A Cold Wife, Sweet Husband

―Helen! Jessica snapped. Jonathan easily smiled. ―Oh, don't worry about me, he assured her. ―I find Helen's comments extremely refreshing. You'd be surprised by how many people are too timid to speak the truth as they see it.

He glanced over his shoulder as someone called his name. He waved to the person before turning back to them. The fifty-year-old man walked over to him. ―Mr. Tyndall, I would like to introduce you to three wonderful women.

Jessica Monroe is my nephew's wife, Helen Ritter is this witty woman here, and Mary Duff is this beautiful young woman who will be starring in the upcoming play called To Bid for a Bride. I heard it's going to be a comedy. Is that right? Mary nodded, blushing.

―It is.―Good afternoon, Mr. Tyndall curtly stated. Jessica noted that he wasn't a very friendly person. ―Will you be returning to the games? the man asked Jonathan. ―I have lost some money on the game and wish to make it back and more, if possible.

―Yes, I will be right there.―Don't take too long. The man walked off. ―You'll have to forgive him. He hasn't dealt well with women ever since his wife passed away.―Oh, just come out and say he's a difficult man to deal with, period, Helen spoke up.

―I've heard about him. He thinks just because he's one of the top five ric.h.e.s.t men in town, he can call anyone to do his bidding.

―I was merely being polite. In my line of work, I have to deal with certain types of clients regularly. It's not easy, especially for a woman who has to watch her husband cancel plans at the last minute because a client makes a phone call, demanding that he run off to meet him and his son for some games of billiards or else he'll take his business somewhere else.

When that client makes it clear that he doesn't care that the husband has a wife he would rather keep his word to...Well, it can make for a sticky situation. Mr. Tyndall has a tremendous amount of influence and a third of my clients will go with him if I displease him today. Jessica understood what Leo's uncle was telling her, without directly saying it.

―So, Leo doesn't want to be here? Helen glanced at her in interest. ―No, I assure you he doesn't, Jonathan replied. ―His arm was twisted. Jessica felt much better knowing that he did prefer her after all.

―He hates billiards, he continued. ―He's not very good at the game either.―Do Do you need someone good? Mary asked. He looked at her.

―Do you know someone who can play the game well? It would certainly help if we could get Mr. Tyndall and his son someone who can win their money back.

―I can play. I'm not sure how good you and your nephew are but I do enjoy the game and play often with my father. He smiled. ―I would be honored if you would assist us in keeping Mr. Tyndall as a client. Mary looked thrilled. She was excited by the prospect of playing the game.

―Will you come to watch? she asked her friends. Jessica shook her head. ―I can't. I'm supposed to be back at the house at two. She hadn't told Mary her plan to cook something with Jim so he and Mary would have to meet. Now she wasn't sure what to do. ―Shouldn't we work on the dress?―We can do that later. I never get a chance to play outside my home. This will be fun!―I'll come to watch, Helen decided.

―Mary will take me home, Jessica. There's no sense in you missing out on whatever it is you need to do. Hopefully, you'll be picking something out to wear in bed tonight for that good looking husband of yours. Jessica gasped. To her relief, Jonathan pretended not to hear the old woman's comment.

Instead, he paid their bill for them and escorted the two women to the billiard room. Jessica bolted out the door, too embarrassed to face anyone after Helen's loud statement. Surely, half the restaurant heard her! If there was ever a time she wished for the earth to open up and swallow her, this was it. She gladly went home.