and judging me. He didn’t love me enough. I wasn’t woman enough. Why would anyone go to her for services when she couldn’t help the man she pledged her life to?”
Lloyd looked down at me with compassion-filled eyes. “I’m sorry that you went through all of that. Despite your constituents telling you the truth about everything else, it obviously was something you needed to go through on your own.”
I nodded and smiled. Finding myself getting choked up, I changed the subject. “So, Marilyn . . . how is she feeling about the twins going off to high school this year?”
He laughed. “I think my wife is on the verge of a mid-life crisis. She’s talking about it’s time to travel the world, and when the kids graduate high school, she wants to sell our home and buy an RV.”
He shook his head and laughed again.
“It sounds like she’s trying to prepare herself for a life without her kids. It has to be difficult for a mother watching her kids grow up and needing her less and less.”
“I would agree with that, Giselle, but Marilyn isn’t a woman whose identity was steeped in her role as a wife and mother. She took those roles seriously, but she’s also made a name for herself in the medical community.”
“She has. Give her time. She’ll be fine.”
“Did I tell you that she dyed her hair red last week?”
My mouth dropped open, and I laughed just as I felt a hand touch my shoulder lightly.
“May I have this dance?”
My heart stopped in my chest because, what in the hell was he doing here?
“Of course,” Lloyd stated before he turned to whisper to me. “Be careful. Casimir Perez is not a man a vulnerable lady like you needs to be alone with. He’s a charmer, and word has it that he’s on the market,” Lloyd warned. Aloud, he continued, “Giselle, I am going over there to speak with Claire Yancy about a donation.” He bobbed his head across the room to where a local cable network owner stood chatting with someone else.
“Okay, Lloyd. I’ll see you soon,” I replied as Casimir stepped in front of me and took Lloyd’s place.
“What are you doing here?” I hissed.
“Good evening, Giselle. It’s lovely to see you again too,” Casimir replied coolly.
His eyes slowly drank me in from head to toe, and I saw the look of desire and appreciation in his eyes. “You look lovely tonight.”
I felt exposed in my daring, strapless, bold red gown with its plunging neckline. The large, sweeping skirt had made me feel like an elegant belle, but the way that Casimir’s eyes devoured my cleavage made me feel sexy and sensual.