It was late when Mathew came home.
Teresa quickly got out of the way, as he stormed through the front door and marched into the living room.
"Darling," a surprised Laura said. "Is it time to pick up your clean laundry again so soon?"
"Don't be flippant, Laura." He walked right past her, took the grand staircase two steps at a time, and disappeared around the corner.
"Isn't he getting a bit too old to do that?" Laura asked Teresa.
"Apparently not."
"Perhaps he'll fall down the stairs and break his neck this time. Oh, I do hope so. But then, his mistress would miss him…what day is this?"
"Friday."
"Friday? That means the ball is tomorrow night. He has come home to pick up his tuxedo. You did send it out to be cleaned, did you not?"
"I did, it is hanging in his closet."
Laura walked to a chair and sat down. "Good, I wouldn't want his clothes to smell musty when he takes me to the ball."
"You are going together?" Teresa asked. She had a feather duster in her hand and continued to dust a decorative bookshelf.
"It seems so. Don't worry, dear, it is all for show. Mathew means to have the inheritance, and to be the charming host of all the future balls."
"With you by his side?" Teresa asked.
"No, not me. It will be Cheryl, Amanda, or maybe even Gloria, who was once my dearest friend. But no, not me. I intend to divorce him as soon as…"
"As soon as what?" Mathew asked, coming up behind his wife's chair. He had the cellophane wrapped tuxedo draped over his arm.
"He took the back stairs," Laura whispered to Teresa. "He likes doing that and thinks I can't hear him. What a dunce I married. I may be stupid, but I am not hard of hearing."
"Leave us," Mathew demanded.
Teresa's eyes widened and she started to rush away, until Laura said, "Teresa stays! I may need a witness."
"Very well, let her hear," said Mathew. "I accuse you of adultery, Laura."
Laura laughed out loud. "Well, that's a new one. You must be thinking of the community property. Been talking to one of those barroom lawyers again? Did he say that if you can prove I am the unfaithful one, you might get half my trust fund?"
"I can prove it. I have pictures," Mathew shot back, walking around the chair to face her.
"Darling, has Gloria been playing with her photo software again?"
Mathew's face was starting to turn red with anger. "You were unfaithful long before I was. She probably wasn't even mine!"