Millionaire Wives Club by Tu-Shonda Whitaker Page B

A-list guests—athletes, music moguls, Hollywood stars, and politicians among them—arrived at Evan and Kendu’s sprawling Sag Harbor estate, all the while rocking their vintage masquerade finest.
    Nothing said new money like shallow excessiveness. Diamonds, furs, Bentleys, stretch Hummers, Rolls-Royces, Excaliburs, and horse-drawn carriages created a foreground of bling against the waving ocean. This was just one of the many fundraiser play dates for the rich, many of whom had their own charitable foundations.
    The live jazz band’s rendition of Nina Simone’s “I Put a Spell on You” drifted into the master suite, where the hosting couple dressed silently. Evan could tell by the look on Kendu’s face that being here with her was difficult for him. She felt as if she desperately had to find a way to regain control over the relationship, to make him love her more than she loved him.
    “Kendu?”
    “Evan,” he sighed wearily.
    She swallowed. “I just want you to know—that—Aiyanna may need a spinal tap.”
    “What?” Kendu said, caught off guard. “Why?”
    “So the doctors can find out what’s wrong and begin treating her.”
    “But she had a spinal tap last year, and I’ve never seen her cry like that. I don’t want her in that kind of pain again.” He turned around and faced her.
    This was the first time in a long while that he had looked at her with sympathy in his eyes. That bit of attention meant the world to her. “So what do you want? Her to die?” Evan asked.
    “Are you for real asking me something like that?”
    “I’m sorry,” Evan quickly relented. “I’m stressed out and it’s just so difficult.” She shook her head. “All I want is for my daughter to be a normal eight-year-old.” Tears filled her eyes.
    Kendu swallowed. He knew Evan loved Aiyanna, and her illness had taken a toll on both of them. “Listen”—he grabbed Evan’s hands and placed them between his—“this will work out. We have the best doctors, the best hospital. You said this new specialist she’s seeing is much more knowledgeable than the others.”
    Evan wasn’t sure but she thought she could hear the love he once had for her starting to reemerge. She knew if he was gently holding her hand that some of his coldness had to thaw. He loved her, and the softness of his touch said so.
    Besides, he was way too beautiful for her to let him get away. His skin was the color of midnight. Smooth, radiant, and beautifully black. He wore a well-groomed goatee with premature sprinkles of gray, and his regal nose complemented his full African lips and charming chestnut eyes. Evan found herself craving his touch. “You’re right.” Evan tried to calm the tremble in her voice. “And I’m going to try and enjoy this night.” She placed her arms around his waist.
    “There you go.” Kendra stroked Evan’s cheek.
    She smiled and straightened his tie. “And hopefully we willraise a lot of money so that other families who are not as fortunate as we are can get the help they need for their sick children.”
    “Exactly.” He wiped the tears from her eyes. “Besides, you look too beautiful to be crying.” He kissed her on the forehead.
    Evan closed her eyes. She’d found that feeling of heaven again. “You think so?” She stepped back to allow him to soak in the vision of her in an emerald green off-the-shoulder Vera Wang ball gown trimmed in Australian crystals.
    “I know so.” He brushed her cheek.
    Evan wiped the remaining tears from her eyes. “Kendu, I know what happened between us the other day was crazy, and I just want you to know that we can work this out—”
    “Work what out?” He took a step back.
    “Us. Our marriage. I know that you love me.”
    “Evan—”
    “No, Kendu, you don’t have to explain.” She could tell by the change in his tone that he was working on bursting her bubble. She thought for sure cutting him off mid-sentence would curb his rejection. At least for this