Mixed Reality (Indigo Love Spectrum), page 10
“Thank you, Elle.” Vivienne shook her head. “The venue we chose only holds two hundred people, so I guess we should raise the ticket price.” She looked at her watch. “Okay, unless there’s any new business, I’d like to adjourn the meeting.”
All the ladies rose and began giving each other air kisses and toodles.
Elle stood up and turned her cell phone back on. That’s an hour of my life I’ll never get back. At least we ended a little early.
“Elle?”
She turned around. “Yes, Angela?”
“Can I speak with you for a minute?”
“Sure.” This can’t be good, Elle thought to herself.
They walked over to a window in the restaurant.
“I want you to know that I know what you’re up to.”
“What?” Elle was completely confused.
“I know what you’re up to with my husband.”
“I’m not up to anything with Rory. He’s my brother-in-law.”
“You have it all, don’t you? The kids, a great husband, and now you’re probably going to be the wife of the next senator.”
Elle took a deep breath to control her voice. “Angela, I realize you’re unhappy and I’m sorry. But the fact is I don’t have anything to do with your unhappiness.”
“You have everything to do with it. I just wanted to put you on notice.”
“I don’t have time for this. You have a good day, Angela.” Elle walked away. What the hell had the restaurant put in Angela’s salad? It figures she waited until Mrs. Brennan wasn’t here to flip on me. Hmm, I think Melissa and I will order a double hot fudge sundae. I could use an extra dose of chocolate.
Half an hour later Elle filled Melissa in about Angela’s antics over a giant sundae at Serendipity 3.
“What’s her problem?”
“She and Rory are unhappy and somehow she thinks I’m to blame.”
“The idea of you being involved with Rory is preposterous.”
“I know. Rory is more like a brother to me than a brother-in-law. We’ve been getting together for lunch since Doug and I were dating.”
“I remember. I used to hang out with you two sometimes.”
“That’s right.” She went for a spoonful of fudge. “Rory is a great guy but Doug’s my first, last and only love.”
“Anyone with eyes can see that, Elle.”
“Anyone but Angela.” Elle began to reflect. “I can remember all my firsts with Doug like they were yesterday. The first time we met on the beach, our first date and our first kiss.” Elle sighed dreamily. “I knew I was going to be with him forever,” she said and took another spoonful of ice cream.
“Even though you didn’t have a clue to who he was.”
“Neither did you.”
“Touché. We didn’t read People. Let alone their sexiest man alive issue.”
“I think he kind of liked that I didn’t know, it made things more romantic.”
“I was always a little jealous of how romantic you and Doug were. Myles on the other hand…”
“Don’t say that.”
“Oh yeah? Doug set up a romantic proposal on the same spot of the beach where you met. What did Myles do? He sent me an equation to figure out,” Melissa said with a sulky expression.
“Don’t even try it, Melissa. You’re a math geek. You loved it.”
Melissa smiled in spite of herself. “Okay, I’ll admit it was pretty clever. Still it wasn’t a catered proposal on the beach complete with a string quartet playing in the background.”
“It was nice.” She grinned. “We even set the date that night. Wait if memory serves you and Myles set the date the night you got engaged, too.”
“Poor guy, he needed to see the finish line.” She winked.
Elle laughed. “I know what you mean. There Doug was, the sexiest man alive and he was dating one of the last two American virgins.” Elle ate some more ice cream. “Goodness knows we’ve made up for lost time and then some. Kevin and Kyle always talk about our kissing and stuff,” Elle said. “It completely grosses them out.” Elle chuckled. “But then again we’re their parents, we’re supposed to gross them out.”
“Don’t worry, Jason talks, too. He’s equally grossed out,” Melissa said.
“So behind the glasses and protractor beats the heart of a sexy beast.”
“Oh yes!”
They laughed.
“Not that I don’t love talking about this stuff, but what’s the deal with the Senate seat and Doug? Is it official? Is he really going for it?”
“It looks that way.”
“That’s great for him, Elle. I also realize that I’m the one who told you to keep an open mind, but you seem like you still have reservations.”
“It’s just the same awkwardness issues I always have.” Elle sighed. “For God’s sake, Melissa, I have a stylist that literally dresses me every day. She might not be there in person to zip me up but she’s responsible for every outfit I wear. What’s going to happen when we go to Washington?”
“Doug pays pretty well, so I’m sure Sheri would be more than happy to travel.” Melissa smiled.
Elle was not amused.
“It was just a joke, Elle, lighten up.” Melissa grinned.
“I’m sorry. I guess I’m a little sensitive.”
“That’s okay,” Melissa said reassuringly. “Think of it this way, how much attention does the press really pay to senatorial spouses?”
Elle thought for a moment. “You might have a point.”
“Besides, it’s not like here in the city. There you’d be one of many spouses.”
“True but then there’s the kids to consider. We’d have to uproot them.”
“No, you wouldn’t. Doug can be a commuter senator.”
“You seem to have all the answers, don’t you?”
“I think it’s the hot fudge. I think it makes me think more clearly.” Melissa grinned.
“I guess I could stand it.”
“I know you can. However it’s Doug that will have to weather most of the storms. The papers and pundits are already at it.”
“It’s nothing he hasn’t heard before. Doug can handle it.”
“But can you handle finishing this big sundae?” Melissa teased.
“Bring it on.” She chuckled as they dug in.
Chapter 7
Exhausted, Doug dropped his coat and briefcase at the door. The sound of his family at the table beckoned him to the dining room.
“Hello, family.”
“Hi, Dad.” Kevin looked up.
“Hey, Dad,” Kyle echoed.
He mussed their hair after he walked over to them. “How are my boys tonight?”
“Good,” Kyle answered.
“How was practice?”
“It was pretty good today. Coach Best says my outside shot has improved.”
“That’s great, Kyle.” Doug bent down to kiss Elle. “How’s my best girl?”
“I’m good, sweetie. You look tired, though.”
“I am tired.” He plopped down in a chair.
“Are you hungry? Frieda made red snapper.”
“That sounds really good to me.”
“Frieda?” Elle called.
“Yes, Mrs. Brennan?”
“Would you please bring Mr. Brennan a plate?”
“Certainly.” She disappeared back into the kitchen.
“So, Kevin, how’s your jump shot?”
“Coach says I’m making improvements.”
“Good.”
“He was much better today because his shorty Karen was there,” Kyle said.
Kevin shot his brother a dirty look.
“Who’s Karen?” Elle asked.
“She’s a cheerleader Kevin likes,” Kyle said with a smirk.
“Shut up, Kyle,” Kevin growled.
“What exactly is a shorty?” Elle asked with a serious expression on her face.
“A shorty is a girl that you like,” Kyle explained.
“But why call her a shorty? Is she petite?” Elle asked, genuinely puzzled by the terminology.
Kevin and Kyle laughed. Doug covered his mouth to stifle his laughter.
“It sounds like it could be misogynistic. Is it?”
“No, Mom, it’s just a phrase. You hear it a lot in hip hop,” Kevin said.
“Kevin wouldn’t do that to his shorty,” Kyle teased.
“Shut up, Kyle!”
“All right, that’s enough you two,” Doug said, quickly stepping in.
“He started it, Dad,” Kevin protested.
“Keep it up and you two can forget about dessert,” Elle warned.
“Mom!”
“You heard me.”
Order was quickly restored while Frieda served Doug.
“Thank you, Frieda.”
“You’re welcome, sir.”
“Frieda, we still have brownies, right?”
“I believe so.”
She turned to Kevin and Kyle. “Since it appears you’re both done, you can take your plates into the kitchen, put them in the dishwasher and then you can have a couple of brownies.”
“Thanks, Mom,” they chorused as they stood up with their plates.
“You’re welcome. Listen, you two, I better not hear anymore quarreling,” she warned.
They quietly went into the kitchen.
“You realize they didn’t answer you.”
“I know. There’s going to be another scuffle any minute now, but for the moment let’s enjoy the peace.”
Elle still looked mystified while Doug continued to eat.
“What’s on your mind, babe?”
“If shorty isn’t about height, is about the clitoris?” Elle asked matter-of-factly.
“What?” Doug laughed so hard he had to cover his mouth with a napkin to keep from spraying the table.
“Well some consider the clitoris and penis equivalent in all respects except for their arrangement on the human body. And judging from the number of penis size references in some of the hip hop lyrics I’ve heard, I can only assume that shorty is a sexual reference.” Elle sounded like a documentary narrator.
“I can’t say that I’ve ever thought about it.” Doug laughed as he got up and kissed Elle on the forehead. “Thanks, sweetie. I needed that.” He sat back down.
“I really don’t know what I did, but you’re welcome.” She smiled. “I guess it was that kind of day.”
“Do I have to say it?”
“No.”
Doug sipped his water. “So, how was your day? You had the organizer’s luncheon, right?”
“Oh, yes, that.”
“That doesn’t sound good. Don’t tell me they spent the entire two hours gossiping.”
“No. It wasn’t that.”
Doug put his fork down. “Now I’m intrigued.”
“Angela sort of flipped out on me.”
“What?”
“She babbled on about being onto to me and that I’m the reason for her trouble with Rory.”
“Was she drinking?”
“No more than usual.”
“What did you do?”
“What could I do? I told her I was sorry she and Rory had trouble, but any problems they had weren’t my doing. Then I left. I didn’t want to deal with it.”
“Do you want me to talk to her?”
“No thank you. I’m sure it will blow over.” Elle sipped her water. “Oh yes, before I forget, Joan Sanders called for you.”
“Joan called here?”
“She said she tried your cell but your voicemail was full.”
“That’s because I haven’t cleared any of my messages. Did she say what it was about?”
“No. She just wanted me to give you the message and ask you to give her a ring back.”
“You’re hogging all the ice cream!” Kyle shouted.
“You took the biggest brownie!” Kevin shouted back.
Elle got up. “I really need a referee’s whistle.”
“Go get ’em, Mom,” Doug said and laughed as Elle rushed away.
Elle went into the kitchen. “I told you I didn’t want any noise.”
Doug took his cell out and dialed Joan.
One of his oldest friends, Doug met Joan in college. A striking, petite blonde, Joan was a real looker on campus. Doug served as her beard until she came out in their senior year. After graduation she began a career in journalism and worked her way up to managing editor at The Times. Given their schedules, she and Doug usually kept in touch via email or by texting, so the fact she’d called piqued his interest.
“Joan Sanders.”
“Hi, Joan, how are you?”
“Hey, Doug.”
“Elle gave me your message. What’s up?”
“I know you’re busy, but I wondered if you had a few minutes to spare for me tomorrow?”
“If you don’t mind meeting early you can come around eight.”
“That works for me.”
“What’s going on?”
“I’ll catch you up tomorrow. Okay?”
“Okay.” He put his phone on the table.
“Did you get her?”
“Yes. We’re going to talk tomorrow.” He paused to listen. “I don’t hear anything.”
“The great brownie war has been averted.” She put a dessert plate with a large brownie on the table. “I managed to save one for you.”
“Thanks, baby.”
“You’re welcome. You look like you could use a big dose of chocolate.” She kissed his cheek. “Oh, by the way, I’m going to be in the Bronx tomorrow.”
“You’re going to the Bronx?”
“I’m meeting with Dr. Campbell about the clinic.”
“What time?” Doug asked.
“It’s a morning appointment. Why?”
“I’ll be in the Bronx making an announcement at the Work Center in Hunts Point, but it’s not until the afternoon. I thought you could stop by.”
“That would have been nice. Maybe next time.”
“Yes, definitely.”
“Would you like a cup of decaf or a cold glass of milk to go with that?”
“What do you think?”
“A cold glass of milk it is.” She left the dining room.
I wonder what’s going on with Joan? It’s unlike her to be so secretive. He looked at his watch. Why does tomorrow suddenly seem so far away? It’s going to be a long night.
* * *
Early the next morning, Doug was trying his best not to wake Elle when he stubbed his toe on the settee. “Oww.” He grimaced.
“Now I know you must be in a hurry.” Elle sat up. “That settee hasn’t moved in years, but whenever you’re in a rush you run smack into it every time.”
Doug sat down on the offending settee to nurse his toe. “Sorry if I woke you. This thing smarts like the dickens.” He rubbed his toe.
“Oh, my poor baby.”
“I’ll live.”
“What time is it?”
“It’s almost five-fifteen.”
“My goodness, I guess you’ve got a big day in store.”
“Every day is a big day when it comes to being mayor of this city.”
“That’s true.” Elle lay back on the bed.
Just as he was about to say something he noticed how sexy Elle looked with her tousled hair and silky red chemise. “Now there’s a picture.”
“What?”
“You look so sexy.”
Elle fussed with her hair. “I must look a fright.”
“Not at all.” He got up and went over to the bed. “In fact, I’d say quite the opposite.” He leaned in to kiss her.
She put her hand up. “I haven’t brushed my teeth, Doug.”
“Does it look like I care?”
He softly pressed his lips to hers. His soft kissed gradually increased in intensity and passion with each moment, soon he was on top of her.
“Doug.” She whispered as he kissed her neck.
“Yes, baby?”
“I thought you had to get to City Hall early.”
“So?”
“I don’t think we should start something we can’t finish.”
“Who says we can’t finish? Haven’t you heard of a quickie?”
“Yes. Have you?”
He stopped kissing her neck. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Mind you I’m not complaining, but you’re not exactly a minuteman.”
“Now that sounds like a challenge,” he said as he unbuttoned his shirt.
“Oh, how could I forget the Brennan competition gene?”
He stood up and took off his pants. “That’s right, honey, we believe in rising to challenges.”
She looked down. “I can see that.”
He slid under the covers and off came Elle’s night chemise. Fast or slow, Doug wanted to savor every inch of Elle’s body. He loved that when he held her he could feel her softness while her curves led him to even softer and sweeter spots, none of which he missed. Elle melted under his touch. In the blink of an eye, their bodies wrapped around one another until they became one. It didn’t quite qualify as a quickie, but it was a defeat both Elle and Doug were more than happy to live with.
Doug still managed to get to City Hall early enough to arrive with his secretary, Alice. He was eager to see Joan and got an early start on some work to keep his mind busy until she got there.
The intercom buzzed. “Yes?”
“Mayor Brennan, there’s a Joan Sanders here to see you but she’s not on your calendar…”
“It’s okay. I’m expecting her. Send her in.”
“Yes, sir.”
A moment later Joan walked in. “Good morning, Mr. Mayor.”
Doug got up. “Hey, Joan.” He hugged her. “Have a seat.”
“Thanks.” She sat down.
He followed suit. “How’s Rachael?”
Rachael Madsen was Joan’s life partner of ten years. A brunette with medium-length hair and soft features, she was also the host of a very popular news program on one of NBC’s affiliates. Doug and Elle had attended their wedding in Vermont a few years back.
