Her friends? Or, rather, the people she had thought were her friends, who in reality had just sucked up to her to get to Ripley's money and influence, had turned their backs on her once she no longer had access to either of those things.
Ripley had kept in touch. He had become her friend, which was odd considering how things had happened. Occasionally when Peter's salary didn't extend quite far enough he had wired her money to cover the bills. Peter didn't need to know, of course. His pride and ego would be hurt if he knew about this, so she spared him that knowledge.
Shaking her head she focused on the present. Today was the big day, she smiled as she felt the side of the champagne bottle, seeing if it was cold enough. Peter had been put up for a promotion. The Kendal police department had welcomed him back, glad to have one of their best back within their ranks and he was now going to be rewarded by promoting him to DCI.
She smiled as she imagined Peter in full uniform. Until they had been together his wardrobe had been functional but not very stylish. Her eye for fashion and her love of the man she was outfitting, greatly increased his appearance.
Sometimes, she sighed, a bit too much. It was hard to ignore the looks he got when they went out together. Many times she caught women, and some men, staring quite openly at Peter. Sometimes it made her want to hide him away from the rest of the world, worried that someone would take him away from her.
But most of the time she was proud of him. He was a fine looking man, and could have anyone he wanted, and still he chose her.
She heard a car crunching up the drive and then the door slam as Peter got out. Quickly she fetched two glasses and arranged the sheer negligee she was wearing to show off her best assets and waited, with a smile to help him celebrate his new position.
Peter burst into the kitchen without even a glance her way. Normally he greeted her with a smile and kiss, and they would talk about their respective days. But his angry face and mutterings as he twisted off the cap of a bottle of beer and tossed it back in almost one swallow told her something was wrong.
"What's that for?" he snapped gesturing at the champagne.
Caught off guard Natalie felt suddenly very exposed and pulled her robe around her, "to celebrate your promotion..." she stammered.
"Chuck it away," he snarled, his dark eyes snapping with rage, "I didn't get it!"
"What?" Natalie squeaked, "I thought it was in the bag?"
"I thought so too!" he growled, "but they brought in someone else. Promoted him above me!"
She gaped at him, at a loss for what to say, what to do with this news.
"Why?" she finally asked.
"Said he had more experience, that Kendal needed 'new blood' in the force, a 'fresh perspective' and other complete bollocks!"
Natalie was silent, even though a myriad of questions ran through her head, she knew that now was not the time to ask them, she needed to let Peter vent and then they could discuss it more rationally.
He took the seat opposite and put his head in his hands, "this guy, the fucker that got my job, I did a bit of research on him. He was put on medical leave but had some super-secret operation and was reinstated. He's been on some high profile cases and is seen as some sort of golden boy in a few circles. I got onto someone who's worked with him and they say he's a complete bastard. I can't believe they gave him the job they promised to me!"
Natalie reached across the table and took his hand in hers, "I am so sorry, love," she cooed, her heart clenching at the sight of his distress.
He wasn't ready to be comforted and pulled away from her touch, "maybe we should open that bottle, get good and drunk. Maybe that would help me get in the proper state to attend the welcoming dinner for this asshole tonight."
"Tonight?"
"Yeah, there's a bit of a to-do at New Moon tonight. A dinner in his honour, we're all supposed to attend."
Peter rose from the table, "I'll go get cleaned up, and you'd better change! There is a dress code and that outfit won't cut it."
Natalie grimaced as she looked down at the negligee, and the hope that she had possessed when she had bought it.
"Maybe my luck will change," Peter laughed humourlessly, "and the bastard will choke to death on something."
Natalie got to her feet, emptied the ice out of the bucket and put the champagne back into the refrigerator, her heart heavy. Peter had been so up, so happy and now to have his dreams dashed, it hurt her like a blow to the chest.
She knew he was tough, he'd work through his disappointment but she still hated to see him so low. Wishing she could just take him into her arms and make him forget this blow to his ego, she wandered upstairs to get changed and check in on him.
Peter was standing in front of the open wardrobe, dressed only in pants and a vest, looking at the options before him. He heard her come in, "what does one wear to an 'I just got royally screwed' dinner?'" he asked without turning around.