by Charley Lynn
Chapter 47
Nora had been gathering information for over a week. She’d discovered numerous people in Pella knew about the bad blood between Rosemary’s grandmother and Mike’s grandmother. “Neither of them will agree to talk to me, however.”
Rosemary laughed softly. “Don’t count on talking to my oma. She won’t discuss anything that might seem like she could ever be wrong. As far as she’s concerned, she’s right about everything.”
“Well, if she won’t talk to me, she won’t. But, I’ve gotten the impression that your grandmother has bullied you and your mother for many years.”
“Yeah. Especially my mom; you could probably write a book about that. Oma doesn’t mean to bully me, but she’s controlling and she doesn’t have any respect for my ability to take care of myself. She’s always been awful to my mom. When I was a baby, they went to court to try and get me away from her, but they lost. From the time I was about eight, they had court-mandated boundaries for visitation because Oma said terrible things to me during visits about my mom. I’ve visited them more often in the past couple of years because we moved to Ivy. The more often I went, the more time she demanded. Holidays, birthdays, family events. She demanded and, until recently, I went along with it.”
“Mike told me she applied to Central College pretending to be you.”
“She did. I didn’t know about it until it was all done. She had my room in their house painted and ordered new furniture because she planned for me to live with them while I went to school. She also arranged for me to marry a distant cousin. They even promised to give him the family farms when he married me.”
Nora chuckled. “That sounds like India, seventy years ago.”
“Exactly, or perhaps Holland a couple hundred years ago.” Rosemary and Nora talked for almost two hours about her grandparents, modeling, dancing and finally, about Armand/Howard Smith. Nora asked Rosemary if she would mind if she talked to Howard Smith.
“If you want to talk to him, go ahead. Would you come to Chicago to talk to him, or could you talk with him on the phone?”
“Ah, you haven’t heard yet. The Des Moines police have issued a warrant for his arrest, for vehicular homicide, in Pete Noah’s death. They found the SUV in Smith’s great-aunt’s garage. A federal judge named Taylor signed an order allowing him to be extradited, so Smith is coming to Des Moines tomorrow. In view of the charge, it’s unlikely that he’ll be set free on bond while he waits for trial.”
Mike had arranged an early morning meeting with Trey, Nat, Mark and Susie. After a thorough debriefing, Mike told them that he and Rosemary were going to Hong Kong the next day.
While they were talking, Susie got a text from Tina, who had received a text from Marcie, the other Smith victim who had visited the modeling agency with them. “Tina says that Smith’s sisters are going to sell the modeling agency.”
Rosemary spoke up. “I hate to hear that. Armand was a liability, but the sisters were good at what they did; they worked well with the kids and plus-sized models. Plus-sized models often get treated poorly at a lot of agencies, so I’m sorry they’re selling.”
Mike retrieved his car and drove to the place Trey Freed had suggested that carried Mike’s sizes. He grumbled, but he finally chose some new shirts, socks and underwear. Rosemary chose a tie, a pullover sweater and a pair of dress pants, then she told Mike to choose two pairs of jeans.
After checking Google to find out the average temperature in Hong Kong in December, Rosemary looked at hoodies. Mike shook his head. “Rosemary, I have a ton of hoodies at home. I don’t need another one.”
“At home, not here. It gets down into the fifties at night and we’re going to want to walk to see the sights. It’s the wrong time of year to find a light jacket here, so you need a zip hoodie. Unless you’d rather I choose a cardigan sweater?” Rosemary teased.
“Not a cardigan—I don’t want to look like Mr. Rogers!” Mike frowned.
Rosemary giggled. “That’s what I thought.” Mike chose a hoodie while Rosemary went to look at shoes. Mike joined her a few minutes later, carrying a gray hoodie.
Mike groaned. “I hate trying on shoes.”
“Babe, is that the only pair of shoes you brought?” Rosemary looked down at his scuffed athletic shoes.
“Yeah. I didn’t plan on doing anything formal. I was looking for my girl.”
“A pair of casual shoes, then we’re done.” Rosemary decided.
“Okay,” Mike grumbled.
While he tried on shoes, Rosemary took the hoodie to the counter. She gave her credit card to the manager and quietly asked him to start ringing up the sale, and to include the shoes they were choosing. “I’ll sign it when we find the shoes. Please don’t make any comment about me paying.”
“What do you think?” Mike asked when she sat down next to him.
“Just what I had in mind—do you like them? More importantly, are they comfortable?”
“They’re okay. I think the fit is good. I’m just used to wearing athletic shoes all the time.” He grinned at Rosemary. “But, I guess we’ve jumped into adulthood since yesterday, so I’d better get used to wearing something else.”
“Exactly.” Mike took off the shoes and put them back in the box. Rosemary smiled at the clerk. “Would you mind taking these to the counter? We need to chat for a minute.”
“I don’t want you to flip out; I already paid for everything.” Mike bristled, but Rosemary put her hand in his and leaned closer. “Please listen. Right now, I have a lot more money than you do—that’s just the reality of our life at this time. If we’re partners, we share things. Modeling, fashion and some of the people involved can be superficial. The clothes don’t say anything about the guy I love. But I want you to be as well-dressed as anyone else. Does that make sense?”
Mike finally nodded. “It does make sense. I was worried about tagging along with you in my jeans and tee shirts; I don’t want to embarrass you.”
“I wouldn’t have been embarrassed. But people in this industry can be vicious.” Rosemary smiled ruefully. “I know that fashion and modeling are superficial; this part of my life isn’t what defines who I truly am, but it is a small part. I like clothes and looking good—especially when I see the look in your eyes when I am wearing something particularly smashing.” Rosemary’s eyes twinkled. “Like the way you looked at me when I wore the leather pants.”
“Oh, yeah. I almost died on the spot.” He grinned briefly and then was quiet for a minute before he sighed. “Okay, I’ll be Tom to your Gisele.”
Rosemary frowned. “Who is Tom?”
“I’ll tell you later. You have so much to learn, grasshopper!”
They stopped at Jason’s to pick up the rest of Mike’s clothes, leaving Jason a note and a thank-you gift. They bought a large leather duffel for Mike before they returned to Winnetka.
After they ate a late lunch, Rosemary showed Mike the most efficient way to pack his bag. Rosemary Taylor texted from the guest house to say that Howard Smith’s e-ticket had been put in Mike’s name, so they were ready to go. They would relax for the rest of the day, sleep late in the morning and head to the airport in the early afternoon for their flight.
Chapter 48
Rosemary decided to make the call she dreaded. She called her grandmother when they were done packing.
“Hi, Oma. I hope you and Opa are doing well.”
“Rosemary, you left without telling me.”
“I know, Oma. I’m sorry. I didn’t have much choice; someday I’ll tell you about it.”
“You blocked my number from your phone. How could you do that?”
“Oma, I didn’t leave home because I wanted to; it was very stressful and I didn’t want to talk to anyone. Someone from the modeling agency I’ve known for several years was threatening my family and Mike. I had to focus on what I needed to do. So, yes, I blocked you and several other people for a while.”
“I knew the modeling was bad! I knew it. Your mother has
never had any sense. She should never have let you do that!”
“Oma!” Rosemary’s voice was stern. “Stop it right now, or I’ll hang up. I could have encountered Howard Smith anywhere. It doesn’t have anything to do with Mom. Focus on right now, please. I called because to tell you I’m safe and I’ll be coming home in about ten days.”
“Ten days! Why so long?”
“I have a job that I’m obligated to complete. I’m leaving tomorrow and I’ll be back in Chicago in ten days. We’ll drive back the next day.”
“Who is ‘we’”?
“Mike and I.”
Oma ignored the mention of Mike. “I don’t understand what you’re doing.”
“Oma, I don’t have the time to explain everything. We’re staying with my Aunt Rosemary and her family and we have plans tonight with them. We’ll leave for the airport tomorrow afternoon and fly out in the early evening. I just called to let you know I’m safe and when I’ll be home.”
“Where are you going tomorrow?”
“We’re going to Hong Kong.”
“We? Who is we?”
“Mike is going with me. Howard Smith, who I knew from the modeling agency, booked this job without my permission and contractually, I have to do it. Howard was going with me, but he is now in jail. I don’t have time to explain how all that happened, either.”
“I do not approve of this Mike going with you.”
Rosemary tried to hold on to her patience. “I don’t want to go to Hong Kong by myself; the idea of traveling alone overseas is terrifying. Howard Smith booked two rooms for the hotel and two plane tickets. I’m eighteen, Mike is eighteen. Our parents know we’re going together and they understand the itinerary and the arrangements. Now, I must go.”
“Rosemary!” Oma was impatient. “You have become rude and disrespectful. I don’t approve of you running all over the world.”
“I’m not surprised. I’ll be doing a lot of overseas travel over the next six months. You’ll have to adjust.”
“Adjust! I must be the only person in your life who has your best interests at heart. Young girls can’t just go gallivanting around the world—it’s not safe. You need to be at home. People will talk and you’ll look like a girl who has no morals or supervision.”
“Oma, Mike is going with me as much as possible. He is very protective.”
Oma snorted. “Who will protect you from him? Boys like that only want one thing, Rosemary. You can’t trust him.”
Rosemary laughed. “I’ve been waiting for the Mike-bashing to start. Thanks for not disappointing me. Mike Studor is in my life. Mike will be in my life forever. It would be a good idea for you to start practicing being happy about it. Because I’m going to hope you’ll be at my college graduation and our wedding someday.”
“Wedding! You haven’t even graduated from high school!”
“There’s no wedding planned. We’re years away from that. But I have graduated from high school. I took my exams and graduated early.”
“What? Without telling me? I would never have agreed to that!”
“That decision didn’t have anything to do with you. I talked to Mom and John about it.”
“I know what my son would have wanted! You should have asked me.”
Rosemary sighed. “Oma, I love you. But my dad isn’t here and Mom is the one who decides what my dad would have wanted. Not you.”
“But you asked your mother’s husband.”
“Well, yes, I did. John is important to me. For the first time in my life, I feel like I have a father. I wasn’t planning on telling you this now, but I might as well. I’ve asked John to adopt me.”
“Rosemary! That would break your father’s heart. I forbid you to do it.”
“I don’t believe for a minute that my dad would be upset about it—I think he would be upset with you for being so unreasonable. Oma, one more thing. I’m going to stay home with my brothers and sisters and my parents on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. So, I’ll talk to you after Christmas.”
Oma gasped. “You must come to our house on Christmas Day. I have made plans—I have invited the entire family. My cousins, Opa’s family, all of the young cousins in your age group. The invitations have gone out.”
“I’m sorry, Oma. I won’t be there for Christmas.”
Oma sputtered. “How can you do this to me? You already missed Thanksgiving. I insist that you come for Christmas.”
“No. I want to be with my brothers and sisters, my parents and Mike on Christmas. This is my last year to be home and I’m going to be with my family. Life is changing drastically. I plan to go to school out of state. I doubt I’ll be home until Christmas next year.”
Oma snorted. “You’re going to Central. Your room is painted, you have a new car in the garage and new furniture in your room.
“Oma, you just refuse to hear me. I’m not going to Central. I withdrew the application and cancelled all the arrangements. I wouldn’t go to Central if it was the last college on earth.”
Oma gasped. “I will get it reinstated.”
“No, you won’t. For two reasons. They don’t want me, first of all. I also explained that you did the application without my knowledge and falsely signed my name. A few days later, I received a registered letter informing me that any further attempts to register at their college would bring legal action from them. Against both of us. I don’t think you want to get arrested or sued, Oma.”
For once in her life, Oma was silent. “If you don’t go to Central, you can go to Simpson or William Penn. A small school in a small town close to Pella.”
“Oma, I’m majoring in dance or something performance-related. I’ve narrowed down my choices to Louisiana State University, two schools in Arizona and Southern Methodist University.”
Oma gasped. “I refuse to pay for it if you leave the state.”
“I don’t need or want your money. I have more than enough saved for college expenses; the money is in a trust account, waiting. I can go anywhere I want for school.”
“You’re lying. There’s no way your mother can pay for school, and where else would you get money like that? It would be stupid to borrow money to go to school when you can go to a local school and I will pay for it.”
“I’m not lying. I’ve tried to tell you before, but you don’t hear anything you don’t want to hear. I can pay for my education, even a house if I want it. I was never going to let you pay for my education. I love you, but you use money to keep people in line. Now, I am hanging up. Have a great Christmas, please tell Opa I love him. Goodbye, Oma.”
“Rosemary!” Rosemary heard her grandmother call her name as she hung up. She felt guilty because she didn’t feel guilty about setting boundaries with her grandmother.
“That hurdle is cleared.” Rosemary said when she joined Mike on the sunporch.
“She was mad, right?”
“Oh yeah, she was mad. But I don’t care. Besides, she’ll never learn to treat me like an adult if I don’t act like an adult.” Mike nodded. “Hey? There’s a gym in the back yard that nobody is using; do you want to work out?”
“Yeah, I’d like to. I haven’t worked out since I’ve been in Chicago.”
“Meet you down here in ten minutes.”
“Wow. This is amazing.” The building was fitted out like a small full-service exercise center, complete with TV’s in the corners. At least half of the building contained an open dance area with a barre.
“This is one of the reasons we moved out here, so I could work out and dance. Arch’s sister has danced all her life, so the judge had this built for her. She lives down the street with her family; they use this all the time, but they’re in Europe right now.”
“Is that a shower, too? And a fridge?”
“Yeah. The stereo system is great, too.” Rosemary grinned. “I’m going to dance, so I need music. Do you mind?”
“Nope. I don’t mind. I’m going to do some cardio and lift.”
Two hours later, t
hey walked back to the house to shower. After dinner, they watched a movie with Arch and Rosemary and hung out together after everyone else was asleep. “We’re going to get spoiled,” Mike remarked. “For the next ten days, we’ll get to be together as much as we want. Then we’ll go back to being at home with our parents.”
“You might be glad to get away from me when we’re home.” Rosemary teased. “I might annoy you after a while.”
“My sweet Rosemary annoy me? Not gonna happen.” Mike looked thoughtful. “I wonder if it’ll seem weird living in a dorm. We might hate it.”
“I’m kind of dreading that whole part of it. But, you’re going to be very busy—with classes and with football. You might not even notice that your living arrangements aren’t your favorite.”
“Maybe. It’s kind of funny that things can change so fast. I’m only six months older than I was the first time I saw you, but I’m not the same guy I was then. I feel years older.”
“Yeah. Next week you’ll be bald and have dentures,” Rosemary teased, giggling at the mental picture.
“Funny, very funny.” Mike pulled her over to his lap. “You know what I mean.”
“I do.” Rosemary kissed his cheek. “Maybe that’s how growing up happens. Nothing significant for a while and then a seismic shift.”
“Maybe you’re right.” Mike settled his cheek against Rosemary’s soft hair. “Can I ask you something without freaking you out?”
“I haven’t freaked out for quite a while, have I?”
“Nope, not really. This is just a ‘what if’.”
“Okay.”
“How long do you think we’ll last before we want to get married?”
Rosemary took a deep breath. Mike smiled against her hair. “Don’t freak out, babe. I wasn’t proposing.”