Society Wives by Renee Flagler

You talk loud, you’re obnoxious and you’re crass!” Niles walked away. Pearson watched him. She hadn’t realized how deeply he was affected before now.
    â€œLife hasn’t been the same,” he continued and Pearson wished he would stop. “I don’t know what happened to you, but I want my wife back.” Niles walked back over to the stove and pulled out a pan of shrimp wrapped in bacon. “It’s ready, let’s eat.” Niles tossed the plates and food on the table. “Get the glasses and the juice,” he said.
    Pearson closed her eyes for a moment, attempting to get her emotions in order. They sat down and ate in silence. The food was delicious, but she couldn’t bring herself to enjoy it. Part of it was due to the hangover, but the other part had everything to do with the unsettling feelings that whirled in her stomach. Taking only small forkfuls, both of them pushed their food around on their plates, leaving most of it scattered. Pearson’s headache still thumped. The Tylenol wasn’t helping. She put her fork down and rubbed her temples.
    â€œEat the bacon, you’ll feel better.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œI said, eat the bacon. Greasy food helps you get over your hangover faster for some reason. I’m not sure why, but I know that it works.”
    â€œOh.” Pearson was grateful that Niles was at least talking to her in a more civilized manner. She reached for her bacon and nibbled, watching Niles while he ate. She wondered if she was even capable of fixing this.
    Niles stared back for a moment. Pearson still had no words. At least she felt confident that Niles wasn’t leaving. She knew she was a lot to handle at times, but what would she do without him.
    Pearson had come into their union with piles of emotional baggage and he accepted her just the way she was. Apparently something shifted.
    Yet, Niles was the only person in her life who didn’t cause her pain. People always thought being rich solved life’s problems. They didn’t know that money couldn’t buy attention from a mother. It couldn’t keep her from feeling abandoned after her father’s death. It surely didn’t comfort her, un-break her heart or soothe her soul.
    Until Niles appeared, she had forgotten what love even felt like. When she drank, it didn’t matter. If she could give up all the money she had for a slightly dysfunctional, yet loving family of her own, she would do it without hesitating. Niles was the closest she came to having that.
    â€œPearse.” Niles broke the silence and her heart fluttered. He’d called her by her pet name. “You really pissed me off last night. I’m concerned. I feel like I’m sitting back and watching you destroy yourself.”
    â€œNiles, I was drinking when you met me.”
    â€œNot like this. You used to have limits and your tolerance has changed. I remember when we could enjoy a glass or two of wine over dinner and that would be it. Now you can’t control yourself.”
    â€œI—”
    â€œNo!” Niles held his hand up. “Let me finish. I’ve been waiting a long time to say this. I need you to see reality. You have a problem.”
    Pearson dropped her head and blinked back tears.
    â€œI don’t want to lose you. I meant it when I said until death do us part.”
    â€œNiles—”
    â€œPromise me, Pearson!” he interjected.
    She remained quiet. After a few beats she looked into his eyes. She could see his pain and hated that she caused it. The tears she held back, now rolled down her cheeks. “I promise,” she said, wiping them away.
    Niles got up, made his way around the table and embraced her.
    â€œThank you,” he whispered.
    Pearson laid her head on his chest and let the weight of her life fall on him. She wanted to stay there forever, coddled in his haven, unreachable by the rest of the world. She settled deeper into