TGH * The Anniversary Ch. 3

Zander stood next to his mother-in-law on the boundary fence of the terrace looking out into Baldwin’s extended backyard, demonstrating content expressions to make it seem like he was listening to Florence. And he thought Gia was too much to handle. He looked around the party, and noticed his wife talking to brunette that he recognized was Elizabeth; awkward as it was, they actually seemed to be enjoying their chat. Zander gave a compliant mental shrug. Things had to change sometimes, he thought to himself.
“Zander,” Florence snapped his attention back.
“Yes.” Zander prevailed up.
“I asked, how are you and Gia doing?”
“We’re fine.” Zander reassured.
“That’s exactly what she said,” she frowned, “As a matter of fact, that’s all she said.”

Alexis discharged her phone conversation and spat her cell back into her purse. She leaned back on her seat, the wind blowing her hair into a mess. “Wonderful day to have a outdoors party,” she muttered towards herself, “I look like hell as it is and now my hair does too.” Not that she really cared; she basically just wanted an excuse to leave as soon as possible.
“You know Natasha, they say talking to yourself is the first step towards insanity.”
Alexis looked up at the casually dressed man standing in front of her. “Who says that Luke?”
“A couple of morons who think they know how to solve other people’s problems,” Luke said as a matter-of-factly.
“Otherwise known as, psychologists.” Alexis sat up and reached for the glass of water in front of her.
“Mind if I join you?”
“Actually I do,” said Alexis sipping on the water.
“Good,” Luke smiled, taking a seat opposite from her.
Alexis sighed, “What do you want Luke?”
“To get out of here,” Luke replied drinking a goblet of Merlot then looking back at her, “Your not the only one who doesn’t want to be here, Natasha.” Alexis glazed at him, but he continued. “You think I like to attend parties where I can find little Scotty and the town mob-squad. The only reason I’m sitting here is ‘cause beside me, you’re the other loner in this shindig.”
“Thanks. That makes me feel much more poised,” Alexis scorned in fatigue before asking, “Where’s your wife, Luke?”
“Laura?” Luke shook his head. “I don’t know. But be sure to tell me if you ever see her around the neighborhood.”
“Are you and Laura getting a divorce?” Alexis asked. “Again?”
“She left a few days ago. Don’t know where. Said she needed time,” Luke summed. “But every man knows that’s an easier way to say get lost,” he shrugged. Alexis was partly surprised that Luke didn’t go run after her like he always did. “You look good by the way,” he added.
“Excuse me?” The brow on Alexis’s face arched.
“What? I just said you look good.” Luke accredited.
“You’re really revolting,” she began.
“I like you too,” Luke scathingly grinned at her.
“…If you’re trying to make a pass at me, Luke-.”
“You wish.” He blurted before she could finish. “Look, all I said was that you look good. Geez. Try to give a woman a compliment and what does she do? I’m sorry, next time I’ll be sure to remember that you’re ghastly and dreadful to look at.”

“Hey,” Zander pulled a chair for Florence and took his next to Gia, laying down his drink on the table.
“Hi Elizabeth,” Zander greeted to the woman next to Gia. “Hi Zander, Mrs. Campbell.”
“Hope we didn’t interrupt anything you two girls were talking about,” Florence said.
“No, not at all.” Elizabeth concurred looking around the gathering, “I didn’t know Carly knew all these people.”
“She doesn’t,” Zander implied.
“I’m guessing half these guests were on Jax’s invitation list.” Elizabeth alleged.
“So are we going to dance or just sit around bored to death.” Gia said, obviously ill at ease with the monotony. She took a morsel at Zander’s drink, which nearly bursted out of her mouth from her mother’s words: “Gia, should you really be drinking if your expecting?”
Elizabeth’s eyes widened, and a few people turned around to stare at the girl who was practically choking. Florence observed her daughter coughing, while consuming out the beverage, and Zander pattering her back.
“Where did you…,” another cough came in from Gia’s voice, “Who told you a lie like that?”
Florence faced towards Zander in inquiry. Zander looked back at Gia, who was glaring bitter at him; he knew right then that he was such a dead man.
“I didn’t say that, exactly,” he tilted his chair slightly away from the two ladies, “I said that me and Gia were thinking about it.” He looked at Gia, who was still coughing but that didn’t stop her from giving Zander harsh expressions. “Well we are. Aren’t we?”
Gia stopped coughing; oh, he is such a dead man she thought to herself. “Yeah. We were thinking about it but that’s it,” she answered with vacillation.
“You want some water?” Elizabeth proffered.
“No I’m fine.” Gia took a deep breath.
“Elizabeth,” a man called out. Elizabeth turned around and noticed Jason coming their way.
“I’ve been looking for you,” Jason said as he looked around the people she was sitting next to. Jason looked at the table and noticed some beverage stains, while Gia was unremitting to cough some more.
“Uh, is she okay?”

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