Broken Wings (18 page)

“Actually, Billy, my brother, runs everything.” Lance shrugged. “I’m just for decoration.”

“Kind of like those stuffed heads on the walls of a taxidermist’s office,” Val declared.

“I wonder if I could do that with ex-wives,” Lance contemplated.

“You don’t have enough wall space, Lance,” Val countered.

“Beauvoir?” Pamela asked as she stared at Lance. “Any relation to the local writer, Nicci Beauvoir?”

Lance dipped his head. “She was my niece,” he stated in a soft tone.

Pamela shook her head. “I’m sorry
—
how thoughtless of me. I didn’t realize. I remember reading of her death in the papers. She was so beautiful.” She took a breath. “I’m so sorry for your loss.”

“That’s very kind,” Lance replied, smiling reassuringly.

“Look, Lance, I’m giving Pamela five hundred a month for all of her expenses at her wildlife facility. You want to match me?” Val Easterling quickly jumped in, trying to lighten the mood.

Lance held up his drink. “Count me in.”

Pamela felt as if she were floating on air. “Thank you, Mr. Beauvoir.”

Lance nodded to her and then to Daniel. “I’ll let Valie handle all of the details,” he said and then took Pamela’s hand. “It was a pleasure meeting you, Ms. Wells.”

Lance Beauvoir walked out into the crowds and disappeared behind a sea of black tuxedos.

“I know Lance’s accountant,” Val said beside Pamela. “I’ll have him give you a call.” She turned and took Pamela’s hand. “I’ll see you again, Pamela.” She nodded to Daniel. “In the meantime, take good care of my boy.” Val Easterling gave Daniel a quick peck on the cheek and turned away.

“Oh, my God!” Pamela all but screamed. “Do you know what that money will mean?” She felt like jumping up and down. “I could get out from under Bob’s thumb, and add more cages, and fix up the barn the way I always wanted so I could get the babies out of my house. I could even buy a new refrigerator.”

“You’re happy,” Daniel surmised, smiling warmly. “I’m glad.”

“I can’t believe you knew these people and in just a few minutes you got me connected with more money than I have ever been able to get my hands on.” She put her arms about his neck. “Thank you,” she murmured against his cheek.

“I think this joyful turn of events deserves a celebration,” Daniel whispered into her ear.

Pamela pulled away. “Celebration?” she asked, warily.

Daniel reached for her hand. “Yeah, celebration,” he confirmed.

He squeezed her hand and started leading her across the room. He stopped before the roped-off dance area. The band’s playing could barely be heard above the din in the crowded room. Daniel walked around the dance floor until he found an opening between the gold ropes. He pulled Pamela out into the middle of the empty white dance floor.

He put his arm about her waist. “I was hoping I would get to do this with you tonight,” he said, raising one eyebrow at her. “Among other things,” he added, grinning.

She placed her arms about his shoulders as the band began to play a slow jazz tune. “Don’t think that just because you have secured some new funding for my facility that I am going to repay you with a night of uninhibited sex.”

“Or in your case a night of inhibited sex,” he responded with a playful glint in his eye.

Pamela started to pull away from him, but he held her tightly in his arms. “What’s that supposed to mean?” she asked, squirming.

“That somewhere beneath that tough exterior I think there is a woman dying to get out and let go. You keep so much pent up inside of you, Pamela, it is a wonder you haven’t exploded.”

“You’re confusing a tough exterior with a woman who is responsible and
—
”

“You are a woman who desperately needs to be wanted,” he interrupted. “Not needed.”

“Is there a difference?”

“Yes,” Daniel replied. “Need is when you fulfill someone else’s requirements. Like what you do for your animals. Want is when you seek to fulfill your desires.” He pressed his body into hers. “Like what you want to do with me.”

Pamela let her body give in to the rhythm of the sultry beat as the warmth from Daniel’s body teased her skin. She felt safe in his arms, protected from the cares of the world that seemed to be hovering just beyond the golden ropes that stood at the end of the dance floor.

“And what makes you so sure I want to do anything with you?” she softly asked as she gazed into his dark eyes.

He leaned forward and let his lips hover inches over hers. “Because I don’t see loathing in your eyes when you look at me anymore. I see something else; something that appears to be more…instinctual.”

“Instinctual?” Pamela laughed. “Like what? I want to punch you and run away? Because that is the only instinct that comes to mind right now.”

“I had a different instinct in mind; something a lot less painful.” He paused “Let me show you what I’m talking about.” He leaned forward and kissed her lips.

“Pamela, is that you?” a man’s voice called out from behind them.

Pamela broke away from Daniel’s embrace and turned to see Bob, standing beside the golden rope at the end of the dance floor. He was dressed in a tailored black tuxedo with matching black bow tie. His light brown hair was neatly slicked back and his pale green eyes were staring right at Pamela. Then Bob’s eyes shifted to Daniel and instantly flashed with anger.

Bob hurriedly climbed over the gold rope in front of him and walked up to Daniel’s side. “What in the hell are you doing here?” he growled at Daniel.

Pamela looked from Bob to Daniel. “Bob, this is my date
—
”

“This is Bob?” Daniel asked, cutting her off with his raised voice.

“You know each other?” Pamela asked.

“This is the son of a bitch that hit me in the middle of Pat O’Brien’s,” Bob explained, trying to keep his voice down.

Pamela turned to Daniel. “Wait? You hit Bob? I thought you said you
—
”

“He’s the one who filed charges against me,” Daniel whispered, interrupting her.

Pamela turned back to Bob. “Did you start it?”

Bob appeared astonished by her allegation. “Now you think just because of what happened before, I go around starting fights with indiscriminate bartenders for the hell of it?” Bob said in a low voice. He nervously looked around at the other guests gathered about the dance floor.

Clarissa walked up to join them in the middle of the dance floor. She was wearing a form-fitting yellow satin dress with a low neckline and a high slit up the right side. Her dark hair was piled up on top of her head and she had on a matching gold diamond tennis bracelet and necklace. When she stopped right in front of Daniel, it was then that Pamela first noticed her shoes. Yellow and white high heeled sandal creations with yellow straps that went all the way up her ankle. There were even little white butterflies glued on the strap across her toes.

“What’s goin’ on over here?” she questioned as she grabbed Bob’s arm. She turned to Daniel standing before her. “Well, hello there.” She nodded to Pamela, “Pamie you look really nice. What a cute dress! Did you borrow that or somethin’?”

“It was a gift,” Pamela declared as she glanced over at Daniel.

“You bought it for her? Why are you buying her clothes?” Bob asked, raising his voice.

Clarissa turned back to her husband. “Keep your voice down. You want the whole room to hear you? And I thought you said she was bringin’ Carol. What’s Daniel doin’ here?”

“You’re Daniel?” Bob exclaimed. “Why have you been hanging around my ex-wife’s place?” he demanded.

Pamela noticed that a few guests mingling about were beginning to take in their floorshow.

“Perhaps we should take this outside,” she suggested to the men.

Daniel was standing next to her taking in large amounts of air through his flaring nostrils. His jaw was clenched and his hands were curled into fists. She reached over and placed her hand on his arm.

“Don’t let him get to you,” she whispered to him. “You are better than he is in so many ways.”

Daniel’s eyes connected with hers and she could instantly see the anger begin to subside. Bob on the other hand was red-faced and, minus a ring in his nose, looked like a bull ready to charge.

Pamela grabbed Daniel’s hand and pulled him off the dance floor. “Please, Daniel, not here,” she begged. “Not in front of these people.”

Daniel allowed her to lead him across the grand ballroom and out the main entrance. Bob, and a stumbling Clarissa, were not too far behind. Once safely out of earshot, in the corridor outside the grand ballroom, Bob lunged for Daniel. Used to handling Bob in situations like this, Pamela instantly threw herself in between the two men.

“If you throw the first punch, Bob,” she growled, “I’ll testify that you started it out of jealousy over me.”

“What in the hell is goin’ on?” Clarissa shouted as she finally caught up to the group. “Bob, why are you goin’ after Daniel? So what if he is Pamie’s date? She can go out with anyone she likes.” She paused and put her hands on her hips. “You’re not married to her anymore; you’re married to me. It’s always about her. I’m always tryin’ to keep up with perfect Pamela. Well, I’m your wife now, Bob. I’m your goddamn wife! Not her,” she shouted as she pointed to Pamela.

Bob backed away from Pamela and Daniel and stormed over to Clarissa. His face was a deep shade of crimson and the muscles in his jaw were quivering beneath his skin.

Pamela felt Daniel’s body flex beneath her hands, but Pamela did not let go of him. She knew Bob’s angry tirades better than anyone. He was looking for a fight and she knew she had to keep Daniel as far away from Bob as possible.

“This man hit me when I was with…” Bob stopped screaming at his wife. His expression immediately changed and he cast his eyes down to the floor. The anger in his face had been replaced by an entirely different emotion. “I was out at a bar after work,” he began again, sounding calmer than before. “I was entertaining clients, when this man jumped out at me and punched m
e for no reason,” he told her.

Pamela looked from Bob to Daniel. “But, Daniel, you said you hit him because he w
as roughing up his girlfriend.”

Daniel nodded. “Yes, I did.” He lowered his voice so only Pamela could hear him. “The woman he was with wasn’t Clarissa.”

Pamela instantly realized the implications. Clarissa, however, still appeared confused.

“Bobby, what is she talkin’ about? I wasn’t with you when this happened,” Clarissa asked as she stared into her husband’s face. “You just said you were with a client, so why did Pamela say you were
—
”

“Go back inside, Clarissa,” Bob ordered, interrupting his wife.

“But Bobby,” Clarissa whined.

“Go, now!” He shouted at her.

Clarissa jumped at the sound of Bob’s blaring voice. She gazed over at Pamela and Daniel.

The hurt in Clarissa’s green eyes made Pamela’s insides lurch with disgust. She had never liked Clarissa, but she would never have wished such heartless treatment on her, or any other woman.

Clarissa put her head down and quickly did as her husband demanded. As fast as her high-heeled butterfly shoes could carry her, Clarissa scurried back to the party.

Pamela watched as Clarissa disappeared inside of the ballroom entrance before she turned to confront her ex-husband. He was standing against the far wall. The redness in his face had dissipated slightly, but his pale green eyes were still filled with an intense hatred. It was a look that Pamela was all too familiar with. She let go of Daniel and approached Bob.

“So that’s it, Bob. You’re screwing around on your wife, and Daniel knew about it. That’s why you’re angry?”

Bob shook his head and quickly pointed to Daniel. “I didn’t know that he was the same guy who has been working for you until tonight. If I had known, I would have
—
”

“You would have what, Bob?” Pamela questioned. “You would have come to my place and beaten him up?” She paused and stepped back from Bob. “How long has this been going on? How long have you been cheating on Clarissa?”

Bob gave her an indifferent smirk. “That’s none of your goddamn business,” he hissed.

Pamela shook her head and sank against the wall behind her. Then her body washed over with a sickening wave of realization. She stared at her ex-husband as a disturbin
g truth permeated her thoughts.

“Did you cheat on me, Bob?” she finally asked, her voice peppered with anger. “Did you lie to me just like you are lying to her?” She waved at the ballroom entrance Clarissa had just retreated into.

But Bob said nothing. He turned away, straightened his tuxedo jacket, and walked back into the ballroom.

Pamela stood motionless in the corridor of the hotel. The past she thought she had neatly packed away came flying out from the deepest reaches of her mind. The few happy memories she had cherished from their marriage were suddenly tainted with doubt.

Pamela wrapped her arms about her body as if overtaken by a sudden chill. “All this time I thought that at least he had never cheated on me. How could I not have seen it? How could I not have known what was going on? All the late nights at the office, the business trips, the dinners with clients. He was lying to me the entire time and I believed him.” She shook her head and slammed her fist into the wall behind her. “God, I was so stupid!” she yelled.