“That’s a car just like Carlos’s. He’d kill someone that drove his car like that,” I said.
We went up the elevator to the seventh floor and made our way to the restaurant. It smelled delicious. Lucy gave the hostess her name and we waited to be seated. The hostess was dressed in a spandex dress much like the babysitter’s. I felt out of style in my staid courtroom attire.
The hostess returned to her podium after checking out the available tables. “This way, please,” she said as she led us through the aisles of tables.
“Right here please,” she said as she pointed to a small empty table adjoining several other tables.
“We’ll never be able to have a conversation here,” I said “The noise level is awful.”
I glanced around and spotted a booth across the aisle. The banquettes had high backs. Why can’t we have that booth? I’m sure it’s less noisy.”
“That booth is occupied. This is the only table available right now,” the hostess answered.
“No, it’s not occupied. I moved to the side of the booth and that’s when my heart stopped beating. I clutched Lucy’s arm to steady myself. The noisy room spun for a minute.
“What’s wrong, Mary? Are you ill?” Lucy put her hand on my shoulder. Then she saw what I saw and her only comment was, “Oh no.”
“We won’t be staying.” I said as I moved back through the maze of tables to the entrance, to the elevator, and away from the moment I felt my heart break.
CHAPTER
EIGHT
Outside the breeze from the ocean swept away the sticky feeling from my face, but the picture of the occupants of that booth couldn’t be moved by the breeze. The picture of Carlos and his ex-wife, Margarita, half hidden in that cozy booth was indelibly painted in my brain. My eyes were filled with that image even as the first of many tears rained down from it.
I moved at a run through the front portico of the building. Lucy raced behind me trying to keep up. My car was still in front. I threw a ten dollar bill at the attendant and jumped into the driver’s seat. Lucy barely had time to close the passenger door as I hit the gas and roared away from the building and the dinner that changed my life..
I drove along the ocean instead of turning back toward Lucy’s house. I opened the windows and felt the wind filling the car, but still I couldn’t erase the picture of Carlos and Margarita.
Lucy was quiet for a while. Finally she closed her window and asked if she could drive. I pulled onto the shoulder of the road and switched places with my forever best friend who eased the car back to the traffic of Miami Beach. She stopped in her driveway and led me into her house.
After the babysitter was dispatched and the two older boys sent to their room, Lucy poured two glasses of brandy and set them on the coffee table in front of us. She sat on the sofa next to me.
“Oh, God, Lucy what am I going to do? I thought Carlos was the one right guy at the right time in my life. I thought I knew him, but I must have closed my eyes to his ability to lie so smoothly. He told me, right to my face, that he was going to a business meeting. Now I wonder how many other times he pulled this crap.”
“Mary, I am so sorry. Why did I have to pick that restaurant? I feel awful.”
“It’s not your fault. I would have found out eventually and that might have been worse. It’s just a shock. It’s better to know where I stand now. I feel like such a fool. I thought I was a better judge of people. That’s what I get for mistaking lust for love. I’ll get rid of this rock of a ring and make a clean break.”
“Maybe there’s some explanation of why he was with her. You need to give yourself some time to think, like a time-out that I make my kids take.”
“I do need some time away, but not to think. I have to break this off with Carlos. The one thing I can’t forgive is being lied to; that, and being part of a triangle. I guess that’s two things I can’t forgive.”
“Listen, you’re exhausted. You work without a break or a vacation. I’ve got a great idea. Why don’t you go up to Vermont for a couple of weeks and use my house there? I’ve been trying to get you to go ever since my grandmother left me the house. You’ll love it, especially right now with the leaves changing colors, and the crisp autumn days. We’d be up there ourselves if Steve wasn’t getting ready for a big trial.”
“Maybe it would be good to get out of here for a while. Where is it exactly?”
“It’s in the Upper Connecticut River Valley near a cute village called High Pines, and you can take Sam. I know you never go anywhere without that dog. Trust me. It’ll be totally relaxing. Absolutely nothing ever happens in High Pines.”
CHAPTER
NINE
I tried to go to sleep but I tossed and turned, My bed felt alien with the smell of Carlos surrounding me.. Finally I got up and changed the sheets. I tried again but I was fully awake. I gave up and raided the fridge where I found a leftover slice of pizza and a half eaten, fully forgotten carton of Moo Goo Guy Pan from the Chinese carryout near the office. I nuked them both in the microwave and ate a few bites. The strange meal made me nauseous to look at it. I couldn’t remember the last time I didn’t want to eat.
I settled in the living room and tried to focus on the plan to leave for Vermont. Sam jumped up on the sofa and nestled his head in my lap. At least I still had one loyal male in my life.
I tried to count the good things in my life like Mother always told me to do when I was unhappy. I still had my family, my dog, my law practice, a few friends and then I looked down at my hand. I was still wearing my humongous emerald and diamond engagement ring. I was filled with rage as it shined in my eyes as if it were taunting me.
I had to figure out what to do. I went to the desk and pulled out a yellow pad and a pen. I would use my organization skills and make a plan.
First, I wrote: 1. call the messenger service as soon as I get to the office and ship Carlos’s ring back to him with a letter. I rewrote the letter several times and finally decided on:
Carlos,
I am returning your ring. I saw you and Margarita at the restaurant last night. You lied to me. I can forgive many things, but not total lies. Any relationship that we had is over, ended, finished. Do not phone me, e-mail me, or attempt to see me at the office or anywhere else.
Next I outlined everything I had to do to leave quickly for Vermont. I made a list of work things to do and house things to do. The clock read five-thirty a.m. when I finished the paper work. Time to shower, and feed and walk Sam, who was thrilled that he was partaking of an early breakfast, My appetite began to return. I downed toast and two cups of strong coffee.
I was seated at my desk by seven-thirty and had already called the messenger service when Catherine arrived.
“What are you doing here so early?” she asked,
“I had a bad night. What’s your excuse?”
“I had to have the boys at school early for soccer practice so I came here instead of going back home.”
Catherine had a sixth sense when it came to detecting troubles. “What’s going on? Is it Carlos?”
“Oh, yes, it’s that lying untrustworthy Carlos. I caught him having dinner with Margarita last night. His business dinner turned out to be a cozy fling with the ever-present ex. Listen, Catherine, I’ve called the messenger service. I’m sending back his ring. I’m really through with him. And do not discuss this with Marco, or you’ll be looking for a new job.”
“Mary, you know I’d never do anything you didn’t want me to do. You know I will always take your side. I understand about cheating partners. I lived it with my ex.”
“I guess you do understand after your ex, that louse, Brady, walked out on you and the two babies and ended up with some bimbo in Ft. Lauderdale.”
“Sure, I know the whole feeling; blaming yourself, blaming him, but at least you never made things permanent.”
“Lucy has offered me her house in Vermont. I need to get away, so I’m taking her up on it. I’m going to get out of her
e as fast as I can.”
“What can I do to help? What about the office?”
“I want you to keep it open. Get Joe Fineberg on the phone. He can take over my cases and interview any new clients for a couple of weeks. He owes me a favor now that he and Liz Maxwell have finally tied the knot. And I’ll want you to check my house from time to time. Sam and I will be out of here in a day or two.”
“Of course. Anything else?”
“Yes, do not tell Carlos where I am. I need time to let this broken heart heal.”
“Mary, I’ll miss you. Please, don’t stay away too long.”
“I can’t leave my work for too long or I’ll have no practice to return to. I just need some quiet time, and Lucy tells me nothing ever happens in High Pines.”
CHAPTER
TEN
Two days after the disaster dinner. I had the Ford almost packed. Keys to the house were left with Catherine and my neighbor, Mrs. Armando, who didn’t believe that I was just going on vacation. She probably thought I was being run out of town because of my colorful clients.
Sam was bathed and brushed. My files were left in Joe’s capable hands and Catherine had a list of instructions for every kind of office disaster imaginable and even a few unimaginable, like a hurricane and a tsunami both aimed directly at my office.
Only one thing was left to do. I went to the phone. “Hi Mother. Would it be okay if I came up there for dinner and spent the night?” I’ll tell you why when I see you.”
“Well, of course it’s great, but your dad won’t be home until late. It’s his poker night.”
“Good. It’ll be just us girls. See you later.”
I finished loading the car with water and Sam’s food. I threw in a blanket and the few cold weather clothes I had packed away for trips up north in winter to depose witnesses. I loaded Sam’s crate in last and whistled for him to jump in. He loved riding and the crate was a sign that this was a longer ride, not just to the cleaners or grocery store.
The house was as cleaned up as it had ever been. I made one last round through the rooms checking windows and doors. The checklist for Catherine and my neighbor was pinned up on the refrigerator. All systems were go. There was nothing left to do but start the SUV and say goodbye to the Carlos era in my life.
The trip up to Boynton Beach to inform my parents of life’s turn of events was necessary to keep them from calling out the state police and the FBI to find their missing daughter. Besides it was on the way and it would be easy to start from their place in the early morning.
The usual traffic filled the turnpike even in midafternoon. The report on the radio warned of a tractor trailer rollover accident closing all but one lane. Just the usual, but the report allowed me to change routes and arrive at the gated community a little before five. And I was two hours further north.
The guard came out of his little house. He was wearing his usual uniform; a cross between a ship captain and a high school band member.
“What is your destination, please?” he asked.
“I’m here to visit my parents. I’m Mary Katz, Abe and Hope Katz’s daughter. You’ve seen me many times.”
“Your name, please?”
“I just told you. I’m Mary Magruder Katz.”
“Let me see some ID.”
“You’ve got to be kidding.”
“No, I’m serious. My job is to keep outsiders out.”
“Look, I’m in no mood to be hassled. Get on your phone and call Hope Katz and tell her Mary, her daughter is here. Do it,” I barked. That caused Sam to stand up in his crate and give out an ominous real bark.
Captain Courageous shot into his guard shack and dialed the phone. In a minute he returned, handed me my visitor’s placard and opened the gate..
I have never understood why a group of elderly retirees whose main occupations are golf and bridge need to be secured from their relatives. Maybe some of them don’t want to be disturbed by the real world of their grown children.
Mother was waiting in the doorway. She came out to the car as I drove up the red brick driveway.
“Mary, all this for an overnight?” she said as she looked inside the car.
I opened Sam’s crate and he bounded into the house. He loved visiting his “grandparents” who were good for lots of snacks from the dinner table.
“No, I’m headed on a little vacation. Let’s go inside so we can talk.”
“What’s wrong, honey? You look like you’ve been crying.” Mother put her arm around my shoulder as we walked inside.
I was trying not to turn on the waterworks again. I thought I was all cried out. When Mother put her arm around me the flood began.
Mother handed me a Kleenex from her pocket as I collapsed onto the family room sofa.
I blew my nose and a torrent of words rushed out at the same time. “I have returned Carlos’s ring. He’s a lying bastard. He lied to me that he had a business dinner he couldn’t cancel and I caught him having a cozy dinner with Margarita, his ex.”
“I can’t believe that. What do you mean you caught him? Were you following him?”
“Of course not. Lucy and I went out to dinner and he was in that same restaurant, the rat.”
“Well, what was his explanation? He’s so crazy about you, Mary. There must have been a good reason.”
“If he had a good reason, he could have told me instead of lying to me. I didn’t wait for some fairy tale explanation. I sent the ring back by messenger. He tried to call me and to get into the office to see me, but Catherine got rid of him for me, and I’m not taking his calls or text messages or e-mails. I just made the decision to take a couple of weeks of vacation. I’m burned out anyway. I just need to get away and think.”
“Well, where are you going?”
“Please, don’t be angry. I’m keeping my destination totally secret from everyone except Catherine. She’ll be speaking to me every day to keep the office going, so if you need me, let her know and I’ll call you or you can call my cell.”
“I’m not just anyone. I’m your mother.”
“If you know where I am, you’ll let Carlos wheedle it out of you. I know you really like him.”
“Correction. I did like him, but if he’s upset you this much, I have to review my opinion of him. Maybe Abe was right about him from the start; he never trusted Carlos. Do Angie and J.C. know that you’ve sent Carlos’s ring back? You know we’ve become very friendly with Carlos’s parents. I really do like them, so this is going to be awkward. They were hoping you two were going to get married.”
Angie will probably be relieved. She wanted Carlos to find a nice Hispanic girlfriend. I don’t care if you remain friends with them as long as they leave me alone.” I fought back more tears. Who was I kidding? I missed Carlos already and his big noisy family.
“Mary, you should think this through before you rush off like this. You’re not thinking clearly. Stay here for a few days.”
“No, my mind is made up. Please don’t worry about me. I’m going someplace quiet and safe and I’ll be back as soon as I get my head together”
“Well, I’ll pray for you. But for now, come in the kitchen. I’ve got your favorite, meatloaf and mashed potatoes, and chocolate pudding for dessert.”
It sounded wonderful and it also felt like I was ten years old again, and had just come home from school after having a fist fight with the class bully.
CHAPTER
ELEVEN
I was packed up and ready to hit the road by six the next morning. Mother and Dad were outside in their robes to wave me off. I had a complete picnic lunch prepared by Mother and Dad’s parting hug and advice. “It’s good that you found out about that schtunck Carlos. You’ll find a nice Jewish boy, a beautiful girl like you.”
I had mapped out my itinerary to include a stop in South Carolina with my cousin, Celeste, daughter of mother’s sister, Faith. Celeste lived in the low country in a small town whose claim to fame was the largest Baptist Church in the area
with a steeple that could be seen for miles, considering the flatness of the area.
Celeste’s parents were killed in a traffic accident a few years ago in Haiti where they were serving as missionaries. For some reason, Celeste felt the need to continue their church work. Celeste’s husband was a “born again” preacher and Celeste ran the day school at the church.
We hadn’t seen each other for a few years. I was shocked to see beautiful Celeste turned into an overweight, frumpy woman who looked ten years older than her real age of forty. It was just an overnight visit, but there was enough time to see that Celeste still was beautiful under the extra weight.
As we sat and talked late in the evening, I asked the question that my mother would have asked and I was surprised to hear myself prying into Celeste’s life. “Is your life turning out the way you had imagined it? Are you happy with your marriage?”
Celeste looked down at her hands and turned the plain gold band on her ring finger. I had a flashing thought of the rock of a ring I no longer possessed while I waited for Celeste to say something.
“The reason I asked,” I said, “is that I remember one summer when I was fourteen and you were nineteen or twenty. I was visiting Aunt Faith and you came home from summer school. You told your folks that you wanted to be an actress. I think you had the lead in a musical at your college. You looked so glamorous. Your parents threw a fit. You said you were going to New York as soon as you had enough money. Do you remember that?”
“Oh, yes, we fought on and off for the rest of the summer.”
“So what happened? That’s why I was asking if you were happy, because I just broke off a relationship. I guess I’m just trying to see my disappointments in comparison to how you’ve coped with yours.”
“Those silly teenage dreams were just that. I grew up. No marriage is perfect, if that’s what you’re asking, but Lincoln and I have so much in common. We are always busy with our parish members and their children and problems, and we’re planning for a mission in a year to carry on the work of Mom and Dad.”
Barbara Levenson - Mary Magruder Katz 03 - Outrageous October Page 3