Mixed Reality (Indigo Love Spectrum), page 11
“She’s doing well, thanks. She’s still hunting down the big political stories.”
“I know. I’m usually too tired to stay up for the show but Elle TIVO’s them for me.”
“Good woman.” She smiled. “Well, I know you’re dying to find out what I’m here about.”
“It drove me crazy all night.”
“Then let me put you out of your misery. Rachael was approached by someone who is shopping photos of Elle around, and given the fact that you’re the mayor of New York and a possible Senate appointee, if they approached her, they went to everyone.”
Doug looked confused. “Someone has some photos of Elle? This is crazy. Can you tell me if The Post is on that list?”
“I don’t have anything that specific, but you can be sure that if it’s a chance to lob a missile at your family, they’ll take it.”
“I don’t understand this.” Doug scratched his head. “What kind of photos are we talking about? It’s not like Elle nude sunbathes on the beach or even hangs around the party scene. She’s a card-carrying member of the NAACP, MENSA and the PTA, for goodness sake.”
“They’re pictures of her with Rory.” Joan pulled a folder out of her bag and placed it on the desk.
“Where did you…”
“Don’t ask.”
He opened the folder. There were pictures of Elle having lunch with Rory and a couple of shots of her kissing him on the cheek outside of the townhouse. “There’s nothing here.”
“I agree, but even the most innocent photos can be taken out of context.”
“To be honest they look like surveillance photos.”
“You’re right. They have P.I. written all over them.”
“Who would hire a private investigator to follow Elle?”
She shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know, but if I were you I’d look into this as soon as possible. It won’t be long before these photos are published somewhere.”
“I will. Thanks for bringing this to my attention, and thank Rachael for me.”
“Thank us for what?” She winked.
Doug laughed.
“I’d better get over to my office. Newspapers may be dying, but I’m hanging on to the printed word with both hands.” She stood up.
Doug got up and walked her to the door. “Thanks again, Joan.” He kissed her cheek.
“Anytime,” she said as she walked out.
Doug went back to his desk and looked at the photos. Who in the world is following Elle and why? This doesn’t make any sense.
From his grandfather’s rumored affairs and supposed mob connections to his Uncle Rob’s three ill-advised marriages, media attention was par for the course when it came to being a Brennan. It was no different for Doug. He’d spent his twenties as a much sought-after bachelor who dated a bevy of beautiful A-list actresses and models, much to his mother’s chagrin. The gossip columns loved him, and when Doug was single his love life sold newspapers. He could have cared less; it came with the territory. However, this time it was personal. Someone was feeding the tabloids a ”Cain and Abel” scenario by making it seem like Elle and Rory were having an illicit affair. This was just the kind of thing that spelled disaster and could easily derail his appointment before it got on the rails.
Ki poked his head in. “Was that Joan Sanders I saw leaving?”
“Yes. Come on in.” He beckoned him.
“What’s up?”
“Take a look.” He opened the folder.
Ki look through the photos. “What in the world? Where did she…”
“Does it matter? Suffice it to say if Joan had them, someone else has them, too, and it’s only a matter of time.”
“I’ll get on it.” Ki quickly left the office.
Doug dialed Elle’s cell phone. “Damn! Voicemail.” He hung up and dialed again.
“Dr. Brennan’s office.”
“Hi, Pam.”
“Mayor Brennan, how are you?”
“I’m fine. You?”
“I’m well. Thank you.”
“That’s good to hear. Is my wife available?”
“She’s not in the office today. Did you try her cell?”
“Yes. It went straight to voicemail.”
“She’s in the Bronx at the Children’s Clinic.”
“That’s right. She did tell me she’d be there today.” Doug said.
“I can give you the number there if you’d like to call the switchboard.”
“No, that’s all right.”
“She did say that she’s going to work from home afterwards, so you might just want to call her at home later.”
“That’s a good idea. Do you know what time she’s supposed to wrap up?”
“I imagine she’ll be done around lunchtime.”
“Thanks Pam. Have a good one.” He hung up.
Ki poked his head in. “You have a public meeting with council members Wagner and Romero about the Belmont Business District in the Bronx. You remembered that, right?”
“Yes. It’s on my calendar.” As he searched his desk for the paperwork, Ki walked over and handed it to him. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome. Listen, don’t worry about the other stuff. We’ll handle it,” Ki said and patted him on the back.
“I know.” If I’m lucky I’ll get to Elle before this news breaks.
They walked out and down to the meeting room.
* * *
With the tour of the clinic over, Elle waited in Dr. Campbell’s office while Rory met with a few patients to discuss their cases. Like Doug, Rory was fluent in three languages, including Spanish. Elle spoke eight languages and usually would have joined in but she felt a little lightheaded. Rosario let her lay down on the sofa in her office.
“Hey, Elle, I see you’ve made yourself comfortable.” Rosario smiled as she entered her office.
Dr. Rosario Campbell was born and raised in the Bronx. A gorgeous brunette with a sharp mind, she went to college on an academic scholarship. She completed her medical studies at Johns Hopkins. Although she had her choice to practice anywhere in the country, she decided to give back to her community in her beloved borough. The Children’s Clinic was her baby and she took great care of it and its many small patients.
“Yes. Thanks for giving me the chance to get off my feet.”
“No problem. Are you still feeling lightheaded?”
“No. It passed.”
“Did you eat this morning?”
“Yes, Doctor.” Elle could see the wheels turning in Rosario’s mind. “It’s nothing. It’s happened before and it always passes.”
“When you say before, do you mean in the past or more recently?”
“Maybe two or three weeks ago, I guess. Why?”
“Have you noticed anything else?”
“Like what?”
“Well, have you felt a little more tired than usual, or have you had any changes in your appetites?”
“In my appetites? Plural?”
“Yes. Have you craved more food or maybe sex lately?”
Elle was a little taken aback. “What?”
“I’m a doctor, Elle. You can tell me.”
“Well, I have to say I have been a little more randy recently, but I think that’s pretty good considering I’m forty-one years old.”
“Do you think you could be pregnant?”
Elle sat up straight. “Pregnant? No.” She shook her head. “The last time I was pregnant I had morning sickness the minute the rabbit died.”
“No two pregnancies are alike.”
“I can’t be.”
“When was your last period?”
Elle dug through her bag, got her calendar and leafed through the pages. “I think it was before Thanksgiving.” She studied November. It had no tell-tale X’s. She then leafed through to October, which also had no X’s. Her mouth was agape.
Rosario reached for a plastic bag with a specimen cup. “You know the drill. You can use my bathroom.” She held the bag.
Too discombobulated to argue, Elle took the specimen cup and went into the bathroom. A few minutes later she walked out and handed it to a waiting Rosario.
“Thank you. I’ll be right back,” the doctor said and then left the room.
Elle plopped back onto the sofa. I can’t be pregnant. Maybe I forgot to mark the calendar. It wouldn’t be the first time. She sighed. Oh, my God, if I am pregnant the timing is awful.
Rosario walked back in and handed her a test with a big plus sign. “You’re pregnant.”
“I’m pregnant?” Her jaw dropped. “How?”
“When a man and a woman love each other…”
“Very funny, I know how. I just can’t believe it didn’t even occur to me,” Elle said in a bewildered whisper.
“I’m pretty sure you would have noticed eventually.”
“I guess.” She rubbed her forehead. “I’m forty-one, for goodness sake.”
“These days age doesn’t matter. One of my colleagues has a forty-eight-year-old first-time mother who’s due in December.”
“Wow, forty-eight,” she said in disbelief.
“So you’re definitely not alone in the pregnant over forty category.” She paused. “Are you okay?”
“Yes. Sure. I’m just stunned.”
“I can imagine. Listen, even though urine pregnancy tests are a little better than 98 percent accurate, you should make an appointment with your gynecologist for a blood test, just to be sure.”
“In the interest of time can you draw blood and have the results sent over to Dr. Aranow? I’d like to know exactly where I stand sooner rather than later.”
“I can do that. I’ll be right back.”
Elle rolled up her sleeve. Oh, my God, Doug and I are going to have another baby.
Rosario came back, drew blood and labeled the tubes.
“Thanks again, Rosario,” Elle said as she put her coat on. “You can bill me for the lab. I don’t want to take away from any of the clinic’s resources.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“No. I insist.”
Just then Rory walked in. “Wow, this is some place you have here, Rosario.”
“Thank you.” She quickly slipped the tubes in her pocket.
“Are you done?” Elle asked.
“Yes. Are you ready to go?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll walk you both out.”
As they headed for the parking lot, Elle was on autopilot while Rory excitedly chirped away.“Elle?”
“Yes?”
“Where were you? I’ve been babbling away and you haven’t heard a word I’ve said.”
“I’m sorry, Rory. My mind was someplace else. You were saying?”
“I was saying that I’m excited to work with Rosario. I’m sure I can get a few other doctors to sign on to work pro bono with the clinic.”
“I was hoping you’d say that, Rory.” Rosario grinned as she walked up behind them.
“It’s hard to look at all those little faces and walk away.”
“It’s especially hard when the only thing keeping them from living a normal life is money,” Elle added.
“You’re right about that, Elle,” Rory agreed.
“Ooh, it’s a little cold out here.” Rosario shivered.
“You should get back inside. I’ll call you and we’ll go over some details.”
Rory and Rosario hugged.
“Thanks again, Elle,” Rosario said as she hugged her.
“You’re welcome.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll put a rush on the lab work,” she whispered in Elle’s ear.
“Thanks.”
Rosario went back inside as Rory and Elle walked towards the car. Elle’s mind wandered again.
“Are you sure you’re okay, Elle?”
“I’m fine.”
“If you say so.”
“I do.” She stopped by the car and Ed opened the door. “Need a lift?”
“That’s okay, I have a ride.”
“Oh, all right. Thanks for coming. I’m so glad you’re going to work with the clinic.”
“I’m glad you thought of me. It will be nice to know all those tummy tucks, boob jobs and Botox injections are going to help pay for people who really need my help.”
“Just don’t tell them. I know some of your clients. I’m pretty sure they’ll try to get it written off as a charitable donation.”
Rory laughed. “I’ll see you later.”
They hugged and Elle got in the car. “See ya.” She waved.
As the car pulled away a black sedan pulled up with an attractive black woman behind the wheel. Rory got in. He and the driver embraced passionately before pulling off.
Meanwhile Elle called and made the earliest appointment she could get with Dr. Aranow. Afterwards she stared out the car window with her hand on her stomach.
“Mrs. Brennan?”
“Sorry, Ed. Yes?”
“Would you like me to take you back to your office or home?”
“I’d like to go home, please.”
“Home it is.”
Elle stared out the window as if she would find answers to her questions in the clouds. When am I going to tell Doug? Heck, how am I going to tell him? She sighed. I don’t even want to think of the conversation I’ll have to have with Kevin and Kyle. If they’re grossed out over kissing, the thought that their mom and dad actually had sex to make a baby might tip them over. Her thoughts continued to race until she snapped out of it. Wait a minute. I have to slow this down. I’m getting ahead of myself. I should wait until I’ve seen the doctor and I know where I stand. After all I’m not twenty-seven anymore, and pregnancy at this age is a lot different. She took a deep breath. That’s it, I will wait until it’s official…and then I’ll freak out.
* * *
After making his announcement at the Work Center, Doug took a few questions and posed for a few photos before heading to a waiting car.
He looked at his watch. It’s after three o’clock. Elle should be home by now. As he walked out he was surprised to see Ki waiting by the car. “Fancy seeing you here.” He smiled. “I thought you had a staff meeting.”
“I canceled it.”
Doug was suddenly filled with a sense of dread. “What’s going on?”
“I’ll tell you in the car.”
Doug got in followed by Ki.
“There’s something you should see in today’s late edition of The Post.” He handed Doug the paper, which was opened to a page with the pictures of Elle with Rory. The caption read Mayor’s Wife Cited in Brennan divorce.
The article went on to read:
Angela Brennan, wife of Dr. Rory Brennan, filed for divorce today. In addition to citing extramarital affairs she also cites her husband’s relationship with Mirielle Abbott Brennan as a contributing factor to the breakdown of the marriage. Her lawyer Jasper Lyons told The Post Rory’s relationship with his sister-in-law had been a bone of contention within the marriage, saying that Mrs. Brennan felt emotionally abandoned by her husband.
In the divorce papers, Angela asked for financial support to maintain her lifestyle, including sole ownership of their Fifth Avenue townhouse and equitable assets. The couple married in 2000.
Doug angrily tossed the paper on the car floor. “Damn!”
“I agree.”
Doug rubbed his forehead.
“I know you said Rory and Angela were having trouble, but I had no idea it was this bad. Why didn’t you tell me they were getting divorced?”
“I didn’t know anything about it. Rory hasn’t said a word to me.”
“Hell, it’s possible he didn’t know either. The whole thing smacks of a tactical matrimonial move.”
“Of course it’s tactical. She hired Jasper Lyons,” Doug said matter-of-factly.
A dairy farmer’s son from the Midwest, most people said Jasper put the ‘con’ in Wisconsin. Clean-cut, tall, red haired and as white as the milk from one of his father’s dairy cows, Jasper looked like Richie Cunningham from Happy Days. However, that’s where the similarities ended. Unlike good guy Richie, he knew his way around a courtroom. Jasper’s special talent was his ability to court the media to get his client what he or she wanted, and sometimes more.
“You know the New York press and gossip rags are going to be all over this.”
“You think?” Doug said sarcastically.
Chapter 8
Later that afternoon Elle’s powers of concentration for work were nowhere to be found, so she did the only thing she could do; she took a nap.
“Mom?”
She answered with her eyes closed. “Yes, Kevin?”
“How did you know it was me, Mom? You didn’t even open your eyes.”
She opened her eyes and sat up. “I’ve told you this a thousand times. I’m your mother. When no one else could figure out who was who, I could tell you and Kyle apart, no problem.”
“You could tell us apart when we were babies?”
“Sure. You might be identical twins, but you’ve always had your own distinct personalities.”
“Wow, that’s kind of wild, Mom.”
“I know.” Elle rubbed her eyes.
“Are you okay, Mom?”
“I was a little tired so I took a nap. That’s all.” She paused. “So, how was school today?”
“It was good.” He produced a piece of paper. “I’m thinking of running for president of the student council since Stephanie Hawkins moved away.”
Oh Lord, he’s been bitten. It really is genetic. Elle looked at the paper. “Great. What do you have to do next?”
“I just have to put my name in and get a campaign going. I’m going to talk to Dad about it.”
“He’s the person who would know.”
Kyle walked in. “Hi, Mom.”
“Hey, Kyle, how was your day at school?”
“Good, Mom. I need you to check my answer for math homework.”
“Sure. Hit me.”
“If functions f and g have domains Df and Dg respectively, then the domain of f / g is given by the intersection of Df and Dg without the zeros of function g. Am I correct?”
“Yes. You know why, don’t you?”
“Sort of,” Kyle mumbled.
“Division by zero is not allowed in mathematics. Don’t forget that.”
