TEST DRIVE: A Night of Forbidden Desire

But the problem was, Heidi clearly wasn’t going to leave the argument. She would keep arguing until she was satisfied.

“If you want to go inside, go inside. Did you forget the way in or something?” Heidi blinked and turned back to Max. “Right, Max?”

At last, Max nodded. “Yes, Ma’am.”All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.

With a short sigh, Heidi turned back to the other mothers. “As for birth control, I’ll show you how many condom wrappers my husband used last night. As proof that we are using contraception. Oh, I’ll also show you the almost-finished pack of pills I have.”

“Mom, please!” Vonda exclaimed. Ignoring the redness on Max’s face at that moment, she tried to pull her mother away. “I don’t know how to get inside the house, Mom. Take me inside. I might get lost. Please.”

Trying to free her hand, Heidi kept talking. It seemed she would not be satisfied until she got all her frustrations out.

“And ever since we got married, my hobby has been having children with my husband. Am I the kind of woman who enjoys having children with someone else’s husband? And my husband is like every girl’s dream. Wow! So, whether we use condoms or pills or whatever, it’s going to fail anyway. I even used an IUD once. But instead of my husband’s sperm melting, the device itself broke. So that’s a lesson to all of you. Find a man who’s great in bed. If not, you’ll regret it until death.”

Vonda closed her eyes. She felt unable to face the world again. Heidi was the one doing the talking, but why was Vonda so embarrassed?

I’m begging you, God. Don’t let Mom talk any further. I’m ashamed of Max.

“But don’t even think about flirting with my husband,” Heidi continued, narrowing her eyes. She warned her neighbor. “The only one who can stay up all night without sleeping is me. Only me.”

At that moment, Vonda was sure that inviting Max to her house was a fatal decision. She realized it when she saw Max’s truly shocked expression. You could tell by the changing color of his face. First red, then purple, then white, then a rainbow of colors, none of them pleasant. Especially since Heidi’s last sentence was the last straw.

“I feel sorry for women who don’t enjoy having children with their husbands. Tsk! They’re missing out on the joy God gave them.”

*

Sarah burst into laughter as she tried to balance a slice of layered cake on her lap. In stark contrast, Vonda continued to grumble while attempting to stay calm as her face was being worked on by the salon artist.

Glancing through the corner of her eye, Vonda could see Sarah, looking beautiful in her pink dress, sitting on the edge of her bed. It was as if she did not care that cake crumbs might fall onto the bed and become a calling for ants.

“Hahaha! Your mom is truly the best!” Sarah laughed. “Because what your mom said is absolutely true. After getting married, I also enjoy having children with Evan. Although, of course, the hobby needs to be done carefully so as not to ruin our future plans.”

Vonda’s eyes rolled dramatically. “Do you all have to talk about this hobby of having children?”

Sarah laughed even more. “You can choose, Von. Do you want the hobby of having children with your own husband, someone else’s husband, or the hobby of gossiping about your neighbors?”

“Well, I choose the hobby of having children with my own husband.”

“See! Hahaha! A hobby with unparalleled pleasure.”

“Argh! But the correct is having sex, not having children.”

“Yeah, maybe you’re right. But the bottom line is they have the same process.”

Vonda felt like scratching her head due to the strange conversation. Especially when she glanced at the mirror and noticed the salon artist chuckling softly repeatedly.

Oh, no. I’d better change the subject before things get any more embarrassing.

“Hey, Sarah. I want to ask something.” Vonda suddenly remembered something Heidi had said earlier. “Did you tell Mom about Max?”

Sarah enjoyed another piece of the layered cake before nodding. She casually explained, “I was just worried that your mom might be shocked to meet Hernandez. You know, I was practically interrogated by your parents earlier. They asked me about you and Andrew. Wait a minute. You didn’t tell them about you and Andrew breaking up, did you?”

Vonda bit her lower lip. “No, I didn’t,” she replied softly. “I’m just too lazy to tell Mom about everything. But I’m pretty sure you already told Mom.”

Vonda’s confusion about Heidi’s earlier comment on the terrace was now cleared up. Of course, it was because Sarah had spilled the beans. It was a relief for Vonda. She did not have to struggle to explain, and her family finally knew what had really happened.

“Yes, of course I told them. So that your parents could be relieved that their child had broken up with a crocodile like him. When he couldn’t handle the responsibility of even a casual relationship, let alone a marriage with such huge responsibilities? Tsk tsk tsk tsk!” Sarah exclaimed.

Vonda took a long breath.

“Besides… when I see you bringing Hernandez home this time, I’m really sure. Your parents must have forgotten that you once had a boyfriend named Andrew.”

Vonda remained silent as the salon artist finished her work. At exactly seven in the evening, Vonda looked stunning in her soft blue dress. After the salon artist left Vonda’s room, Sarah asked.

“Um, but after you guys arrived, I didn’t get a chance to meet Hernandez. Where is he?”

Vonda rose from her chair and turned to Sarah. “Where else but in conversation with Mom and Dad?”

Vonda’s counter question made Sarah burst into laughter again.

“Hopefully he’ll still be alive when he leaves here.”

Vonda took a long breath. Her face showed weariness as she accepted the fate that lay before her.

“Don’t worry. I’ve got the contact of the nearest hospital ready. Just in case he needs to be taken to the emergency room.”

Sarah’s laughter broke out even more.

*