Dear Vicki, September nineteenth
I can imagine that you have had to sit down at this point to see that your dear friend has written back to you. I should have picked up the telephone to ring. After all these years of friendship, you do realize that I do get “involved in projects” and just kind of switch into other gears sometimes.
Thank you for the note you sent, checking up on me. I can confess to you that I have been in a state lately. Well, gee, it has been more than just lately. You are a dear friend and I couldn’t let even more time pass before I communicated with you.
Yes, it has been Jack’s car that you have been seeing lately at the lounge. The poor dear has been working late at the office for weeks now. I just don’t have the heart to ask him to drive back across town to have dinner with his wife and only to have to return to the office. His new boss doesn’t seem to appreciate his talents and his abilities. I don’t think that he realizes that Jack didn’t just go to any law school. It is frustrating to sit back and keep my thoughts to myself.
So I have been busy involving myself in projects. I have been redecorating the guest bedroom. I saw some dreamy wallpaper in the May issue of Metropolitain Home. I just kind of got carried away and ordered new curtains, sheers, bedspread and dust ruffle.
I would love it if you and Lou would be our first guests to stay in it. If we start up with the Bridge Club this fall again, I will insist that you and Lou stay the night. (Then maybe Lou could relax a bit and have a second or third cocktall that night.) Then you and I can get up early, and have coffee in the kitchen. I think the guys would enjoy not having to hear you and I catch-up on everything from a new strawberry shortcake recipe that I found on the back of the new Betty Crocker cake mix to wondering why I let Cookie and Art get under my skin so!
I must confess that I am a little worried about Jack. I just don’t know if he finds me “interesting” anymore. I know that he has been mentioning all of the funny and “interesting” things that his paralegal says and does at the office. Oh, Vicki, I am terrified that Jack might not have as much work at the office as he says he does. I want to believe that his boss is “hard-boiled” as Jack has me believing.
I have been almost insisting that we eat at the lounge every weeknight. Being in public and giving me the chance to force myself out of the house and put some lipstick on has been helpful. But frankly, I must confess, I am worried.
The house is becoming frightfully quiet and I could use a good cup of coffee and company. I know that you have shared with me that Lou often has gals that pay him a lot of attention to him. Of course, Lou being the smart fellow that he is, knows what he has in you and would never stray.
Dear me, this note has become a letter. I hope to hear from you soon.
Affectionately,
Francine
