Joint Venture

by Tey Holden

  “We’ve done well, Ker. She’s precious.”

  “She’s you, Addy. She’s you.”

  “She’s us, Ker. She’s our joint venture.”

  ***

  After the race and all the parties and gatherings that followed, they went back to Altee, as planned. Once there, they were inundated with calls about Alejandro’s future. Addy and Karen had agreed on a course of action and they talked to Marshall and Carol.

  “Marshall, as you know, Addy is going to be running for Chair, and I’m always busy at the law firm. We cannot undertake Alejandro’s affairs, so we would like to ask you and Carol to take over the management of Alejandro. If you accept, you will be in charge of all that pertains to him. We will get someone else to take care of the stables, so that you can dedicate your time to your new job, if you want it, of course. This will mean some traveling for you and long stays, probably not doing much, but just keeping an eye on our boy.”

  Carol, Addy and Alex were present when Karen made the offer. “Karen, I don’t know what to say?” Marshall was in shock. Carol was almost in tears.

  Karen continued. “Marshall, I don’t think there is a better person for this job. You and Carol love Alejandro, and you know how much he means to Alex. I can think of no other person better than you to act on our behalf. We would be privileged if you took on this lifetime task.”

  Unable to speak from emotion, Marshall in an unprecedented move, hugged Karen. Carol was the one who replied. “I think she means, yes!” She hugged Alex and Addy as well. From that day on, Marshall took care of everything regarding Alejandro and only informed Addy what was going on with him. They built an additional structure near the stables, which became Marshall’s office to handle all the business affairs related to Alejandro. Victoria remained the only veterinarian allowed to examine Alejandro. If anyone, wanted any special examination both Victoria and Marshall had to be present.

  Marshall and Carol traveled frequently to meet people interested in Alejandro, as a stud, and were thrilled with their new life. Gyro decided he would continue racing, but a few years later, he retired from racing and came back to ask Marshall for a job. He was welcomed back with open arms. He had never again been as successful as he was with Alejandro. Gyro always credited the horse with all the wins, claiming that his job had just been to hold onto the fastest and best horse in the whole of England.

  Alejandro traveled plenty and fathered many colts. Whenever he was home, Alex came to see him at the stables. He always spotted her no matter how far out in the pasture he was and he always came to meet her. As they both grew older, Alex did come to ride him. She had to promise Karen to not ride him like the wind. Older and wiser, she kept her promise. Alejandro’s racing days were over, and now he was just pleased to parade his friend along the pasture of their farmland. At first, she rode with Marshall, then with Gyro and sometimes with Addy and Karen, but she did have long rides alone with him as well. Alejandro’s fame brought prestige to the stables, and prestige brought a lot of money as well. This was once again, for Karen, a reiteration of Addy’s foresight for business.

  ***

  When Addy had agreed to run for Chair back in the spring during a council meeting, no one was really surprised. She had, after all, organized and directed the aid and restoration that took place in town after the terrible flooding.

  In everyone’s mind she was the ideal candidate because she was the go-getter type of person the town needed. When her candidacy was announced, Karen smiled proudly. Alex was ecstatic, and JP and James still couldn’t believe it.

  “I frankly don’t see why you have to bother yourself taking on the town’s problems.” JP voiced his opinion, as usual. James just pursed his lips and said nothing.

  “JP, you know me. I have to solve the problems of the world and make it perfect for everyone.” Addy replied in jest.

  “Honey, in my opinion you are just looking for trouble, and what for? People are so ungrateful! Nobody is going to come and thank you, you know? You are just going to get calls about problems and more problems.”

  “Hey, JP, if you want to sit at the Chair’s table during town events, you are going to have to change your tune. My administration is going to be a positive one,” Addy warned.

  JP became very serious and pretended to be insulted, while James was trying very hard not to laugh and Karen hopelessly chuckled. Addy kept on going about it nonchalantly.

  “And chill out, JP! I have yet to win. Maybe I won’t. Other people will run too. Maybe I will have fierce opponents and will lose.”

  “M’Addy you are going to win. Everybody loves you,” Alex replied in a very firm tone. “M’Addy, when kids at school run for the student Council they make banners and buttons, are we going to do that?”

  “Yes, Alex, we are going to do that as well.”

  “Can I help?” Alex pleaded.

  “I’m counting on your help, sweetie pie.”

  Alex was really excited about the prospect of the campaign. Karen smiled and stayed in the background, suspecting that the peaceful days would soon be over. Somehow, they never seemed to last. Yet, she was thankful for every one of them because it was that constant turn of events that filled her life with happy days.

  “Alright, we need to organize a campaign. Let’s see, what should we do first? First, I need to submit a formal application to the Council.” Addy went on and on about the things she needed to do.

  As they listened to her, Alex looked at Karen in awe, and then Karen spoke. “Don’t worry, Little Bit, I’ve seen her like this before. You know, when we first moved to the cottage, she made ‘to do lists’ for her and for me.” She chuckled and a very amused Alex listened. “She’d hang the lists on the refrigerator door. I was almost afraid to go walk by it because I knew there would be more ‘to do lists’ there. I actually think I lost weight during those days.” Karen continued to laugh, and Alex smiled sweetly.

  “I like it when she’s like that, Mommy. All hyped up, I mean more than usual. She’s fun. I like to do things with her.”

  Karen patted her daughter on the head. “Me too, Alex. She makes life fun.”

  “I like how you look at her, and how you love her.”

  Karen was surprised by Alex’s comment. Karen said nothing, at first, and looked at Addy who was in the kitchen talking to herself and saying something to Peanut Crunchy about getting out of the way and not tripping her. What could possibly be an appropriate response?

  “Loving her is easy, Alex. Your mom is a very special person, and I am lucky to have her love.” Then she looked at a smiling Alex. “And I love you too! Now go and hide before she hands you a ‘to do list.’ I feel mine’s coming already.” Alex smiled and nearly choked laughing when she saw Addy coming towards Karen and handing her a piece of paper with a bunch of things written on it.

  “Here, I jotted down some of the things we said we needed to do for the campaign and for Alejandro. Karen smiled and looked at Alex, who was still laughing and running out to her room.

  “What’s all the laughing about? What’s the joke?”

  Karen pulled her down to sit on the sofa and then pulled her closer putting her hands around the lower part of her back. “You are the joke, Ms. Addy. You are it!” She kissed her.

  “Why? What?”

  “I was telling her about you and your ‘to do lists’ when you handed me this one.” She waved the list in the air. “I feel like when we first moved to the cottage, remember?”

  Now it was Addy’s turn to smile. “Yes, remember the first one, where we decided we were going to do a list of things we were good at, and we realized that we were good at nothing?” She laughed. “We’ve had great times, haven’t we?”

  Karen chuckled. “The best of times.” They kissed.

  “Then you proved to be very handy with the drill, and remember those overalls you used to have?”

  “The ones you threw away the other day?”

  “They were old and had holes.”

&nbs
p; “You liked it. You said I looked sexy.” Karen smiled pursing her lips.

  “Ms. Larsen you always look sexy to me, no matter what you are wearing. You just like to hear me say it. Those overalls did look good on you. They gave you the butch look. Maybe I will get you another pair, and a thong to wear under. I’m already fantasizing!”

  “Adriana, you know it doesn’t take very much for you to rattle me. I’ll wear the overalls for you any day, but I would have to be dead before you would catch me wearing a thong! As we know, those things aren’t very comfy. I’d rather go commando.”

  Addy laughed and kissed her. “Although I definitely like commando, there’s a certain appeal in removing a thong. Isn’t there, Ms. Larsen?” Karen grinned remembering a time when she gave Addy a thong as a joke and later almost drooled one night when Addy in one of her sexy stunts actually wore the thong to bed. Of course, the thong did not remain in place for long. Karen remembered Addy’s relief when she had finally removed it, and laughed when Addy told her how uncomfortable it was. She remembered telling Addy, “if anyone has an ass to wear those things, it’s you. And a gorgeous one it is!” The thong was still in one of Addy’s drawers. Although uncomfortable, it was a keepsake and a useful teasing tool.

  They were both still smiling, when Addy’s phone rang. “Saved by the bell!” Karen replied.

  Addy answered chuckling. “Hi, Mrs. McKenzie. Yes, I see. Okay that was expected. Thanks, Mrs. McKenzie.”

  Addy looked a bit sad. “Looks like Simmons and Glass, have both formally filed their candidacies.”

  Karen wrinkled her nose as a sign of dislike. “Don’t worry, you’ll win.”

  “You think?”

  Karen grinned. “Addy, I know you will. You have something neither one of those people have. You have life in you! You are energetic and passionate. You’ll win. You’ll see.”

  “I don’t know, Ker, just because you love that part of me, doesn’t mean everyone does.”

  “Come here! Let me at least show my personal appreciation and support.”

  Addy put her tongue to the inside of her cheek. “I have a few calls to make, and it’s too early to go to bed. Save your appreciation and support for later.”

  “I will hold you to that!”

  ***

  Addy’s campaign group met to prepare flyers, posters and other paraphernalia, all of which was funded with Addy’s own money.

  The elections were in November and before then, Addy would have to visit the three schools in the area to ascertain their needs, and the senior center to meet the seniors who would not be able to come to the town meetings. Other than that, there would be private appearances at the pub, coffee shop, and in the town square. Two town hall meetings were also scheduled. The first meeting was intended to introduce the candidates and hear their proposed plans of action for the town, and the second for the candidates to debate their positions.

  During the first town hall meeting, the candidates presented their plans. After the meeting was over, the candidates talked and greeted all who were present. The meeting went very well and there were no issues to be reported. Following the meeting, Addy began to make her rounds in town and stopped at different public venues to talk to people. Sometimes the stops were incidental to her grocery shopping or errands, other times the stops were deliberate. When they were deliberate she would be with Mrs. McKenzie, Chair Hutton, Alex or with other people in her campaign group. The other two candidates were actively campaigning as well.

  Ms. Simmons, the town librarian, had her emphasis on the schools, and establishing an ambulatory library system to give access to books for those who couldn’t go to the library in town. Anything else was of no consequence to her. However, because education was important to all who had children, she had followers.

  Mr. Glass’ main issue was the establishment of farmers’ markets in the area to allow small farmers to showcase and sell their products. Because there were many small farmers in the area, and he was himself one, he had a group of followers as well. However, he was not an eloquent man and was well known for his bad temper.

  Addy was popular because she was a likable person. She had a joyful contagious personality, which motivated people. She also had entrepreneurial spirit and liked to help people. People also remembered how much business she had brought to town over the years with the inn, the stables and the distillery, and how much she had done for the town after the storm. In addition to all her business and personal qualities, she also had Chair Hutton’s endorsement.

  But the truth was that her candidacy was also plagued with evident issues. First, she was not the typical Altee citizen. In comparison to the other two candidates, she was not a farmer, and her child did not attend the local schools, but an upscale private school. She was also wealthy and owned a vast amount of land and businesses. Even more atypical was the fact that she was the first openly gay Chair candidate in Altee’s history, and everyone knew it. In all the years they had lived in Altee, the latter had never been an issue, although they always knew there had been talk about them.

  It was not until the second town hall meeting that Mr. Glass, trying to gain every possible ground he could, brought up Addy’s lifestyle. It was not so much what he said, but how he said it that made her pause.

  “Oh no!” Alex mumbled.

  “Son of a bitch!” James mumbled.

  “Here we go again! I knew we were not immune here. It was all a matter of time. Sooner or later, it always comes up!” JP exclaimed in his usual melodramatic form.

  Victoria and Melanie, who were also present, were stunned at this personal attack. Karen looked as if she had been physically hurt. She stood up to come to Addy’s defense, until she heard Addy speak. Karen’s sudden move prompted an immediate look from Alex. Alex was sure that her mom would have come to Addy’s rescue, if there had been a need.

  “Mr. Glass, I beg your pardon. I fail to see how anyone’s personal life has any bearing on the town’s administration.”

  “It does very much. Public figures have to be examples to the community.”

  “Mr. Glass since I have the impression that your words are meant as a personal attack on my character I would like to make clear that, I intend to run my campaign based on my record as an administrator.

  “Crap! There’s no way she’s going to get out of this one!” Victoria commented.

  Karen’s mind was on steroids already thinking how to release her wrath on the man who had so boldly put her love on such a spot.

  “I will not put my family or my personal life as an issue on this campaign. Therefore, I will not address any argument that Mr. Glass, or anyone raises in that regard.” She was looking at Karen as she spoke. Karen had remained standing the whole time as a way to express her solidarity.

  “What?” Alex exclaimed. “Is she crazy? She has to defend herself, or she will lose!”

  Everyone in the room held their breath. The people who knew Addy, and there were many in the room, knew that she was the smarter and more qualified candidate. She was the element of change, and had the dynamic personality and the know how to bring the town out of its pastoral existence without sacrificing its old charm. Addy was a smart, classy, businesswoman who would do Altee a lot of good, and the majority of the townspeople knew it.

  After she heard Addy’s response, Karen smiled and sat down. Addy took a moment and looked around the room. At that very moment Karen knew that what would come next would be brilliant. Karen was very much aware of the fact that Addy’s most wonderful defenses had always been mounted when she had felt personally attacked, and no doubt this was one such instance.

  Addy could still see her wife’s green eyes shining up at her. She paused and took a drink of water. While she drank Karen lowered her head and commented to Alex, “Alex, watch this very carefully. You are in the presence of greatness. There’s never been anything that your mom has taken head-on in which she has not succeeded. You watch.” Alex listened to Karen’s words and smiled looking back
eagerly to her other mom who was about to continue her speech.

  “Let me start by telling you the basis of my campaign, being Chair is a job. There are three people in this room who are applying for that job, and on Election Day, you the citizens of Altee are going to select the person who is most qualified for the job. Since I am an applicant for the job, I would like to present to you my resume, or in other words, my record as an administrator. I will do this because when you cast your vote on Election Day, I want to make sure that you are selecting the most qualified person to manage the affairs of our town.” She paused again for effect this time.

  She looked around the room to each and every one present and began to speak again. “So, let me start telling you about me. I have lived among you for the last sixteen years.” She began to recount every little thing she and Karen had ever done to make the town prosper. She specifically enumerated and called by name each individual who had benefitted and prospered on account of the business they brought to town in relation to the establishment of the Inn of Scotland, and later the stables and the distillery. Finally, she mentioned all that had been attained, through her efforts, for the town after the devastating floods. Alex was in awe listening to the recount. She occasionally would look at Karen for confirmation, and Karen would smile and raise her eyebrows in affirmation.

  In concluding, she remarked. “I will not allow Mr. Glass, or anyone in this town to question my integrity or my character to influence a vote. If you are going to give me your vote, do it because you trust that I can bring positive changes for our town, and do it based on my record. Don’t let anyone persuade you to do otherwise because of matters unrelated to the prosperity of Altee. As a final note, I will say that I will always be the same person as I have always been. Thank you for coming here tonight.”