by Kaira Rouda
“I’d love to go there with you, but as you may have noticed, I have a business to run. I’m going to be too busy for the next few months, but then, maybe, I’ll be able to pay my way out to Montana.”
“Okay, but here’s the thing. It’s such an important part of my next step. I want to work with a friend, control my destiny. I know we’ll make an amazing team. Did you know you have ten or so hot referrals you could make today to real estate agents who are dying for business?” she asked.
Well, yeah, I did know, since I had just handed one over to Charlotte. I hoped she remembered. I guess now I actually had nine.
“You think that is a revenue source or a way to get incremental business?” I asked, since she was the businesswoman and, it sounded like, my new partner.
“We need to charge a fee per referral. That will make them more valuable, but we will discount it for agents who refer us business. Make sense?” Kathryn said, swirling the wine in her glass and smiling. “I can set up all of these systems for us. I have some great friends in the IT world who would help and give us a great deal. I called a friend who owns a retail space planning firm I work with—ah, worked with—all the time, and she said she’d be happy to help us find cool furniture for our new office space.”
My head was spinning. Kelly Johnson Home Staging was growing into something else before its official launch. “Wow, you are really way ahead of me, Kathryn,” I said. “I thought I’d keep overhead low and work from my home, at least for awhile.”
“Thing is, another friend of mine is willing to give us lease-free space at his new condo project at the corner of Cambridge and Fifth Avenues. The first floor is retail, but he’s having trouble filling it and the units above. We can help him stage the units in exchange for prime space, and you’ll be a minute from home,” she added.
“Wow.”
Kathryn looked at her watch and jumped up. “I have got to go. I’m meeting Bob at Spagio in ten minutes and I should probably freshen up.”
“What? You’re going on a date with Bob? That was fast.”
“Well, Kelly, I have to start now rebuilding my life. He asked, I was free, and gosh, I haven’t been on a date in twenty years. The last five years with Bruce, we never went anywhere alone. I’m kind of nervous, actually.”
“It’s gotta be just like riding a bike,” I said, blowing out the candles. “Except, I guess, the seat has changed, and the handle bars, and . . . Oh, it will be fun. Just don’t—”
“I know. No rebound relationships. Just friends, right? But maybe friends with benefits? Bye, Kelly. Bye, Patrick!”
She hustled out the front door, leaving me with the rather disturbing image of Bob and Kathryn making out. Ick. Hopefully Patrick could take my mind off of that by joining me in some making out of our own. I was inspired.
Patrick was still making dinner in the kitchen, so I sneaked up the stairs, darted into our bedroom, and rummaged in my pajama drawer. I dug down past my typical long underwear and the Hanna Anderson, striped pants-and-top set and found one of my honeymoon numbers. No kidding—from seventeen years ago. It was light blue silk, long and flowing, with a plunging neckline that made my breasts, although fuller and lower now than they were back then, look good, I thought. I was all about self-confidence tonight.
I ate Patrick’s chicken dinner dressed in my plunging lingerie, and he had trouble keeping his eyes off me. I have to say, self-confidence must be sexy, if Patrick’s reaction was any indication. We’d finished dinner and were cleaning up the kitchen, eager to head upstairs, when the doorbell rang.
My mom had arrived.
THE NEXT MORNING, MOM AND I SAT IN THE KITCHEN together. I was in a panic. I was worried about Kelly Johnson Home Staging. What would it be called if Kathryn became my business partner? Kelly and Kathryn Home Staging? I had just opened the first box of my new business cards. I really liked them. Argh.
I was still pondering the problem when Patrick came downstairs and joined us. Fresh from the shower, he had that dewy look. So in, I thought with my Sephora-influenced mind.
“Hey, Kathryn wants to be my partner in the business, Patrick. What do you think?”
He stopped pouring his tar and gave me a puzzled look. “I thought she already was. I mean, she and Mel seem to be a part of your team, setting up your systems, booking appointments. Aren’t they?” He gave his hair a vigorous rub before joining Mom and me at the table.
“They are. Mel is part-time until school starts, but Kathryn, I just . . . well, she’s been used to a big business, big staff, and all of that,” I said.
“You’re afraid she’ll overpower you?” he asked softly.
“I guess I am.” So much for feeling my power, I thought, wrapping my robe around me tightly.
“Listen, there’s only one Kelly Johnson. You know what you have. You have innate sales skills and design talent. Most importantly, people like you. Really like you. Some of us—your sons and me, in particular, and really anyone you meet—fall in love with you. It’s up to you whether you should share your new business. I think as long as you keep the name, you’re the lead, and you set boundaries, roles, and responsibilities. You’ll be the leader of a great team,” Patrick said. “It’s like at the law firm. We all bring different strengths. Some of us like yours truly are the rainmakers. Without us, the law firm would suffer. That’s you. You’re the rainmaker. If Kathryn can handle being second fiddle, you’re set. If not, it won’t work.”
My mom was nodding vigorously at everything he said, but she hadn’t spoken a peep.
“Mom?”
“I agree with everything Patrick said. Stop being such a worrywart and get moving.”
“And you both think Kathryn will be okay with second fiddle?”
“I think, if I were her, it would be a relief, and a lot of fun. Kathryn knows what she’s getting into. She asked you if she could help, remember? I’ve gotta run. I’ll be home at noon to help get ready for your big coming-out party! Let’s have some fun tonight, okay? No worries, just fun?”
“You know, I’m working on that. Thank goodness Mom is here to help, too,” I said, following Patrick out of the kitchen. “Last night was fun,” I said quietly, smiling.
“Oh, it was,” he said, kissing me on the lips. He stopped and whispered: “I felt like we were back in our honeymoon suite. Well . . . until your mom arrived.”
The caterers rang the doorbell just after I walked through the door from my back-to-back appointments. Three home staging meetings, two signed contracts. I was starting to get worried about how I’d keep up with it all. And I hadn’t even launched the business. Egads.
I opened the door, and from that moment on, the house was a constant swarm of activity, like a well-orchestrated yet chaotic relay race to the finish line of tonight’s party. People dashed by, doing different tasks depending on their role in the production. Mom took charge of the gardens around the house and was a weeding and watering machine.
The cast of characters ebbed and flowed. Blue and periwinkle hydrangeas, carted in by the very efficient florist, were on every table, in every bathroom, on every outdoor café table, and on every coffee table. The overall theme we’d picked was, loosely, The Great Gatsby : the Roaring Twenties, Champagne and ragtime, bee lights and candles. Kathryn was the conductor. She’d been in an exceptionally great mood when she showed up this morning as I was leaving for my first appointment.
I figured she’d had a great night with Bob but didn’t ask. She was glowing. But maybe it was the party. Mel looked equally happy. They’d both embraced my mom before scurrying to their duties.
“Hey, Kelly, great close rate today,” Kathryn said, grabbing the contracts and the checks and handing them to Mel. “Can I talk to you for a couple of minutes? Out on the porch? I wanted to review a few ideas I have for tonight.”
“Oh, right, leave me in here, working my fingers to the bone,” Mel said, and then we all laughed. “I know, the skin and bones jokes don’t work so well right now,” sh
e said, “but I’m getting better.”
“Yes you are,” I said, giving her shoulders a squeeze and then following Kathryn out the door.
“Bruce and I met early this morning to attempt an amicable agreement on our divorce,” she said.
“And how’d it go?” I asked, hoping for the best for everyone’s sake.
“Really well. The one thing Bruce insisted on was that I tell you the truth. Thing is, I’m the one who had an affair first. It’s not important with whom. It’s over. What is important, though, is that long before Bruce and Charlotte got together, I left my marriage, both physically and emotionally. I needed more than Bruce could give at the time. Maybe I needed more than Bruce could ever give. But that’s the unflattering truth. I promised Bruce I’d let you know.”
Not knowing what to say, I simply nodded. I was glad I was sitting down, because I swear the whole backyard had tilted ten degrees to the right. Or maybe it was just the new perspective I was getting used to in my mind. The good news was that it was going to be a beautiful night for a party, and for the world to shift a little.
“Can you say something? Are you mad?” Kathryn asked. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize to me, for heaven’s sake. Everybody makes mistakes and well, there you have it. Who is, or was, he?”
“You don’t know him, and you won’t. He’s married and he lives on the West Coast. It’s over,” she said. “Charlotte knows, too, probably has for a long time. And I think she and I might even be able to be friends again one day.”
Okay, I thought, I’ve had enough revelation for one day, but Kathryn seemed to want to explain more fully.
“I guess now, having all of this out in the open, is part of the healing. I wasn’t happy; I was looking for love in all the wrong places, as the song goes. But I’m starting over. Life is full of possibilities, and I really believe I deserve happiness, as you would say: real happiness this time around. Thank you, Kelly. You and this business are such an important piece of my new life.”
“Well, we had better get going on it then, hadn’t we?” I said, finally standing up, executing my need for escape. “I think it’s time for me to start getting ready for my debut.”
“Oh, no problem. Mel and I will keep everything moving forward,” she said, heading to the kitchen as I walked up the stairs.
Upstairs, I thought about what Kathryn had said. I understood her loneliness. Bruce traveled constantly. I didn’t know what it would take to make a person vulnerable to an affair, but unhappiness and loneliness had to be the leading causes. I felt bad that I had assumed Bruce was the unfaithful one. How stereotypical of me. Equalish rights, or the quest for them, were creating equal opportunities for all kinds of power plays, I suppose.
I walked into my closet and wondered if I’d be able to fit into an outfit from the medium-sized area. I love my blue and white Tory Burch summer dress. Plus, it would complement the hydrangeas. But could I zip it up? Deciding life was short and it was getting shorter pondering the possibilities, I pulled it out, pulled it on, and miracle of miracles, I could zip it up easily. I did a little dance in front of my full-length mirror and thought again about permanently adopting Mel and inviting Beth and her family to come live with us. I need to keep the people on the road to healthy eating around me. This could be way better than Weight Watchers or Jenny Craig. I could save money and spend it on clothes.
The doorbell rang, but I figured there were enough people downstairs who could answer it. I turned to my makeup and turned on my flat iron. Thomas made me swear I’d flatten for my big event. I wished someone had invented ear guards to protect me from myself and my sizzling appliance.
“Kelly!” Mel called up the stairs. “The door is for you!”
Rats. It was 4:30, so I shouldn’t be dressed yet, but I didn’t want to change, so I didn’t. I ran down the hall and down the steps—impressed myself with the lack of panting involved while doing those two things—and met Charlotte at the front door. She held the bouquet of flowers I’d taken to her house yesterday.
“I wanted you to have these, to help decorate for the party, but I see you have flowers all over the place,” Charlotte said. She seemed clear-eyed. “It looks beautiful around here, Kelly.”
“Thanks, Charlotte. How are you holding up? Was the funeral okay?” I took the flowers from her and led her into the living room. No one had used the counseling couch today that I knew of. I put the vase of flowers on the mantel and sat down next to Charlotte.
“I’m glad it’s over. It would’ve been nice to be included in some way, but the girls were precious and so brave. Jim and I loved each other. He knew that. Bruce was amazing the whole time.”
“Yeah, I’m coming around to Mr. Majors’ charms,” I said with a smile. “I think I might actually like him.”
“I’ll alert the media,” Charlotte said. “No, really, that’s great. He just said the same thing about you. So we’re all ready to host the throngs parading through. Do you need me to do anything special or just keep the flow going?”
“Thank you, Charlotte! Are you sure you’re up to it?”
“Yes, it’s our pleasure to help.”
“Well, great, then, just keep them moving through and thank you—for giving me this idea, for telling me I could do it … ”
“You’re the one putting it all together. You’re making it happen, Kelly. I just can’t believe how fast.”
“It’s amazing. Ever since I did that television interview, the phone has been ringing off the hook. I know there will be hurdles, but I’m really enjoying the moment. Speaking of that, I did recommend you to that adorable couple I told you about.”
“I know, and thank you. I will call them tomorrow. I really appreciate you forgiving me and wanting to move forward. And I’m sorry I let you down, with Bruce and stuff. I was just afraid to lose you if I told you sooner, and I was afraid to lose him, too. It caused a lot of lies. One lie just led to another.”
“It must have been hard. And my reaction when you told me probably made you wish you hadn’t,” I said, remembering the scene I’d made at lunch.
“Yes, well, it was all tangled. But now, Bruce and Kathryn have settled and she seems okay, and you’re referring me to your clients so that must mean you’re not so mad anymore?” She gave me that beauty pageant smile. “I think, just maybe, everything’s going to work out fine.”
“I hope so, and I’m not mad anymore. But I do need to go get ready for my big night.”
“Yes, you do. And while you’re milling around with all of the real estate agents in town tonight, just remember who got you into this business in the first place. Any other referrals for me yet, by the way?” she asked, and her eyes had a knowing look. She’d heard I had more.
“I’m surprised how many of my new clients either don’t have an agent yet or are unhappy with who they are using. I’d love to give you the majority of the leads, but how will I get referrals from the other agents if they know I only give business to you?”
“Well, I thought about that, and I agree. I won’t be the right agent for all of your clients, but I will be for most. Same with me referring you. Remember, originally you were going to be working with me, on my team. I’m so tired of working alone. The office where I work is catty, people snark each other behind their backs. I couldn’t take it anymore, so I’m leaving. I’m opening my own Real Living franchise.”
“Oh my goodness, Charlotte, good for you! But isn’t that a big step? You’ve got to get office space, and I’m just learning about all of the accounting nightmares and things like spreadsheets and all.”
“Here is my proposition to you and Kathryn,” she said. “Kathryn helps me with the business systems of my real estate office, just like she’s doing with your home staging business. Bruce says she has a brilliant business mind, and just like you, I’m good at sales. I’ll lease space right next to yours at the new Crossroads condo tower. What do you think?”
“What? You and Kathryn are goin
g to work together?” I thought the earth had just tilted a little more.
“Only if you agree that it’s okay. We both think it’s a great idea! And so does Bruce. I know that sounds weird to you, but we’re all in a really good place. It’s going to be great for Mel, too. We’re all committed to her, and the twins, of course.”
Who was I to stand in the way of such miraculous teamwork? I just hoped it would all stay this harmonious. But I’d learned you can’t predict the future, no matter what the business or life partnerships or arrangements. This would be a good time to trust my instincts (T2C #22), and so I did.
“Fine with me, as long as I get to help design your office, too,” I said, giving her a big hug.
“Of course! Your exquisite taste is in high demand these days. I’d be honored. Go get ready for your coming-out party. Oh, and if you don’t mind, I’m going to put out my new business cards at my house. I need to recruit some other agents to join my office.”
“You go, girl.” I walked her out the door.
The party, everyone told me, was perfect. The crowd didn’t dissipate until after midnight. But the best part of the evening was that Patrick kept telling me I looked beautiful, and that he was proud of me. I couldn’t remember having spent a more special evening together—more affirming, more loving even than our wedding. I told him that (T2C #20).
Kathryn and Melanie had changed into their party attire at some point before the guests began arriving. Kathryn wore an all-white linen pantsuit, and she was dripping with diamonds: a vision of sophisticated elegance. I noticed Bob Thompson following her as she directed people out the porch door and toward Charlotte’s house. Melanie wore a simple white blouse, skinny jeans, and black flats. Her hair was swept up in her signature ponytail, and she looked as if she’d popped out of the J. Crew catalog. Gavin was by her side, helping clean up stray glasses and cocktail napkins when I passed by them.