Nina Richardson Price – she had insisted on retaining the Richardson – was two years younger than her brother, and very protective of him. She was a beautiful woman; tall, brunette, and very athletic-looking. And she was very athletic, an excellent tennis player, horserider, scratch golfer. Also rich. She had married Mosely Price III when she was twenty, a man twelve years older, also a lawyer and descendant of a wealthy legal family. He was a big man, not handsome, but quite sensual-looking.
Eva had been around Nina only half a dozen times, and wasn't yet sure how to take the woman. She was sure that Nina didn't like her. She had met Mosely only once, at the family dinner, and was sure that he did like her. He had literally devoured her with his eyes. Eva suspected that he was a lewd man.
"It's a pleasant surprise to see you, Nina." Eva said, almost sputtering. "I didn't know…"
"That I was pregnant." Nina finished for her. "Well, it's rather obvious that I'm knocked up higher than a kite," she added crudely.
Eva almost shivered from the cold waves. Nina was as rude and aloof as always. Eva decided she didn't like her. Being an expectant mother hadn't warmed her up a bit. She wondered why they had waited seven years.
The shower lasted almost two hours with Eva receiving the usual booty of a bride-to-be. They were all Eva's friends with the exception of Nina, who spent the evening sitting in an easy chair chain-smoking and drinking Janice's father's Scotch. She was obviously bored.
"I was sure surprised to see Nina here. How did you happen to invite her?" Eva whispered to Janice.
"Since she is John's only sister, I thought it the proper thing to do." Janice said with a shrug.
"I'll bet you were surprised when she accepted."
"Was I ever. If I'd have thought for a minute she'd come, I wouldn't have invited her."
Just before the party ended, Janice poured small brandy glasses full of whiskey and all but Nina toasted the bride. As Eva was about to leave, Nina called her aside.
"Daddy is having a little pre-wedding party and asked me to tell you to drop by. It will just be some of 'our' friends. You don't have to come if you're tired."
"I'm not tired. I'd love to come." Eva said.
Eva could see the anguish on Nina's face. "Do you have a way," she said coolly.
"Yes, I have my car. Do you need a lift?"
"No. Someone is picking me up."
"Your husband? It's been ages since I saw him."
"No, a friend. Mosely is working tonight," she said.
The doorbell rang and Eva saw a tall, very handsome young man step inside. He looked to be twenty-four or twenty-five.
"It's my ride." Nina said, and went to the door and took the man's arm.
Janice's eyebrows went up as she looked at Eva. "I'll bet he's younger than she is," she whispered to her friend.
"No doubt." Eva said, stifling a giggle. "Look how she walks. Graceful Nina waddling like a duck." Both girls laughed. "I have to get, Janice. I'll see you tomorrow and gather up the loot. And thanks for the swell party."
As Eva started to open her car door, she noticed the couple two cars up the street. It was Nina and her "ride" and they were kissing. She could see them plainly in the pale moonlight; the man had his hands around her ass, and he was pulling her bulging tummy tightly to him. Eva covered her mouth to keep from making any sound. She saw them get into the car and kiss again. The man hadn't pulled the door completely shut and the dome light bathed them for all to see. They necked for several minutes and then drove off.
Eva got into her car, shaking with excitement. "The slut, the shameless slut." Eva said, yet the thought of a married woman, and pregnant at that, making love with a man other than her husband excited her terribly. She wondered how far Nina would go with the man, not imagining for a minute that it would go beyond a few innocent kisses. "Surely she wouldn't let him fuck her, not in that condition," she said to her car. The goose bumps rose up on the insides of her thighs. It had been a long time since she'd had goose bumps on the insides of her thighs; John didn't believe in any pre-marital foolishness. Good breeding ruled such nonsense out.
She was still tingling when she pulled into the long circular drive leading to the Richardson mansion, and it was indeed a mansion. The butler met her at the door and led her down a long hall to a three-steps-down, low-slung game room. It was a paneled room, complete with billiard table, trophies on the wall, and a fireplace with logs ablazing. Joseph Richardson, John's father, saw her at the door and jumped up and came over and took her hand.
"Eva, darling!" he exclaimed, "I've been waiting for you. Come in and I'll introduce you around."
Joseph Richardson was not a large man, yet exuded the impression of towering strength. At sixty-four he was energetic and had a full head of hair, all of it white. In his part of the state, he was a power to be reckoned with in business and politics, both church and state.
"Where is John?" Eva asked demurely.
Joseph slipped his arm around her slim waist. "He's working. We have a brief that must be ready in the morning, and he is low man on the totem pole." He held her tighter and flicked a quick wink. "He'll be along later, but let's sit on the divan. I'll get you a highball."
Eva could tell that her future father-in-law had been at the highballs himself, and she was surprised. He was an active elder in the city's largest church, and had always acted so pious in the past, yet here he was almost drunk.
Four other couples were there and she was dutifully introduced to each and every one of the rich snobs. She wanted John there and wanted to pout, but her boozed-up host wouldn't allow it. He plied her with drinks until she felt giddy and no longer out of place. By midnight, everyone was drunk, and she no longer noticed when the old man hugged her tight after a ribald story or kissed her on the cheek or patted her gently on her leg.
"I just realized, that Nina isn't here." Eva said to the old man. "Where in the world can she be? She left the shower ahead of me."
"She called and said she would be detained. She'll be along presently." Joseph said.
"I'll bet she was detained… and how." Eva said, and broke into a series of foolish giggles.
"You're getting silly, my dear," he said, and kissed her, this time full on the lips.
Eva stopped giggling and sat up straight. It unnerved her for the old man to kiss her like that. She didn't know whether to scream or kiss him back. She did neither.
He jumped gingerly to his feet and took her hand. "Come with me, Eva. I have something to show you."
He guided her down the long hall, his arm once again around her waist, his nervous hand resting just below her breast. They passed through a heavy, carved doorway into what appeared to be a plush office.
"This is my office away from the office," he said, pushing the door closed behind them. "This is where I make all my money. I don't show everyone this room. See that lion's head over there? I shot him myself." Actually his guide had shot the lion while he was sleeping off a bender in his tent, but it made a good story.
"My, you must be very brave." Eva exclaimed.
"Yes, very brave," he said, and sat down in a huge stuffed chair. "Very brave, indeed." He still held Eva by the hand and pulled her down onto his lap, then kissed her on the mouth. She wanted to protest, but his tongue was in her mouth.
Eva knew the old man was way out of line, but was afraid to make waves; he was a powerful influence in John's life and she feared repercussions either way she went. She felt nothing when he kissed her, and decided to let him have his way. Besides, he was drunk and couldn't be completely responsible. She was drunk, too, and kissed him back.