Today People

by Barbara G. Tarn

  She wondered how such a great love could turn to shit in a little more than a month. Surely there had been some kind of warning on Penny's part? Was Rick too busy to notice?

  Sometimes she really wished she could read people's minds.

  ***

  Rick went home thinking he should really get rid of Julie. She had shown up on Sunday and had kept pestering him on Monday. He wasn't in the mood for dating. He didn't even go out with Kevin anymore. He only wanted to curl up in bed and cry – again – but he had to put on a stoic face for the children.

  So the vacation with Roxy had turned into a vacation from the family with sex. A threesome on the first day, then Roxy had left, leaving Penny with Robbie who had promised her some kind of glamorous life, but then had missed again and came back alone. Penny had tried to continue on her own, but had had to give up too, and she'd come back from California, beaten.

  Rick had accepted Robbie's apologies, but something between them was broken. Penny slept at Roxy's until she managed to set foot back into Rick's house. Not even her brother was willing to give her a bed. Rick knew Penny's mother and Sam were on his side.

  And he didn't want her back. What had been broken between him and Robbie, was broken also between him and Penny. He didn't love her anymore. Didn't trust her anymore. He might let her come back for the sake of the children, but he didn't want to sleep next to her again.

  "What did you guys think of Julie, my coworker who visited yesterday?" he asked the children as they ate Chinese takeout.

  "Charlene is nicer," Mandy said.

  "At least she's not after you," Fred added. "She's not trying to take Mom's place!"

  "Yeah, Julie really wants you to leave us too!" Mandy continued.

  "When is Mom coming back?" Harry asked.

  Rick sighed. "I don't know, Harry."

  "Did she apologize to you?" Mandy asked.

  "Yes, everybody is very apologetic," he said sourly. "Have you forgiven her?"

  "She better not leave again," Fred said. "Or I'll help change the locks again!"

  "She doesn't have the new key yet," Rick reminded him with a half smile. "Do you want me to give her a copy?"

  "Yes!" Mandy and Harry chorused.

  "You can give it to her if she comes to see the show," Fred said.

  "You mean I'll give it to her at the show?" Rick asked. Fred nodded. "Deal."

  Fred high-fived him with a grin, and Mandy and Harry cheered.

  They'd have their mother back, if that was what they wanted. But he didn't want his wife back. He'll have to call the lawyer to find a settlement that was good for both of them. And the kids.

  ***

  Rick had left the children with his mother to meet Penny in a coffee shop. He hadn't told them who he was meeting – neither his mother, nor his children – and hadn't called his lawyer either. He was sick of phone calls and had agreed to see Penny before they went to court.

  When he reached the chosen coffee shop, she was already there, seated at a corner table with a mug of tea in her hands. Rick checked the time, but she was early for the first time in her life. Maybe she really wanted to talk.

  He waved a greeting and went to the counter to grab his own mug of warm beverage before sitting in front of her at the small square table. Her dimpled smile blossomed and she leaned forward as if to kiss him, but he sat back, averting his eyes, and refusing to be spellbound again.

  He had loved her so much, but she had broken his heart. Having her in front of him put a lump in his throat, and then anger wiped it away. He wasn't going to fall in her trap ever again.

  "You look good, Rick," she said almost shyly.

  "Thanks," he muttered. He thought he had questions or things to tell her, but nothing came to mind. He had missed her, and then he had learned to live without her. Seeing her now, two months later, was jarring.

  "So, can I have the new keys?" Penny asked. "I know I don't deserve a second chance, but I miss the kids."

  "And they miss you," he said bitterly. "But I don't want to sleep with you anymore. Either we add a bed in Mandy's room, or you go to the guest room permanently."

  "That's fine," she said. "I'm sure Mandy will be happy to have company!"

  "Okay." He glared at her. "But you're on probation, Penny. You do this stunt again, and you're out of our lives forever. I don't care if the kids miss you, they won't be able to see you until they turn eighteen!"

  "I won't do this stunt again," she said meekly. "I'm back at my part-time job and I've started my first fiction piece. I pitched it in Hollywood but then I decided to write the book first, since I don't know how to write a screenplay. I'm almost done with the first draft, would you like to read it?"

  "No."

  She sighed and looked away.

  "I look forward to Fred's show, I could help manage his career, what do you think?" She brightened and leaned forward again. "I do know some people in the business after all, and until he turns eighteen he must be supervised anyway!"

  "As long as you don't push him to have the success we didn't have," he replied bluntly.

  "Did you hear him sing? Is he really that good?"

  "He loves it, but his voice hasn't changed yet. He's not a teen yet. We don't know what he'll become. He's enjoying it now, but I don't want you to push him on a road he might end up hating."

  She frowned. "What do you mean?"

  "When that producer set up the boyband, I was seventeen. I was with my best friend and I loved the other guys. We had the time of our life – mostly because my mother pushed me to join the band. Maybe I wouldn't have agreed if she hadn't been so vocal that it was my vocation or something like that. And why did she do it? Because she'd loved boybands in her teens and couldn't believe her luck that her son had been chosen for a revival of boybands... So I don't want you to push Fred in any way. Deal with the people who want to hire him, but don't go looking for work for him. He's still a child, he's not supposed to work, only to have fun."

  "Of course, Rick," she said. "We all had our parents wanting us to be something we didn't really want to be. You can stop paying the babysitter to pick them up from school. Or calling Sarah to go out. Unless we want to go out together every now and then."

  Rick scoffed at her hopeful expression.

  "Do you really think I still want to romance you? You broke my heart, Penny. With my best friend, no less. What did you expect? That I'd forgive you and give you a second chance?"

  "No." Penny looked down. "I wouldn't give you a second chance if you cheated on me."

  "I didn't cheat on you," he snapped. "Not even when Roxy threw herself at me. I'm not Robbie, I don't do free sex for the sake of it!"

  "Just saying what I would do in your shoes," she said patiently. She leaned forward and took his hand. "I'm sorry, Rick. I was stupid and reckless. My mother has already told me in no uncertain terms what she thinks of me and my behavior. I will be the mother of our children and that's it. I'll sleep in the guest room until we add a bed in Mandy's room."

  Rick freed his fingers from her hands, fished in his pocked and handed her a bunch of keys.

  "The new keys. I was supposed to give them to you after Fred's show, but I know they want you back yesterday."

  She grinned. "Thank you! Can I come tonight for dinner? I'll bring the food..."

  Rick nodded and rose, leaving his mug untouched. "See you later," he said grumpily. He turned his back on her and left, trying to put order into his shattered thoughts and feelings.

  10.

  Bea and Kevin met at the historic Grosse Point Lighthouse on a Saturday afternoon. They did so every now and then when they wanted to discuss non-work-related things. Lunchtime wasn't always the right time to talk about their private lives, especially if they didn't want to be overheard.

  The Lighthouse Park District included the building designed in Italianate architecture and the Maritime Museum, and reached the shores of Lake Michigan – a peaceful place for a walk and talk with some privacy.
/>   "So you met Rick's kids?" Bea asked. "Have you changed your mind about adoption?"

  "I must admit being a single parent isn't easy," Kevin answered. "Rick is doing a great job, but maybe you're right. We can be uncles or aunts and not bother with our own kids after all."

  "Or you can find a divorced woman with her own kids in tow," she suggested with a wink.

  He laughed. "Or I could ask Julie out, so she'll stop bothering Rick!"

  "You've never been out with her?" Bea couldn't believe her ears. She thought Julie had dated all her single male coworkers and even a couple of the married ones in her search for the perfect match.

  "No, she never asked me." Kevin shrugged. "Maybe I'm not her type."

  "Maybe she has never thought about it..."

  "I'm not the most glamorous man of the office."

  "You're great. And she's dumb." She smiled fondly at him. "What do you think will happen to Rick?"

  "He's letting Penny back into the house for the kid's sake, I think," Kevin answered with a sigh. "But he's not ready to commit again. I invited him to a jam session with the guys, but he said no for now. I guess he wants to settle things with Penny first."

  "Makes sense." Bea pondered.

  "I've considered dating the babysitter, but she has a boyfriend," Kevin said.

  "Which babysitter?"

  "Rick's babysitter. A very funny African-American whom the kids just love. But Rick's mother hates her. I think she's nice. Her boyfriend is a drummer, so we're jamming with some black guys tomorrow."

  "And Rick's not coming."

  "Not tomorrow. Maybe next time."

  "Good."

  They both walked in silence for a moment, lost in thought. Bea wished Rick invited her to meet his family. She was kind of curious. Not because she wanted a family, but because she felt sorry for Rick.

  "Do you think Rick will ever have a career now?" she asked. "And if he doesn't, will he feel bad about it?"

  "I think his family is more important to him than his career," Kevin answered, thoughtful. "Mostly his children. He'd do anything for them. And if it means spending less time at work and more with them, I'm sure he'll do it."

  "Why was he trying for a career then? For Penny? So he could spoil her and the children?"

  "I don't know." Kevin shrugged. "I guess. Maybe Penny will behave differently now. She had a husband who adored her – but not anymore."

  "I wonder who is more stupid, Penny or Julie." Bea chuckled. "I guess neither of them understands Rick!"

  "And do you?" he asked, amused.

  "Me? No! I don't understand anyone. And that's why I'm happily single."

  "One day you'll meet someone who will help you compromise."

  "That someone isn't even born yet, Kev!"

  "We'll see." Kevin grinned. "Do you really want to spend another half a century alone?"

  "What's wrong with that?" She glared at him. Coming from him, it was really a low blow. "I thought we had decided that if we were still single when we retired, we'd take care of each other."

  "True... but how about we try not to be single when we retire?"

  She rolled her eyes. "I like being single. I like sleeping alone. I like my freedom."

  "So do I, but sometimes I miss the intimacy."

  She glanced at him. He was thoughtful again. Maybe he was thinking about his band-mates who all had families. Besides, he wasn't asexual like her. No wonder he missed a bed partner.

  She sighed. "We'll see," she said. "I most certainly don't want kids..."

  "And I'm not asking you out anymore," he replied with a wink. "We're history, Bea, don't worry, I don't have my eyes set on you."

  "Oh, really? So you have set your eyes on someone?"

  "I think so, but I don't want to talk about it yet."

  She nodded. She wasn't going to ask. Still that reticence to ask personal questions, even with people who were close to her...

  As they slowly went back to their cars they talked about Rick again.

  ***

  Frank had called a meeting of the boyband, and Rick had left the children with their mother for the day. Penny had ended up staying at Roxy's for a little longer until they settled everything in writing. The kids were staying at the house with their parents moving in and out every week – which meant that every other week Rick slept at his mother's in his old room.

  And that was were Frank had found him, since he didn't have his new number. Rick had lost track of Frank and Andy, and kept in touch only with Leo and Robbie. He wasn't too happy to meet Robbie again, but he managed to keep a straight face. The others didn't know Robbie had fucked his wife, and he wasn't going to make a scene.

  They met at Frank's house in Lake Forest. Rick hadn't seen Frank since the band's breakup. He found out Frank was married with two kids and a corporate job – much like him and Leo. And he was still in touch with the fifth member, Andy, who didn't show up.

  "And that's why you're here," Frank said, distributing beers to Leo, Robbie and Rick, who were seated on the couches in his living room. "Andy is sick. He might not live another year. He'd like to see us all one last time before he goes."

  "He's terminal, then?" Rick asked, worried.

  "Those damn cancers go fast when you're young," Frank answered. "He fell sick three months ago and it was already too late. They're trying to help him to pass away without too much pain, but..." He shook his head. "He lost weight, the chemo took away his hair... he doesn't look good, guys. But he still remembers our glory days."

  "Not so glorious after all," Leo commented, averting his eyes. "Or we'd still be out there, performing. I don't know, Frank, I don't think I can do it. I'm not too fond of hospitals."

  "We were a boyband," Robbie said. "I think we should sing together one last time."

  "And how is your solo career going?" Frank asked, amused. "Do you think you can take some time off for this?"

  "Sure."

  Rick scoffed. Robbie wasn't looking anyone in the eyes. That cocky disposition had always driven him crazy, but when the band had split and Robbie had continued on his own, things had gotten better. There was no rivalry between them anymore.

  Until Robbie had tried to steal his wife, that is. And succeeded, even for only a month.

  Rick shook his head, frowning. He felt sorry for Andy, but he didn't think a private show was a good idea. Especially if Andy couldn't participate. Maybe they should just visit him and stick by him until he was gone.

  "What is it, Rick?" Frank asked. Rick expressed his doubts. Leo seconded him, but now it was Robbie's turn to insist they really should do this for Andy.

  "For all of us. I mean, we're forty, but we're not dead! Why shouldn't we sing and dance anymore?"

  "Because we have families?" Rick said icily. "Something you're envious of, obviously, or you wouldn't try to get somebody else's wife?"

  "I didn't try to steal your wife, Rick!" Robbie retorted. "She came to me!"

  "Oh, and of course you didn't turn her down," Rick said, sarcastic.

  "She came back, didn't she?" Robbie was defensive now.

  "Ah, yes, thank you, Robbie, for ruining my marriage anyway." Rick turned to Frank. "Don't let him meet your wife, ever. He shouldn't meet Andy's wife either, not until she's a widow."

  "Rick!" Robbie protested.

  "Shut up!" Rick screamed. He clenched his teeth and his fists, trying to regain control. Frank stared at him goggle-eyed while Leo seemed amused. Maybe he knew more than what he gave out. Maybe Robbie had ruined his marriage too.

  Robbie curled up on his side of the couch, glaring at the others.

  Rick closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

  "I don't think the show is a good idea," he said, trying to stay calm. "I will visit Andy, though."

  "I second that," Leo said. "Where do we find him, Frank?"

  11.

  Rick went back to work after Andy's funeral. They hadn't done any good-bye show for him, but they'd all visited him at the hospital. Pen
ny had come with him both to visit Andy and to the funeral.

  It wasn't fair Andy was already gone, at forty, leaving two children and a desperate wife. Watching Andy's children at the funeral had made Penny realize what she'd done – except of course, she'd been allowed to come back. Andy would never come back.

  Rick wondered what he should do with his life. If he should try to continue on his career path at the company or just do whatever he was supposed to do to keep his job and look after his family instead.

  "Are you all right?" Bea asked from the doorway to his cubicle. She looked worried.

  "Yes," he answered. "I'm just kind of tired of all these sudden changes in my life. I wish I could have some rest."

  She sighed. "I guess life is changes... And things will get better for you."

  "How do you do it?"

  "What?"

  "How do you handle the loneliness?"

  "Oh, that! Well, I'm an introvert. I don't feel lonely most of the time."

  He nodded, thoughtful. "You don't go out much, do you?"

  "I don't like going out." She crossed her arms on her chest, frowning at him.

  "Neither do I, although I could now, when I sleep at my mother's."

  "And has Penny found someone else or not?"

  "She had, but it didn't work. I think she's back for good. Except I don't really love her anymore."

  He shrugged. No passion, no anger, nothing. Maybe it was the funeral, but he didn't feel anything at the moment.

  "Would you like to meet the kids this weekend?" he suggested, looking at Bea who gasped in surprise.

  "If you insist," she answered hesitantly.

  "I insist."

  "Okay." She almost ran away, as if she were scared.

  Which made him chuckle. He hadn't asked for a date. Bea was weird, but a good kind of weird. He felt the need to get to know her better after she showed she cared about him in spite of being a self-proclaimed loner.

  ***

  "So he invited you over," Kevin said. "What are you worried about? It's not a date, is it?"

  "No, but..." Bea couldn't express her uneasiness. "I'd feel like an intruder! Why did he invite me?"