The plane had just landed, both women walked towards the exit, hailed a taxi, and headed to the hotel.
"What do you think if I make a dinner reservation?" Joanne asked. "It will just be the two of us. I spoke to Gerard and he's working on something urgent."
"Sounds good. Will we eat at the hotel or go out?" Susan asked.
"At the hotel tonight, tomorrow we can go shopping and have lunch outside. We'll buy something sexy for me and elegant for you. We'll make a statement at the exhibition opening," Joanne replied.
After checking into the hotel, Susan took a shower and got ready to go to dinner with Joanne.
When she went down to the restaurant, she found Joanne sitting at the bar. She approached and sat next to her.
"What have you ordered?" Susan asked.
"Nothing, I was waiting for you. I'll have a Martini. And what do you want?" Joanne asked.
"A glass of rose wine," Susan responded.
When they finally got to their table, the conversation had deepened.
"It's not the fact that he left me, but the way he did it. And the truth is, I don't know what to do with my life. You know, I never worked, I always took care of my family. And now, that my girls have left, I have plenty of time on my hands. Imagine it now, when I don't have to take care of David anymore," Susan said.
"I understand, and you know I went through something similar, although not as much as you because I never had children. But you can look for something to do, maybe charity work, a workshop. You'll find something to keep yourself busy, just be patient. You can get married again," Joanne suggested.
"Oh my God, Joanne, what are you saying? I can't imagine myself with another person. I shared my bed with the same man for 25 years, not to mention he's the only man I've been with. I can't even contemplate the idea of undressing in front of a man who isn't David. If only he were younger," Susan replied.
"Age is just a number. Look at me, always looking for Mr. Foster in the future," Joanne said, and Susan turned to her right. A man in his fifties smiled at her. "He hasn't taken his eyes off you."
"Do you want me to pounce on him?" Susan joked.
"Of course not, he's not for you, and I don't think his wife would appreciate it," Joanne said. Susan turned again, and there was indeed a woman sitting with him. "Welcome to the world of dating. You'll come across several jerks like him or your unfaithful, womanizing David."
"So, I'm screwed. In the end, David is luckier than me," Susan said.
"Of course not. Sooner or later, he'll pay for his stupidity. David and that woman won't last. Maybe if David were different, but he's quite old-fashioned and grumpy. Sooner or later, one of them will get tired. The problem is that he, the idiot, got emotionally involved, or so he thinks. It shouldn't have gone beyond a simple affair. Do you think it was the first time he cheated on you?" Joanne asked.
"I don't know, I never knew anything, and I didn't suspect anything either. But as you can see, I was quite naive," Susan replied.
"I never heard anything either. You know, sometimes things are whispered. I'll tell you, if David did it before, he was very discreet. So, what do you think of Gerard?" Joanne asked.
"He improved a lot on the second impression. He seems like an interesting person to listen to. But I won't be posing naked, haha. I'm really grateful to him, though. He was so kind that day at the restaurant," Susan said, and they both laughed.
"It was just a topless, and not everyone can pull that off. He's charming, but he's also a conqueror," Joanne said.
"I haven't seen him in that way. Maybe it seems silly, but David doesn't just have to leave my life, the problem is getting him out of here," Susan said, touching her chest.
"Do you still love him?" Joanne asked.
"No!" Susan responded, surprised to hear her own voice. "When did I stop loving him?"
That night, when Susan returned to her room, she threw herself on the bed, and to her surprise, she was happy to be on that trip.
The next day, both women went shopping. Joanne insisted that Susan should wear a new dress that night.
They entered different boutiques from top designers.
Afterwards, they went for lunch and ended the afternoon at a beauty salon.
Susan looked at herself one last time in the mirror. The dress Kevin had chosen looked great on her, and finally she went in search of Joanne.
Upon arriving at the opening, Susan was amazed by Gerard's work, wandering among the distracted artwork. She didn't even realize she had lost Joanne. She was lost in the image in front of her.
"What's the verdict?" a familiar voice asked from behind her.
Susan turned and smiled when she saw him.
"Fascinating, you're very talented," she replied.
"And you look beautiful, you look amazing," he responded, smiling. Gerard offered his arm and she took it, and they continued walking.
"I was so focused that I lost Joanne," Susan commented.
"Well, Joanne is like a puppy, you get distracted for a second and she's off chasing after something else," he remarked.
"Don't be mean," Susan said, and at that moment she saw Joanne on the arm of a man, both of them laughing.
"Come, Susan, I'll introduce you. This is Jean Pierre, my agent and friend. He is Susan MacMillan, Joanne's friend," Gerard said. Susan greeted the man.
"Susan, I stopped to talk to Jean Pierre for a moment, and when I turned around, you were gone," Joanne reproached.
"Sorry, I was so distracted that I didn't even notice you had stopped," Susan responded. The four of them continued walking, and then Gerard went to greet other guests. Susan took the opportunity to buy a painting that she liked; it would look good in her new living room.
Finally, when the opening ended, they returned to the hotel. The next morning, when Susan woke up, she felt so full of life and hope. There was life after David!
When she met Joanne for breakfast, she noticed that Joanne looked tired and was still wearing the same earrings from the night before. After so many years of friendship, that meant Joanne hadn't slept yet.
"So, the night was tough," Susan commented.
"Are you going to judge me?" Joanne asked.
"When have I ever done something like that?" Susan asked.
"Never, that's why I adore you. And I confess that I would repeat that night with Jean Pierre without hesitation for several weeks," Joanne replied.
"Joanne Foster, you leave me surprised. Go lie down and I'll see you for lunch," Susan said.
"Does it not bother you? I'm really exhausted. Remember that we're going out to dinner with Gerard tonight," Joanne said.
"It doesn't bother me, go rest, or I'll have to drag you tonight," Susan said.
After breakfast, she wandered the streets of New York, doing some shopping. Ava's birthday was coming up soon.
That night, the four of them went out to dinner. Susan laughed as she listened to Gerard's misadventures in his early years as an artist. It was amazing how he told those stories with so much humor and optimism. As expected, Joanne and Jean Pierre left early.
Gerard decided to accompany Susan to the hotel.
"I guess you'll be leaving tomorrow?" she asked. "I would love to see you before you go."
"Actually, I was planning on staying until Sunday. I don't want to attend the wedding of some friends' daughter. David will probably be there, and I don't have the energy to feel his eyes on me," he said.
"That sounds good, we should celebrate. I invite you to lunch tomorrow if you want," he said.
"Yes, I want to!" she responded. He kissed her on the cheek.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Susan!"
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