The Jade Emperor

by Suzanne Jenkins

  The manic high abated by the time she got home. The garage door going up exposed the empty garage, the first evidence that he was gone. Lugging the groceries in, she threw her purse on the counter, running downstairs to see if he’d removed anything from his cave, and she could see he’d already taken his albums. He must have known she’d be looking for more evidence of his unfaithfulness.

  Truly, she was over it, over the betrayal of her youth. It was what was happening now that would matter. After a lifetime with a man who didn’t love her, there was a large family and a home about to be affected by what he’d do.

  Moving fast, Lee had appeared on Saturday, and four days later, he was gone. Steve’s love for Lee must have been overwhelming. Waves of nausea flowed over her when she thought that during all the years they were together, he was longing for Lee. Making up her mind to stop dwelling on the betrayal, she was determined to enjoy this night.

  Setting the sausage on low to sauté, she took a shower and put on fresh makeup, worried her kids would pick up on the slightest change in her demeanor. Ben’s inquisition the night before was proof that she’d have to be on her toes. It was a good thing; she would pretend all was well and sometimes that would make it true. All would be well.

  They only used the dining room when the children came over. She turned the light on in the room and made sure the piles of mail that sometimes found their way to the dining table had not reappeared since her Friday night cleaning spree. Getting out the stacks of good china, it didn’t make any sense not to use it tonight. Why am I saving it? She might even ask the kids if they’d like to start taking some of the heirlooms from her family, stuff that was looking more and more like albatrosses if her marriage was really over. Trying not to let worries about the house sneak in, they did anyway; they’d have to sell it and she’d give him half the proceeds. Or would she just buy him out? Don’t think about it yet!

  Out of a stack of ironed tablecloths, she chose a lace rectangle that had belonged to her mother. Arranging the china on the lace, it looked so nice she decided to use the silver, getting that out. She’d use crystal wineglasses, too. They had a good supply of wine and everyone would probably drink a glass or two.

  When the table was set, she went back to a spare bedroom set up as a nursery now with bunk beds and cribs for grandchildren. Taking a bouncy chair out, she placed it on the buffet; baby Nicole could sit and watch the meal.

  Setting a pot of water to boil for the pirogies, she next set out cheese and crackers and cut up fruit for a snack, ready when Karen and Roger, the dog, arrived.

  “I didn’t get anything for Roger!” Kelly said, apologetic.

  “I brought bones,” Karen said, handing Kelly a bottle of wine. “So are you going to tell me what happened?”

  Kelly frowned. “How do you know?”

  “That text you sent me was in a group text, and your moron soon-to-be ex-husband replied to everyone that he was sorry he took Lee to the store. Your kids are probably going nuts.”

  Kelly’s body flooded with heat. Running to her purse, she dug out her phone. There were thirty text messages.

  “Oh my God, he is such an ass!” The first text was from him.

  “I’m so sorry. If I’d known you were going to shop today, I would have never taken Lee to that store.”

  Kelly looked up from her phone, blood draining from her face.

  “Is he insane?”

  Karen was looking at her own phone, reading the texts along with Kelly. The next text was from Lisa. She’d be home from school, reading in between the lines.

  “Dad, who is Lee, and why are you sorry you took him/her there?”

  Then Ken. “Does this mean the pirogies are frozen?”

  Next was Ben. “Wow, someone needs to learn how to use their phone properly.”

  The messages went on in a similar fashion until she got to the last one, from Alice.

  “Dad, you are a moron.”

  Kelly looked up at Karen.

  “I’m going to be sick.”

  She started to retch in the sink, but she didn’t have anything in her stomach to bring up.

  “Someone’s here,” Karen said. Roger ran to the door, barking. “It’s Augie.”

  He was alone and looking very grim. She held the door open for him.

  “Where’s my mother?” he asked.

  “Throwing up in the kitchen sink,” Karen said. “Shut up, Roger.”

  Augie bent down to pick up the dog and walked into the kitchen.

  “Mother, I am so sorry for whatever the hell is going on.”

  He reached for her with his free arm.

  “Thanks, honey. I certainly couldn’t think of a worse way to tell you kids.”

  “What are you telling us? I’m completely confused. Who the hell is Lee?” Kelly looked at Karen.

  “I guess I need to just come out with it,” she nodded, sadly. “But I need to brush my teeth, first.”

  Karen and Augie waited in silence, petting the dog until Kelly came back.

  “Your dad had an affair in Vietnam, and a son was born that he said he didn’t know about. The son found Dad and brought his mother along for a surprise visit on Saturday. It looks like he’s been carrying a torch for the woman for forty years. He was with her at the grocery store after work.”

  Augie looked stricken. “How old’s the kid?”

  “Not forty,” Kelly said. “Younger than you are, obviously. I guess I should get Dad over here to explain because if I have to repeat this six times, I might have a heart attack.”

  Augie pulled her close, kissing her head.

  “I’m so sorry, Mom. Wait till the rest of the kids get here to say any more. You can tell us all at once.”

  “Are you going to contact Steve?” Karen asked.

  Kelly shook her head.

  “Maybe not. I don’t really want him here. It’ll be bad enough without having me being hostile to him.”

  “You should be furious with him,” Augie said loudly.

  “Yes, but not in front of you kids. I haven’t even sorted my own feelings out yet. I didn’t know he was leaving me for her until this afternoon.”

  Augie regarded his mother with sadness. They wouldn’t feel the full impact of what was happening right away.

  “You need to take this slow, you two. Go sit down and I’ll answer the door,” Karen said. Augie and Kelly walked into the living room.

  “I’ve got questions about the son,” Augie said nervously.

  “See, that’s another reason I don’t want my anger to be out in the open. You might choose to have a relationship with this man, and that would be fine with me. He’s your half brother. He actually looks a little like Dad. I don’t want to taint that.”

  Augie was flooded with emotions.

  “I’d better call Sandy and tell her to stay away with the kids.”

  “That’s probably smart.”

  Kelly nodded her head. The family meal was turning into a family council - often heated - and not kid friendly.

  During the last one they’d held, Alice came out to Steve. Kelly had always suspected her daughter was gay and then, when she went through puberty, confirmed it, supporting her and facilitating it when she was able. But Steve was rigid in his thinking, from an upbringing by unenlightened parents. It was yet another stumbling block for the marriage.

  Steve and Alice had never had a warm relationship, but he didn’t have that with any of his kids. Kelly wondered if that fact was making it easier for him to leave her.

  While Augie called his wife and warned her to keep away, Kelly went back into the kitchen to start putting the pirogies into the simmering water.

  “The apples!”

  She’d forgotten to make the applesauce.

  “Karen, help me peel apples quickly.”

  She picked up a knife and the two of them peeled and cored the apples and chopped them up fine so they’d cook faster.

  “We should have something else with this. How about ca
bbage?”

  They chopped up cabbage and added that to the fat in the pan from the smoked sausage. Augie came in and looked over their shoulders.

  “Oh, that looks good.”

  Lisa and Ben arrived next, having walked over from Lisa’s house. Both had tight, unhappy faces, figuring out that Steve was with another woman. Karen hugged them while they fawned over Roger. Ben looked up from petting the dog.

  “Mother, is this going to be too much for you?”

  “What? Having you all here? No. Once I made the decision to do it, it was all I could think about, even after running into them at the store.”

  “Okay, if you’re sure you won’t be overwhelmed,” he answered. “We’re probably going to have a thousand questions.”

  “I can only answer what I know, Ben, and it’s not much, believe me. I don’t want to poison you against the son.” She didn’t add, “And his mother.”

  She’d wait until the rest of the family arrived to say more. Soon, Reggie and Alice arrived and the chatter among their siblings was deafening. Kelly couldn’t have removed the grin off her face if she’d wanted to. She lived for these moments where being in the presence of her children was all she needed.

  When the food was ready, Karen yelled, “Dinner’s ready.”

  Everyone came into the dining room and oohed and aahed over the table setting. After they passed plates of food around, serious eating began.

  “I want to say something to clear up the texting snafu, if I may.”

  They looked at their mother, anticipating the worst. She repeated what she’d told Augie.

  “I don’t have any more to say except I don’t want to be negative about the man. His name is Titan Baker, by the way. He’s an orthopedic surgeon in Chicago. His wife is seriously ill with multiple sclerosis.

  “A man named Ted Baker raised him. Evidently he was a loving father and Titan didn’t know about Dad until Ted Baker died. You’ll have to ask your father if you want more information. I thought we could work things out, maybe include Titan and Lee in our family get-togethers. I had no idea your father would take it this far so quickly. I suspected, but, well, I just suspected.”

  Alice grabbed Kelly’s hand.

  “Mother, I am so sorry. This is just awful. I don’t know about any of you, but I’m ready to divorce my father.”

  “Don’t do anything rash,” Augie said. “Mom, I’m grateful you told us what you have. It just sounds like facts. What more can Dad say? But we need to act carefully. He’s our dad. It won’t be the first time a couple got divorced at this stage of life.”

  Kelly burst out laughing.

  “No offense, dear, but I don’t think many marriages make it this far to get divorced at this stage.”

  “Forty-five years,” Karen said. “Imagine.”

  The words lingered in the air when Roger started to bark again.

  “Ken,” Kelly said.

  Lisa got up to open the door and, after looking out, peeked her head in the room.

  “Not Ken. Dad and a small oriental woman.”

  Karen and Kelly exchanged looks.

  “You’ve got to be kidding me,” Kelly said for the umpteenth time that day.

  “Asian, Lisa,” Ben said. “Asian.”

  “Whatever,” Lisa murmured.

  She’d left the door open and came back into the dining room. She wasn’t greeting the couple.

  “Talk about nerve,” Lisa said.

  “Just be quiet,” Augie said. “No wisenheimer.”

  Kelly giggled at the sniglet.

  Steve and Lee came through the hallway into the dining room. Kelly let her breath out, glad they weren’t holding hands. She stood up.

  “Let me get chairs,” she said.

  “That’s okay, we won’t stay,” Steve said.

  “Well, you’re not standing over us while we eat. So either sit down or leave.”

  Lee smiled at her.

  “Kelly Boyd, it smells good. Where’re the chairs?”

  Kelly pointed into the kitchen. An intense air of surrealism permeated the room, and everyone later agreed that they were waiting for the black light to come on so they could start hallucinating.

  Steve froze in place as the chairs were brought in, and everyone moved theirs down so Steve and Lee could sit side by side. Kelly watched her husband, his body language and his mannerisms, and thought, Who is he? How could I lie next to him every night for all those years and not recognize him now?

  “Okay, family council rules are in effect,” Kelly said. “If it isn’t nice, don’t say it. Count to ten before you speak. If you have anything personal to say, say it to the person in private. This isn’t the time for airing grievances.”

  Lee listened, frowning. She didn’t get it.

  “Lee, when you have a big family, you have to have rules in place so meetings like this don’t become free-for-alls.”

  She nodded her head, pretending to understand.

  “Steve, I’ve told the children, all except Ken, that Titan and Lee came here on Saturday, and that today I found out you are leaving to be with Lee. The reason I told them instead of waiting for you is because of the text messaging mix-up.” Steve was red and embarrassed. “Do you have anything to add?”

  Not answering right away, she imagined him counting to ten to appease her.

  “No, just that I’m sorry. I’m sorry I was in the store today when you came in. That was terrible of me. I’m sorry I’ve been sneaky. But I’m sorry that I didn’t realize I was replying to the group text about dinner. That was really terrible.”

  Kelly didn’t feel like letting him off the hook yet. Steve looked so pathetic - a ploy he used, a manipulation to get his way, to be left alone, to get out of doing things a man should do with his wife and family. He’d used it for years and years, getting away with a lot. Poor, depressed, sad Steve.

  A realization overcame her which she’d examine closely when she was alone. That lighthearted freedom she’d felt, almost euphoric mania, after her encounter with Steve and Lee in the store had returned. It could be that Lee would be better for Steve in the long run. Equals, they both seemed sort of pessimistic, sort of melancholy. They could feel sorry for each other together. They wouldn’t expect either to accomplish anything with their time. Lee wouldn’t be on Steve’s back all the time, harping at him to do something with his life, as Kelly did. A sense of relief was coming over her. Kelly hoped to convey the feeling to her kids.

  “Apology accepted, Steve. We have all made that mistake. I hate group texts and shouldn’t have sent one. But when you have six children and you want them to come for dinner, it’s the easiest way to contact them. Where’s Ken by the way?”

  They started chattering to each other again, no one directing any questions to Steve yet.

  “Ken will be here later,” Augie said. “Dad, so when are we going to meet Titan?”

  “That’s such a cool name!” Alice said.

  Alice’s nicety surprised Kelly, especially to hear anything positive coming from her mouth. Maybe it was a good thing, maybe seeing her father in this light, as a fallible human being, would give her more compassion for him.

  While the children loosened up and started throwing questions at Steve and Lee, Kelly got up to prepare the dessert: cake and ice cream. Karen came in to help her.

  “I’m shocked at what’s going on. No one is batting an eyelash that he’s leaving you for that tramp.”

  “It’ll come later. Remember our ground rules. They are fact gathering now. This is what we do in our family. I’m glad Ken isn’t here because he’s the incendiary of the group. Don’t worry, Karen. This is just window dressing. We have a long road ahead of us, I’m sure.”

  They took dessert plates in and the cake. Kelly came back for a half gallon of ice cream. Everyone would eat dessert as the talking continued.

  Then Roger barked. “Uh oh. Ken,” Lisa said.

  Kelly got up this time and went to the door. Ken was the most like her in app
earance. His hair was jet black and he was athletic, and muscular. She opened the door for him and kissed him. He held on to her.

  “What in the hell is going on?” he whispered.

  She raised her eyebrows at him.

  “Stay calm and you’ll soon find out.”

  Wanting to spare him the gory details, Kelly knew it was unlikely Ken would forgive his father. Ken made the family cut to the chase when they had trouble communicating. Wasting time was his anathema, and he didn’t have an ounce of patience for stupidity. Kelly wondered how he’d get along with Lee.

  He went into the dining room and waved, acknowledging his siblings. Then he looked at Steve, and Lee sitting next to him.

  “I’m assuming this is Lee, of the errant text messages.”

  Lee, looking confused, frowned, while Steve nodded his head.

  “Dad, it’s time someone taught you how to use the phone.” Everyone started laughing. But Ken was serious. “I don’t think it’s funny. Our father obviously is having an affair, and we find out by a text message. That sucks.”

  Karen put her hand on his shoulder.

  “Okay, who wants to tell him? Steve should do it this time.”

  Kelly felt nervous. Why was she still protecting Steve? Steve looked at her, and she got a pang that he was about to let loose, maybe tell one too many secrets for dinner-table conversation. But she couldn’t protect the kids, or herself.

  “Do you mind if I talk?” he asked, looking her in the eyes.

  She shook her head, afraid to speak. Where was this going to end?

  “Well, it’s best if I stick to the facts,” he said. “It doesn’t make any difference what I feel or why. Ken, when I was a young man, shortly after Mommy had Augie, I went to Vietnam. I had a hard time adjusting when I got back; all that garbage is old news.”

  Hearing Steve use the word mommy to describe Kelly set their teeth on edge. No one had called her mommy for twenty years.

  “I met Lee there. Lee, this is my family. I’ll introduce you later by name. Lee was a good friend while I was overseas. We went too far, and she found out she was going to have my baby after I left. To make a long story short, Titan started looking for me after his father died. Like Mommy said, he came to the house on Saturday, and I met him for the first time.”