THE DOM

“I cannot stand your ex-husband. What a tool.”

The two women looked up just in time to see a man stumble into the store. He was clearly drunk and in a mood.

Delilah lowered her gaze when Brett walked in to the bridal shop.

“What do you want, Brett?” Millicent asked as she watched her best friend cower away from the father of her children, “Are you needing a dress? Heels? A garter belt? I know you’re getting married, but your lady friend can easily come in here and help herself, ya schmuck. Been to the packie this morning, have ya? I smell ya...

“I am here to see my ex-wife, Millicent,” Brett scoffed, “Not to speak to sea urchins.”

“Sea urchin?” Millicent frowned, “I’m an Ariel all the way, ya low-life, cheating, abusive twat weasel.”

“How are you, Brett?” Delilah stepped between the two before they threw hands.

“I’m alright,” he said, averting Millie’s gaze, “I need to make an appointment for Miranda.”

“Oh, well, you could have called,” Delilah said, “Or gone online and booked an appointment.”

Brett chuckled, “I want the kids this weekend, D.”

Millie laughed, “No bozo. You don’t get the kids this weekend and you know it.”

“I am not talking to you, cretin,” Brett said, “How about it?”

Delilah’s hands shook as she watched Brett’s gaze and then his hands and his mannerisms.

“I don’t think so,” Delilah said, softly, her red curls popping out of the little bun she’d pinned atop her head that morning, “The judge said I have the kids for now until you can learn to deal with your temper. Are you going to the meetings?”

Brett scowled, “I am going to the meetings, Delilah.”

“Good,” Delilah smiled, “Then you can get them when you’re sober because I smell the whiskey on your breath.”

“God dammit, D!” Brett slammed his fists down on the counter, “You do this to me!”

“Isn’t that what you said when you were hitting me after I burned dinner or when I accidentally spilled the stuffing at Christmas?” Delilah asked as Millicent grabbed her phone to call the police, “I think you should go. You know when you can get the kids and those are supervised visits.”

“Bitch..” Brett slurred, stumbling out of the store.

“Breathe, D..” Millie said as she rushed to the front of the store and dead-bolted the door, “Just breathe, honey. It’ll be OK..”

Millie was back by her best friend’s side in a heartbeat, wrapping her arms around her as Delilah sobbed.

“I hate that he’s still living here,” Delilah said, “I know he’s going to try something one day—I just know it.”

“Hell, he’s too drunk to do anything,” Millie smiled, “I called the cops so they should be pulling him over soon. At least you won’t see him for a few days.”

“Thank you,” Delilah wiped her eyes, “I don’t know how I would have gotten through this without you and the girls.”

“Hey, what are we sea urchins good for? Busting balls!”

“I don’t know..” Delilah said as they walked out of the bridal shop at closing time, “Do you think I should do this?”

“Yes, you’ve been divorced for two years now,” Millie told her, lighting a cigarette, “You deserve to go out and have fun. Get laid, get wasted! Your mom and dad have the kids tonight.”

Delilah laughed, “I didn’t want to start over.”

“Who says you need to start over?” Millie asked, “You’re just taking a walk on the wild side.”

“The wild side?”

“Yes!” Millie said, “Now, I’m going to make sure you get home safely and then you can come out with us and have a good time. Actually, scratch that. I am making sure you wear something revealing!”

“Uh, how revealing?”

“Showing some ass.”

“Millicent..”

“OK, OK..showing a little leg then.”

The drove to Delilah’s little cottage near the end of town. The house was eerily quiet without her children there and she missed them dearly. They took her mind off of so many of her troubles.

“This one..”

“Millie, I haven’t worn that since high school.”

“So? You can still wear it,” Millicent tossed the short, red A-Line dress to her friend, “We’re going to Boston so you need to be flashy.”

“No, I’m...”

“You’re getting out of Salem for one night, honey. One...night...”Millicent insisted, “Red heels. Don’t wear the flats—hair down..thank you very much.”

“I don’t know,” Delilah said as she stared at herself in the mirror, “I look like a lady of the night.”

Millicent laughed, “Well, ladies of the night get laid and that’s exactly what we’re doing! We’re gonna get the ‘d’ as you put it so modestly.”

“Millie..”

“Stop fighting the sea urchin!” Millicent joked, “Come on. Grab your bags, your purse, and whatever else. I promise to have you back before Sunday. You need a little dick in your life—or a big one, who knows?”

“It’s Friday! You just said for the night!” Delilah’s panicked voice made Millicent frown. She put an arm around her friend’s shoulder and gave a tight squeeze.

“Oh, did I? Must have lied to ya because we’re doing a girl’s weekend!” Millicent crooned as Delilah’s big green eyes widened in terror and excitement at the idea of spending the weekend with her best friends.

“And I’ve even got us bail money! Let’s rock and roll!”8th