Scrapping Plans

by Rebeca Seitz

Joy pushed a button and the quiet purr of the Lexus’s motor began. The minor notes of a Mozart piece filled the car’s cabin. Joy ejected the disc and inserted another, then turned the volume knob and hummed along.

  “What are we listening to?” Meg nearly shouted over the music.

  “It’s from Hansel and Gretel by Engelbert Humperdinck. This is the aria the witch sings as she tries to put Hansel and Gretel into her oven. It played at the Met this month, so the music is popular again.”

  “How do you know what played at the Met this month?”

  “Oh, didn’t I tell you? They’re streaming the performances live into movie theaters across the country. I drive up to Nashville and watch an opera every single month.”

  “You go to the movie theater to watch an opera?”

  “I do. Isn’t it wonderful?”

  “Fantastic.” Where did Joy get this love of classical music, and how did no other Sinclair sister get it?

  “I couldn’t believe our good fortune when the series started. Imagine! No more flying up to New York to see good opera. And experiencing it in the theater is even better. I don’t have to be in a ball gown, and I can even eat popcorn while I watch! Though I wouldn’t admit that last part in public.”

  “Never.”

  Joy grinned and Meg thanked God for the presence of a real smile on her sister’s face. “Congrats, by the way, on being normal.”

  Joy flashed a happy face her way before turning back to the driving. “Thanks. You have no idea what a relief it is to know I haven’t been the one holding us up all this time.”

  “I’d advise you not to tell Scott’s he’s been ‘holding you up.’ That might not sit very well.”

  “Oh, I’ll try to be a bit more tactful.” Joy turned the radio volume down. “Though not much. Tact gives him the opportunity to decline my request for him to see a doctor. He has to understand this isn’t a request, that it’s a necessity for our marriage.”

  “You really want to hang your marriage on whether he’ll take a medical test?”

  “It’s more than that.” Joy stopped at a red light and faced Meg. “Taking the test means he wants a baby as much as I do. That he wants to do what it takes for us to make a family. To have children. All this time he’s been saying that having children is as important to him as it is to me. The time has come for him to, as Kendra would say, put up or shut up.”

  “I cannot believe you just said that.” Meg giggled.

  “Me either. And it goes in the same category as popcorn at the opera.”

  Meg made an X sign over her chest. “Cross my heart.”

  “It’s more than just a bra.”

  “Amen, sister.”

  Meg laid her head on the headrest and closed her eyes. The stress of the day pounded in her temples, and she tried to think of what she’d eaten all day. Not much. And not much water either.

  Another dehydration headache. I have got to remember to drink more water!

  The whir of the tires lulled her, and Meg allowed the sound to wash away the last vestiges of consciousness, slipping blissfully into a Lexus-induced nap.

  * * *

  “WE’RE GOING TO need Meg and Joy on this.” Kendra’s face reflected the blue glow of her computer screen.

  “Tell me again why we had to come down here and work at—” Tandy checked her watch—“seven o’clock at night?”

  Kendra entered another new member name and hit the print button to create a club identification card. “Because breaking up our dad’s relationship took time away from the business. And Sisters, Ink won’t continue on a successful track if we don’t pay attention to what needs doing.”

  Tandy sighed and plopped back into her desk chair. “Fine. I’ll help you with the ID cards and do the ones that came in over the past three days, okay?”

  “Thank you.” Kendra started entering information for a new card. “But before you get started, call Meg and see if she’ll set something up with Joy. We need to find out what’s going on there anyway. And if anybody knows how to properly handle a reconciliation, it’s Joy.”

  “Okay.” Tandy flipped open her cell and punched the speed dial for Meg’s phone.

  “Hey, Meg, it’s Tandy. Are you with Joy by any chance?”

  “Hey, Tandy. Yeah, she’s right here. What’s up?”

  “Kendra and I kind of made a mess, and we need you guys to tell us the best way to clean it up.”

  Meg’s laughter flowed across the phone lines. “Why am I not surprised? Hang on, let me talk to Joy.”

  Muffled voices sounded, and Tandy busied herself pulling up the new member applications.

  “Tandy?”

  “Still here.”

  “She says to come to her house in about an hour. And you might be repaying her for clean-up knowledge by disposing of her husband’s body.”

  “Uh oh. What did Scott do?”

  “It’s more what he won’t do. I’ll let Joy tell you all about it when you get here. Be prepared though for a very different Joy.”

  “So she’s finished staring holes into oranges?”

  “Oh, yeah. We’re way past produce here.”

  “Okay, see you guys in a little bit.”

  Tandy flipped her phone closed and typed information into the form on the screen. “Joy wants us over in about an hour.”

  Kendra nodded. “Did I hear you say Scott did something?”

  “Meg says it’s more what he won’t do and that Joy will explain when we get there.”

  Kendra stopped typing and took a drink from her Diet Dr. Pepper. “Scott won’t do something Joy wants? That doesn’t sound right. The man practically worships the ground she walks on.”

  “That’s all the detail she gave me. We’ll find out everything when we get there. So could you stop swigging DP and get these new folks entered into the system?”

  Kendra set the bottle back down and went back to typing. “Slave driver.”

  “That’s me.”

  An hour later Tandy and Kendra stood outside Joy’s door shivering and holding down the doorbell.

  Meg opened the door wide for both sisters to rush in. “You are so not funny. Do you have any idea how annoying that doorbell is in the first place? What possessed you to hold it down all that time?”

  “We needed to make sure you understood our imminent conversion to blocks of ice if you didn’t get a move on.”

  “Message received. Get your frozen fannies in here.”

  The trio trouped down the hallway to find Joy in the kitchen stirring a large steaming pot on the stove.

  “What’s cookin’, Toots?” Kendra pulled off her scarf and draped it over a chair on her way to the stove. “Ooh! Hot chocolate!”

  “Is there anything else more appropriate for a frozen Stars Hill night?”

  “Not that I can think of.” Kendra popped a marshmallow into her mouth and snagged another from the bag on the counter before Joy snatched it up.

  “Try to leave some for the drinks.”

  Kendra stuck her marshmallow-covered tongue out and twirled around the room. “I love marshmallows!”

  Meg laughed. “Are you ever halfway about anything? I mean, do you ever just like something?”

  “What’s the good of halfway? Either go big or go home, baby!”

  Joy chuckled as she stirred. “I never thought I’d see the day I would say this, but I’m with you, Kendra. Go big or go home.”

  Kendra stopped twirling so abruptly she fell against the edge of the countertop. “Excuse me?”

  Joy raised her eyebrows. “What?”

  “Did you just say ‘go big or go home’?” Tandy looked to Meg for explanation, who shook her head.

  “I did.”

  Joy waved a hand at the shocked silence. “Stop acting like I’m a robot who can’t ever have any fun.”

  “We’ve never acted that way. You have.”

  “I have? I act like I don’t have any fun?”

  “Okay, no, not exactly. But you’re alwa
ys proper, always organized, always calm, always methodical. Not really the ‘go big’ kinda girl, you know?”

  “Well, phooey on that from this point on. I’m a healthy, living, breathing twenty-something and it’s about time I enjoyed that, right?”

  “Um, right.” Kendra sat down on a stool. “I trust from this strange conversion you already have ideas for how you’re going to enjoy your newfound self?”

  “I’m going to have a baby.”

  “You’re pregnant?!” Tandy shot off the stool. “That’s fabulous!” She rushed over to hug Joy but stopped at Joy’s upheld hand.

  “No, I’m not pregnant yet. But I’m going to get that way soon.”

  Tandy looked back and forth between Meg and Joy. “I think Kendra and I missed a few steps here. What’s going on?”

  “Dr. Goodman gave her a clean bill of health today,” Meg explained.

  “That’s great!”

  “Not all great,” Kendra chimed in. “If you’re completely healthy, then why do I not have niece or nephew Lasky on the way yet?”

  Joy began taking mugs down from the cabinet. “Dr. Goodman thinks we need to test Scott to find out. And I think he’s right.”

  “How did Scott take that news?”

  “Not well.” Meg slid off her stool and went to help Joy. “I hid in the kitchen when she told him, and I didn’t have to strain to hear his voice.”

  “Scott yelled?” Kendra stole another marshmallow. “Seriously?”

  “Yelled. Ranted. Raved. Then yelled some more.” Joy dipped a ladle into the hot chocolate and transferred it to the mugs whose rims were lined with red cardinals on snow-covered limbs.

  “Did you yell back?” Tandy returned to her stool.

  “Not only did she yell, she threw things.” Meg took a steaming mug from Joy. “That big glass dish that was on display on the sideboard? History.”

  “But you loved that plate!” Kendra took a mug as well.

  “No, I didn’t. I acted like I loved that plate because Scott’s mother gave it to me. It was hideous, just like his attitude on this topic.” Joy finished filling the last cup and brought it, along with her own, to Tandy. She settled on one of the stools.

  Tandy and Kendra looked at each other, then at Joy. They blinked.

  Joy laughed. “I can’t believe it. You two are speechless simultaneously? I wasn’t that boring of a person before, was I?”

  “No, no, of course not.” Kendra patted Joy’s arm.

  Joy gave a wry smile. “Next time you lie to me, at least try to make it believable. I know I’m no Kendra Sinclair, but I’ve enjoyed my life up until this point. And I’ll enjoy it again as soon as my husband realizes what a jerk he’s being. If I have to smash a hideous plate here and there or make him fix his own dinner, I’m certain he’ll survive in the end. It isn’t as if I threw the plate at him.” She set down her mug and looked out the window. “Although it may come to that if he doesn’t call Dr. Goodman soon.”

  “You’re kidding, right?” Kendra looked to Meg and Tandy. “She’s kidding.”

  Tandy shrugged. “I’m still trying to picture her throwing inanimate objects.”

  “Well, what would you do?” Joy returned her gaze to the sisters. “I’ve wanted a baby for so long that I’ve begun to forget what life was like before the longing. My marriage is mired deeper in no-baby muck than Tandy’s tires were the last time she went mudding.” Joy shivered. “I still don’t understand the attraction of that, by the way.”

  “It’s fun!” Tandy defended. “So long as you’re trying out new experiences, you ought to come with me. We got enough rain the other night that we could find some great places.”

  “No, thank you. My new experiences are focused on getting Scott to that doctor’s office.”

  “Has he told you why he won’t go?”

  “Not explicitly. Knowing him, I’d bet it’s that he can’t admit he might have a problem he is unable to fix himself.”

  “But that’s dumb.”

  “Ha!” Meg shook her head. “You try telling an otherwise healthy, always capable, built-his-business-from-the-groundup man that there’s a hill he can’t climb.”

  “Are you talking about Scott or Jamison?” Tandy tucked a curl behind her ear.

  “Scott, of course.” Meg looked into her mug. “Jamison and I are fine.”

  “You’re about as convincing a liar as Kendra, sis,” Tandy said. “Something going on we can help with?”

  “Oh, no. We’ll be fine. Just a little hiccup. Forget about us. Scott’s the topic here.”

  Joy’s eyebrows raised. “You’re having problems with Jamison? I’m so sorry, Meg. I’ve been so preoccupied with the difficulties in my own marriage that I haven’t asked you in weeks how things are going in your family.”

  “Hey.” Meg took Joy’s hand. “If I have anything that I need to talk through or get help on, don’t worry. You’ll know about it.” The sisters shared a look.

  Kendra cleared her throat. “Okay, so enough about Meg. Joy, tell us what the plan is for Scott and how we can help.”

  Joy sighed. “I’m not certain you can help, but thanks for the offer. I suppose I’m hoping that my behavior tonight communicates to him the lengths to which I will go to convince him he needs a doctor.”

  “Where is he now?”

  “He left. I assume he’s driven down to the office to work. That’s what he does when he needs comfort.”

  They all heard the garage door begin to rise on the other side of the kitchen wall.

  “I guess he got the comfort he needed.” Kendra turned her mug up and downed the last of her hot chocolate. “Which is our cue to scram. You going to be okay here?”

  Joy nodded. “Yeah, I’ll be fine.” Her eyes narrowed. “I’m not making any promises for him though.”

  Tandy picked up Kendra’s mug and took them both to the sink. “You want us to stick around?”

  “No. It’s all right.”

  “Okay, then. I’ll see you at the salon tomorrow for my cut?”

  “Unless I’m in jail for homicide.”

  “Don’t even kid about that.” Kendra pushed her arms into her coat sleeves. “He might be acting like inconsiderate scum right now, but baby-less with him is better than baby without him.”

  “You’re right. You’re exactly right.” Joy deflated a bit but then rallied and sat up straighter. “But baby-less by choice isn’t an option.”

  The sisters nodded, said hurried good-byes, and escaped down the gallery hallway and through the front door.

  Eight

  If Scott comes through that door angry, I think I’ll sleep somewhere else tonight. Meg, Kendra, and Tandy may not understand or accept that decision at first, but they love me enough to support me anyway. In all the uncertainty of my future, I can rely on their love.

  Scott’s, on the other hand, isn’t such a sure thing right now.

  I cannot believe I threw a plate. When it smashed, I felt so strong. So powerful. The mess was enormous. Still is. Every shard still litters the dining room floor and glitters when I turn on the chandelier. Each refraction of light bolsters my courage, embodies my hopes and dreams of a baby. If Scott wants to leave them lying on the floor, then that’s his business. For now, I can’t bear to sweep them away as if they don’t exist.

  “Hi, honey.” His voice blows hope into my soul. A term of endearment. He wouldn’t use that if he still defied my desires, would he?

  “Hi.” I keep the greeting noncommittal. If he has decided to call the doctor, I’ll thaw faster than a block of ice on a Miami sidewalk. But until I know for sure, I can’t run the risk.

  “How are the sisters?”

  “They’re fine. We were just sharing some hot chocolate.” I nod toward the pot on our stove.

  “Did I get as roasted as the marshmallows?” That grin of his has been my undoing in a lot of disagreements. But we’ve never disagreed on something of this magnitude.

  “Perhaps. How was the office?�
��

  He sits his briefcase on the countertop and stands before me. “I didn’t go to the office.” At my questioning look, he continues. “I left intending to go there, but I couldn’t think. The sight of you with a plate in your hand kept playing through my mind, and I decided to drive out Ralston Road instead.”

  “What’s on Ralston Road?”

  “Nothing. That’s why I went. No street lights. No other cars. Just miles of country road and quiet night.”

  I stay silent, unsure of the decisions he’s made under dark skies and twinkling stars. He takes my hand and I feel the cold of outdoors through his fingertips.

  “I love you, Joy Sinclair Lasky. Can’t you see that I can’t handle finding out my body won’t give you your dream—our dream—of a baby? I’ve spent our entire marriage working to take care of you, to surround you with beauty and love. If all of that means nothing because I can’t give you this one thing, then what does that say about how you value me? How you love me? Whether you find worth in any of the time or things I’ve given you so far?”

  I had not thought of that. I’m not certain I can think of that. What is a painting in comparison to a child?

  I open my mouth, but he keeps going before I can assure him of my love or question the equitableness of art to life or point out that having a medical difficulty isn’t necessarily a failure.

  “I understand that giving you a home and the life we share isn’t the same as us sharing a child together.”

  This man has always understood me before I even understand myself. It’s why I fell in love with him. Why I married him.

  “But it’s important to me that I not lose all value to you if I can’t get you pregnant. And that’s what you said tonight. You’re prepared to walk out of this house, of this life, if I can’t get you pregnant.”

  “That is not what I said, Scott.” I cannot let him continue. He has missed such an important point. “My anger at you is not because we haven’t gotten pregnant; my anger is in your unwillingness to find out why. Whether it’s my body or your body doesn’t matter to me. What matters is that you won’t find out if it’s you.”

  “If it doesn’t matter which one of us is to blame, then why do you care if I find out?”