by Jeny Heckman
“I don't give a sweet fuck what you think, you ridiculous, incompetent fool. She’d love this project. It’s to her base. Your job is to manage. Try managing to tell your client she has an exciting opportunity for a worthwhile cause.” Then there was silence.
“Hello?” Jason looked over at her sheepishly and admitted, “He hung up.”
“What was that about?”
“He’s putting together a charity project. A musical event to raise money for homelessness in Seattle.”
“What?” she asked incredulously. “Homelessness in Seattle? Since when did he care about anything like that?”
“I think his new girl… I think she wanted to do something.”
“His new…oh.”
Jason walked over to her and put his hands on her shoulders, rubbing them up and down.
“I guess he’s trying to activate her career and wants to surround her with some big names to draw the crowd.”
“So I would be helping my husband’s mistress get her start under the guise of helping the homeless.”
“Essentially.”
“When is it?”
“The first of August, but…”
“When does he need to know by?”
“A week, but Raven, I think we need to consider every angle here.” Taking her hands, he continued, “Is the first solo project you want to do for your ex-husband?” He raised a hand and brushed back her hair. She unconsciously leaned back and away from the gesture, and he dropped his hand. “Isn’t that a little counterproductive? And consider the image.”
“That’s what I was thinking about.” She stepped away. “Don’t you think he'd let it slip that I was too spiteful to help the homeless? All because of some tantrum I was having about a silly little thing like an affair?”
Jason took a deep breath and looked down, seeming to ponder the new information.
“I think we have a week. Let me just slow this down and consider all the options. I’ll come up with a solution. Okay?”
She nodded but decided it would be near impossible not to agree to do it, and she was quite sure her ex-husband knew that.
“Come on, let’s go for a walk.”
“No, it’s okay.” She smiled. “I think I'm just going to take a bath, and then I’m for bed.”
“Just a quick one.” He walked to her and held out a hand. Not having a valid excuse to reject the offer, she reluctantly took it, and they headed for the cliffs near the bungalow.
“Raven, you’re starting out so good, trying to get out from under him, let’s not go backward now.”
“I know, it’s just… It feels like our lives are so intertwined and I’m not sure how to get out of it.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of it.” He squeezed her hand, effectively stopping them both, and stepped forward to kiss her, but she raised a hand to his chest.
“I appreciate that.” She looked down, trying to muster up the courage. “All your help.” She looked at him now. “But one thing I do know for sure is that I can’t have a relationship with anyone in the business, ever again.”
“So I’ll quit.” He grinned, but she didn’t grin back.
“I don’t think we should have that kind of relationship, Jason.” Feeling horrible, embarrassed, and ungrateful, she stepped back from his astonished face.
“Oh.”
“The business is just part of it. I just don’t want anything like that for some time,” she rushed on, trying to soften the blow.
“Okay, well, I’ll back off and give you some time.” She closed her eyes and decided not to press it anymore as he asked, “Are you ready to go back?”
“Yeah.” He walked her home and at the door, gave her arm a gentle squeeze. “Thanks again for dinner. Get some sleep, and I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Okay, see you tomorrow.”
However, early the next morning, Jason called from his connecting flight in Honolulu. During the night, his father had suffered a massive stroke and was in an ICU in Seattle. Hearing his broken, exhausted voice caused her contrition at dismissing him. She reassured him that business would be put on hold as he took care of his family. They said their goodbyes, and he was gone.
****
As Jason arrived at the hospital, Donovan sat at his dining room table with his usual slice of dry toast and cup of coffee. At fifty-four, he could grudgingly admit he’d been more father to Raven than a husband. A master businessman with a keen ear, he remembered the day he heard her play at that art show, so many years ago. Her horrible, short, choppy hair, big, trusting eyes, and that incredible talent. The man knew instantly she would be a star and make him a lot of money.
Initially, the object was to manage her, but because of her trusting nature, he soon understood the benefits marriage would bring. He’d have more control over her money and projects, and it certainly didn’t hurt having a beautiful, nubile bride to proclaim as his own. But Raven hated to play the games needed in the entertainment world. Her damned brother, also knowing the success she’d enjoy, usurped his authority in the beginning and protected her future assets. Donovan had almost walked away, but Raven unknowingly called his bluff, when she sided with her twin on the prenuptial agreement. Though he wouldn’t make the money he initially thought, he would make millions.
The even younger one on his arm now was dumb as a stump, but he wasn’t doing rocket science with her. Her longevity would be short-lived. However, Donovan was going to make more money off her naiveté. Now he just needed enough people that owed him favors on board. To his way of thinking, that included his ex-wife, in the form of one lucrative career.
He thought it was ridiculous that she refused his continued services for promotion and empowered her utterly benign assistant as her new manager. However, now the man had impacted him, and that was not to be borne, so he dialed her direct line.
“Raven?” There was a moment of silence. “Raven, are you there?”
“Ah, Donovan, yes, I’m here.”
“Oh, wonderful. Are you enjoying your time there in the tropics? I know you’ve always wanted to go.”
“Ah, yes, it’s been lovely, thank you. How have you been?”
“I've been fine, thank you for asking.” Enough, he thought and began. “I’m not sure if you are aware, but I tried to send a proposal to your new manager but have been unable to reach him.”
“Oh, right. Well, his father had a terrible stroke last night, and he’s actually probably just landing back in Seattle now, as we speak.”
“I see, how unfortunate.”
“That his father’s sick or he’s unavailable?” Raven asked.
“Excuse me?”
“Um, I mean, yes, it is,” she said quickly as if realizing she’d said her thoughts out loud.
“Well,” Donovan replied, letting it go because it was, in fact, the latter rather than the former. “If you’re operating without a manager, I’ll just have to speak with you, won’t I?”
“Jason did tell me a little about your project.”
“Splendid. I know it doesn’t sound much like me, but I gained some insight when I stepped back and reflected on our failed marriage. Of course, fault could be found on both sides, but I was walking along First Avenue and in a contemplative mood. There I saw the homeless problem firsthand. I decided that a little altruism may perhaps be in order.”
“Oh,” Raven responded, sounding like she didn’t believe him. “I had heard that you were setting up a concert to debut Amanda.”
“Yes, I know Dell took it that way, but I informed him that just because she’s performing too does not make it her show. In fact, she’ll be singing the least, as she isn’t the true talent, of course.”
“Oh?” Raven sounded unconvinced. “Naturally.”
“Raven, we have most certainly had our differences, dear. Obviously, living together and being married were one of them. However, I’ve been a benevolent benefactor, who’s provided you a pretty resounding platform over the years, don’t yo
u think?”
“I, um, yes, I suppose.”
“I would take it as a personal favor if you would give your consent and play to this cause. What do you think?” He heard her deep sigh and knew she wouldn’t refuse him.
“Yes, all right Donovan.” A slow smile crossed his face
“Splendid, I’ll send the contracts to Dell then, shall I?”
“Oh no, Donovan, I’ll…”
“Fine, fine. All right, enjoy your quiet time there, Raven. I’m sure it’s doing you a world of good. Goodbye.”
Chapter 10
A week later the day began warm and just got hotter. Raven's thigh-length sundress clung to her damp skin as she stood in line for a shave ice. Ordering a peach and vanilla treat, she slid some money over in exchange for the massive orange and white ball of ice. Slinging her beach bag over her shoulder, she approached a large outdoor market. Vendors laid out their wares of flowers, garden whirligigs, and all kinds of tropical fruits and vegetables.
She had just taken an enormous bite out of her shave ice when she bumped hard into an older woman and nearly sent her flying. Clad in a deep purple and orange floral muumuu, the older woman wore a large floppy hat encircled with real sunflowers. She turned around with bright bluebell eyes and a broad smile on her tanned, wrinkled face.
“Oh no! Oh, I’m so, so sorry.” Raven laid a hand on the woman’s shoulder, steadying her. “I’m so clumsy.”
The woman started to grin but her smile froze, and face paled when the young woman touched her, causing Raven even more alarm.
“Are you okay? Oh my God!” She looked around wildly until she spotted a bench. “Here, let’s…let’s sit down here.”
The older woman nearly tripped before collecting herself and patted Raven’s hand as she escorted her to the bench. Raven brought out two bottles of water one-handed from her bag, handed one to Dee, then sat down to hover over her.
“No, no dear, I’m quite all right. Right as rain, in fact.”
“Are you sure?” Raven asked suspiciously, looking for signs of impairment.
“Oh yes, my grandson will be coming along in a little while. Want to keep me company?”
Surprised at the request but realizing she had nothing else to do and had nearly flattened the poor woman, Raven nodded.
“Good. Now, what’s your name, dear?”
“My…oh, um, it’s Raven. Raven Hunter.”
“Are you really?” Old eyes twinkled and danced. “What an incredible gift it is to meet you. But my goodness, I can barely recognize you.”
“Yes.” Raven laughed. “I’ve been getting that a lot.” She ran a hand through her long hair. “I guess I just needed something different.”
“I guess you did. Well, you look lovely. Everyone here calls me Dee.”
“Dee,” Raven confirmed and considered the woman. “Do you live here on the island, Dee?”
“Yep, but I was born on Oahu. December seventh, nineteen forty-one, actually.”
“December seventh?” Raven looked amazed. “Your poor mother must have been terrified.”
“Oh yes, she was. My father was in the Navy, and he was on the Arizona when it went down. So, she lost her husband and gained a daughter all in one day.”
“That’s terrible about your father. What did she do?”
“Well, as soon as she was able, she moved us here to Kaua’i. She was originally from Kansas and a long line of wheat farmers, as it happens. But she got bored with the lot of them and married herself a good-looking Navy man. Then they found themselves on the islands when he got transferred here.”
“Why didn’t she go back home?” Raven asked, taking another bite of her treat. “I mean, after he died.”
“Well, by that time, this was her home, and though she couldn’t bear to live on Oahu anymore, she still wanted to be close to my father. He’s still entombed over there, in that ship.”
“She never remarried?” Raven hung her head at how strange that would be, to never have real closure, or what she perceived as real closure.
“No, I’m sorry to say she didn’t, but I’ve been known to keep a person on their toes.” Raven grinned at her.
“So she moved here with her little baby girl. And after all these years you never wanted to leave either?”
“Child, look at this place.” Dee gestured wide with her arms, fingers outstretched as if encapsulating the entire island. “Now who in their right mind would ever want to leave this?”
“Well, you have me there.” Raven looked around and laughed. “So you said you have a grandson. Does that mean your family is here too then?”
At this Dee’s face fell and Raven felt uncomfortable knowing she hit a nerve. When she started to say never mind, the woman peered at her and seemed to decide something.
“Well, I was married to a sugarcane field hand. One day, Arthur went to work, and got crushed under the harvester.”
“Harvester?”
“It’s a big machine that cuts down the cane, strips it and cuts it into sections. That was hard for me, but that beautiful man also gave me a beautiful son, Matthew.” She looked down at her water bottle and sipped. “He struggled without his daddy to bring him up in the world and never really coped well with it. He was just a little tyke when it all happened, but it still affected him greatly.”
“That’s terrible, Dee. What happened to him? Your son.”
“Well, he was sixteen when he and his girlfriend found themselves in a family way. They got married and had my grandson. Matthew’s wife was so young, just fifteen at the time and so naïve. When she discovered herself in a delicate condition, she wasn’t prepared to be a mother and left them both.”
“She left her little baby?”
“Went on to the mainland and haven’t heard a word from her since. Matthew. Well, Matthew wasn’t prepared to take on a small child alone either. He overdosed on some drugs and drowned diving off the rocks at Kipu Falls, over there in Lihue. That was many years ago now.”
“That is so awful.” Horrified, Raven shook her head.
“Yes, yes it was. It was a horrible time but from those ashes came my grandson, who reminds me of my Arthur. He’s a wonderful, loving, and kind man, that’s been my greatest joy since the day he was born.”
Raven beamed at her and marveled at the ability of the older generation, to be so open and free with themselves. That Dee could bare her soul with a total stranger in a matter of minutes, was incredible. Maybe it was the simple frankness with which she shared her life, but Raven understood this woman was strong. She was a warrior who learned how to make her way in the world because she had to. Raven instantly liked her.
“Well, now that’s enough of that. Tell me all about you.” Dee reached for the younger woman’s hand and patted it. “What are you doing here? Oh, sweetheart, quick slurp; it’s melting.” Raven giggled and took another bite, letting the sticky sweetness melt in her mouth.
“Well.” Raven thought for a moment. She had never learned to share herself with anyone other than Wyatt, Que, and Abby, so simply said, “I’ve had some changes in my life too, and I’m trying to figure which direction to go now.” She watched Dee, trying to gauge how much of the tabloid gossip had reached her, regarding Raven’s marriage and personal life.
“It’s terrible to have to live your life on display, isn’t it?” Dee replied as if she could read her thoughts.
“Yes.” Raven laughed, relieved. “Yes, it sure is.”
“How old are you?”
“How old am I?” she said, taken aback.
“Oh, don’t read into it. I’m seventy-six. If an old bag like me can say it, you surely can.”
“Okay,” Raven said, laughing. “Well, I’m thirty-four.”
“Thirty-four. Well, that is just perfect, isn’t it?”
“Perfect?”
“Perfect.” Dee patted her hand again. “Because my grandson is thirty-six, and you should have an escort here on the island.” The color drained from Rav
en’s face.
“Oh, no ma’am, I couldn’t. No, please don’t…”
“And look at that timing.” Dee smiled, looking up.
Oh my God, Raven thought, the guy was right behind her now, wasn’t he? She turned, thinking, what in the hell am I going to do? Her jaw dropped open when standing in the sun, was Finn. He looked down at the two women in puzzlement like the combination wasn’t possible.
“Hello dear.”
Dee held out her arm so Finn could help her up. Raven stood too, dropping her water bottle off her lap. Still not speaking, she bent to retrieve it at the same time Finn did; their heads slammed together and Raven lost the rest of her shave ice. This seemed to delight Dee immensely. Cursing, Finn picked up the water bottle and handed it to Raven, who slapped her hand to her forehead, now in agony.
“Sorry. Thank you, Finn.” He turned his gaze to his grandmother.
“Oh, you two already know each other?”
“Yeah, we met the other night.”
“Really. Well, Finn, I was just saying to Raven that she needed an escort to show her around the island.” His eyes shifted back to Raven, who flamed bright crimson.
“No, seriously, I hadn’t gotten a chance to say”—she turned to the woman now—“but I’ve got a lot going on, and I’m sure Finn does too. I don’t think…” She smiled nervously at them both. “In fact”—she looked at her watch—“I’ve got to get going now. It was so fascinating to get to know you, Dee.” Her eyes shifted to him, and she nodded. “Finn.”
“Raven.” He nodded back and watched her walk away appreciatively. Dee noticed him look over the top of his sunglasses and she elbowed him.
“Come on Casanova, stop looking at her bum and help me get some groceries.”
****
Appreciating Raven’s assets, he watched as she turned to look at a stand filled with ripe mangoes, then followed Dee. Twenty minutes later, he slammed the car door closed on her sedan.
“You sure you don’t want me to help you get everything home?”