Noella had started to develop a routine. Monday and Tuesday she shuttled Emily to school and had the kids over for dinner, Wednesday and Thursday she worked at the legal practice, Friday was shopping and lunch with girls and she had the kids every other weekend. This weekend it was her turn, she had Emily full time but Marcus and Stephanie pleased themselves, sometimes staying over, sometimes just dropping by and sometimes never showing at all. When they wanted something they certainly made their presence felt and it wasn't unusual for Noella to spend a significant amount of her weekend buying clothes for a party, a weekend away or some other occasion that her kids were attending. Noella often spent significant amounts of money which she resented; it often felt like it was a competition who could spoil the kids the most, as Damien never missed an opportunity to ingratiate himself by opening his wallet.
Even on the weekends when she didn't have the kids, she always ensured she went to watch them play sport. When she was by herself she shopped and generally kept busy, often taking in a manicure or a spa treatment, some spoil time for herself. She realised after many years of putting the family first it was important to have some valuable 'me' time.
A couple of days after Noella had been to the wedding she bumped into one her neighbours at the letter boxes.
"Hi! I'm Julia, from number one"
"Hi Julia, I'm Noella. I've just shifted into number two."
"Yes. I saw all the moving vans."
"It was a bit of a production wasn't it?" laughed Noella.
"It certainly looked like it. Are you settling in?"
"I think so. Just a few small boxes to unpack, but I really do like the neighbourhood."
"I like it here too. I was thinking, we should have drinks to welcome you. Prue who lives in the back at number four is a doll and Janette and Steph from number three are great fun. I'm sure we'd have a great time."
"Sounds good, I'd love to!"
"Okay. A week Sunday week?"
"A week Sunday!"
"I'll tell the others. Now, if it's a problem, just pop around to number one and let me know."
"Will do! I look forward to it."
"See you then!" confirmed Julia.
"See you."
With that, they both went inside their respective town houses.
The week ambled by as if to impede Noella from reaching the thing she desired. "Drinks". It went by full of the usual dreariness of picking up Emily from school, having the kids over for dinner four nights in a row as Damien had started to slide away from fulfilling his commitments. Noella filled this void more and more. She found it frustrating but the kids were more important than her grudges against Damien and so she put up with his slackness for the moment.
She did have one bright spot, a nice lunch with Jodie and Suzie at the Larder in Brighton, which is the kind of place where everybody went to see and be seen. They chatted about the goings on in their lives, both Suzie and Jodie were apparently solidly married to successful professional men, Suzie to a commercial lawyer and Jodie to a CEO of an import company. A large chunk of the conversation dwelled on Damien and his treatment of Noella. Noella also told them of the impending drinks invite from Julia. Suzie and Jodie were excited for her and couldn't wait to hear all the details next Friday. On the way back to her car she spotted a gorgeous pair of black suede shoes with crystal embossed heels, perfect for Sunday! Of course she didn't really need another pair shoes but she loved being able to indulge herself without ending up in World War Three with Damien over spending money on shoes.
You can't have too many shoes? Can you?
Sunday arrived and Noella felt excitement as she would finally be meeting the other "girls" who lived in the block of townhouses. It did strike her as being unusual that all the units were inhabited by unattached women. Maybe it was a sign that the women of today were becoming independent, but she didn't give it much more thought than that.
The previous night she took two bottles of Moet 2002 Grand Vintage, which she had stolen from Damien's cellar before he cleaned it out and popped them in the fridge. A small piece of revenge but it made her feel better and she was sure this would enhance the flavour. In the morning she had her hair and nails done before lounging around the rest of the day watching a video and catching up with friends on Facebook and e-mail. Also, she made sure the little black cocktail dress she was going to wear was ready to go. She laid it on the bed to match it up with the new shoes she had bought and was happy with how beautifully they matched.
Five o'clock arrived. Dressed, Noella carefully inspected herself in the full size mirror in her dressing room and was happy with the result.
"Mmmm. Classy but not overstated. Perfect!"
Feeling great within herself, she put the champagne into a leather wine carry, picked up her black clutch with diamante trim and headed off to number one with a spring in her step and a wiggle in her hips.
She rang the bell at number one and it was soon opened by a smiling Julia, a glass of champagne already in hand.
"Hi honey! Come in." she sparkled, standing aside to allow Noella to come inside. "We've already started, as you can tell!" she admitted, holding up her crystal champagne flute.
Julia was wearing a short, fuchsia coloured, figure hugging dress with a severe v-neckline that revealed an ample cleavage. It was highlighted with a gold belt and some towering gold heels with black straps Noella recognised from a magazine.
Julia was a statuesque woman. Five ten in the old, precisely cut strawberry red hair which always attracted the eye. She possessed a neat but tight bust and her slim hips lent down to lithe and long legs.
"I love the dress! And the shoes!" oozed Noella. "You look great!"
"Why thank you! And you look great too. I love the sparkles on the shoes; I'll have to try them on later!"
"Sure!" agreed Noella.
With that, Noella entered Julia's townhouse which was similar, but not exactly the same as hers. She followed Julia into the kitchen/family area.
"I've brought a contribution." she announced holding up the wine carry.
"You shouldn't have." replied Julia.
"I know. But I wanted to."
"Very nice!" exclaimed Julia as she removed the wine from the carry. "You didn't have to be so extravagant." She scolded, as she put the two expensive bottles of champagne into the refrigerator.
"I wasn't." Laughed Noella. "I stole them from my ex's wine cellar before I left."
"Marvellous! Will drink that next." announced Julia. "Now let me introduce you to the other girls."
She guided Noella over to where three impeccably dressed women were chatting at the end of the counter.
"This is Janette from number three" announced Julia moving towards a very statuesque blonde in her late 20's, whose perfectly coiffed hair dropped down in ringlets, framing a beautiful face with fine features. Her figure was the antitheses of the skeletons that inhabit most catwalks today, with ample, but perfectly proportioned breasts and hips. She was wrapped in a figure revealing vintage lace, thigh high dress with sheer sleeves and towering white heels with thick ankle straps.
"Hi."
"Hi."
They greeted by grazing each other's cheek with a soft peck of a kiss.
Julia now guided Noella to the end of the counter where a woman who appeared to be in her mid-forties was standing.
"And this is Prue from number four."
"Hi Prue."
"Hi" replied Prue. "Lovely to meet you."
"And you."
And as with Janette, they grazed cheeks with small pecks of kisses. Prue was wearing an electric blue low cut cocktail dress which highlighted a very shapely bosom. The dress was complimented by stunning matching suede tall heels. Prue's dark shoulder length hair was streaked with deep red highlights. Her slight figure carried her outfit beautifully.
"And last but least, this is Steph who shares number three with Jeanette."
Steph gave a little curtsy before planting a peck on Noella's cheek which was now covered by array of different coloured lipsticks.
