Native Affairs

A

Joan shook her head. She was a little plumper, a little grayer, than when A

“I don’t know if this helps you but Heath really does have a good heart,” Joan said.

A

“I mean it. The first thing he did when he came into that money was call Joe and offer him a job in management in the company he was forming. Management! Joe never even graduated from high school. And when Joe couldn’t sell the marina, it was the middle of the recession, you know, Heath bought it himself at a loss. He’s been a wonderful friend to us, A

“Heath was always grateful that Joe gave him a job when he needed one,” A

“He’s very loyal.”

To everyone except me, A

As if he had been summoned, Joe appeared and said, “What are you two hens clucking about in here? Everybody is dancing out on the terrace.”

“I’m coming,” Joan said, and put her hand on A

A

A

She turned to find a young woman standing behind her, smoking a cigarette.

“So you’re the wife, huh?” the smoker said.

“I... uh, yes,” A

The woman switched her cigarette to her left hand and extended her right hand. “Stacy Barcroft,” she said.

“How do you do?” A

“I’m doing just fine. I just came out here to grab a smoke. I didn’t see any ashtrays inside so I figured I’d better not light up in the house.”

“There are ashtrays in the pool room.”

“Segregating the smokers, huh? That’s okay, I’m used to it. We’re the new persecuted minority. Actually I don’t mind going outside, it gives me a chance to catch a breath of air. It’s getting pretty close in there.”

“I just told Victor to turn on the air-freshening system in the house.”

“Good idea.” Stacy inhaled deeply, the tip of her cigarette glowing, then exhaled a plume of grayish smoke that danced on the cool night air. She stepped into the light from the windows and A

“Do you work for Bimini in Miami?” A

“No, I’m an architect. I designed the Miami marina, and I have been called in on a few other independent projects. I also dated Heath for a while.”

“Oh.”

“Don’t get nervous; I gave up on him real quick. His body was present but it was clear his mind was always elsewhere, you know what I mean?”

A

“So you arrived out of the past, right? High school sweetheart or something like that?”

“Something like that.”

“I suppose you know that women have been jumping off buildings all over south Florida since the day you got married.”

A

“It’s a fact. Mr. Eligible decamps with a mystery woman from his student days? It caused quite a stir.”

“It’s already yesterday’s news.”

“Don’t count on it. I’ll bet you didn’t get many regrets in response to your invitations to this party.”

“That’s true.”

“And you thought everybody was showing up because Heath was the boss?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Maybe. But they also wanted to see you.”

A

“How could you be? A tall, slim blonde with cover girl cheekbones? The minute I set my eyes on you, all my questions were answered.”

“Really?” A

Stacy waved her cigarette. “Don’t get your nose out of joint. I only meant that I understand what he sees in you. I come from a background like Heath’s. I came up from nothing, like him. I married my ex-husband, Jamie Barcroft, because he was born in Greenwich and went to Exeter and Yale. Heath and I both crave class and people like you are the closest we’re ever going to come to it.”

“Thank you for your analysis of my marriage. I think I’d better get back inside and look after my guests.”

Stacy put her hand on A

“Thank you. Good night.”

“Merry Christmas,” Stacy said, turning away as A

Inside the first few leave-takers were getting ready to depart. A

In the bedroom she found a man she had met twice that night and whose name she could not recall—the manager of the Bimini repair garage on Big Palm. She had danced with him earlier in the evening. He looked up as she arrived. He gri

“Hi, Mrs. Bodine. I was just getting my raincoat, but there’s a pile here on the bed and I can’t find it.”

“Oh, please, let me help you. I’m so sorry, I’ve forgotten your name.”

“Ben Rowell.”

“I can’t believe so many coats wound up in here. I thought there was enough room in the front hall closet, but I guess I was wrong. What color is it?”

“Kind of an olive green—here it is,” Ben said triumphantly. As he turned to smile at A

At the same instant Heath came rushing through the door, grabbed Ben by the shoulder to pull him off A

Ben staggered back in shock, staring at Heath, his eyes wide with amazement and dismay. A

“What the hell do you think you’re doing with my wife?” Heath shouted, lunging for Ben again. A

“Stop it this instant!” she snapped at Heath. “I felt a little dizzy and Ben was only trying to help me!”

“Why did you come back here to the bedroom with him?” Heath demanded, his eyes blazing.

“For heaven’s sake, Heath, I didn’t come back here with him. I found him in here looking for his coat. Will you calm down and apologize? You’re making a fool of yourself.”

“I saw him looking at you all night,” Heath insisted, taking a step forward again.

Joe Jensen arrived, drawn by the sound of raised voices, and A

“What’s going on here?” Joe demanded, looking around at the three of them.

“Ben was helping me when I felt faint and Heath misunderstood the situation,” A