Free Society Wives by Renee Flagler Page A

yourself.”
    â€œOur guests are bringing food they cooked themselves. That’s good enough.” Nadalia laughed and the bell rang. “How do I look?” she said spinning around.
    â€œLike I said.” Sage smiled. “Delicious.”
    Nadalia winked, turned on her platform pumps and headed for the door. “Girls! Guests are arriving! I need you and one of the other girls at the door,” she said pointing at one of the women. “The favors had better be in the foyer. Everyone else get in to place,” she said, clapping her hands as she snapped out orders.
    One of them met Nadalia at the door, balancing a tray of champagne flutes filled with eggnog cocktails, and cinnamon sticks. Nadalia checked her reflection in the foyer’s mirror, puckering her bright red lips and moving her head from side to side to check her hair. Her jet black tresses cascaded down the sides of her face from a centered part ending just past her shoulders. Satisfied, Nadalia assessed her dress once again, took a deep breath and reached for the doorknob.
    â€œMerry Christmas!” Nadalia welcomed Vonita and Mike with air kisses and stepped aside. She took Vonita’s dish and handed it to one of the girls who were perfectly lined straight like soldiers along the foyer. A young plump girl with a pretty face stepped up and took the Howards’ coats while another handed them glasses of eggnog.
    The entire wait staff was dressed in stark white shirts, black knee-length skirts and red bow ties. Based on Nadalia’s orders, each wore their hair in a tight bun at the base of their neck. Details were extremely important. Nadalia noticed Vonnie raise a quick approving brow at Mike. They were obviously impressed.
    â€œNadalia, your decorations are beautiful!”
    â€œI hired a designer to decorate for me. Who has time for that these days?”
    â€œHey! My main man.”
    Nadalia turned around at the sound of Sage’s voice.
    â€œVonnie.” Sage greeted her with a peck on her cheek. “Looking lovely as always.”
    â€œNot too bad yourself, Sage,” Vonnie teased.
    Sage gave Mike a firm shake and hug before taking his flute of eggnog and replacing it with a crystal snifter of Louis XIII.
    â€œThat’s a girl’s drink,” Sage whispered loud enough for the women to hear.
    Mike gladly took the glass, took a sip, popped his lips and said, “Ahhhh! Now it’s a party!” The men cracked up while the women twisted their lips, shook their heads, and walked off.
    â€œOh, yeah, Nadalia.”
    Nadalia turned back. “Yes, Mike.”
    â€œYou said this was a pot luck dinner, right?”
    â€œYes. Why?” Both she and Vonnie looked confused.
    â€œSo who’s bringing the pot? Get it?”
    The women snickered and walked off talking about Vonnie’s great-smelling Paella, leaving Mike to laugh at his joke.
    â€œBe sure to take care of the arriving guests and send them to the living room,” Nadalia yelled back at the maid manning the door. She then led Mike and Vonnie down the few steps into the sunken room where art adorned the walls, and antique furnishings resided. Trays of canapés were placed around the room and a tall, slim member of the wait staff stood in her polished penguin uniform.
    â€œSo,” Nadalia sat down next to Vonnie and turned to face her. “I decided to have this get together after our conversation. I thought about how much Sage loves hanging with his buddies and I thought it would be nice for all of us to relax and have some fun. I think Sage really needed it.”
    â€œGreat idea.” Vonnie looked around the living room. “I love the artwork. I minored in art during undergrad.”
    â€œNice—”
    The bell rang again and seconds later, Ryan and Anderson appeared in the entrance of the living room. Ryan wore a gold wrap dress and nude shoes with her hair pulled back in a chignon. Anderson outshined