The Wives of Beverly Row 6: Lust Has a New Address (9 page)

Ariel had gone to the public ceremony at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and watched Gabe return the painting in exchange for the five million dollar reward. Just as promised, she didn’t say a word. As far as she was concerned, the painting was authentic, and Jake was entitled to every penny of that reward. After all, between the millions he’d paid Gabe, and the millions he’d given to Zola in the divorce, all of it was spent already anyway.

Ariel saw the painting take its original position on the museum wall and that it was amazing that something she’d created, her forgery, was being treated as such a treasure! She knew that the real treasure was the freedom that painting had bought for Zola.

After that, none of them ever heard from Jake again. It wasn’t surprising. After the humiliation he’d suffered, he wouldn’t be looking for any of their company. There was also the fact that Ariel had the power to get Jake into serious legal difficulties simply by calling the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. It was unlikely Ariel would ever do that given the fact that she was the one who’d forged the painting, but it was a possibility and the real financial repercussions would have fallen on Jake if she did. It was another little insurance they had that Jake wouldn’t create trouble.

By the time the date of Zola’s annual barbecue arrived, the divorce had already gone through and Zola owned her house. Everyone knew the barbecue wouldn’t be anything like the year before. So much had changed in all of their lives.

*

“B
ECKY,” ARIEL CALLED DOWN THE STAIRS.
“Can you get my bathing suit from the dryer. I don’t want a repeat of last year when we had to borrow Zola’s.”

“I’m busy, Mom,” Becky called.

“Busy doing what?”

“I’m on the phone.”

“With Kyle?”

“Yes. He wants to know what we’re bringing.”

“Same as last year, tell him. Ribs.”

“I guess that’s tradition now,” Becky called up the stairs before getting back to Kyle on the phone.

Ariel was pleased with the way Becky’s friendship with Kyle had developed. They’d become good friends to each other, and Kyle even helped Becky with her homework from time to time. He was still their neighbor. He lived with his mother and Matt now. Hank had ended up taking a job in New York and he had sold the house to Matt and Veronica. It had meant that there wasn’t any changes on the street.

Veronica was still in her house, although with her new man. Not much had changed with Trudy. She was still Trudy, although she did seem to be maturing a little. She didn’t spend quite as much time chasing college-aged boys as she used to. She spent more time with her friends, Ariel, Veronica and Zola.

Zola’s life was completely different. In fact, her entire personality was different. Whereas before she’d been depressed and bullied by Jake, now she was her own independent woman. She was taking an interior design course at the local college and was hoping to start her own business in the fall. She was still single, but she’d recently received a very long and very sincere letter from Hank Roycroft. He’d written to her from New York and confessed that he’d always been massively attracted to her. He wanted her to come out to New York and experience the city with him. When Zola had told Veronica, Veronica was delighted for her.

Gabe popped his head into the bedroom.

“My gosh, Ariel, you look stunning.”

Ariel smiled at him. It had been a pleasant year. In fact, one of the best periods of Ariel’s adult life. Gabe had moved back in with her and Becky in the spring and they were even talking about getting remarried.

“You don’t look too bad yourself,” Ariel said.

He came over and kissed her. She put her arms around his neck and let him lift her up.

“Stop it you two!” Becky said, laughing. She handed Ariel her bathing suit.

“Are we ready to get to this party?” Ariel said.

*

I
T WAS SO NICE FOR
Ariel to walk up to Zola’s front door with her family. She remembered back to the year before. She’d thought she’d lost Gabe for ever at that point. Now she had him back, she had her family back. Becky seemed so happy too.

“Ariel!” Zola screamed when she opened the door.

Ariel would never understand why women screamed so excitedly when they saw each other. She’d seen Zola two days ago! She’d spoken to her twice on the phone since. It was hardly the reunion of the century. Still, she was very happy to receive a hug from her friend. Zola went on to hug Becky and Gabe and then escorted them into the kitchen.

Ariel put the ribs on the table with the other food. It seemed everyone else was already there. Veronica was there with Matt, sitting by the pool, watching Kyle on the diving board. Trudy was at the patio table, sipping a glass of champagne. There was a man sitting with her, a handsome fellow and to Ariel’s pleasure, he seemed to be close to Trudy’s age! What a surprise! Not that Ariel had anything against women going for younger men, it was just, she’d always had a feeling that Trudy would have a better chance of finding happiness in her life if she went for someone who she could have more than just a sexual relationship with. The man she was sitting with was good-looking and mature and he seemed interested in whatever it was that Trudy was saying.

Ariel went over to introduce herself.

“I know you,” she said to the man when she got close enough to see his face.

“We’ve met before,” the man said. “I’m Jeff Harkness. Matt’s brother.”

“Of course,” Ariel said.

Veronica spoke up from over by the pool. “I tried my hand at a little matchmaking,” she said. “I figured if Matt was so great, his brother couldn’t be too bad either.”

“I see,” Ariel said, giving Trudy a meaningful glance. “So how’s it going so far?” she said to Trudy.

Trudy laughed. “Pretty good,” she said.

“I’ll say,” Ariel said, eyeing Jeff’s muscular torso.

Becky was over by the diving board.

“Go for it, Kyle,” she said.

Kyle looked back at her and grinned before diving into the pool and making as large a splash as he could. Becky got up on the board and dived in after him.

Ariel looked over at the kitchen. Zola was bringing out a tray of fresh lemonade. Ariel watched her work. She seemed so much happier, so much more content than she had been before when Jake was bullying her and taking advantage of her. Ariel was proud that she’d played a part in making that change happen for Zola.

She walked over to her.

“So,” Ariel said, “are you excited about going to New York?”

“Very excited,” Zola said.

“Good,” Ariel said. “I’m happy for you.”

“It’s not like we’re engaged or anything.”

“No, I know, but it’s nice that Hank wants to see you.”

“You should hear the things he’s said to me,” Zola said. “Such nice things.”

“Have you showed the letter to Veronica?”

“Of course she has,” Veronica said, joining them.

“And?”

“And what? I think it’s great.”

“Did Hank ever say the same things to you, Veronica?” Ariel said.

Zola put her hand on Veronica’s arm. “Oh, don’t answer. I’d die if he did.”

“Don’t worry,” Veronica said. “I can safely confirm that Hank never spoke to me like that when we were together.”

“It’s just me then?” Zola said.

Ariel looked at Veronica. They could both see how much hope Zola was already investing in Hank. It was cute, adorable even.

“It’s just you,” Veronica said.

“How would you feel if Hank was back on Beverly Row?” Ariel said to Veronica.

“I think it would be super,” Veronica said. “He and Matt are actually still friends, despite what happened.”

“Wow, that’s amazing,” Ariel said.

“I know. And I’m grateful for it because it makes things so much easier for me.”

Trudy came over. “So girls, what are we talking about?”

“We were talking about me and Hank,” Zola said, “but I think you and Jeff make an even more interesting topic.”

Trudy laughed. She looked back at Jeff.

“What do you think?” Veronica said. “Will it stick?”

“It could,” Trudy said. “I really like him.”

“Well good,” Veronica said, “because Matt tells me he really likes you too.”

“Come on,” Ariel said.

She pulled Zola and Trudy and Veronica by their arms.

“What?” Zola said.

“Let’s show Becky and Kyle how it’s done.”

Ariel ran over to the side of the pool and without hesitating or stopping to think about her hair or makeup, she jumped into the water. Veronica, Trudy and Zola all looked at each other. Then, without exchanging a word, the three of them all ran for the pool and jumped.

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Thank you for reading
The Wives of Beverly Row
. It is an exciting and realistic exploration of the sexual lives of a group of Californian women. I hope you stay with me as I continue to explore the kinks and lusts that fuel the fantasies of the women in this series.

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Abby Weeks
2014

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