Sins of the Flesh

by Fern Michaels

  Reuben grinned. “This is only my inexpert opinion, but I’d say the boy doesn’t stand a chance. If there’s one thing that can turn a surly, hostile young man into a human being, it’s a girl.” He hesitated a moment, then added soberly, “He hates me, Daniel. He went to see Bebe, and she ordered him off her property. Told him Mickey was his mother. He’s been like a butterfly in a wasp’s nest ever since. Jesus, we have so much to talk about. You are staying with me, aren’t you?”

  “I’m not paying for a hotel, that’s for sure. I have to start saving my pennies because Rajean is going to wipe me out. We’re getting a divorce. We’ll talk about that later, too.”

  Reuben nodded. “Have you given any thought to moving out here? This is where we got our start, you know. Hell, if you’re going to make a new life for yourself, this is the place to do it. And if you’re interested in some big bucks…well, the studio could use a brain like yours.” His heart thudded as he realized he couldn’t offer Daniel a job at the studio; he’d resigned. Bebe, then—Bebe would be more than glad to take Daniel on.

  Daniel breathed deeply, and he offered Reuben an appreciative smile. “I swear to God there were times when I could smell these orange blossoms. But to answer your question, yes, I have given it some thought. Nellie said there wasn’t enough sunshine in my life. And she’s right; the kid is always on the money when it comes to me.”

  “Nellie, hold on,” Reuben called. “This is the car. Hop in; our next stop is the studio, where I know a young man is waiting for you with his tongue hanging out.”

  Nellie gave her uncle and father what Daniel referred to as her Christmas-tree smile. “I was hoping he’d be here, Uncle Reuben.”

  “It’s my fault. I didn’t think to ask him, and his European manners wouldn’t allow him to invite himself. I was so caught up in my own selfish happiness at seeing your father that I—”

  “It’s okay, Uncle Reuben, don’t apologize.” She flashed her smile again, and Reuben’s heart melted. Philippe, if you let this girl get away, you are a fool.

  “What about our bags?” Daniel asked.

  “All taken care of. They’ll be delivered to the house. I hate standing around waiting for something even if it’s your luggage, pal. By the time we get to the house later on, they’ll be there. Now, hop in and let’s get this young lady to Fairmont. Daniel, Jane has been fussing and fretting ever since she found out Nellie is going to be working for her. She’s…she’s what I call good people, but then, you know that. She asks about you constantly. Wait till you see her, she’s turned into a beautiful woman. And what a producer! She has this incredible sixth sense, this finely tuned…thing that enables her to pick a winner out of nowhere. She’s never married,” he added, watching Daniel out of the corner of his eye. He bit down on his tongue to stifle a laugh when he saw Daniel straighten his shoulders and finger his tie.

  “And now for your tour. The building on your right is…”

  The studio’s commissary was filled to capacity, which puzzled Philippe somehow. As he took his place in line he noticed that all conversation ceased. Even the rattling dishes and clanking silverware seemed muted. Something was in the air. He looked around, trying to lock his gaze with just one person so that he could get a feel for what was wrong. He didn’t think it was his imagination when he saw heads and necks lower over plates of food.

  Eating alone had never bothered him before, and now, today, he wished he’d made at least one friend so he would have someone to sit with. Then he felt himself grow angry at his insecurity. His father would never tolerate a situation like this. None of these technicians and actors would ever dare cut a conversation short or refuse to look at him if he walked into a room. They simply wouldn’t dare. Philippe felt his shoulders square imperceptibly and his jaw tighten as he paid for his meal. His eyes were bold as he stared around the full dining room. Not an empty table anywhere. He was saved from stalking out of the room when he heard a voice call his name.

  “Philippe, over here.” It was Jane Perkins. Philippe felt as though he’d been thrown a lifeline as he weaved his way to the producer’s table.

  Jane moved her tray to accommodate Philippe’s. “I’m taking an early lunch hour so I can be on hand to meet with Daniel’s daughter when she arrives,” she said cheerily.

  Jane Perkins, Fairmont’s leading producer, was a pretty woman, a quiet woman with warm soft brown eyes and a gentle smile. She was dressed in a tailored tweed suit with a crisp white blouse that rather enhanced her femininity. In many ways she reminded Philippe of his mother—like now, when she knew he was hurting and was doing her best to make him feel comfortable.

  “What is that on your tray?” she asked inquisitively, a smile in her voice.

  Philippe looked down at his tray, noticing the assortment of food for the first time. He smiled ruefully. “I kept pointing and they kept piling it on. I’m not even hungry. I came in here just to kill some time until Nellie gets here. You’re going to like her, Miss Perkins.”

  “I know I will. One can’t get a higher recommendation than Reuben Tarz. Did anyone ever tell you how we all met, your father and Daniel and myself?” There was no surprise in Philippe’s face when she acknowledged Reuben as his father.

  “No. My father and myself…we…aren’t that comfortable with each other—yet,” he added hastily.

  Jane leaned across the table, her eyes sparkling. “It was like this. I was coming out of the studio and I’d landed a part in a crowd scene. I was so delirious, I was doing a jig. These two young men were leaning on a wall, smoking a cigarette, and we had this little conversation. I said something about always leaning on the wall for a cigarette if I got a part, but that day I was flat broke and didn’t have a cigarette. I guess that’s why I was doing a jig. Anyway, they offered me a cigarette, and then when I left your father gave me the whole pack.” Her eyes grew misty with the memory.

  “A while later, out of the blue, I got this message to come to the studio,” she continued, “and lo and behold, there were your father and Daniel. Reuben was Mr. Rosen’s assistant, at least I think that’s what his title was. He gave me something to eat, a doughnut, I believe, and said I was going to have a screen test. I fainted, can you believe that? From hunger, of course. Lord, I was so stupid in those days. The long and short of it was they liked my test and cast me in the Dolly Darling series. The success of the series was so phenomenal, there are days I still can’t believe it all happened. I even did a skit or two in the Red Ruby films. They were good, too. Then, as all good things do, it came to an end with the success of talkies. Your father hired a voice teacher for me, but I couldn’t cut it, so he literally dumped me in the production office and said, ‘Get to work.’ I loved it from the first moment, and I’ve been here ever since. It’s so wonderful to see a creation on paper come to life under the lights. I owe your father my very livelihood. He’s a wonderful man, Philippe. If you give him half a chance, I know you two can meet on some common ground. He’s been a wonderful friend to me all these years.”

  “I appreciate your sharing that with me,” Philippe said glumly. He poked at his food, moving it from one place to the other on his plate.

  “But you aren’t going to make the effort to change things, is that it?” Jane asked quietly.

  “I didn’t say that.”

  “You don’t have to. I can see it in your face. I’d like to say one more thing on the subject, then we can lay it to rest. I have no intention of being a buffer between you and your father. One of you will have to make an effort to right things. If you don’t, it will be your loss.”

  “Miss Perkins, can you tell me what’s going on around here?” Philippe asked, glancing around the commissary. “When I came in everyone stopped talking. No one will look at me. Did I do something I’m not aware of, or has it come out that I’m Mr. Tarz’s son?”

  Mr. Tarz’s son. Oh, Philippe, she wanted to say, bend a little, meet him halfway. “I guess the whole studio is buzzing with your father’s res
ignation. It came as such a shock, out of the blue, really. I don’t think any of us were prepared for it. I mean, Reuben is Fairmont Studios. With Bebe taking it over, it’s anybody’s guess what will happen. I don’t think she knows that much about making movies. I guess she can learn if she’s determined. We all learned…. Philippe, what’s the matter?” she asked. The boy was staring at her with a horrified expression on his face. “Don’t tell me you didn’t know? Oh, Lord, I’m so sorry, I thought, I expected you would have been the first…I never would have blurted it out…. Keep calm, people are staring at us…. Smile, Philippe, or tomorrow you will have a terrific problem. That’s it, now let’s both get up and go over to my office, where we can talk in peace. Leave the damn tray,” she said tightly. Reuben, I could strangle you for this. No wonder this kid feels the way he does.

  Outside in the flower-scented air, Philippe found himself taking deep breaths to ward off the dizziness that assailed him. Jane watched Reuben’s son helplessly, searching for the words that needed to be said at this moment. “All my life, Philippe, I’ve been careful never to say anything that would hurt another human being, and I’ve just knocked you off your feet. Reuben’s resignation was so…public, in a manner of speaking. Everyone knew, and I don’t honestly know how it came about. It was such an important decision, I just assumed you knew. Please, forgive me.”

  “It’s all right, Miss Perkins,” Philippe said, grinning wanly. “There’s nothing to forgive. If my father wanted me to know, he would have told me. There really isn’t much else to say, so I think I’ll go back to my office…and play with my pencils and papers. I guess I’ll see you later. Thanks for sharing lunch with me.”

  Jane fought with herself not to run after him. If she gave in to her desire, she would be breaking a cardinal rule she’d set for herself years ago, which was not to get involved in Reuben’s private life unless he requested she do so.

  Until today she had honored that commitment. “Damn,” she muttered as she made her way back to her suite of offices.

  Reuben swung the powerful car down the narrow alley behind the production offices. He had no desire to drive past the parking lot that until last week had held his assigned car space with his name on a stark white sign. Things moved fast at Fairmont. By now his name would be gone and the sign would read Bebe Rosen. No, he didn’t want to see that today.

  Intuitive as he was, Reuben knew immediately that something was wrong when Jane greeted them at the door to her office. Oh, she smiled, took Nellie in her arms, and welcomed her like a long-lost daughter. She kissed Daniel and hugged him until he bellowed for mercy. But her eyes, Reuben noticed, were half-angry, half-full of worry.

  “Nellie, we have the rest of the week to get you settled in,” she said, smiling. “I had lunch with a young man who is chewing his nails to the nub waiting for you. Why don’t you go over to his office while we three old people talk about yesterday. Go outside, make two lefts, one right, and walk straight up the stairs. Philippe’s office has his name on the door. We’ll stop by and pick you up in, say, two hours.”

  Nellie flashed her brilliant smile and was off before anyone could comment. Daniel raised his eyebrows. “Aiding and abetting?” he teased.

  “Young love.” Jane smiled tightly. “He’s eager to see her, she’s eager to see him. Simple.”

  “Mind if we sit down?” Reuben asked.

  She gestured at the couch and chairs adorning her office. “Please do…. Reuben, I have a bone to pick with you. Do you know what I just did? I blurted out…He was so shocked…he was like a pariah in the commissary. He didn’t know you’d resigned! Why in God’s name didn’t you tell him?” she demanded angrily. “Do you have any idea how I felt?”

  “Would somebody mind telling me what’s going on?” Daniel asked, looking from one to the other.

  “Reuben resigned from the studio,” Jane told him. “Everyone knows about it except Philippe. I blurted it out over lunch. The boy was stunned. I felt as though I’d knocked the world right from under him. Apparently Bebe is taking Reuben’s place.”

  “You resigned!” Daniel said, shocked. He looked across at Jane. “If that’s the case, then there are two of us who didn’t know. What the hell’s going on?”

  Reuben sighed and shook his head. “Bebe wanted the studio as part of the divorce settlement, and I gave it to her. It was never really mine, Daniel. I wanted it to be, but it wasn’t. It doesn’t matter if I busted my ass making it what it is today. There were days when I thought I’d earned it, but I knew in my gut it would always belong to Bebe. You should see her. She’s done a complete turn-about. I think she can handle it. Philippe will keep her in line, or she’ll keep him in line. It’ll be interesting to watch what happens.”

  “And that’s what you’re going to do—watch?” Daniel said incredulously.

  “No, as a matter of fact I won’t be around to watch. I was sort of hoping you’d make the decision to move back here and keep an eye on things.”

  “Just like that,” Daniel said, his eyes narrowing.

  Reuben chuckled. “More or less.”

  “Let’s say I do agree, what will you be doing?”

  “What I should have done years ago. I’m going to France.”

  “There’s a fucking war going on!” Daniel shouted. “Excuse my language, Jane.”

  Jane shrugged. “Not to worry.”

  “Just how in the goddamn hell do you think you’re going to get to France, and if you do, how in the name of God do you think you can find Mickey?”

  “I don’t know, Daniel. I may never find her, but I won’t know that unless I try, now, will I? In any case, my mind is made up. I’ll be leaving on the next Red Cross plane as a news correspondent.” Reuben grinned. “Good cover, don’t you think? And before you can ask how I arranged it all, I have a friend who works for the Times in New York. He sent me all my credentials. As a matter of fact, they arrived yesterday. I have four days to wine and dine you before I leave.”

  “You damn fool, you’ll get yourself killed,” Daniel blustered. “I’m going, too!”

  “No, Daniel, this is something I have to do alone,” Reuben said firmly. “You already made the trip to bring Philippe here. I have to do this, don’t you understand? I should have done it years ago, and I didn’t. It’s settled. If you want to talk it to death, I suppose we can do that, but it won’t change anything.”

  Daniel threw his hands in the air. Jane closed her mouth with a snap. Reuben smiled happily.

  “Bebe…did you tell her?” Daniel asked.

  “No. You and Jane are the only ones who know. Listen to me, Daniel. Bebe is almost there. I mean she’s giving it everything she has. Right now the only thing she has yet to resolve is Philippe. Now I’m giving both of them that chance by removing myself. I have to find out about Mickey for the boy’s sake. I don’t want him going through the rest of his life worrying and wondering the way I did. He’ll have Nellie, but Nellie won’t be enough. You’ve been the brains of this outfit for a long time, so don’t tell me you can’t see the sense to what I’m doing.”

  “After all these years you still love her,” Daniel said in awe.

  Reuben turned from the window. His voice was low and husky. “No, Daniel, I love what we shared. A man can’t love a memory, I learned that a long time ago. Over the years you’ve heard me say some strange things and you’ve seen me do some things that were stranger still. Listen to me now. I love Bebe. Bebe loves me.”

  “But you’re getting a goddamn divorce!” Daniel shouted in exasperation.

  Reuben smiled. “You have to end something before you can make a new beginning.”

  Jane ran to Reuben and threw her arms about him. “Oh, Reuben, I’m so glad you’ve finally come to your senses. I don’t want you to go, but I understand. We’ll keep things humming here. If he’ll let me, I’ll watch out for Philippe. The same goes for Bebe.” She turned to face Daniel, her eyes moist and pleading.

  Daniel joined his friends at th
e window and wrapped them both in his arms. “Two wise men and one wise woman. Not bad. What can I do, Reuben?”

  “Continue to be my friend,” Reuben said quietly. “Otherwise there’s nothing you can do; things are under control.”

  Daniel looked doubtful, but he smiled for Reuben’s benefit. Jane’s soft hand on his shoulder made him turn, and in doing so he read the concern in her eyes. And in that moment of time he fell deeply and passionately in love with his friend of many years. Neither he nor Jane noticed Reuben’s contented smile.

  Jane looked away, confused. Was it possible that what she herself was feeling was mirrored in Daniel’s eyes? After all this time? She looked up at Reuben, her anger at him forgotten. His grin was contagious…and sly. Why, he’s manipulated this whole thing, she thought in amazement. “Touché,” she said so quietly only Reuben heard her.

  “If anyone wants my opinion,” she continued, suddenly feeling a bit giddy, “I think we should leave the young people to themselves. I also think we three should take off for the Lily Garden and…and tie one on.”

  “Hear, hear!” Daniel cried.

  Grinning, Reuben clapped Daniel on the back and put his other arm around Jane. “I’ll tell you what, you two go ahead and I’ll meet you there. I’ll tell the young people their time is their own. Actually, what I want to do is walk around the studio and say good-bye in my own way. After today I won’t be back. You don’t mind, do you?”

  He was manipulating again, Jane thought. If he stayed, she and Daniel would have to drive to the Lily Garden alone. Suddenly she laughed, a delightful sound that warmed the senses. “Wonderful idea!” she said enthusiastically.

  Alone in Jane’s office with only the sound of the soft whirring fan for company, Reuben settled himself. He was in no hurry to visit his son’s office. Abruptly he felt a flutter of panic. Perhaps he was cutting things a little too close. There were so many good-byes to be said, so many things for him to do in only four days. What he should have done was call a meeting to announce his resignation instead of leaking the news. Once he made the decision he knew he had to act on it immediately, before he could change his mind. And he himself had given the order, by phone, to have Bebe’s name replace his on his parking space. Al Sugar, the head of the prop department, had expressed his disapproval, but Reuben knew he would do it immediately.