SHIPS CompanionSHIP, FriendSHIP, RelationSHIP

by K'Anne Meinel

  Joan had done most of her shopping well in advance and only had a few items to pick up yet. Craig delivered her 8’ tree for the chalet and the grandchildren helped Grandma Grace and Grandma decorate it this year. There was hot chocolate and sledding for the children while their parents were out shopping. An entire day it took to decorate that tree. Joan and Grace were in their element. They had so much to be grateful for. Five grandchildren, three sons, the daughters in law, all to share in their Christmas.

  Joan and Grace gave their usual Christmas party to friends and family. Kim and Bryan didn’t show up for it. The phone only had the answering machine on it when they were called. After the wedding, Bryan and Kim had started looking for a piece of land to build their eventual home on. The townhome was not large enough for a family but for now the two of them would be happy in it. With all the storms though, they hadn’t been able to look much. Perhaps in the spring.

  The next morning they exchanged gifts. Again Kim and Bryan were a no show until after lunch. Joan had gone back in the house to check on Abel while parents and grandchildren were sledding. She was surprised to see Kim, Bryan, and two strangers entering the front door. Smiling in greeting to Bryan and Kim she was introduced to Kim’s parents. Shaking their hands in greeting she saw them look around in wonder at the front room of the chalet. The 8’ tree in the corner. The roaring fire. The fine art and expensive furnishings. Kim was giving her a look that said ‘I’m sorry.’ Bryan was rolling his eyes and shrugging out of his coat. He took the Warner’s coats and Joan could see they were dressed shabbily. Not at all appropriate for visiting at a strangers house. They were wearing very casual stained clothing. Joan ignored it though and brought them to the deck doors indicating everyone sledding. Grace came in as she was explaining. Joan introduced her to the Warner’s. She thought they were going to have heart attacks when she mentioned that Grace was her wife.

  Through the course of the day Joan did indeed see what Kim had been saying about her parents. Almost anything shown to them they asked inappropriate questions about. Usually in regards to how much it had cost or was worth. Joan almost felt the need to hide the silverware. It did give you a very uncomfortable feeling overall. Like you needed to wash up or something after touching something dirty. Grace could see Joan was trying to act the consummate host. She didn’t show her anger when upon seeing the entertainment system Mr Warner announced he was in heaven and it must have cost them thousands of bucks. He sat his saggy butt down and proceeded to order his daughter to get a beer for him. Grace could see Joan’s annoyance when upon showing the dollhouse built of their chalet Mrs. Warner exclaimed how cute, that their shared grandkiddies could play with it. The fact that it was under an acrylic box, obviously for show only was besides the point. Bryan and Kim were vastly uncomfortable. D.O.G. growled at the couple. Neither of the Warner’s could understand that it wasn’t dog but deeooogee. The joke of it totally went over their heads. The grandchildren steered clear of these two unwelcome guests. Jennifer had been shushed when she announced something stank, very clear in her high pitched voice.

  Craig and Adam tried to cheer Brian up and he joked along with them but then would see how depressed Kim was and quiet down. Jane was horrified at these two slobs who wolfed down the food that was on the buffet table as though they had never eaten. Mrs. Warner had never tried wine apparently but managed to dribble a lot of it down her front. Gwen took Kim aside and gave her a discreet hug but Kim was just miserable. After a couple of hours Kim and Bryan gathered up the Warner’s and left. Everyone blew a sigh of relief. It took awhile for the odor that accompanied these people to dissipate. Joan was horrified for Kim. Grace felt very sorry for her. The family waited until the grandchildren were asleep or playing before discussing the unwelcome intrusion of the Warners. Into the middle of this discussion Kim and Bryan returned, apologizing profusely. They’d managed to leave her parents at the townhome sleeping off their fine food and drinks. Everyone managed to put the couple back at ease, shrugging off the offensive parents. By the time Kim and Bryan left again, fearful that something might be stolen in their absence, they were feeling much better. Their Woods family had cheered them both up immensely.

  Joan was working on a commissioned portrait several days after Christmas. Grace was back at work at the hospital. Mrs. Richardson answered the front door. They’d had to leave the gate open due to deep snow. Mrs. Richardson called on the intercom for Joan to come down. Knowing how her employer hated to be interrupted during work she wasn’t surprised that Joan didn’t answer and she went upstairs to get her. She was horrified to find that the guests had followed her up to Joan’s studio. Her expression plain on her face as they interrupted Joan at her painting easel. Joan looked up to see the Warner’s standing behind a very upset Mrs. Richardson. Letting Mrs. Richardson off the hook Joan dismissed her from the room. Smiling and welcoming the Warner’s into her studio, she noticed they were wearing the same outfits they had at Christmas time although they must have been washed since then. She showed them her studio with finished drying paintings, sketches, and art paraphernalia scattered about the light and airy room. Her pride and her joy. They apparently couldn’t have cared less.

  Mr Warner further dispelled her good feeling by saying he needed a favor. He and the wife hadn’t realized that traveling to see their only daughter was so costly and they had run short of funds. Apparently Kim didn’t make much at that clinic she ran and Joan’s son was on a tight budget, neither could give the Warner’s funds for them to return home. He was embarrassed, but what was family for but to help eh? His smarmy, let’s be friends type of smile sickened Joan. Having been warned by the private investigator who had checked out Kim she was ready for this shocking display of greed. Kim, adding the personal touch had indeed pegged them accurately.

  Joan informed the Warner’s that they would not now, not ever, get any money from herself, from her son and wife, from anyone in THIS family. She went on to inform them that she’d had a private investigator check into their affairs, not revealing exactly WHAT he had found, she saw though that the insinuation scared them. She was blunt. She was succinct. She told them in no uncertain terms that no money that any of the Woods touched would become theirs in any shape, manner, or form. She informed them that their daughter no longer was a Warner but part of the Woods family and they should no longer bother any of them. By the time Joan was done with them she had them quaking in their shabby moth eaten shoes. They practically ran from the chalet where a beat up old Duster in rusted out condition awaited them.

  Mrs. Richardson was thrilled to see them go, something about them had given her the chills. She hadn’t heard WHAT Joan had said to them but an occasional word had fluttered down the stairway. After they left Joan changed her clothes and went downstairs to work out. Mrs. Richardson had a pretty good idea that whatever had been said had upset her and she was taking it out on her exercise equipment.

  Kim arrived at the chalet at the same time that Grace pulled up in the Jaguar behind her. Bryan had purchased Kim a new Thunderbird convertible as a gift and this had set the Warner’s on their path to their own destruction. Grace was happy to see her friend and daughter in law. Giving her a hug in greeting she asked to what they owed the honor of the visit. Kim explained that she was there to see Joan and they walked into the house together arm in arm.

  They took off their jackets and stomped their boots off as well. On stocking feet both went into the kitchen. Mrs. Richardson told Grace that Joan was downstairs. The way she stressed downstairs had Grace wondering what could be wrong. The two women headed down there. The site that greeted them was a familiar one to Grace but a shocking one to Kim. Joan was covered in sweat. She was doing flying leg kicks to the punching bag and the cushions. She looked to be a whirling dervish. She was panting hard and with one very high kick she slipped and fell on her backside. She didn’t rise right away, panting on her back. Grace stopped Kim from going forward and instead called “are you all right?”

 
; Not looking up Joan just called straight up “yea, fine” but she still didn’t rise until her breathing returned to normal. Grace sat on the steps and hand signaled Kim to do the same. Finally, after a large sigh, Joan began to pull herself up. Looking at the steps she was surprised to see not only Grace sitting there looking mildly interested but Kim looking alarmed. Kim had never seen Joan work out much less in this state. She was wearing a sports bra, her chest still heaving a bit, her abs looked trim and fit and her sweat shorts were saturated. On her feet she wore mid calf socks and some sports shoes. Her braids were back into one bunch, banded together with cloth. She stood there a minute to further catch her breath, staring at the two women staring at her. Finally she reached for a towel hanging nearby and wiped down her face and chest. Not looking up she asked “so what’s up?”

  Kim wasn’t sure where to start but taking a deep breath she asked “I take it you saw my parents today?”

  Joan looked up at that. Grace could see a undefinable look pass over her face. Since Graces back was to Kim she made a questioning look to Joan. A sterile little drawn out “Yessss” could be heard.

  “Did you talk to them?” Kim asked. Gawd, this was worse than pulling teeth.

  Joan stopped patting her sweaty body and stood still. “Yes” she answered.

  “Would you mind telling me what happened?” Kim asked cautiously. She wasn’t sure WHAT had happened but she knew only one side and it had been horrifically distorted. Of anyone she didn’t want to offend it was this woman standing there sweating up a storm.

  Seeing Kim’s discomfort Joan told her word for word what she had said. Grace, who’s face couldn’t be seen by Kim, about dropped off her chin it was hanging open so far. She couldn’t believe the nerve of Kim’s parents and Joan had set them in their place admirably. Kim was truly pissed. Her parents were the limit. They had shown up unannounced and so very happy to see her married and settle in the townhome. It was so luxurious they assured Bryan. They’d had one suitcase between them and brought only sweats and ratty jeans. She KNEW they had church clothes that looked better than what they brought. They immediately started insinuating themselves into Bryan and Kim’s lives. Asking inappropriate questions. Looking into everything. They’d found Bryan’s briefcase and had it not been locked would have rifled through it. Kim had been so embarrassed that she and Bryan decided not to attend the Christmas party. However, Kim’s parents knew about the family get together on Christmas day and they could only avoid it so long. Bryan had tried to comfort her but she was just so ashamed at their behavior. They’d been impressed with the clinic and one of the employees had unwitting mentioned the endowment by the Woods Foundation. Her parents had shown up there uninvited and their eyes lit up like dollar signs at that news. Kim hadn’t been surprised that they had shown up on Joan’s doorstep. They’d been so terrified though at what Joan had said to them and implied that they had packed up and left, much to Kim’s relief.

  Joan dismissed it. She told Kim in no uncertain terms that she was a part of THIS family now. Good or bad, she would make it what it was by herself, not her past. Kim was so relieved that Joan had done this for her. She really respected Joan. Her getting Kim’s parents off her back was just one more tally on the good side as far as Kim was concerned. She went to hug her but seeing her state they both laughed off the good intentions. Joan headed for the shower and Kim and Grace headed upstairs for dinner.

  During the next few months Joan attended three different art shows. She found these brief intervals to be a nice ‘away’ time from home but was always grateful to return home to her family. She was getting tired of it all and talked more often of accepting no further commissions. To paint for the fun of it when she felt like it.

  She and Craig spent a lot of time setting up a separate department for the galleries to handle her work. Over the years she had just let Craig handle the employee payroll, benefits, and the gallery expenses. With four galleries and the amount of work each handled with other artists as well as Joan’s work it had become too big for one person. It was best that a separate department handle just the art related items from the other investments at the foundation.

  Joan contacted her attorney and made arrangements for her will to be drawn up. She probably should have had a new one made up years ago with all the traveling and then her marriage but felt now was a good time. They made video’s of the various points she wanted to emphasize regarding the will so there would be no misunderstanding after her death. A depressing subject all around but Joan was determined to settle things. The foundation alone took weeks to sort out the particulars since it was so involved.

  Grace talked Joan into having a family sitting for pictures that Easter. Getting everyone scheduled was difficult with children involved. Joan, Grace, Bryan, and Kim took individual and couple shots last so that all the group and family photos could be done first. Grace was sure that the photographer was happy to see them all leave after the hours they spent in his studio. He promised the proofs in a few weeks where everyone could order from.

  Joan took the final copies that they decided on and had them framed and hung around the chalet. The one showing all the grandchildren, their parents, and grandma’s she took for her studio and then made a painting of. It was a wonderful almost photographic copy but in oils. It took her months to get it done right to her satisfaction. It hung in the living room of the chalet. The original photo she left in their bedroom.

  ~ CHAPTER 44 ~

  Over the years Joan had become tired of the pace. She made the conscious decision to accept no further commissions. She’d struck while the iron was hot and made a lot of money and prestige with her art but now she didn’t mass produce any longer. Only occasional paintings came out of the studio anymore. In her mind at 55 she was due for retirement. It didn’t mean she was ready to slow down but now she had more time for Grace, her children, and her grandchildren. She decided though that she wanted to spend more time in Barbados, maybe Hawaii again, perhaps even Fiji.

  Grace unfortunately didn’t wish to slow down. At 60 she was still running the psychiatric department at the hospital. She found her work challenging and was content with it. She felt that Joan not painting as much was causing her restlessness. She encouraged Joan to take up other interests.

  Joan took a hand in the investments at the foundation as much as she could stand. It really was Craig and Bryan’s deals though. She and her money were just part of the formula. They weren’t necessary to the day to day operation. She didn’t get in their way and they welcomed her input but she didn’t feel necessary. She decided, Grace or no, she’d travel more.

  She started out in Barbados. After a week alone there she was totally bored. She went on to Jamaica, flew to Miami and bugged Richard for a week. She flew to Malibu and bothered Madge and Amy. Amy had decided to move on. Joan helped Madge to replace her. Joan realized how fortunate she was in her choice of managers. Yoshi, Madge, and Richard had all been with her for years. They’d replaced the couple in New York twice since the Fitz’s had worked for her. The galleries though did well, with or without any new work from Joan. Her prints continued to sell well. Her books had been a smashing success and still were.

  While in Malibu Joan visited with Joanne and the gang. They were surprised to see her without Grace but Joan assured them everything was fine. She herself wasn’t so sure. It had been a month and Grace showed no signs of joining her. While in LA Joan went for a checkup. Finding herself older was getting on her nerves. She had that familiar restlessness come over her and decided to go on to Hawaii.

  Grace took two weeks off from the hospital to join her there. They hadn’t been there since their honeymoon and it was nice to visit the same places as well as some they had missed. Grace felt she was too old to go parasailing so they didn’t do that or even snorkeling. Spending time together though was just lovely. Grace was worried at the odd restlessness that seemed to have been over Joan for the last few years. Her painting didn’t interest her as much a
s it once did. She still sketched but it didn’t have the fervor it once did. She spoke vaguely of possibly releasing a third book of just the sketches.

  While in Hawaii Joan found a beautiful vacation home. She talked to Grace and they decided to purchase it. It reminded both of them of the villa in Barbados. Why in the world they needed it Grace couldn’t decide but Joan wanted it so they bought it. It really was a good investment opportunity.

  Grace returned to the mainland after her two weeks. Joan stayed to decorate the 5 bedroom house they had purchased. Many things that she wanted would have to be shipped from the mainland. Hawaii had all the current things that Joan could want but for some reason she didn’t find things that suited her. Another trip back to CA had crates of furnishings being shipped back to Hawaii.

  It took months to get the house in order to her satisfaction. Adam and Gwen came out for a visit and then Bryan and Kim. After seven years of marriage Kim announced that she was pregnant. Joan was so happy for her. Kim had worried for a long time that any children she had would turn out like members of her family. When she finally came to realize the stupidity of her thoughts and that it was up to her and Bryan to raise any children and help shape them to be normal human beings a long time had passed. It took her forever to get pregnant but they joked about trying so very faithfully. Bryan didn’t care one way or the other, he loved Kim. Getting her family out of her life had been one of the best things for her. They heard only rarely from them any more.

  Joan returned with Bryan and Kim to Wausau. It had been three months since she last saw Grace and they were so happy to be together again. The guys had been worried about Joan and Grace splitting up after all these years but Joan laughed at them. After what she and Grace had done together over the years she wasn’t about to chuck it away. She just wanted some space and Grace had given it to her.