Cause and Affection

by Sheryl Wright

  “No, well yes, I appreciate it and…I just want you to know I hear what you’re saying. It never occurred to me, but you’re right. It may be easier to kick things into a higher gear as a big fish in a small pond.”

  “Toronto is not such a small pond as many would imagine. For the stage, it ranks just third after New York and London. As for film and television, it truly is Hollywood North. Now, what can I actually help you with?”

  Madeleine smiled, handing over her phone. “Kara’s been nominated for an award, several actually. It’s Saturday night, and I don’t know where to get a dress, a real dress.”

  Dame Anderson swiped through the Google images associated with last year’s Clio Awards. “Have you a thought for what Kara may be wearing?”

  She admitted she didn’t, then added, “I can ask, but I kind of want to surprise her.” At the look she received, she explained haltingly, “It’s just that—well, I’ve been so busy—I mean, things have run so long…”

  “And every gossip rag in the world has pics of you on the arm of Briar James and assumes you’re also gracing his bed.” Madeleine had real panic in her eyes when the woman explained, “This is a nasty business and Briar’s a bastard for using you as his beard or whatever the appropriate slang is. Now tell me. This thing with you and Kara, who, by the way, I deeply respect, is it…is she, as they say, the one?”

  Sucking in a deep breath she nodded, almost afraid to risk her voice and cause the tears to start up. “I’ve fought with it, especially these last few weeks. The thing is, no matter what I want to do, what I think may be best for me, I just can’t give up on the idea of her and me. Is that foolish?”

  “What does she suggest?”

  “When we talk, and it’s been strained, all she ever says is, ‘Do what’s best for you and I’ll support your decision.’”

  Dame Anderson smiled. “I knew there was a reason I liked her so much.” Handing back Madeleine’s phone, she said, “I know just where to take you. Madeleine, are you up for facing the media? I mean, if Briar can use them for his own agenda why can’t we?”

  Not sure what she had in mind, but more than thankful for her help, she nodded. “I’ll go put my face on while you make your calls.”

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  There was an envelope waiting at the front desk when Kara checked into her hotel. She waited until she was in her room and the bellman was gone before opening it. She was so sure that Madeleine had changed her mind and sent a Dear Jane letter, she held her breath. But inside was a note from Madeleine along with a theatre ticket and backstage pass. Taking a seat on the side of the king size bed, she opened the note and read it carefully.

  Madeleine missed her.

  Madeleine was excited to see her.

  Madeleine loved her.

  It said lots more, but that was all that mattered to Kara. Checking her watch and then double-checking the curtain time for Fever, she planned the next few hours carefully. She didn’t know if Madeleine would be joining her in the audience or looking on from the side curtain, but she intended to be the one true thing she was looking for.

  * * *

  Madeleine delivered her ultimatum, hands on hips, steely determination in her eyes.

  Wexler-Ogelthorpe’s most influential board member Corine Rusk stared at her. Finally, she motioned to the chair. “Sit down. For heaven’s sakes you’re more stubborn than Kara, and that child…”

  “She isn’t a child, and I’m none of the things he said. Frankly, I don’t care if you and the rest of the world think I’m a whore, as long as it doesn’t hurt Kara, and you know this was done to hurt her, to hobble her career. Surely you can see the threat for what it is?”

  Corine nodded, her deeply lined face troubled. “You want to speak plainly, then I will. You girls have put me in an untenable position. If I vote with John, he will take all of thirty seconds to undo everything Kara’s started. If I vote for the plan to bring in new blood immediately and let her go, we risk her taking the best of the best with her. At least John has the advantage of being a known commodity. Better the devil you know.”

  “You can’t seriously believe those are your only options. Goodness, Corine, if you’re so worried, why don’t you just demote her and then come back and run the place yourself. You could see with your own eyes this thing isn’t holding her back and the staff could care less. If you don’t believe me, ask Joanne. For God’s sake, she works there too!”

  “I’ll not have you take the Lord’s name in vain,” she huffed. “Frankly, you girls have made this impossible. It was one thing to overlook Kara’s peculiarities while she was single but now, with you two so public and flaunting it, and right on the cover of the paper!” Her toe nudged a section of the newspaper she had dumped on the floor.

  Madeleine scooped it up, surprised to realize her outing with Dame Anderson and their joint remarks had found their way into a business newspaper. She read on, realizing the story centered on the changing face of consumers. “It says here Kara’s a genius at intuitively knowing how to find and reach new and untapped markets. They expect her to walk away with several awards for last year’s Super S’hero hair color campaign. I don’t know what that is,” she commented, more to herself, before turning back to the curmudgeonly woman stewing beside her. “Corine, I get you’re not comfortable with her sexuality, our sexuality,” she corrected. “That’s your right and I respect it, but you can’t really be thinking that letting her go is the best thing for Wexler-Ogelthorpe. Can you?”

  “I just don’t understand! You girls have it so good today. You can have a career and family. You can have anything you want! But instead you act like a pair of wartime bomb girls, shacking up until the boys come home. Well, the boys are home and—”

  “Really! If you feel that way, why did you nominate her for the top job? Come on Corine, even you must have known she would eventually meet someone?”

  “I expected her to turn things around, not upside down!” With that, she crossed her arms like a dismissive teen.

  Madeleine was utterly frustrated. This was worse than trying to talk Grandma Jessepp into afternoon walks. Then it hit her like a bolt from the sun.

  Setting the business paper down she asked gently, “I hope you know you can speak openly with me. What you say here I will keep to myself. I know you don’t know me from…” She decided a Biblical reference would not be wise. “Corine, I can hear your pain. The regret in your voice betrays you, but I won’t. I can’t imagine what it was like to live through a world war much less the pressure put on women to welcome home the boys and resume jobs society once relegated to women.” She let out a sigh, both pained and worried for what she was about to say. “I think you did what the world expected and you did well. You maintained a career. You worked at your husband’s side for years. And from what I understand you raised two wonderful sons who have each gone on to create their own legacies.”

  Corine’s head was up high. She was proud and had every right to be.

  “But it cost you, didn’t it?” When Corine didn’t reply or even respond nonverbally, Madeleine knew she had to chance it. Looks like I’m all in again. Gently she asked, “What was her name?”

  She wasn’t sure what to expect. Corine Rusk had been described to her as being like molten lava on a hot bed of coals, and that was on a good day.

  The tears streaming down her leathery cheeks were the last thing she expected. Reaching over, Madeleine took her hand, squeezing it in hers.

  “It wasn’t, we weren’t like that,” she finally said.

  “But you loved her that way.” The silence she heard in return explained everything. Corine was smart and hardworking, and she had done what was expected of her, marrying after the war and dedicating her business savvy to aiding her husband’s career while raising a family. She was a hell of a woman, and Madeleine didn’t want to say anything that would take away from her successes or sacrifice. Still, she couldn’t leave it there. “I’m so sorry, Corine. I wish it
had been different for you. I wish you could have had the kind of love you deserved. I do. I can’t imagine keeping those feelings locked away all these years, how it must have hurt you. Tell me, is there a possibility your experience, your heartache, is influencing your reaction? Please be honest with me. She deserves that, and so do you.”

  She watched as the elder matron of the Ogelthorpe clan struggled with how to react. The light finally sparked from her sad eyes as she said, “I was all right with it, with you and Kara, right up until John called and started his vile rumors circulating.”

  “So you accept that what Kara’s father is peddling is not what happened?”

  She grimaced. It was hard to read her. The lines of life and experience played across her face. She sighed. “You girls… Fine, tell me what happened, the real story and I want all of it. No leaving any bits out no matter how you expect I might take things.”

  “Corine. I’ve told you everything except this: I escalated things with Kara. It wasn’t part of my contractual obligations, and you have copies of those contracts now,” she reminded her, tipping her head toward the courier envelope Samantha had forwarded. “Some may think my actions were unethical. I don’t care. I was falling for her, and I wanted her. It was that simple. All I can hope is that you accept Kara isn’t to blame for any of this mess. She hasn’t done anything unethical or illegal, even by your more stringent standards. I love her. I think you do too,” she said. “Please. Just think about it, please?”

  Finally, Corine nodded. She was a tough old bird and a little bit on the righteous side, but she had a heart, and she was right. If they torpedoed Kara, either by restoring her father to president and CEO or demoting her and bringing in new blood, Kara would leave, and she would take the best of the company people with her.

  If the board of Wexler-Ogelthorpe was unwilling to keep an open and proud lesbian in the top job, they deserved the projected losses and more. Even and maybe especially in the current political climate, LGBT communities and LGBT friendly companies were working hard to out and to shame those businesses unwilling to stand by the rights and privileges of LGBT people, long legally established basic human rights. Even more troubling about their position, Wexler-Ogelthorpe was a Canadian company and as such was required to adhere to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Unlike Americans, Canadians still believed in universal rights and got downright mean when treatment of any group appeared unfair. Pushing Kara out was more than a lose–lose situation. They would end up defending their position in court.

  Corine had read through the documents Samantha had sent. She had listened to Madeleine’s explanation. And, she knew Kara; had known her since she was born. Reaching to the side table, she picked up a small bell, ringing for her nurse. “Leave the details with my assistant.”

  Madeleine stood. “Can I count on you?”

  Corine offered her dainty hand with a dissatisfied grumble. Her tone said don’t mess with me but the spark was back in her dulling eyes. “I’ll be there.”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Kara was shown to her seat. It was one of six-seat setup in a private box. She couldn’t remember being in a theatre with box seats much less ever sitting in one. She wasn’t sure which seat to take and was caught staring at the stage and watching the other patrons find their floor seats when Doug and Samantha were shown in. “Hey, look who’s here!”

  They shared generous hugs, typical for this bunch. Doug was giving his sister a big bear hug when Samantha announced, “We may have some good news for you.”

  Kara smiled. “How about telling me how these seats work? Any idea which seats are ours?”

  The curtain behind them moved, and suddenly Madeleine was there. “They’re all ours, honey. Sit where you like, but I would keep the best seat for our guest.”

  Smiling, Kara waited behind her brother and sister-in-law for her chance to welcome Madeleine. The house lights flickered signaling the show was about to start. She had just pulled Madeleine into her arms and was delivering a sincere, I missed you kiss when the curtain pushed aside again, and Corine Rusk gasped at the sight of her.

  “Kara Delphine Wexler!”

  Madeleine jumped, while Samantha also gasped in surprise. Kara, more confused than anything else by her presence, offered her hand to help her to her seat. “I knew our guest had to be someone important with Dougie waiting to claim the second-best seat in the house.”

  Corine harrumphed her approval, taking her seat at the rail. “This is Madeleine’s night. I’m here to support her. You and I will have a discussion later, but,” she said, acknowledging the hushing crowd as the house lights dimmed, “time for the show. Madeleine, you and Samantha come sit with me.” To her nurse, she said dismissively, “You can sit with the boy.”

  Kara grinned. It looked like she had been relegated to the second row. They sat behind their partners and, in the nurse’s case, behind her charge.

  As the curtain lifted and the opening number kicked off, she could admit she had no idea what was going on. Just days ago she was sure she had lost Madeleine, sure she had found better in the arms of the British heartthrob and America’s favorite leading man. She had planned to be here tonight, even if it was just to say goodbye. She had been working from the moment she learned her father was spreading malicious rumors about her and about Madeleine. The two of them might not work out, but Kara was still a gentlewoman. She wouldn’t stand by and allow Madeleine’s personal reputation or her career be sullied by her father.

  After visiting Harjitt’s uncle’s upscale tailor shop and ordering a very curvy women’s custom tux, she had also asked for a more conservative business suit. She wore it now, but with a linen shirt, a color of green that could only be compared to Madeleine’s eyes. She caught those eyes looking at her. The warmth of the accompanying smile, and the hand that reached back to find hers, answered every question Kara had been harboring about them.

  * * *

  Madeleine had finished getting her hair just right, her face on, and was now, after deciding against pantyhose, spreading body lotion on her legs. She was smiling at the sounds of Kara in the bathroom completing her ablutions. Madeleine had elected to spend the weekend with her at the hotel, collecting her bags including tonight’s formal wear from her sublet with zero intention of ever returning to the cute Soho apartment. The show was staged, and the reviews were in. Fever was an instant hit, already booked solid for the next several months.

  Last night they’d celebrated. Having Kara there made her success even sweeter. After the show, they had headed backstage to congratulate the cast and to receive her own well-earned accolades too. Briar James was the man of the hour, and Dame Anderson hailed a titan of the screen and stage alike, but it was Madeleine who everyone cheered. As she walked down the backstage stairs, the cast and crew gave her a standing ovation. It was especially sweet after everything that had been said for and especially against her. As much as she was enjoying her success at having delivered her first big production, it was Kara at her side to celebrate her achievement that felt like the greatest success.

  She had been standing backstage with one of the producers when she noticed Corine Rusk and Dame Anderson cozied up in a corner and chatting. The last of her anxieties disappeared. Whatever happened going forward, she knew she and Kara were good. She was about to go looking for her missing partner when Kara stepped up beside her. Beaming with pride, she handed Madeleine her phone. Confused, she was about to slide the device into Kara’s jacket when she heard her mother’s voice. Looking at the screen, she realized Kara had Facetimed her parents. She didn’t even know her parents knew how to use Facetime, much less that Kara was comfortable contacting them herself. Her parents too were so proud. While they only took her away from the celebration for a few minutes, it was wonderfully freeing and heartwarming to have their support and respect, not to mention their acceptance of Kara as her partner. It had been a perfect night. She hadn’t thought it could get better but the Wexlers, along with Briar James
and half the cast too, took their celebration out on the town.

  When Kara finally opened the door to their hotel room, Madeleine was sure she would pass out in seconds, but Kara had other plans; plans she enthusiastically shared. She hadn’t forgotten what it was like to make love with Kara and to have her in her arms. Still, something had changed or more accurately clicked into place. They were together, whether working blocks away or in differing nations, and she knew they were solid. It was a solidity she couldn’t quite define, but it was beautiful, much like the heart and mind of her lover.

  Looking up from her impromptu leg massage, she was surprised to see Kara standing transfixed. “I never want to leave this room.”

  She laughed, pulling her in for a hug. “I can’t begin to tell you how much I love you. Promise me,” she pleaded, holding Kara’s face in her hands, “if you ever doubt that, you call, write, or swipe. Whatever you can and I’ll be there to tell you just how much.”

  Kara sighed. “They asked you to stage the away production?”

  She nodded, amused. “Yes they did.” Kara’s face looked like she was preparing for bad news. “I told them I want to choreograph and direct, and they said yes!” A measure of Kara’s ardor returned, but she still looked prepared for bad news. “And I said the show should open in Toronto first, and since we would gain an immediate forty percent discount in production cost because of the exchange rate, we would be better off staging the entire road production there too.” Now Kara held her breath, her hope unmistakable. “And they said YES!”

  Kara wrapped her strong arms around her, pulling her in tight and swinging her around with sheer joy. “You are amazing!” she said, finally putting Madeleine’s feet back on the ground. “I am so proud of you!” Checking her watch, she added gently, “I want to celebrate you and your success, but we’re going to be late. I’m so sorry. I would blow this off and take you anywhere you like, but with Corine attending and my job in jeopardy, I don’t think we should.”