Mixed Reality (Indigo Love Spectrum), page 12
“I won’t, Mom. I have another question.”
“Is it about math?”
“No. I just wanted to know why a bunch of reporters is outside?”
“What?”
“You didn’t know? There are a bunch of news vans and reporters outside. Kevin and I came in the back way.”
Elle immediately got up and went over to the window. This can’t be good. Then she noticed Doug’s car pull up. Doug’s home? Now I know this isn’t good. “I guess we can ask your dad, he’s home.”
“Dad’s home?” Kevin echoed.
“I’m sure he’ll be up in a minute.” Elle went back and sat on the bed.
* * *
Doug looked out the window and the reporters pressed up against the car. “Would you look at this circus? It’s crazy.”
“I didn’t think they’d get here so quickly,” Ki said.
“You’re kidding me, right? This is New York City. Politics and gossip are blood sports here. The media gather like piranha looking for the slightest bit of flesh to feed on.”
“It’s going to be a long night,” Doug said, disgusted.
“What time is Wendy getting here?”
“She said she’d be here around six, but she’s going to try to get here sooner.”
“Okay. I’m ready to get out, guys.”
“Yes, sir,” Theo answered as he and William got out and went around to his door. The minute they opened it, Doug was hit with flashbulbs and a barrage of questions coming at lightning speed.
“What’s your wife’s relationship with Rory?”
“Any comment on your wife being cited in your brother’s divorce?”
Doug smiled and calmly walked through the crowd flanked by Theo and William.
“The mayor isn’t making any statement. Thank you,” Ki said as they went up the stairs. Frieda opened the door to let them slip in.
“Thank you, Frieda,” Doug said, slightly out of breath.
“You’re welcome, sir.” She took his and Ki’s coats.
“Is Elle down here or upstairs?”
“She and the children are upstairs, sir.”
“Thanks.” He turned to Ki. “I’m going upstairs.”
“I’ll be in the living room. I have to call Leslie and let her know I’m going to be late.”
Doug went upstairs and entered the bedroom.
“Dad,” both boys chorused.
“Hey, guys. How are my boys?” He hugged them.
“Good, Dad.” Kyle grinned.
“I’m good, Dad. I think I’m going to run for president of the student council,” Kevin said excitedly.
“Oh, that’s great. We have to talk about that, but first I need to talk to your mom.”
“Okay.”
“Is your homework done?” Elle asked.
“Almost,” Kevin answered sheepishly.
“You know almost doesn’t count. Finish your homework. That goes for both of you,” Elle said sternly.
“Yes, Mom,” they said in unison.
“I’ll be downstairs in a little while and you can tell me all about the student council. Okay?”
“Okay, Dad.”
Kyle and Kevin left the room.
“Do I want to know?” Elle asked tentatively.
“Elle…”
“Please don’t spin it for me, Doug. I’m your wife and I want the straight skinny.”
Doug knew the best way to explain it was to let her see it for herself. He handed her the paper. “Here, you can read it,” he said.
Elle’s eyes widened. “What the hell?” She read the rest of the story. “This is total bull. Where did they get these pictures? I can’t believe this!”
Doug sat down and put his arm around her. “I know.”
“You know this is ridiculous.” She pointed to the photos. “This was when Rory and I had lunch before Thanksgiving, and this was taken the morning Sheri was here. You can even see her van in the photo.” She pointed it out.
Doug took a closer look. “That is her van.”
“I should have known Angela was up to something after that show she put on the other day. She’s playing the part of the wronged woman.” Elle reached for the phone. “I’m going to give her a piece of my mind.”
Doug stopped her. “Elle, you can’t do that.”
“Why?”
“You’d be playing right into her and her lawyer’s hands.”
“Are you telling me I have to sit here and take these lies she’s heaving my way?”
“Yes and no. All I’m saying is that I still have to talk to Rory, and then we can assess the situation and make our move.”
“What do you mean assess the situation? Make our move? The divorce is between Rory and Angela, period. We don’t enter into the equation. I think we should make that clear to the media. Doug, we have children, and they have to go to school every day. This stuff affects them just as much as it does us.”
“I know, and we’re going to handle it as quickly as possible.”
“Handle it? This isn’t something you handle. If I take a baked potato out of the oven and toss it your way, that’s something you have to handle. When your sister-in-law accuses your wife of having something to do with their divorce, this is something to be addressed head-on.”
“I know, but this is a very delicate situation.”
“Why? Because of the appointment? Are you saying that’s a deciding factor?”
“Of course not.” Doug was a little offended. “The important thing is to make sure this doesn’t get any bigger than it should.”
“Doug…” Elle wasn’t convinced.
“Do you trust me?”
“Of course I trust you,” she conceded.
“Then let me handle this. I’ll talk to the kids and explain what’s going on.”
“Fine.” She folded her arms. “Then once you’re done telling them, you can explain it to me again.”
Doug kissed her forehead. “Baby, it will be all right. I promise.” He kissed her and then stood up. “Why don’t you lie down? You look a little tired. Are you coming down with something?”
“I have the sniffles,” she lied. Maybe I should just tell him that I’m not getting a cold I’m pregnant. Then we can get this whole thing nipped in the bud now and the press won’t have anything to feed off of.
“Doug?”
“Yes?” His cell phone rang. He checked the number. “Hold that thought. It’s Rory.” He answered it on speaker phone. “Hey, Rory. Are you on your way over now?”
“Yes.”
“What’s your ETA?”
What’s his ETA? I don’t think Eisenhower said that when he was planning D-Day, Elle thought.
“I’ll be there in five minutes or so,” Rory answered.
“Great. I’ll see you then.” He hung up. “Sorry, sweetheart, what were you going to say?”
“Can you ask Frieda to put the clover honey in the tea, please?”
“Sure. I’ll send her right up. You just rest.”
“Thank you.” Elle stretched out on the bed.
“No problem, baby.” He left the room.
Elle rubbed her stomach. This morning I discovered that I’m pregnant and by evening time I’m a home-wrecking adulteress. This has been some day. I really hope this thing blows over soon. Hope? I know hope floats but when it comes to scandals, hope sinks faster than a boulder. Not to mention the fact this is a social registry divorce, which means that like old soldiers they never die, they just fade away. Please let it fade before I start showing.
* * *
Doug sat down at the table while Kevin and Kyle did their homework. “What are you working on?”
“I have math homework,” Kyle answered.
“I have a short essay on why the battle of Trenton was a key turning point during the American Revolution,” Kevin said.
“I would ask if you need any help, but you’re probably better off asking your mom.”
The boys laughed.
“I know you’re probably wondering why the media is outside of the house.”
“Yeah, they’re all over the place,” Kyle said.
Doug sighed.
“Dad, we’re not babies. Just tell us.”
“You’re right, Kevin. You aren’t babies anymore.” He paused. “Your Uncle Rory and Aunt Angela are getting divorced.”
“I don’t want to sound funny, Dad, but that’s not news. They didn’t look happy together,” Kyle said matter-of-factly.
“Wait, Kyle, I think there’s more to it,” Kevin said.
“There is more to it. Your Aunt Angela’s lawyer went to the newspapers and said that your mother had something to do with the divorce.” He put the paper down on the table.
The kids looked at the story.
“This is crap, Dad,” Kevin said angrily.
“Are you going to stop her, Dad? She can’t do this to Mom,” Kyle argued.
“I’m working on it. I have some people coming here tonight and we’re going to figure out what to do.”
“What about Uncle Rory? What’s he doing about this?”
“I’m going to make sure this goes away,” Rory replied.
Doug was startled. “When did you get here?”
Rory walked in. “A few minutes ago. I came in the back way.” He turned to his nephews. “I’m really sorry about all of this.”
“We know it isn’t your fault, Uncle Rory,” Kyle said.
“That’s right,” Doug interjected.
“Thanks, guys.”
Frieda walked up with a cup of tea in her hand. “May I take your coat?”
“Thank you, Frieda.” He handed it to her.
Doug stood up. “Can I speak to you in the den?”
“Sure. I’ll see you two in a little while,” Rory said to the boys.
“Finish your homework. It smells like dinner is almost ready,” Doug said.
“Okay, Dad,” they said and turned back to the work.
* * *
Doug closed the door behind them once they were in the den.
Rory sat down on the sofa. “I don’t know why I didn’t see this coming.”
“Are you telling me that you didn’t know she was going to file for divorce?”
“That’s right. I found out when I went home and tried to get into my house.”
“What do you mean? You tried to get in?”
“The locks were changed,” Rory said bitterly.
“She can’t do that, and her lawyer knows it. We’ll have the police escort you home. You have rights as a co-owner.”
“That’s just what I need, a police escort in front of a sea of cameras.”
“Sorry, but it has to be done,” Doug said.
Rory seemed resigned. “How’s Elle?”
“She’s upstairs resting.”
“Is she okay?”
“It’s nothing for you to worry about,“ Doug said coldly.
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing. She’s coming down with a cold, that’s all.”
“Oh.” He rubbed his head. “Of all the rotten things Angela’s done, this one takes the cake. Has Elle seen the paper?”
“I showed it to her.”
“She doesn’t deserve this. She has had absolutely nothing to do with this.”
“I know.” Doug sat down. “I contacted Wendy Kulick for you.”
“You did? You didn’t think I could hire my own divorce attorney?”
“Angela hired Jasper Lyons. You need a big gun, and Wendy fits the bill.” Doug’s business-as-usual demeanor unsettled his brother.
“Why do I feel like this is more of a political strategy session than my brother trying to help me through this divorce?”
“You know, Rory, I didn’t ask for any of this. I’d rather this be a private matter between you and Angela, but she brought Elle into it. And now that it’s an open secret that I’m in the running for the senate seat appointment, we have to handle it quickly, which is why we need Wendy.”
“Is this about helping me and clearing your wife’s name? Or is it just another obstacle on your path to power?”
“I resent the implication that I’d put my political ambitions before the people I love.” Doug said angrily.
“Well, it sort of seems that way. You haven’t asked me one question about how my marriage got to this point.”
Before Doug could answer Ki popped in. “Wendy’s here.”
“Thanks, Ki.” Doug got up. “We’ll talk about this later,” he said to his brother.
* * *
Elle sat on the bed sipping tea. She couldn’t watch the news without seeing the sensationalized story running at the bottom of the screen. This is pathetic. She groaned.
The phone rang.
“Hello?”
“Elle, are you okay?”
“I’m fine, Melissa. I take it you’ve seen the news.”
“It’s all over the place. Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m as well as any accused home-wrecking sister-in-law can be expected to be.”
“You know Angela is full of crap.”
“I couldn’t have said it better myself.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Doug wants to handle it. My first inclination was to call her and curse her out, but Doug stopped me.”
“What was your second inclination?”
“To go over there and punch her lights out.”
“I would have paid money to see you do either one.”
Elle laughed.
“By the way, what does handling it mean?”
“Calling in a bunch of lawyers and strategists to come up with a game plan.” Elle sighed. “It’s probably just as well. I have enough to deal with.”
“What do you mean? Is there something going on at work?”
Elle knew she had to tell someone her secret, and considering the amount of press around her, she needed someone to take her to see Dr. Aranow. “No. All is quiet on that front.”
“Then what is it?”
“I’m pregnant.”
“Oh, my God!” Melissa sounded overjoyed. “Elle, that’s wonderful,” she said. Elle could almost hear the smile on her best friend’s lips.
“Thanks.”
“You sly thing, you didn’t tell me you and Doug were trying to have another baby,” Melissa said.
“That’s because we weren’t trying. And before you ask, yes I experienced a little lightheadedness a few times over the last month but it always passed when I ate.”
“I assume you haven’t had your period. Usually that’s a tell-tale sign.”
”I know, but I’m forty-one. I thought I was going through early menopause. I have had my period for over thirty years. The way I figured it, my uterus had quit active duty.”
“Well it showed you, didn’t it?” Melissa chuckled.
“That’s an understatement. I took a pregnancy test at the clinic today and voila, I find out I’m expecting with all this ménage-a-trois stuff going on in the media. How’s that for irony?”
“Wait a minute. Did you say the clinic?”
“Yes. I was there for a meeting.”
“Good thing you were there.” She paused. “Speaking of Doug, have you told him?”
“Not yet. Rosario drew blood to confirm and she’s sending the results to Dr. Aranow. I have an appointment with him on Thursday, which is why I’m so happy you called. Would you mind taking me? It’s going to be a covert operation.”
“Of course I wouldn’t mind, but what’s the big deal about going to the doctor?”
“Are you kidding me? I’m going to the obstetrician in the middle of this Upper East Side East of Eden scenario. What do you suppose the media will report?”
“Oh, you’re right,” she groaned.
“My thoughts exactly,” Elle said.
“What time is your appointment?”
“Nine-thirty. Can you swing it?”
“It’s not a problem. I’ll go in late.”
“Thanks, Melissa, you’re a real lifesaver.”
“Don’t mention it. You should really get some rest. Try not to get too stressed out over this garbage.”
“I’ll try. I don’t know how successful I’ll be.”
“Hopefully Doug will get a handle on this and the whole thing will blow over.”
“From your lips to God’s ears.”
Chapter 9
If Jasper Lyons represented the ‘aw shucks’ school of law, Wendy Kulick was the polar opposite. Born in Brooklyn, Wendy was a petite brunette dynamo. A no-nonsense attorney, she wielded her strong hand in a velvet glove. She was also just as adept at handling the press as Jasper.
Wendy stood up as Doug and Rory walked into the living room. “Doug.”
He hugged her. “Wendy, how are you?”
“I’m fine, thanks.” She looked at Rory. “Hey, little brother, how are you?”
“I was okay,” Rory said and shrugged.
“Don’t worry. I’m here to get you back to being more than just okay.”
“Why don’t we sit down?” Doug motioned towards the sofa.
Before he could sit down Ki interjected. “Doug, why don’t we give them some attorney/client time?”
“What?” Doug seemed taken off-balance.
“Wendy needs to talk to Rory about the divorce, alone.”
“Thanks, Ki.” Wendy smiled.
“It’s no problem. Right, Doug?”
“Right,” he reluctantly agreed.
Ki and an agitated Doug stepped out into the hallway. “Why did you do that? Don’t we need to know what’s happening?”
“No, we don’t. They’re talking about Rory’s divorce, and that has nothing to do with us. Relax. We’ll figure it out.”
“Doug?” Elle was coming downstairs.
He looked up. “Sweetheart, I thought you were resting.”
“I was. I came down to see what the kids were doing.”
He kissed her on the cheek. “I think they’re in the kitchen having dinner.”
“Hi, Elle. How are you feeling?” Ki asked.
“Overall I’m okay for a home-wrecker,” she said facetiously.
“Don’t say that. You’re no home-wrecker.” Ki shook his head.
“Thanks.” She paused to listen. “Is someone here?”
“Wendy’s in the living room.”
“Wendy’s here?”
“Yes. She’s meeting with Rory,” Doug said.
