This is a continuation of the Brookhaven Book Club series, the first four chapters under the title, The Brookhaven Book Club, and the next four under The Brookhaven B.C. Redux. The first four were published previously, and the next four are in the process of being published. You might enjoy this segment if you haven't read the previous ones, but it would certainly enhance your understanding and appreciation if you've read the first four.
It should be noted that this is a work of fiction and a product of my imagination. All characters are eighteen years of age or older.
Thank you for taking the time to read, and I hope you also rate the story and leave a comment. Comments help me evaluate my writing and, hopefully, improve it.
*****
The Draw Meeting
Gloria's phone rang, and she answered it, ignoring the screen since she enjoyed surprises, even as insignificant as who was calling her.
"Hello," she answered brightly.
"Hey, Gloria. It's Poppy. Just thought I'd check to see if you need help for the meeting."
"Well, at least I remembered it," she laughed. "And I have lots of things ready. I do need the name of that wine we all like so well."
"Don't worry, I'll take care of it," Poppy assured her.
"You don't have to do that."
"It's easy. I'll pick it up on the way there."
"At least let me pay you for it."
"We'll discuss it," Poppy said.
"Okay." A short pause. "You haven't been sneaking peeks at those cards, have you?"
"I probably should, but they're in an envelope hidden in the basement."
"The basement?"
"I don't trust Abe. He talks about me doing that 'posing thing' almost every day. He has all the pictures on his computer, and I suspect on his phone, too, even though I hate that. He teased me the other day -- he had the pic of me sprawled in the chair as the cover on his phone."
"I assume you threatened him with something dire, maybe mentioning Lorena Bobbitt or something like that."
Poppy laughed. "You assume correctly, and I wasn't quite that threatening. I told him if he ever wanted to see me like that again, he'd get that picture off there."
"I'm sure that worked."
"Pretty much. The picture disappeared, but then he wanted to see me sprawled in a chair in the living room."
Gloria laughed. "Typical man, I guess. And, I'm guessing you did lt."
"It was fun. But, since you brought it up, did you share yours with Bern?"
"Oh, sure. He loved the pictures."
"That, well, ... just seems strange."
"I know it does, but it's the relationship we have. He tells me to do whatever I want that makes me happy and keeps me happy. Having me happy keeps him happy too." She chuckled.
"I think I'll let that subject drop," Poppy said.
"I've decided just to have the snacks catered, something a little special, I think."
"Wow, a fancy meeting. You'll spoil us, Gloria."
"I'm anxious to draw a card and see what I'm going to do ... naked. And, knowing you, I expect you are too."
"Yep, and Abe hopes he can be involved this time too."
"If that happens to Bern, he'll ask me to find a substitute for him."
"Can you do that?" Poppy teased.
"What do you think," was Gloria's succinct answer.
"I think I'll pick up the wine and see you tomorrow. Two o'clock, right."
"Thanks, and see you at two."
Gloria wondered what Andre might be up to these days.
*****
The trays of catered treats arrived at 1:00, and Gloria was ready, except for the wine.
Surprised, she heard a knock on the side door a little after 1:30. It was Cecily, peeking in the window and smiling.
"The early bird," Gloria said as she opened the door.
Cecily came in, her eyes wide and looking around.
"I hope you'll forgive me," she said, "but I suspected you had a beautiful home, and I was curious. Is that awful?"
"Not at all. I love this place and am thankful that Bern lets me spend and decorate any way I want."
Gloria took a few minutes to give Cecily a quick tour of the house. They had just returned to the family room when Poppy came through the side door holding two bottles of wine.
"Is it?" Cecily asked.
"Of course. Cec, come help me carry it in."
Two trips with each carrying three bottles, and they had a total of fourteen bottles of the special wine.
"Poppy, what the h-e double hockey sticks. Two bottles each plus two spares?" Cecily was looking from Poppy to the wine and back.
"It was on sale."
"I don't believe you," Gloria said with a chuckle, "but we should have enough for the follow-up meeting.
"I see the 'new you' is still on display," Gloria said.
The 'former' Cecily had dressed in loose-fitting clothing that usually hid the figure, now much more on display due to the form-fitting things she wore.
Cec took a deep breath. "Sort of, at least in the way I dress. But thinking about doing something like the amateur night makes me start to shake, and I have trouble breathing."
"But you were so good at it. I saw the video and was envious. You were hot-hot-hot."
Cec shrugged, even redder now. "Mitch and I watch the video, and I wonder who that woman is. Then he asks me to do it for him."
"And you do, and it's easy, and it ends differently than the one at the club, right."