“Aydan, listen to me. We will help you with everything, okay? Please look at me.”
Forcing her head up, she was reassured by the kindness she saw. “Why are you being so nice to me? I haven’t exactly been—”
“You’ve been a little bitch, especially with Georgie. Having said that, I expect your personal situation has played a big part. That and the challenge of working with our sweet but complicated Georgie. Now, tell me, have you thought about taking the assistant job? And before you pooh-pooh it, let me tell you about my situation when I started here.”
It took her about twenty minutes to tell the story and go over the basic requirements for anyone assigned to babysit her partner. By the time she wrapped up, Aydan had gained a new respect for the company president. It was easy to understand why she was in charge.
“Sign the receipt for the bursary and read through the job descriptions. There are two openings. Neither will interfere with your internship. Unfortunately, you have to choose one or the other. Your internship won’t allow for the hours required to fill both slots. Still, you should be able to get by on your part-time wages. Now the other thing I want you to know is that you are welcome to stay with us for as long as you want, but we are working on an alternative for you. There are two other units up on the penthouse. One belongs to Lori Phipps’s sister, Leslie. She operates the Fleet Street Grill on the main floor. The other is their father’s, but now that Henry’s living out at the big house—sorry, the family estate, it’s sitting empty. We may not be able to secure it as a full-time residence for you but you could probably have it for yourself on weekends if you’re interested.”
“Please, Dr. Marsh, why are you being so kind?” she asked again. Again she saw only compassion, no judgment or superiority, just simple humanity. These women her brothers had berated so cruelly were nothing like they had alleged.
“First off, it’s Tyler. I won’t have you calling me Dr. Marsh and tiptoeing around our home. Now, coming from an academic background like you, I too found all this first-name nonsense disconcerting at first but they make it work. Just remember, for the time being you’re low man on the totem pole. They like all the camaraderie that comes with being on a first-name basis, but in the end they still expect everyone to remember the hierarchy, understood?”
“Yes ma’am, sorry…I mean Tyler.”
She smiled. “You’re learning. Now, why are we helping you? It’s simple, you’re a person who needs help, and believe it or not, this is one of those places where they do strive to help people up. I’m sure you’ve noticed it’s almost all family here, but it’s not just DiNamico and Phipps anymore. Even my two sisters work here. As a matter of fact, you will meet my sisters tonight at dinner. You will be home for dinner?”
Home. It sounded so normal coming from her. “Home for dinner,” she had said. Was that it, now she had a home and suddenly life called for normal things like being home for dinner? She nodded before forcing a squeaky, “Yes, I’ll be home for dinner. Yes, very…thank you.”
Tyler nodded her approval then picked up her always present smartphone and started tabbing away. The one big difference between Tyler and Georgie was her ability to carry on a conversation while she typed. “What’s your cell number?” When Aydan didn’t immediately answer, she looked up, sensing the problem. “Okay then, let’s get you a phone while we’re at it.”
Aydan’s company tablet chimed and she read through the instructions that Tyler had sent. “Georgie wanted to see me at three.”
It was already five past and clearly Tyler wasn’t concerned. As explanation, she held her phone up. “I still control her schedule. Lori Phipps will be joining us for supper too, so you three can go over all your ideas then. In the meanwhile, get over to the bank. They know you’re coming. Once you’re done there, hit the cell phone place. It’s just around the corner. We have an account there and they know what our requirements are but just in case…there, they will be expecting you too. How does that sound?”
“I…”
“That’s what I thought. Go run your errands and we will see you upstairs. And don’t worry; Georgie’s already programmed your access credentials. Just use your employee badge to get in.”
“Can I bring anything…for dinner, I mean?”
“That’s a nice offer, but I’m sure Lori will bring some wine. She always does and God knows Megan never shows up without a bucket of double chocolate ice cream for her and Georgie.”
“Megan, is that your sister?”
Tyler stood, gathering the signed documents and ordering them for filing. “Yes. You should know Megan was the one who figured out you were in trouble and she can be a bit on the pragmatic side. Will you be okay if she starts asking questions?”
“You have a right to know—”
“Whoa there Nelly; no one has a right to your personal business. As far as anyone here is concerned, I have asked you to stay with us while you learn the duties associated with being Georgie’s assistant. Personally, no one will think twice about it. Before I started caring for her they had half the family on duty, several caregivers and still she needed help. Don’t get me wrong. Georgie is brilliant and kind and good God I do love her, but she has to fight every day with so many things we take for granted. Trust me, the only thing anyone will ask about you working and staying with us is how you got saddled with such a heavy workload.”
Finally, Aydan stood on shaky legs, holding the tablet close. “I’ll go do these things then. What time should I come upstairs?”
“It’s your home now. Head up there when you’re done with your errands and you might as well drag that duffel bag up from its hiding place in the women’s locker room.”
Aydan colored but asked, “Did Megan…”
“She’s a very inquisitive girl,” she said absently as she returned to her desk.
Chapter Six
Lori Phipps stood up from her chair to stretch her aching back. “Frig it, Marnie! If I have to read one more financial report—”
“It comes with the territory,” Marnie said without easing up on the pounding she was giving her keyboard.
Working her way through several stretching exercises, Lori asked, “What the hell are you working on? The way you’re punishing that keyboard, you’d think the twins are in trouble again. Oh shit! They’re not in trouble are they?”
“Not this week. Don’t jinx it for me.” Marnie finished her typing and, closing the file, she watched her cousin’s restless pacing. “You just can’t sit still, can you?”
“Hey, you were always the same. What’s changed?”
“I have too much goddamn work to have time to get all ADD. Now sit down and tell me what you think.”
Lori groaned. “You really want to know? I think its bullshit. The numbers don’t make sense and I’m not even sure we have the right to risk the employee pension fund on these bright ideas of Lou’s. What did Georgie say?”
“Same as you only in fewer words, but she did say she would back his plan if you, me and Leslie agreed with this.”
“So that leaves you and Leslie. What did she say?”
Marnie gave her the most ironic look. “If you have to ask…Look, we’re all on the same page here. I’ll tell him it was a tough call and the board was interested but not ready to move ahead.”
Lori shrugged. “Why do you coddle him?”
She pushed back from her desk, clicking the ever-present ballpoint as she did so. “You know, Lori, you could go easier on him. Yes, Lou fucked up and tried to run an endgame around us, but it failed. It didn’t just fail, it was an epic fail and he’s going to pay for that for the remainder of his career. I actually feel bad for him,” she admitted. “Like me, he knew nothing about Cattaraugus Creek. We didn’t know Aunt Georgina’s company share had been left completely to Georgie. Frankly, if I had been standing where he was, I might have taken a run at the top job too.”
“What?” Lori was stomping mad. “You do have the top job and we couldn’t tell yo
u about Cattaraugus Creek. We signed a gag order. Blame Aunt Georgina, not me!”
“What the fuck, Lor! When did you start keeping secrets from me? We have shared everything since the crib. Why didn’t you tell me about all of this?”
“Marn, what the hell? Why are you bringing this up now?”
Standing behind her desk, Marnie dumped the ballpoint onto her blotter and assumed her infamous superhero pose. Then she started laughing. “Oh God, I can’t get mad at you, but I was a little pissed to think you kept something so…so cool from me.” Walking to her office door, she leaned out into the hallway and called to her new assistant, “Tony, will you bring in coffee please.” To Lori she said, “Let’s sit down and chat about a few things and yes, the twins are on that list.”
“I knew it! What did those two little peckerheads do this time? Oh, I know this will be good.” Lori noted that even with the fireplace on Marnie looked chilled. “What’s with you lately? You’re like an old lady, always too cold. I thought menopause was supposed to be all hot flashes and stuff.” She stepped up to Marnie’s chair and wrapped the Pendleton blanket around her shoulders before crashing onto the couch.
“I think it’s this damn office,” she said, waving her hand around the two-story executive suite. “What I would give to put Georgie back in here. I even tried to unload these two floors to Leslie.”
“Only you. You finally score the best office in the place, the only one, I will remind you, with a fireplace and you want out. What’s up with that?”
Marnie groaned, pulling the blanket tighter. “Don’t laugh, I think it’s all the ghosts in here.”
Lori did grin, but she quickly twisted her expression into a look of concern. “Ghosts, hmm. What about voices, hearing anything in your head?”
Marnie picked up and threw her pen at her. “Smartass! You’re worse than the twins. Are you ready for this? They came to me with their latest scheme. They want to sign affidavits that they self-recognize as LGBT so they can inherit some of Aunt Georgina’s land. Don’t worry,” she cautioned as Lori’s jaw dropped. “They only plan to change teams until they claim their inheritance, then they will ‘come out’ as straight. They even used the fact that so many gay people come out later in life, even after having been married and having kids, so they figured it could work the other way too.”
“Holy crap…so what’s got you more steamed, the fact that they don’t get the whole straight privilege thing, or that they have no idea how hard it is for normal people to come out? Or that it didn’t occur to them to simply ask for what they want, and that Georgie and I would happily give it to them?”
“Yeah, that one’s my top thing. Then the faking being gay so they could rip off their aunts. I didn’t raise them to act like Lou. I did manage to knock some sense into them and their father is on their asses big time. I’m not sure which part upset him more, the idea that they would lie about being gay just to get something, or that they were willing to tell the world they were gay. Although, I don’t think they actually thought that part out. When I told them we would send out announcements and have a huge coming out party, they started to sweat.”
“I’m not sure who you’re mad at, the kids for acting like the little conniving prick my baby brother can be, or your husband for being homophobic?”
“Yeah, Jack’s attitude did surprise me. We had a long talk later that night. I don’t think it’s really homophobia as much as a not-my-sons thing. Although he did assure me that if one or both turned out to be gay he would still love and support them, he just wanted them to know how people would react and the reality around coming out.”
“And you?”
“Jeez, Lor, I thought I raised them better than this. At this point I don’t even want Georgie to consider giving them anything, even if she could.”
Lori sat up straighter, her attention piqued. “If she could—what’s that about?”
Marnie’s shoulders sagged. “You were here. You saw Tyler’s face. She wants babies. You’ve seen Georgie’s will. Tyler will inherit her money but the kids, my boys and Zoe and Skip, would have inherited all her real estate holdings. I’m not saying they deserve it or anything but…I don’t know. I guess I never thought she would have a family.”
“Slow down there. It’s not as if it can just happen. Making a baby for a lesbian couple is a complicated business. Besides, who’s to say she wants babies?”
Marnie just gave her that look again. “Let me put it this way. If Tyler wants a baby, Georgie will make sure Tyler gets—”
“—a baby. Yeah, I know. She’ll move heaven and hell to make it happen but that doesn’t really address your problem. Why are you really upset about this?”
Marnie took her time answering. “At first I thought maybe I was being reactionary, like Jack. Then I had to ask myself if I considered Tyler family and I do. At the same time I don’t accept Bonnie, Lou’s little white trophy wife. It’s not like she ever involves herself in the family.” She sighed, not having a ready answer. “Maybe I’m just worried. You don’t think she’s a bit old to be thinking about having babies?”
“I’m no expert but thirty-seven is not too old to be popping out kids.”
“Thirty-seven, no, I’m talking about Georgie.”
“Oh.” Lori nodded, trying to think that through before she started laughing. “Oh Marns, Georgie will not be popping out any babies. That I can guarantee!”
“How do you know? Maybe she wants to be a mother?”
Lori retrieved the discarded ballpoint from the couch cushion and threw it back at her bundled-up cousin. “Trust me on this, and don’t ask me to explain it, it’s a lesbian thing. If Georgie and Tyler decide to have children, they will probably adopt. We can do that now, you know, but if Tyler wants babies, Georgie will find a way to get her in the family way. She won’t go all girly and want to carry the baby herself, unless they get some two for one deal. I saw a movie like that once. Patty Duke and this really cute Canadian actress were lovers and both got pregnant at the same time.”
“Oh jeez! What the hell would we do if they were both out on maternity leave?”
“Oh, now we get to the real issue. You’re worried about who will run the new company if Tyler’s out playing new mommy?”
“I know, it’s stupid to worry about it now, but I sit in this office, surrounded by everything our dads built, and worry if I’m doing it right.”
“Oh Marns!” Lori sat forward. “You’re doing a great job. Revenues are up, orders are up, and employee morale is up. You can’t ask for more.”
“That’s all down to you, Georgie and Tyler. I don’t know what I would do without you three but the real issue is me. You and I know this office was built for Georgie and I just don’t know if I can fill her shoes.”
“This office was built by Luigi to impress, nothing more. There are no ghosts here and no big shoes to fill. This is you. You made this job what it is and if I, and Georgie, and Tyler too are contributing in a big way it’s because of your leadership. You cut the strings that were holding each of us back, especially so with Georgie and Tyler, and good call on that kid. She is turning out to be the best business planner I have ever known, and better than that, she speaks Georgie!
“Do you remember all the heartache you suffered over putting Georgie in this office in the first place? It sucked and everyone fought you, but you were right. Her productivity soared. She was protected, supervised, and had the room to work. Getting Georgie out of this office was about establishing your authority while giving her the creative space she needs. I’m actually stoked about Tyler taking her team up to the ballroom. It’s the perfect size and on those days when Georgie can’t cope, she can just walk across the hall. As for Tyler, I don’t think we have to worry about maternity leave. Even if she takes it, she’s right here and will always be on call to handle Georgie. Plus, I don’t know if you’ve noticed but Georgie’s…well, she’s almost Georgie these days. Yes, she still can’t string more than three or four wo
rds together at a time, but that doesn’t stop her anymore. Her team too, shit, I think Tyler’s taught them all how to speak Georgie! You should hear Skippy these days. I swear he hears everything she says, fills in the missing words, and regurgitates it up at dinner every night.”
“Oh God, Lou must hate that.”
“Yeah but it makes Henry smile. That and his Sundays when Georgie and Tyler come for dinner.”
“I’m glad they started doing that. I’m proud of Georgie for facing down her issues about the big house. Maybe I have Tyler to thank for that too.”
“She’s special, Marns, like your Jack is too. They’re part of this family and deserve our respect.”
Marnie retrieved her pen from where it had landed on her blanket. “Understood. Just don’t ask me to tack her name onto the holding division. DiNamico Phipps Pulaski is long enough.”
“Could you see Lou’s face? Besides, DiNamico Phipps Pulaski and Marsh sounds pretty good to me.”
“Speaking of Lou,” she said, “Zoe has asked to be moved back to HR.”
“Uh-oh. I guess being Daddy’s personal assistant isn’t as glamorous as she thought. You’re not going to take her back, are you?”
“What, and move little Tony? Not on your life. That kid makes the best coffee in the universe and he knows enough to ignore his cell phone when he’s in my office. That makes him an all-star assistant in my books.”
“Mine too, so let me guess, you want me to take her?”
Marnie walked to her desk, retrieved a personnel file and handed it over. “It’s really up to you. She is a good assistant.”
“A good assistant who failed the loyalty test in a massive way.”
“Lori please. Just consider it. The acceptance/rejection sheet is on top. If you don’t want her out at the boatyard I understand, I do, but go easy on the loyalty thing. It wasn’t as if she backed an outsider. It was her dad, for freaking sakes. Tell me, which side would you have chosen if a power struggle had broken out between your dad and mine?”
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