by K L Finalley
Half-smiling, "I think we are well aware that the office knows that we are dating, but I want to assure you that we are always professional in the office and at offsite business functions."
Starting to lie back down, "I don't give a damn. I trust Jacqueline. We're a great team. I just don't know why you won't come out to the house. Misty says that I need to make Jacqueline feel at home. I keep offering. I keep hinting. I keep trying to tell her that I know. And, nothing. You never come."
"I guess I assumed that they were business meetings between you and her and I should stay away."
"Hell no. We have drinks. We eat whatever horrible meal that cook and Misty have concocted. We sit by the pool. We laugh and joke. We talk about business. I tell her what I want to do and she tells me why we can't. Then, she comes to work the next day and texts me how we are going to make my dream come true. I love her." Then, his eyes rolled around in his head. He had an idea. He sprang from the couch and went to his desk. Mallory sat quietly in the chair across from the couch and awaited his return. She didn't look to see what he was doing or where he had gone. However, before he returned, there was a light knock on the door and she heard it open.
"Yes, Jack," Mallory heard Jacqueline say.
"Jacqueline, get in here. Mallory and I were just talking."
Jacqueline looked at Mallory confused. "About?"
"About us," he said.
"Who us?"
Swirling his hand as he returned to his couch, "All of us." The room remained silent. "Us. Me. You. Misty. Mallory."
Jacqueline said, "Okay?"
"Why is there no us? Why don't you invite Mallory to our dinner meetings at the house? She is the one, right?"
"Right?"
"Dammit, Jacqueline, don't make me look like an ass. I keep telling you if there is someone that you want to bring that you are welcome to do it. I have rolled out the fuckin' welcome banner. So, why won't you bring her?"
"I don't know. I guess I thought she wouldn't like to come. I don't know." Jacqueline turned to Mallory, "I'm sorry."
Jack exclaimed, "Wonderful. We'll see you both at the house next week. Misty will be so happy that I finally fixed this." That sounded as though it was a dismissal, so Mallory rose to her feet and stepped in front of Jacqueline.
"Thanks, Jack," Jacqueline said as she walked behind Mallory out of Jack's office. Without talking, the pair crossed the hall back into Jacqueline's office. Once inside with the doors closed, she asked, "What was that about?"
"I have no idea. He caught me as I left your office and I was being grilled on why I never came with you to their house."
"I really am sorry if you wanted to go and I had made you feel left out. It's not that great of a time."
"Well, it looks like it's going to become a bad time for us both."
"Looks like it," agreed Jacqueline.
~~~~~~~~
After that day, Mallory had joined Jacqueline at all of the dinner dates at the Boyd's Mediterranean-style home on Harbour Island. This night, she followed the clickety clack sounds of Misty's shoes to the kitchen. She reclined against the cream colored cabinets with their gold knobs and handles and stared as Misty slung her tresses from one side to the other as she wrangled platters from the refrigerator. She didn't offer to help. Instead, she wondered when Jacqueline might return with some kind of alcoholic beverage. Alcohol would be needed tonight.
With her head in the refrigerator, Misty was speaking, "You know, I was tellin' Jackie that we've got to stop just having you two over to the house. We outta go out and do somethin'."
Half-listening, half-staring at the black slate tiles and wondering if Misty had designed the kitchen this way or if it was this way when they moved in. Then, her mind flashed to the kitchen in the penthouse. She imagined a different color countertop and made a mental note to tell Jacqueline that they should redecorate the entire penthouse. Remembering what Misty had asked, she responded with, "That'd be fun," but thought, I never want to do that.
As she lifted the platters onto the black marble island, "We've had a hard time making real friends. You know what I mean?" Misty's forehead should've wrinkled. The sentiment required a facial expression, but it appeared the muscles in her face could not or would not allow one. "I mean, Jackie and the money and me and the modeling. You know? You just don't find people who like you for you."
"Oh, yeah. That must be tough."
"Jacqueline has always been so sweet to me. She's just incredible. I completely understand how you could fall for her." Mallory had not really been listening before that comment, but, now, Misty's babbling had her full attention. "She's a real catch. Successful. A doll. She has a great place."
"You've been to the penthouse?"
"Once. Jack had some papers she needed. We were out on his horrible boat. He got an old sailboat from Big Jack when he was fifteen or so. The thing is tiny. It has none of the new upgrades. My God, we could get a yacht, but, instead, Jack makes us cruise around in his tiny childhood sailboat. I hate that damn thing. Every time I lay on the bow, I'm scared the damn sail may fall on me." She even appeared disturbed by the thought of it. "Anyhow, we met her at the marina at her place. She came down and we had a few drinks at that little bar thingee."
"Oh. We've sat down there a few times," Mallory relaxed some.
"We didn't get to go upstairs or anything. I was so bummed, but Jackie said we could some other time. He wanted to get out of the Bay before all the traffic. But, man, I bet it's nice. Is it?"
"Yes, it's very nice, but come on, you've traveled the world modeling, you live on Harbour Island, and you're married to a Boyd. Who could want more?"
"Jackie is wonderful. I love him, but I bet Jacqueline's a load of fun. I mean, she's got more....so much more fire than Jackie could ever even dream of." It was official. Mallory hated her. "You're really lucky to have her all to yourself."
As she came into the kitchen, with two drinks in her hand, Jacqueline was speaking, "Babe, I tasted Jack's concoction." Noticing that she might have halted an existing conversation, she said, "Oh, I'm sorry if I interrupted."
"No, honey, go on," Mallory said with a huge smile on her face.
"That punch of his is okay for me, but there's no way that you were going to drink that. So, I opened a bottle of Pinot for you. Here you are."
"Thanks, honey."
"See, that's so sweet," Misty said. As Jack entered the room., Misty asked, "Jackie, did you bring me some wine, too?"
"No, I got you some of the punch."
"But, Jacqueline says it's not great."
"No, she said that Mallory won't drink it. That it's too strong for her. I told her that you'd be fine. I told her my woman may look delicate, but she can hold her liquor like a sailor," Jack boasted as he slapped her backside. Mallory quietly giggled as Misty sipped Jack's homemade gasoline. She coughed as she swallowed her first sip. Encouraged, Jack clucked, "See, that's some good stuff." She would have disagreed if she could have spoken, but her throat was ablaze. Reaching for the platters on the table, he said, "Let's eat. Jacqueline, give me a hand with this." Jacqueline collected the bowls of salad and Mallory removed the noodles and rolls from the countertop. Misty followed.
As they entered the dining room, Misty slid her arm up and down the red and ivory damask wallpaper. With her highball and the platter of chicken in her hands, she was not able to locate the light switch. Jacqueline noticed that she was struggling and returned to help her. "I got it, Misty."
Misty praised, "You're such a doll. Jackie, isn't she a doll?"
"More of a Cabbage Patch kid, if you ask me."
"Thanks, Jack," Jacqueline retorted. "You know, you should have the motion sensing lights put in here." She pointed up at the ceilings. "Then, you never have these problems."
Standing beside her stirring the chicken piccata, Misty asked, "What's that?"
Jacqueline did not answer. She stared at Misty's movement. She had seen women stir meals all of her life. Her mother, gran
dmother, waitresses, friends' parents, and Paige had all stirred dishes as she watched. None of them had ever moved their hips. None of them had ever sashayed the way she did. Waiting for her response, Misty stood staring down at Jacqueline. Her big blue eyes and bright bleached smile mesmerized Jacqueline. Looking half at her face and half at the rhythmic movement of her hips, Jacqueline stuttered, "Motion lights."
"But, what are they?" Misty questioned again. Aware that she had hypnotized Jacqueline, her smile widened. "Are they those kinda lights that flash on when someone comes in the room?" Her Georgia accent drew the question out. Jacqueline hung on every word.
Observing the spell that Misty had cast upon Jacqueline, Mallory answered, "Yeah, it's something like that. Tell her about it, honey."
And, the spell was broken, "Oh, yeah. So, the penthouse has sensors. When it senses someone's presence, it triggers a number of automated features. The lights, the water in the sink, the flush of the toilet. You know, some of the features in stores or airports."
"Well, I didn't know you could do those things at home. Mallory, do you have those things at your house?" Misty drawled out her jab.
"No, I don't have them at my house, but we have them at the penthouse," she snarled and placed her hand on Jacqueline's leg.
Hungry, Jack interrupted. "Baby, you've stirred the shit out of that chicken. It's dead already. Come sit down, so we can eat." Laying down the serving spoon, Misty brushed past Jacqueline and headed for her seat next to Jack. "Thank God. Let's eat." To the clang of spoons and serving forks, plates were made. Wine goblets were refilled and gasoline was poured.
"This is very good, Misty," Mallory remarked.
"Shit, she didn't cook it. You know, we pay a chef to teach her to cook, but he does all the cooking and she does all the watching."
"Jackie, I do cook. We discuss the menu. We go over the recipe. He cooks a little, then I cook a little. Then, we have a meal," She sat back against her chair and folded her arms.
"Oh, I'm sorry, baby." Jack bent over to kiss her. "This one is wonderful." She stroked his face as he kissed her cheek.
"It sure is. I love chicken piccata," Jacqueline agreed.
"Well, I'm glad I could make one of your favorites. Maybe, one night while you and Jack are working, I can teach Mallory to make it for you." Mallory smiled as she thought of horrible ways to hurt her.
"That's okay. I do most of the cooking," Jacqueline replied.
"You do?" Jack asked with shock.
"Yeah. I cook. Why's that surprising?"
"I never thought of you as domesticated."
"I can cook. I'm the oldest in my family. I had to help my mom with dinner. I don't know. I guess I just picked up on it."
"You don't bring snacks or cookies or anything you make into work like other women," he remarked.
Chuckling, she said, "Well, no, I'm not doing that. I guess before I didn't have any reason to cook, but, now, I do." She glanced in Mallory's direction, made eye contact, and smiled. Mallory would have kissed her, but, in the presence of Misty and Jack, she lifted her hand to behind Jacqueline's head and stroked her neck.
"That's so sweet," Misty remarked.
She reached for Mallory's hand. "I don't know. You know, making a meal and eating it together is what you're supposed to do. It's the kinda things that kids need. Structure. Family. Happiness. And, it breaks up her dreaded homework time."
"You've really gotten into this?" Jack remained amazed.
"Sure, it's good stuff. The three of us sitting at the table eating and talking. No TV. No iPad. No cellphones. Just us and dinner."
Placing her hand on Jack's leg, she admitted, "I decided to learn to cook, so I could be more of a wife to Jackie. You know, give him a home."
With half of a roll in his mouth, he muffled in disbelief, "You did?"
"Yes, Jackie, why'd you think I was doin' all of this?"
"Hell if I knew," Jack retorted. Mallory laughed. Then, he laughed harder, because she laughed.
"Really, Jack, I don't think you listen to me."
"Of course, I do. Why don't you tell them your good news?"
Misty sat up tall in her chair. She cleared her throat and announced, "Since you two are our closest friends, I want you to know my big news first." She cleared her throat again. "On January first, I'm gonna have my own afternoon talk show." Jack put his napkin in his lap, clapped, and beamed with a mouth full of bread.
Jacqueline rested her fork on the side of her plate. "What? This is great. You're getting your own show?"
"Yes, ma'am. It's gonna be on from noon to one on Channel Four."
Holding her wine glass, Mallory's eyes scrunched and she asked, "A talk show?"
"Yeah, a little local show. I thought I'd interview people and events from around the area."
"Weekends or weekdays," Mallory's questioning continued.
"Just Monday through Friday to start, but we might expand to a Saturday morning episode as well."
"Jack, is this under the Boyd umbrella?" Jacqueline inquired as she thought of the possible impact to the newspaper.
"Nope, this is all my beautiful wife. No Boyd money. No Boyd affiliation." He waved off her concerns. "You know, she's been doing little local commercials for Channel Four. Then, the station started getting requests from other networks to hire Misty for their commercials. I'm sure Channel Four figured they'd better contract her to something big before she got better offers with another network."
Interjecting Mallory asked, "Do you still have a contract with Miris perfume and that clothing line? What's the name?"
"Cipele."
"Yes, Cipele. Can you do all of this?"
"Sure, there's no affiliation between the perfume, the clothing line, and the network."
"No, I don't mean are you capable. I'm saying you're going to be incredibly busy." Mallory started to outline her responsibilities. "The show, interviewing the guests, preparing for the segments, photo shoots for the two companies. Don't you have commercials for Miris?"
"Yes, they only show in large markets, though."
"But you have to film them."
"Nat, my agent, says I'll get to hire staff for the show, so that'll help some."
Having finished his plate, Jack interjected, "Of course, it will. It'll be great. Besides, those shoots only take about a week or so." Rinsing his palate with gasoline, he reassured her, "It's gonna be great."
Jacqueline said, "Well, this deserves a toast." She raised her glass and praised, "Here's to beauty, wit, and friendship. May you experience all the success you are due."
"Thank you, Jacqueline, you are the best. Isn't she such a doll, Mallory?" Misty asked.
"Um hmm," Mallory grumbled as she finished her drink.
~~~~~~~~
After dinner, Mallory slipped off to the restroom to enjoy a moment of solitude while Jack and Jacqueline headed to the pool, their usual post-dinner station. Unlike most nights, Jack rushed Jacqueline outdoors and closed the French doors behind them.
Noticing his anxiety, Jacqueline asked, "Do you want to talk shop before the girls come outside?"
"No, I want to tell you something."
Jacqueline had gotten used to Jack and his directness. She was no longer offended. She had discovered that the true drawback of Jack's wealthy life was reality. He had failed to have people in his life who were not sycophants or parasites. "Shoot."
"Misty and I have a pre-nup."
"Okay."
"There's an infidelity clause. There are a bunch of financial clauses to protect her past earnings, my family money, the family name, the paper, all kinds of shit. She has a clause that limits the amount of weight I can gain and the kind of lifestyle she is to maintain regardless of her future earning potential. I prohibited drug use, eating disorders, and excessive plastic surgery."
"Wow. I didn't realize that you could do all of that."
"Oh yeah. You can do anything. You can add anything. I called my guy and made an appointment for you.
Lemme give you his card."
"Wait, what? Why?"
Sloshing his drink as he walked to her, "Because you're getting all gaga in there. I may not know exactly how much you have now, but remember Dad had me put you in touch with our financial adviser years ago. And, I know how much you make, now. So, between inheritance, earnings, stock options, 401K, and the investments that I'm sure Evan set up for you. It's gotta be a ton. It's at least six digits. And that's more than whatever she has, so we need to talk about you protecting yourself. Gay marriage wanted to be like every other marriage. Well, join us with a goddamn pre-nup."
"Hang on. We aren't getting married. We're just dating."
"Uh, no, my friend. You aren't. Is she with you all the time?
"Yes, we're usually together."
"Are invitations required or assumed?"
"Assumed, I guess."
"Vacationing?"
"Well, we have. We're planning a little birthday trip for Zoe next month and a family trip out of the country next year."
Jack said, "Family trip? Uh huh. Let me ask you this - do you want her to move in?"
Without thinking, she said, "Well, sure."
"You answered that pretty quick."
"She and I haven't talked about it," Jacqueline was whispering, "But, I would like for them to move in with me or me with them."
"She got all hot for you tonight. Did you see that outfit?"
"That's not about me. She's showing up Misty."
"Yeah, so you don't look. I know how this works. I'm married to the model. Other women start off being themselves, then, eventually, they start overdressing at little events. They don't care about Misty. They worry what the guy...well, I guess, girl, in your case, thinks when they see those legs walking around." He went to the summer kitchen and made himself a fresh drink. She followed him. Continuing his speech, he said, "And, you can't tell me that you've never thought of closing the deal. It wouldn't be you if you didn't."
"Whether I have or I haven't, she and I haven't talked about it."