Buzz! Buzz!
" Hey! It's the first day of summer vacation! Grab your sunblock, get down to the pool, don't forget to turn up the tunes!! We will be rockin' the hits here on WSTO!"
CLICK.
Logan rolled over after hitting the snooze on the alarm. He knew it would go off in 30 minutes and he would have to head down for a half-day at the office while Mary Anne went to the airport to pick up Dawn. Mary Anne's back was turned to him but he scooped her up in a spooning bear hug. His hands landed on the cross lacing of the bodice of Mary Anne's periwinkle blue nightgown and lingered there.
Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!
"California Dreamin' on such a winter's day!"
Logan turned off the alarm with a sigh. "To be continued", he said. He grabbed his clothes and padded to their adjoining bathroom to get ready for the day.
Mary Anne stretched and stepped into her barely-full walk-in closet.
She had picked out the perfect outfit for the day. After their walk yesterday Shannon had helped Mary Anne cut off a pair of 501's into shorts and frayed them at the bottom. She thought they were too short at first, but Shannon had a pair just like them. Next was a blue gingham crop top with white ruffled spaghetti straps and a string that laced up the front. The midriff wasn't too high and she paired it with some cork-soled sandals, a straw hat, and her black Ray-Bans.
" Mrs. Bruno you look fabulous!" said Mona the live-in housekeeper. She was more of a friend. She was an older lady that had fiery red hair and more energy than any woman her age should have.
"Thanks, Mona. Remember you can call me Mary Anne. Mrs. Bruno is Logan's mother."
"I've got the menu for dinner all set for tonight. I can't wait to meet Dawn! She reminds me of when was in high school in the '60s."
"I'm going to pick her up now. You can get to know her once she is home and we can help her unpack. Then Shannon is coming so we can all go shopping. I'm going to get some new clothes. I need to look the part of the wife of the most powerful attorney in Stoneybrook. The first thing about husbands is you have to learn to keep them. That's what Sharon said at our wedding anyway."
They both laughed and Mary Anne was on her way.
"Oh, my lord!" Dawn exclaimed. "I knew you and Logan were doing good, but I never imagined this!"
Mary Anne and Dawn lugged Dawn's luggage up to the room. Dawn's room was huge. It was beach-themed with an aquamarine bedspread on a Californa King, with seashells and palm tree accents on the furniture, rug, and everything else in the room. There was a window seat on one side and French doors leading to a balcony on the other. It certainly was bigger than the quaint room she was living in back in California where she taught yoga to girls at a "woke" boarding school. Across from her room was a bathroom that continued the beach theme. There were a huge whirlpool tub and a sink and vanity across from it.
"Hey, Dawn!" Said Shannon. And all the girls hugged and screamed jumping up and down. "We've got some shopping to do! Mary Anne wants a glow-up now that she is a trophy wife!" The girls giggled.
"Shannon you are so lucky you and Robert live next door to Mary Anne. I wish I could see her every day. And live in this mansion!"
The girls got ready to head to Washington Mall. Logan was going to pick up the kids from the camp when he got off work and Robert would join them later for dinner.
Their first stop was Ralph Lauren. "Watson is having a fancy BBQ party in a few weeks. Dawn, do you have anything to wear to that?"
Dawn owned some dressy bellbottom pants but needed a fancier top for a party at Watson's. She knew she would not find it at Ralph Lauren.
But Mary Anne picked a white crepe day dress with a brown belt. She also found a pink polo t-shirt and matching sports shorts for walks with Shannon in the neighborhood.
Next, they went to Neiman Marcus and Mary Anne found a denim romper with short shorts.
Dawn found a silk peach bell-sleeved top and white sandals.
Then the girls talked Mary Anne into buying a bikini. She never felt comfortable wearing them before but always wanted to. She got a green one with pucca shells on the straps for detail and a black mesh cover-up that had embroidered palm trees scattered on it.
They returned home and Mona was in the kitchen making vegetarian pineapple pizza. The girls went to change and join Logan, Robert, and the kids already in the pool.
Mary Anne came wearing the bikini and cover-up. Logan and Robert stopped and stared. It reminded Mary Anne of when she got that makeover in 8th grade. She glanced at Mona through the window and she smiled and encouraged her to get in the water.
Dawn and Shannon showed up and everyone had fun catching up with Dawn. It was like old times.
They had their dinner out on the veranda so everyone could dry off. Mona set out the LED flowers in the pool and joined them.
The conversation drifted to the house that was sold by the park and the SHS letter sweater Shannon and Mary Anne saw in the moving truck. They went through all the possibilities. Finally, Mona said, "Why don't you just make a casserole and take over as a welcome to the neighborhood gift?"
They all decided that was a brilliant idea. They would go first thing in the morning on the way to the kid's baseball practice. After a few glasses of wine Robert and Shannon took their daughter and headed home.
Dawn, Logan, and Mary Anne helped clean up the dishes and Mona went to her room for the evening. Dawn was still on California time and said she was going upstairs to read Mallory's new book.
Mary Anne and Logan we're alone at last. They went back on the patio up to the top of the pool's waterfall where the jacuzzi was. Logan turned on the jacuzzi speaker and the soft music of Tangerine Dream wafted through the air. He grabbed some champagne and glasses from the bar. Mary Anne was waiting for him. He poured the glasses and handed one to Mary Anne. "Here's to Dawn, good friends, and your new bathing suit."
Mary Anne clicked her glass with Logan and said "Oh Logan," in her 8th-grade voice. "Did you ever think we would have it this good?"
"It's only the beginning," he said and scooped her up into another bear hug.
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