Charmed Life

by Druga, Jacqueline

  “Who …” Grace froze when she saw Tina. “Can I help you?”

  “Oh, you’re the one who needs help.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “You attacked my girlfriend today,” Tina blasted.

  Marybeth’s eyes widened. “You beat up Louise?”

  “No,” Grace said. “I threw underwear at her.”

  “Attack,” Tina said. “Step outside so I can kick your ass.”

  “Stop. Stop.” Marybeth held out her hand. “Honey, this isn’t a good time. There are children here. Perhaps if you want to make Grace pay, you can do it later.” She crinkled her nose. “When she’s not so busy.”

  “If you don’t shut up, you’re next.”

  Marybeth pretended to zipper her mouth.

  Grace exhaled. “Look, Tina.”

  “Put the child down,” Tina ordered.

  “No.”

  “Put the child …” Tina reached for Regan.

  Regan didn’t just bark, she growled and attacked, her mouth rapidly snapping as she snarled and extended her tiny body, nearly jumping from Grace’s arms.

  “What the fuck?” Tina jumped back.

  “Yeah, that’s right.” Grace nodded. “Don’t make me set her free on you.”

  Tina attempted to move to the door, and again, Regan went into attack mode.

  “Fine. Fine.” Tina pointed. “You’ll get yours.”

  Grace smiled and rubbed Regan’s hair, whispering. “Good girl, thank you.” As she attempted to kiss her, Regan happily … licked her cheek. Grace giggled.

  As she stepped off the porch, Tina stopped and turned around. “Oh, yeah. You may want to do something about your buddy out here. He’s tied to a tree.”

  At the table, Rhoda giggled, “I told you so.”

  When it was free and clear, and Tina was gone, Grace and Marybeth rushed out.

  Grace was quick. “No you don’t.” She reached down, snatching the slingshot from Damian’s hand, just as she revved back to fire off at Freddy, who wasn’t just tied to the tree; he was secured to the tree with Industrial strength fly strips.

  +++

  Polly was mad. She wasn’t just mad at Damian, she was pissed at Clyde for giving Damian the industrial strength fly strips. “We wouldn’t have had this problem,” she told him. “If you got the regular ones for her.”

  Clyde waved her off.

  “Didn’t I tell you,” Polly scolded Damian. “You can’t tie people with them.”

  “You said Regan, Grandma, not people. How was I supposed to know it would leave a mark?”

  Polly shook her head and turned to Grace. “I’m sorry.”

  “It’s fine.”

  At that second, the emergency room doors opened, and Bobby ran in. “Grace, I am so sorry.” He snarled an angry father look at Damian. “Damian, what in the world were you …”

  “Bobby,” Grace interrupted. “It’s fine. She didn’t know.”

  “Ha!” He laughed in sarcasm. “She knew. Trust me, she knew.” After saying, ‘excuse me’, he pulled Grace off to the side of the hospital waiting room. “How is he?”

  “He’s fine. Just some welts and burns. A few marks. No problem. They’re keeping him tonight for observation just incase he gets an allergic reaction.”

  “I feel bad. Really bad. I should have never let you guys take the kids without me there.”

  “Why?” Grace asked. “That’s dumb. How am I ever gonna learn what they do and what they don’t do, if they are never free to be themselves in front of me? And they aren’t when you’re around. You correct them and stop them.”

  Bobby sighed out.

  “Unless you don’t want me to get to know them.”

  “No, Grace I do.”

  “Good, because if it wasn’t for Regan, I would have been beaten up by a very scary Lesbian named Tina.” Grace nodded. “Second time today, whether they knew it or not, that your kids stood up for me.”

  “How did a three year old stop …” Bobby caught himself. “Never mind, she went Cujo, didn’t she.”

  Grace smiled.

  “That doesn’t bother you?” Bobby asked.

  “No, it worked today.”

  “Can I just apologize to Freddy?”

  “Tomorrow,” Grace said. “He’s heavily sedated right now.”

  “Is he in that much pain?”

  “There was some missing skin.”

  Bobby cringed. “I’m sorry.”

  “Bobby, stop. I think Damian does feel bad.”

  Bobby raised his eyebrows.

  Grace looked at Damian who played with her slingshot. “Ok, maybe not. In any event, Rhoda and I still have to finish our collage. So since I’m suspended from work, can she come over tomorrow?”

  “Really?”

  “Really.”

  Bobby grinned. “Yeah, she can.”

  “Can I ask you something? And I can take any answer you give.”

  “Sure.”

  “Are you seeing us going somewhere? Not on vacation or anything like that, I mean …”

  “I know what you mean,” Bobby said. “After today, how can I not see a future with you, Grace? You’re amazing.”

  “Remember how I told you to bear with me while I adjust to life?”

  “My kids haven’t helped?”

  “No, they are. I just … I just think it’s time for me to explain what that meant. And then, after I do, I want you to tell me if you still see us going somewhere.”

  Bobby titled his head, and questioned with his eyes.

  +++

  Grace didn’t tell him at the hospital. She waited until they returned to her place. Where it was quiet and she had his complete attention.

  So she thought. Bobby couldn’t pull himself away from the forming collage. He was impressed with it.

  She left him at the table while she retrieved something from her bedroom, when she returned, she carried a small picture frame, the picture side pressed to her chest.

  Joining him at the table, Grace scooted the collage aside.

  “What’s up?” Bobby asked. “I have to tell you I’m nervous.”

  “So am I,” Grace said. “But I have to tell you, Bobby. I do. I can’t continue this relationship if it isn’t honest. You’re too honest. I trust you. I trust you with my life and that is why I’m telling you. I also, have to say, once I tell you, you’ll understand why it’s important that I trust you with my life.”

  Bobby nodded.

  “A little over a month ago, Freddy and I were going to see my boyfriend. I was going to break up with him. Freddy had me convinced he was organized crime, even though I wasn’t convinced.”

  “Was he?” Bobby asked.

  “Very much so. Our little impromptu visit was a surprise all the way around. We walked in the office just in time to see my boyfriend, his father and a hit man... kill someone.”

  A glaze of serious and concern swept across Bobby’s face.

  “We tried to run away, we were scared,” Grace explained. “But the feds got us. They have been trying to break this organization for a while, and we were witnesses that could do so.”

  “But they could kill you if you testified,” Bobby said.

  “Exactly.”

  “Witness protection.”

  “Ex …. Exactly.” Grace said. “They moved us here, got us started, and that’s the story. We were so out of our element. Oh, my God.” She smiled. “I just needed you to know. I’m safe. They don’t know where we are.”

  “The witness protection program works,” Bobby commented. “I’ve heard about it.”

  Grace nodded. “I have faith. So, I’m not Grace Berkowitz. I’m … Grace Benson.” She handed the picture to Bobby. “Daughter of famed Gregory Benson, AKA Cara Mia Benson, B movie actress.”

  “Oh my God.” Bobby looked at the picture. “You’re father is Gregory Benson.”

  Grace nodded.

  “Oh my God,” Bobby heaved out. “I am so sorry I made fun of your movies and you
as an actress.”

  “Huh?”

  “I feel really bad. I really dissed you.”

  “Bobby, that’s fine. How... how do you feel about this?”

  “Relieved.”

  “What do you mean?” Grace asked.

  “Grace, I’m not a dumb man. I knew something was up with you. I was just worried that it was going to be something mental like with Marybeth.”

  Grace caulked back. “Marybeth?”

  “You don’t know?”

  Grace shook her head.

  “Grace, she ran away to Lodi, yes. But she didn’t run away from the divorce. She ran away because her husband and two sons were killed in an accident.”

  “She says her sons …”

  “Have you ever seen her sons?”

  “No.”

  “We just go along with it. You’ll never see them. There always somewhere.”

  Grace’s hands went to her face. “Oh, poor Marybeth.”

  “Yeah. But this is her way of dealing with it, you know? She’s not ready to face the pain. Who are we to make her face it?”

  “I wish you wouldn’t have told me. Now I’m just gonna cry if she talks about her sons.”

  “You’re an actress. You can play it off,” Bobby said.

  “Not a very good one,” Grace scoffed.

  “The best.” Bobby leaned to her and kissed her.

  “So does this mean, you’re not giving me up?”

  “Not on your life. No pun intended.” Bobby snickered. “But I have a secret I want to share with you.”

  “What is it?”

  “Let’s take a ride.” Bobby held out his hand.

  They drove about ten miles out of town, pulling into residential street in Wadsworth. Bobby stopped the truck before a cute little white house, with blue shudders, and a small porch with blue and white rails.

  “Why are we here?” Grace asked.

  “You said you wanted to see my work.”

  “Oh, do these people own some?”

  “You can say that,” Bobby said. “Actually, you can stop saying I’m an artist. This house here, this is an example of my work. When I said I painted houses. I really painted houses. I did this one. The shingles, the shudders, porch.”

  “You did a very good job,” Grace said. “Wow. So let me get this straight. You don’t like make paintings that hang on walls?”

  “No, I paint the walls that paintings hang on.”

  Grace snickered. “Boy, I must have sounded dumb.”

  “No, just sweet. Still want to be with me?”

  “That’s sarcastic isn’t it? It’s not like a big secret, Bobby.”

  “No, but you gave one, I wanted to give one.”

  Grace looked through the windshield. “I’m still gonna call you an artist. This takes talent.”

  “Thanks.” Bobby scooted closer to her, and leaned in to kiss her.

  “Just one question.” Grace held up a finger. “Who did the velvet painting?”

  Bobby smiled, laughed, and answered her with a kiss.

  +++

  Gregory Benson knew exactly what he had to do. For an actor of his caliber and stature it was truly a case of humbling.

  He received stares and gasps when he walked into the office of the national Enquire. He took a flight to Florida just to meet with the Publisher.

  The publisher stayed at the office late when he heard Gregory was coming.

  So did half the staff.

  “Mr. Greensboro will see you now,” the secretary said to Gregory. “May I have your autograph?”

  He signed the old magazine with his picture on it, and walked into the office.

  Hef Greensboro was a slick man, early forties, well dressed, and arrogant in presents. “Mr. Benson, so nice to see you.”

  “Mr. Greensboro, thank you for taking the time.”

  “Boy I’ll tell you, this must be important.”

  “It is.”

  “Have a seat.”

  Gregory did. “I’ll make this short and sweet. Your paper is doing a story on my daughter.”

  “The missing Cara Mia, yes.”

  “I would like very much for you not to do the story.”

  Hef chuckled, sat back, and folded his hands. “Mr. Benson, this is a good story. She vanishes without a trace. Why? Where?”

  “Again, I will ask you not to run this. It’s very important. I don’t know where she is. But I know she is fine. Leave it at that. I’m coming to you as a gentleman, asking for you not to do this.”

  “I’m sorry. Time has been put into this, money has been put into it. Our reporter has done a lot of work.”

  “I understand,” Gregory said. “Just tell me. You’re a business man. What will it take for you to kill the story?”

  “You asking me if you can make a deal with us?”

  “Absolutely.” Gregory nodded. “Anything.”

  Hef smiled.

  CHAPTER TEN

  The Lodi Summer Sweet Corn festival was a tradition that people from all over Medina partook.

  A huge festival, like a fair, was set up with rides, games, and food.

  Amongst other things.

  Freddy and Grace had heard about the festival, and looked forward to it. Asking for the day off from Bargain-Mart as soon as they knew.

  The small town conservative nature didn’t stop Freddy from being himself. He sported a grand, wide brim hate with flowers, to protect his delicate skin from the sun. After all, they’d be there until well into the evening.

  Freddy rode to the festival early with Marybeth for her crafts booth, stating he’d help her setting up, but planned on totally enjoying the festivities.

  “I say we divide up the kids,” Grace told Bobby as they arrived.

  “How do you suppose we divide three kids?”

  Rhoda said, “I would like to go with Ms. Berkowitz.”

  “Well, that’s settled,” Grace said. “Rhoda is with me. I’ll take the baby, too.”

  Damian looked so lost, blinking her eyes up to Grace. “What about me? Why don’t you want to take me?”

  Bobby shook his head. “This isn’t going to work. Let’s just do this together. We’ll walk around, then go over to the tug of war …”

  “Bobby, no,” Grace said. “You have to set that up. How much fun will it be for the kids? How about this. We walk around together, then when it’s time for you to set up. You go. I’ll take the girls with me and Freddy and meet you there.”

  “That’s a lot of work.”

  “Bobby, please.”

  Damian said. “We’ll be good for her.”

  Rhoda added. “Yes, it’s been a month since Damian has hurt anyone in her care.”

  Grace smiled and held out her hand. “See?”

  Bobby grumbled.

  “I hate when you do that,” Grace said. “Why don’t you like when I’m alone with the girls.”

  “You spoil them.”

  Grace laughed. “I do not. Stop it.”

  “Ok, I give,” Bobby said. “But at least find my mom if you need help.”

  “Your mom has a booth. And I’ll be fine.”

  “Hey.” Bobby pointed. “There’s Freddy. Let’s go show him.”

  “Yeah,” Grace said, pulling forth the National Enquirer. “Maybe he’ll shed some light on this.”

  “I’m sorry, Grace,” Bobby said.

  Grace shook her head. “There’s a reason. There is a reason.” She twitched her head. “Let’s go.” Holding Damian’s hand, Bobby with Regan, they walked to the booth where Freddy stood.

  “Delightful,” Freddy said, taking a picture of Marybeth’s booth. “You will do so much better than Mrs. Barnet’s wooden door stopper booth. So cheesy.”

  “Aw, thank you Freddy, you are such a big help. Oh, look here comes Grace and Bobby.”

  The wind blew some, and Freddy holding his hat, turned. “I may duck behind the booth as cover for the demon child.” He forced a smile. “Hello, crew.”

 
Damian stepped close to him.

  Freddy eked back, his face tensing up in worry.

  Damian extended her hand to Freddy. “Truce, yet?”

  “I still tremble in your presence,” He held out his hand. “But, yes, forgiven. I’ve had a month to heal.”

  Damian smiled. A sinister smile.

  Freddy quickly retracted his hand and jumped back. He regained his composure. “So, are you folks ready for the festival?”

  Grace answered. “Yes, but before everything gets crazy. There’s something you have to see.”

  “What is it?” Freddy asked.

  “The National Enquirer. Bobby’s mother subscribes to it.” She handed the rolled up magazine to Freddy. “Take a look. It’s not pretty.”

  +++

  The picture on the front cover was huge, the words bold; “I was a transvestite alcoholic’ were above a very unflattering picture of Gregory Benson.

  Freddy read aloud: ‘It was a very difficult time in his life, a source close to Mr. Benson told the Enquirer. He was confused and it relaxed him. The source told the enquirer that for a few years after his wife had died, Mr. Benson turned to booze and lacy woman’s lingerie to ease his pain. Often times, just a good shade of lipstick would calm him. He had good taste.’

  Freddy closed the paper. “I knew him and I had something in common.”

  “Freddy,” Grace grabbed the paper. “That’s not funny.”

  “The article is a hoot,” Freddy said. “No one will believe it.”

  “You think?” Grace asked.

  “Positive.”

  An ‘excuse me’, caused Grace and Freddy to step aside as a man, squeezed his way through them to the booth. He noticed the magazine in Grace’s hand. “Hanging on to that one, too, myself,” he said. “Goddamn shame about Gregory Benson. And here when I thought he was a man’s man, he really was.”

  Grace’s mouth opened.

  Freddy laughed.

  Bobby interjected, pulling Grace away, flashing a smile at the man and moving them along.

  +++

  The stroller made things easier; they couldn’t believe they forgot it. Bobby went back to retrieve it just before he left to set up the tug of war.

  He told the girls to be good, and after instructing Grace to make sure she watched what Rhoda ate, he took off.