Today People

by Barbara G. Tarn

  In spite of having to do everything on his own, he'd managed to take the children to school and arrive five minutes early. Fred, Harry and Mandy had been strangely subdued, as if their mother's absence was also affecting them.

  Well, of course it affected them. They'd all felt Penny's absence. Rick knew he couldn't let Charlene do everything, but he needed some time to adjust to the new situation.

  At lunchtime he sat with Kevin in the cafeteria. Kevin would be fifty soon, but he was still single. At first, Rick had thought he might be gay, but after he got to know Kevin better, he discovered that wasn't the case.

  Kevin had been unlucky with his few relationships. He was still a grunt worker because he wasn't interested in a career. He'd watched most male coworkers move up the ladder with total lack of interest and knew one day Rick would move forward too.

  Maybe. Not now that Penny was gone. Maybe never. Maybe trying to have a white-collar career had been Rick's mistake.

  The company had already taken too much of his time, and his family was falling apart. He must keep it together, therefore he had no time to spare or the will to take on new responsibilities.

  "I've been thinking of adopting a child," Kevin said at last. "Since you're a parent, do you have any advice?"

  "Oh, boy!" Rick shook his head, wondering what he'd have answered one week earlier. At the moment it felt like the most daunting task he'd ever had. "I don't recommend being a single parent. Two people have enough hard times."

  "Well, you have three children, I only want one," Kevin said, slightly puzzled by his reaction.

  "True, but it's still a little being with his own mind... and sometimes they're very hard to control."

  "I thought you were Super Dad."

  "Lately I'm more Miserable Dad... maybe I wasn't as super as I thought in the first place..." Maybe that was why Penny had dumped him. She didn't like her in-laws, she didn't like most of his friends, she obviously didn't like his job either if she now found him boring, so maybe she also thought he wasn't such a great dad. Although she had dumped the kids on him, so maybe he was a great dad? It was all very confusing.

  "Rick, are you all right?" Kevin reminded him of his presence. He looked worried.

  Rick sighed. "Stay single, it will save you a lot of trouble. And forget about having kids, especially if you're on your own!"

  "Problems with Penny?"

  Rick looked around to make sure nobody was eavesdropping. He trusted another man to keep his mouth shut, but if any of the women heard him, he was in trouble.

  "She dumped me," he muttered, staring at his now empty plate.

  "Shit." Kevin leaned back in his chair and shook his head. "No wonder you feel like a shitty dad."

  "Maybe I'm not that bad, if she left me the kids. But one thing is for sure. Being a single parent sucks. I had to hire a babysitter to help them with their homework and recruit the rest of my family to help me with housework until I gather my wits."

  "That's why you took those days off."

  "Yeah, birthday gift."

  "So you didn't celebrate after all."

  "Nope. Not really." He hung his shoulders and looked at Kevin. "You won't tell anyone, will you?"

  "Of course not. But if you need help..."

  "Might make you change your mind about adoption." Rick smiled against his will. "The three angels can easily become three pests!"

  "We'll see." Kevin grinned. "How about I come and meet them next weekend?"

  6.

  Bea reached the building's main entrance at the same time as Kevin. Both were early, so they took the elevator together.

  "I saw you talking with Rick the other day," she said hesitantly. "Is he all right?"

  "Yeah, he's... coping. Heartbroken, but coping," Kevin answered absentmindedly.

  "You mean Penny dumped him?" she asked, incredulous.

  Kevin focused on her.

  "I haven't said anything," he warned.

  She rolled her eyes. He knew she wasn't a gossip girl.

  "Yes, she dumped him," he continued, looking away. "But he'll be all right, I think."

  The elevator opened and they slowly walked towards the company's door.

  "I knew something had happened on his birthday," Bea muttered. "Poor Rick."

  "It's not official and he hasn't asked for a divorce yet," Kevin said. "I think he told me only because I asked him advice on parenting."

  "Your adoption idea, huh?" She frowned. "How did he react?"

  "Not as I expected." Kevin smiled at the memory. "But then it made sense." He stopped in the middle of the corridor to look at her. "I'm not telling you anything more," he warned again. "He trusted me and I know you're discreet, but it still feels like betrayal of his trust."

  "I won't tell a soul," she promised, signaling her lips were sealed.

  She went to her cubicle, lost in thought. Life was really hard. Even when someone thought he'd found the perfect match, she might wake up one day and just vanish.

  Bea wondered how Rick was feeling. She had to admit she never had to deal with a broken heart. And he even had kids! Which sort of made him even more attractive in her eyes.

  She was approaching menopause and didn't want a late pregnancy, so a man who already had children of his own might not want more. He'd still want sex, though, probably. And even though she liked him, he was a stranger.

  Considering getting intimate with him felt both daunting and exciting. Why was she thinking of a man all of a sudden? She had her creatures, her babies... why obsess over Rick?

  Maybe because he looked so lost and vulnerable in spite of everything?

  Bea wanted to slap herself. Stop thinking about Rick, he's younger than you and even though Penny left him – or maybe because she left him, he won't consider you now! Besides, you know how complicated relationships are! Just forget it! Him! Whatever! Damn!

  ***

  Harry was sick, so Rick called his mother. She could handle one child at a time and lived down the street. She rushed to his place, but he was still running late, mostly from arguing with her that he couldn't go on like this.

  As if it was his fault that Penny had walked out. Muttering under his breath, he took Mandy and Fred to school at the last minute and by the time he reached the office, he was half an hour late.

  Mrs. Gold's face didn't look accommodating.

  "Sorry, my youngest son was sick and I had to find someone to look after him," he muttered.

  "Still no news of your wife?" she asked, skeptical.

  "No. I'm sorry, I'll stay late to catch up. I'll need some flexibility with working hours for a little longer."

  "I hope you have a lawyer and can settle this thing soon," she said.

  "Thank you, Mrs. Gold."

  He went to his cubicle without looking at anyone, knowing some coworkers had overheard him. Soon the office gossip team would spread the news. He wasn't going to discuss his private life at work, though. As long as Mrs. Gold allowed him some flexibility, he'd keep doing his job like before.

  It wasn't easy. His cubicle felt like a foreign place and the people he worked with looked like strangers. It wasn't only Penny's vanishing that hurt, but also realizing the fact that he was all alone in this. And he had to be strong for the children, so they wouldn't hurt more than they already did.

  He only wanted to curl up in bed and cry himself to sleep, and then wake up and find Penny by his side telling him it had been all a dream. Well, a nightmare. He tried to call Robbie, but again couldn't get through.

  "I didn't say anything, but rumors are spreading," Kevin told him at lunch time.

  "I know, I was late this morning because Harry was sick."

  "Well, we all noticed you stopped smiling after your birthday, and it couldn't be just because you turned forty."

  Kevin tried to joke, but Rick could only smile ruefully.

  "I'm sure they're all very happy that my perfect life has gone to shit," he muttered.

  "I'm not happy, I'm very sorry,"
Kevin said. "You didn't see it coming because you so obviously love your wife."

  "I've tried to figure out if she gave out warning signs, but I can't see them, not even in hindsight! Either she pretended for a very long time or... I don't know, Kevin, I really don't know why she left."

  "She will tell you, eventually." Kevin shrugged. "Women are often mysteries. Might be why I could never keep one for a long time."

  "And you still want to adopt?" Rick's lips trembled into a smile.

  "Might not be a good idea." Kevin sighed. "But I'd love to meet your kids, if you're still up for it."

  "Sure. Saturday we're free. Sunday my sister will probably come over. Last Sunday I got my brother-in-law to help me entertain them."

  "Has he heard from his sister?"

  "Not yet. She's vanished even from her own family, which is why I'm thinking it's not my fault, it's her. But I still have no idea of what happened in her head to make her pack and go without warnings."

  "She will come back," Kevin said. "If not for you, for her kids."

  "What if we don't want her back?" Rick frowned, worried.

  What if she waited too long and they learned to live without her? Would he take her back after what she'd done? Probably not. Maybe it was time to start the divorce procedure. The silence on Penny's part had really killed off what was left of his love for her.

  "You'll see when she comes back," Kevin replied with a smile. "Don't worry, Rick, you're doing fine."

  Rick sighed. "I hope so. Sometimes I only want to scream..."

  "Can your sister watch the kids? I'll take you some place where you can scream your frustrations and nobody will hear you..."

  Startled, Rick looked at Kevin who winked.

  "I'll ask Sarah when she can look after the kids at night," he said. "Thank you, Kevin."

  ***

  "Your mother hates me," Charlene said when Rick went home. But she said it with a smile. Harry was slightly better and still subdued, and Mandy and Fred had done their homework with Charlene without complaining.

  "I know she doesn't approve, but she has no say in what happens in my house," Rick had answered. Or Penny would have left him a long time ago. Although his mother was probably trying to get her foot in now that her fiery daughter-in-law was gone, but he wasn't going to let her.

  Rick prepared for bed, then the phone rang. It was his mother-in-law.

  "Sorry for the late hour, but I called earlier and talked to your mother..."

  "It's okay, Millie, I wasn't asleep yet. Have you heard from Penny?"

  "Not yet, I'm really worried by now. She hasn't even called Sam! I'm thinking of coming over to give a hand, your mother sounds overwhelmed..."

  "She doesn't like the babysitter because she's black." Rick scoffed. "But Charlene is good and the children like her. Sarah is giving me a hand with the house every other day. Please, stay put. Just in case Penny decides to let you know why she dumped her family."

  "Oh, Rick, I doubt my daughter would ever tell me! She was always such a rebel! You were a saint to marry her and keep her in check!"

  "Well, obviously my hold on her is gone," he said sourly. Maybe that was why she had left. Because he'd kept her in check, making her a housewife and a mother when she wanted something else. She never said what, though.

  He reassured his mother-in-law that he was doing fine, that his mother, his sister and the babysitter were enough to help him handle the children, and that she should wait for Penny's call – and not scold her when she did, lest she vanished again. Millie promised to stay calm and wished him a good night.

  Eleven already. Rick was starting to feel very tired. He better try to get some sleep. Tomorrow is Friday, and then the weekend... He was beginning to think he would see the light at the end of the tunnel.

  ***

  "Dad, can I audition for the school musical?" Fred asked as Rick drove him and Mandy to school after dropping Harry off at kindergarten.

  It had been a fortnight since Penny had left, or better, hadn't returned from her vacation. His brave kids were coming out of the initial depression. Harry had stopped crying before going to bed and Mandy seemed less gloomy.

  "What?" Rick couldn't believe his ears. Fred had inherited his love for music?

  "He wants to be in a boyband when he grows up," Mandy teased.

  "Shut up!" Fred snapped. "I want to do this, Dad," he pleaded. "It's today, I already told Charlene I'd stay for the audition anyway!"

  "So you're just notifying me," Rick said, trying to frown and hide his smile at the same time. He was glad Fred had found a passion. Maybe he'll succeed where Rick himself had failed. "Fine. What time is the audition?"

  "After school. You don't think you can come, do you?"

  "Well, I can try... although you should have said it earlier, so I could have asked Mrs. Gold to leave early!"

  "I hadn't really decided until yesterday," Fred said, thoughtful. "Dave is doing it and he said we should go together, but I wasn't so sure with Mom gone and everything."

  "Charlene talked him into doing it," Mandy added.

  "Mom would have done the same," Rick said. "You never mentioned it to me, or I'd have told you to go for it."

  "Really?" Fred brightened.

  "We'll see how it goes," Rick continued. "You could start voice lessons."

  "And you can teach me some dance moves!"

  "You can't beat Dad, he's the best dancer in the world!" Mandy said.

  "Was," Rick grumbled, staring at the road. "Haven't been doing it much lately. No time."

  "Is that why Mom left?" Mandy asked. "She's not really on vacation, is she?"

  "Uh, well, yes, she is on vacation from us, since she's not calling. I guess she needs a break."

  "In Cali?" Fred sounded skeptical. "Without us?"

  "Maybe she was sick of the Windy City," Mandy added.

  "Who knows why Mom left," Rick replied. "What musical are they doing, Fred?"

  They reached the school while singing a song on the radio. Rick was very proud of his kids.

  He took the train reminiscing of his own auditions, at school first, and then through an agent, until he'd met the other guys. The band had been set up by a record producer.

  Rick wondered if he still had some clout in the music industry – or maybe Robbie could help Fred to fulfill his dream.

  Thankfully he wasn't late to work and Mrs. Gold seemed in a good mood, so she allowed him to leave early to go to his son's audition.

  He found himself talking about his music past with Kevin like they had never done before. He didn't know Kevin still occasionally played with his garage band, or that the other band members were all married with kids, hence he'd got the idea to adopt.

  "I'll find a place where we can both have fun and scream as much as we want," Kevin promised at the end of the lunch break. "Has your sister told you when she'll be available?"

  "Friday." Rick beamed. "She doesn't have a date, so she's free. We can go out and get drunk or dance the night away and recover on Saturday – when my mom will surely show up to check on me and will take care of the kids while I nurse my hangover."

  "You, drunk?" Kevin chuckled. "That I'll have to see! You don't come off as someone who drinks a lot."

  "Not the family man, but my previous self didn't mind partying hard." Rick smiled sheepishly.

  He finished everything on time and rushed out of the office to get back to Evanston. The auditions had barely started when he entered the school theater, breathless, and slid in a seat next to Charlene, Mandy and Harry. Fred was still waiting for his turn with his best friend Dave.

  Rick listened to all the children's performances, but his son had the clearest and best voice in his opinion.

  "He's good," Charlene said, impressed. "If they take him on, he'll have to learn time management!"

  "I'm sure you'll help him stay on track," Rick told her. "You seem pretty good at organizing other people's lives."

  "Yes, it's mine that is messed up." Cha
rlene sighed. "Let's go, I'll fix you guys some dinner and then I really must go home."

  Beaming Fred joined them. Rick hugged and complimented him and they all headed home.

  After he'd put the children in bed, Rick went back downstairs, but instead of watching TV, he picked up the phone and stared at it. Should he call Penny and tell her of Fred's dream? Did she deserve it?

  She hasn't even bothered to tell me what she's trying to do... but Fred is definitely our son!

  Rick felt stupidly proud of his firstborn. It reminded him how he himself had felt at that age. Fred also had a best friend – much like he'd had Robbie – who had auditioned with him. Rick hoped both would be picked up for the school musical.

  He stared at the phone again, and decided to call Robbie. He was always the one initiating the call, now that he thought about it... but this time Robbie picked up immediately, as if he were waiting for his call.

  "Hey, buddy, I was about to call you! I'm back in town, but I was waiting for a more decent time to call a house where children sleep."

  "If they're asleep, nothing's gonna wake them," Rick replied. "So, where have you been?"

  "California. Then the project fell through and I came back. You mentioned Penny... I wanted to tell you something. Just forget her. She still has her groupie mind, much like Roxy. You deserve better, buddy."

  After a moment, Rick found his voice again.

  "Robbie, what do you know that I don't know?" he demanded. "Have you talked to her?"

  "Yes... sort of." Robbie hesitated. "I met them in LA when they arrived there. Then Roxy went on with that photo safari and Penny stayed..."

  "With you?" Rick almost screamed. He covered his mouth with his free hand, incredulous. "You screwed my wife?" he managed to ask, breathless.

  "She threw herself at me! Her and her bitchy friend! I told you! They both think they're groupies like in their early twenties when we met them! That's why I'm telling you you're better off without her!" Robbie sounded defensive.

  "Jesus Christ!" Rick exhaled, trying to calm down. "Roxy came at me more than once, but I turned her down. Was it asking too much that you did the same with my goddamn wife?"