by Caleb Borne
When dessert was cleared away, Michael ordered coffee for us. “I’d like to talk to you about something.”
I nodded, accepting my coffee from the waiter and topping off the cup with triple cream and double sugar. Michael smiled tolerantly and I felt like a child. Perhaps I should learn to drink mine black.
“So, the time has come to talk about your future,” began Michael and instantly every nerve ending in my body went on high alert. There was something mesmerizing about his deep voice—almost hypnotic. I couldn’t seem to pull away when he spoke to me.
“As in…?”
“You said you wanted to travel. Hollywood, in particular, I believe you said.”
I nodded. “If Daddy will let me. Only because I need him to support me until I get my first acting job, you understand.”
“What if he doesn’t agree to do that?”
“I’ll find another way. I can be pretty persuasive when I want to be,” I admitted and then regretted it. “That sounded arrogant, didn’t it?”
“It’s never arrogance when you can deliver and I don’t think I know another person who is as persuasive as I believe you can be. In fact, that’s something I wanted to talk with you about. What if I were the other way?”
I shook my head. “I’m not sure I understand?”
“You’re an adult now. I’ll put my cards on the table. It can’t have escaped you that I want to get to know you better.”
I blushed, even though I was trying very hard to be the grown-up he thought I was. “Go on…”
“Well, let’s just say that I would be willing to take a little business trip. I would hire you as my secretary and of course that would mean you travel with me. I’d like to give California a little gander, see what it might hold that could help me in terms of my business. So, we’d fly out, I’d rent an apartment for, let’s say a year and you stay there with me, as my companion, of course. You would have your own rooms, but I would be there to supervise so you wouldn’t get into trouble. That way your daddy won’t worry. I’d spend my time prospecting business opportunities and in the meantime, will enroll you in an acting class and then give you some time to try out in a few auditions. Give yourself a chance to see if that’s really the life you want.”
“Are you serious?”
“I could not be more serious.”
“But, Michael, me staying with you in the apartment? My reputation would be in shambles.”
He chuckled. “First of all, if your reputation means that much to you, I don’t think the movie industry is going to be your cup of tea. From what I understand, many of the actresses are required to sleep with the director to get the part. We can pretend, for the sake of propriety, that you’re married to me. No one need know what goes on behind closed doors, but out in public, we’ll be married. That way no one will put moves on you, unless they’re prepared to deal with me, and you can give acting a shot on your own merits. It will also keep your parents happy.”
I knew my face had to be bright red and I turned to watch the river flow by, struggling to imagine what his proposal would mean. “So that I understand you, we wouldn’t truly be married, is that right?”
“That’s right.”
“Michael, you know that goes against everything I’ve been raised with.”
“So does what goes on in Hollywood.”
I nodded. “Good point. I’ve read the movie magazines. You’re right, I’ve heard there are shenanigans going on in the background, but I always assumed those were the girls that really didn’t have acting talent.”
“This arrangement would give you the opportunity to find out if you have that talent yourself. If you do, then you don’t have to worry about, shenanigans, as you call them, in order to become famous. You’ll have me to protect you from the wolves.”
“May I have a couple days to think about it? It never occurred to me things could move this quickly.”
He shifted in his seat, laying his napkin over his coffee cup and rising, as he pushed his chair beneath the table. “Of course. It makes no difference to me, you understand. I would be doing this as a gesture of friendship for you. I won’t lie. It would make it much easier on me to begin to court you. He leaned over the table toward me, bending until his eyes were on a level with mine. His voice lowered into that range that I couldn’t deny. “But I think I know enough about you, darlin’, to know that you don’t want to settle down until you’ve investigated your options, your dreams, and that’s what I intend to help you do. In the meantime, I don’t want to lose you. I don’t want you to go out there and fall in love with some Rock Hudson and leave me back here in Kentucky, waiting for you to fail and come home. In fact, I’d like to see you succeed, but on your own terms.”
“Oh, Mama and Daddy will never go for this.” I was shaking my head with certainty.
“You leave that to me. Anyway, as we said, you are an adult now and you don’t need their permission.”
“But, what if I fail? I have nowhere to come home to. They’ll flat out disown me.”
He straightened, chuckling, his hands on the back of the chair. “Darlin’, I guarantee you’ll have somewhere to come home to. So, if you’re finished, let’s go for a drive along the river and then I’ll take you home. But, I’ll expect to hear from you in two days, forty-eight hours, as we agreed. Fair enough?”
The inner resolve surfaced and I tossed my napkin rebelliously onto the table. “Fair enough.”
Michael
“Mr. O’Hara to see you, sir,” came Margaret’s voice over the intercom.
I sighed. I knew it couldn’t be that easy. I reached over and pressed the button, “Show him in, Margaret.”
The door burst open as O’Hara pushed Margaret aside and strode into the room. “Oh, you’ve done it now, you’ve really done it now,” O’Hara blustered, pacing before my desk.
“I pretend I don’t know what you’re talking about, but in the meantime, sit down. You’re making me dizzy.”
O’Hara grabbed a chair and pushed it close to my desk, plopping down in it and pulling a handkerchief from his inner pocket to wipe his brow. “No one’s talking to me.”
“No one being Bella, I suppose?”
“Well, it’s certainly not George or Lila. They’re both gone, thanks to you.”
My eyebrows raised. “I hardly think you can blame me for your bad business judgment. In fact, I would’ve expected you to be in here thanking me for bailing your ass out. Have you considered that?”
“Okay, so you pull me out of the fire at the last minute. But at what price? I don’t own my home, I’ve lost my horses, there is no one in the house to cook or clean except Bella, and believe me when I say, she’s had no training for it. Of course, that doesn’t matter, because she isn’t speaking to me any longer. When mealtime rolls around, she gets into the car and goes into town on her own. And then we have my daughter. It seems you’ve planted the seed about going to California in her sweet little head. She hasn’t given me a moment’s peace since she came back from dinner with you.”
“Should I assume that means she’s going to take me up on my offer?”
“You’ll have to ask her that. I told her I didn’t think it was a good idea and she hasn’t spoken to me since. I’m a stranger in my own home.”
“I suggest you pull up your pants and act like a man, O’Hara. Look at yourself. You are unkempt, hysterical, probably well on your way to being drunk, and rude. I’m not responsible for your problems. I am, however, willing to make myself responsible for your daughter. You should thank me for that. Not that it’s a great certain, course. I want a wife, and I’ve made that fairly clear to you. I suggest you go home, figure out how to cook and push the mop, because this is what your life’s going to look like for the immediate future. And what’s more, you are to leave Katie alone. You’ve raised her to be coddled and petted and she’s completely unprepared for the world. You’d be sending her to her death, if I hadn’t decided to go along as her chaperone.”
>
“But Quinn. As your companion? Sharing an apartment out of wedlock?”
“I told you earlier, you buffoon. I intend to marry her, but I don’t want her to know that yet. I want her to have the freedom to sink or swim on her own. I want her to be prepared to take care of herself. I’ll be there to catch her if she falls, but give her a chance to grow up. The world is not Tipperary, not by a long shot. You know that and so do I. Hell, you can’t even take care of it, how do you expect her to?”
“Swear on your honor that you will marry her before you bring her home. It’s all I’m asking.”
“I told you I would. I’m not a man who has to give his word twice.”
“Are you so sure that you’ll still love her that you’re willing to take that chance?”
“That’s between Katie and me. Now, please leave. I have work to do. I am planning on an extended vacation, you might say.”
I looked down at my desk and picked up my pen, rifling through papers to give the appearance of being busy.
There was nothing left for O’Hara to do, but to leave my office. I pushed the button. “Hold my calls and tell anyone who comes in that I’m not here, Margaret.”
“Yes, sir.”
I was pacing the floor; checking my watch every five minutes. It had been 47 hours and 20 minutes since I’d started that fateful clock running. I still hadn’t heard from Katie and every imaginable scene hung in my head. Maybe her mother had gotten to her, kidnapping her and taking her off to some old maid aunt in Mississippi. Maybe she was on her way back to Sister June and they were smuggling her to a convent. Maybe O’Hara had lost his mind and shot the whole family and then himself. I strode into my bedroom, ripping off my robe and heading to the closet to get dressed. I would go out there and find her myself. Just then the telephone rang. Luckily, there was one on my nightstand. “Hello?” I barked into the receiver.
“Michael?”
The instant I heard her voice, I relaxed so much I thought I couldn’t remain standing. “Katie?” She had the voice of whispering angels.
“I’m sorry I waited until the last minute, but things around here have been … well, let’s just say I’m embarrassed to describe them.”
“Are you okay?” I think my voice actually croaked—the muscles had been so tense.
“Well, yes, silly, I’m fine. Daddy is feeling not so hot right now, but that’s his own fault.”
I could well imagine O’Hara’s condition. In one sense I felt guilty, but I knew for a fact the banks were ready to foreclose and there would have gone Katie’s way of life. What I was doing was for her own good. She needed survival skills.
“Anyway, I’ve thought about your proposal—you know what you brought up at dinner the other night?”
“Of course, I remember.”
“As you can probably imagine, it didn’t go over really well around here. I don’t mind telling you I find it all a little scary, but it’s what I wanted—the Hollywood part, anyway. But, as you pointed out, I’m an adult and no longer needing permission. If the offer is still good, I accept.”
I could hear her absence of breath and knew she was holding it. She was probably afraid I’d rethought the offer and changed my mind.
“Good. That’s a wise decision, Katie. I’m going to change your world.”
Her tinkling laughter fell over the phone and into my ears. “I would welcome a change right about now. So, how are we going to do this?”
I hadn’t thought that far—why on earth did I not think this far ahead? I knew why. I thought she’d turn me down, yet she hadn’t. “I need another day to lock things up at the office and then we can leave anytime. Now, I don’t want you to pack much—just enough for a couple of days. I’ll buy you a new wardrobe when we get to Los Angeles. You’ll need the right clothes to make the right impression.”
“Oh, well, if you’re sure. Do we, I mean, where will we live? Do you have an address?”
“No, I was waiting for you to help me pick it out. We’ll stay at a hotel the first few nights until we find just the right place. I’m contacting a rental agent and will have him line up some properties in the right neighborhoods.”
“Michael?”
“Yes?”
“Thank you. I don’t know why you’re taking on the responsibility of me like this, but I hope you don’t regret it.”
“Never.”
“Okay, then, when should I expect you to pick me up?”
“A car will pick you up day after tomorrow about noon. I’ll be waiting at the airport and we’ll fly out non-stop.”
“It’s probably a good idea for you not to come out to the house just now. Mama is fit to be tied.”
“That’s what I figured. Day after tomorrow.”
“I’ll be ready.”
She disconnected and I fell back on the bed, my head filled with ideas. I grabbed my briefcase and began a list. I sincerely did not think she’d agree to it, so I was unprepared. I called Margaret and gave her orders by phone. The efficient secretary she was, she never hesitated a moment, nor did she question my decisions. She just did her job.
Kathleen
The Boeing 720 touched down at LAX and suddenly my dogwood had been replaced by palm trees. Michael was his normal cool self, but I could hardly sit still. My mouth dropped open when our limo pulled up to The Beverly Hills Hotel.
Michael touched my hand. “Will this do?”
“Oh! Yes! I’ve read so much about this place.”
“You’re right. I took the liberty… it was built in 1912, although it’s been updated, naturally. John Wayne, Charlie Chaplin, Gregory Peck, Lauren Bacall, Henry Fonda and Elizabeth Taylor have all stayed here.”
I nodded. “Yes! I know! Elizabeth Taylor—that’s who my friend, Della resembles. Of course, we’re being kind because Miss Taylor is absolutely stunning.”
“I’ve arranged for us to stay in Marilyn Monroe’s former suite—Bungalow 20. She stayed there for two years while making Let’s Make Love.”
“Michael, you are simply too much. Oh, if only the girls could see me now.”
“Happy, darlin’?”
“Happy? Out of this world happy!” I hugged him as the porter took our luggage and we followed him, walking alongside the pool where all sorts of familiar faces swam, tossed beach balls or were sunbathing. I’d never seen so many truly beautiful people. It was like a land of luscious butterflies.
We entered our suite and my bag was taken to one bedroom while Michael’s went to the second. I breathed an inner sigh of relief. I hadn’t known what to be prepared for. The porter took the tip Michael slipped him and pulled the slender ropes that opened our drapes, giving us a comfortable chair view of the pool and all that was going on.
There was a knock at the door and Michael opened it to reveal a waiter pushing a cart. He spoke to Michael, who opened the door wider to admit him. He set a bucket with ice and a bottle of champagne on a cabinet next to the television, and placed platters of sandwiches and cakes on the small table between Michael and myself. “Excuse me,” I spoke up. “Would it be too much trouble to bring me a sweet tea, instead?”
The waiter was smiling but looked blankly to Michael, who nodded and explained, “Just bring a pitcher of iced tea, sliced lemons and a sugar bowl. She’ll take it from there.”
“Oh, Michael, what shall we do first? Can we just sit here and people watch, or would that be considered poor manners?”
“There isn’t very much in this town you can do that’s considered poor manners, darlin’. This is the land of extremes. If it’s available, you can find it here. That makes now a good time to talk about something. I want you to be different from all the other girls. I don’t want you to fall in with the wrong crowd and ruin your chances at a studio contract.”
“Oh, Michael, do you really think that’s possible? A studio contract?”
“Well, somebody’s got to have them, why not you? Look at you, you’re gorgeous and with that drawl of yours, they’ll be d
rooling to get you in front of the camera.”
“So, how will I know it’s wrong crowd?”
“You won’t need to worry about that. That’s my problem. I’ll always be by your side. I promised your father and I promised you, and I’m always a man who keeps his word.”
“Can you run your business, whatever it is, from way out here?”
“Don’t you worry about that. I’m like a cat; I always land on my feet. Anyway, I have enough going on that I really don’t ever have to work again.”
I wanted so badly to ask him what businesses he had, but I knew he’s tell me in time. At the moment, I was just happy to be where I was and that he was with me. I’d known from the first second I saw him that Michael was a winner. You always want to team up with winners — it’s the only way they know how to live. My mama told me that, but I think she was suggesting that I not repeat her mistake. I hated to think that way about my daddy, but I didn’t have to be very old before I realized that drinking bourbon until you fall out of the chair wasn’t normal. He just seemed to keep going downhill. Mama could be a little tough to be around, I knew that, but as long as you did what she said, that seemed to keep her happy. Daddy seemed to go out of his way to aggravate her. That’s really what I learned the most about relationships. Everyone deserved to be themselves. “Michael? Do you think it would be okay if I put on a pair of shorts and a crop top and went to lie on one of those chairs by the pool?”
“I’d say no. We’re going to use the exclusive approach with you. I don’t want you to be one of the hundreds of girls standing in line, fighting for one part. I’m going to showcase you in a very special way; the way that makes them coming to you and begging you to make their movie.”
“And you know how to do that?” All he had to do was give me that look where he tipped his head downward and bunched up his eyebrows, staring straight at me. If there ever was a look that made me nervous, that was probably it. I never wanted to cross Michael, not that I had any plans to do it, but there was something about him that told me he didn’t forgive easily. He was right. I hadn’t even been away from home for one day, and I was already learning about limits. I nodded and said, “Okay, Michael, I trust you.