Midnight Madness

by Kendall, Karen

  She’d always carried inside a small flicker of hope that one day Ma would hug her to her bosom and tell her how proud she was of her. Tell her how much she loved her. Explain that all the years of nastiness had been due to some kind of evil spell that had now been broken by the miracle of maternal affection.

  But that would happen when the winter Olympics commenced in Hell.

  Ma wasn’t evil or two-dimensional. She loved Fuzzy and she loved her husband.

  She just can’t love me. That’s all there is to it. No big mystery, no unsolved riddle.

  But tears filled Marly’s eyes and rolled down her cheeks. One rolled right off the tip of her nose and plopped into the martini glass she still held on her lap. And then and there she made a promise.

  If I ever have a child whom I cannot love, I will fake it to the end of my days.

  Would she actually have Jack’s baby one day? Marly tried to bend her mind around the concept, but it was so foreign. Could she be married to the governor and still have her own business? Run a salon?

  And would their children go to Harvard…or to beauty school?

  Another half-hysterical giggle slipped out of her mouth, and then another and another. Martinis and emotional turmoil and empty stomachs and high altitude sure didn’t mix well.

  At least the plane seemed steadier now, even if she wasn’t. Marly unbuckled her seat belt and stumbled toward the Gulfstream’s lavatory, where she sat on the floor in her funky cotton dress and cried while she giggled. She tugged at the roll of designer toilet paper on its little gold bar, pulling off half of it during the ridiculously short flight.

  By the time they landed, she’d slapped sunglasses over her tomato-like face. She was arriving in style on a Gulfstream Jet, like some big-name celebrity. She might as well enjoy it and look the part, right?

  Because no matter what Jack said and how much she might want to believe him, she was not The One and they weren’t meant to be two.

  THE FIRST PERSON Marly saw the next morning was Alejandro, who took one look at her and said, “Come with me.” She followed him into the kitchenette, where he opened the freezer and took out a gel-filled eye mask. “Put this on,” he ordered. “And then tell me all about it.”

  She sat in one of the wooden chairs, leaned back against the wall and did as he told her. “He’s still insisting that he’s going to marry me, Alejandro. That it’s fate.”

  “He being Jack?”

  She nodded.

  “Chica, I must tell you that this is very non-Republican behavior.”

  She laughed. “I think I told him that. He doesn’t care.”

  “What do you feel for this man, eh?”

  “I don’t know,” she admitted. “Right now I’m back to thinking he needs a little white padded cell. But when I’m face-to-face with him…” She shook her head. “You’ve met him. You know how magnetic he is. When he stands there and looks into your eyes and tells you something with that sincere, blue gaze of his—all I can say is that you’d believe him, too. He’s so charismatic. I swear he could put his hand on some woman’s arm, tell her that she should step in front of a bus, and she’d smile back at him and do it. Gladly. With no regrets! She’d die happy because her last human interaction was with Jack Hammersmith.”

  “That is quite frightening, mi corazón.”

  “You’re telling me!” She slapped herself in the forehead. “You haven’t even slept with the man.”

  “Nor do I wish to, if it’s all the same to you.”

  She pulled off the eye-gel mask and met his eyes. “If he had been born gay and decided to convert you, you’d agree on the spot.”

  “No, I’m sorry. That’s not possible.”

  “I’m telling you, it is.”

  “No. There’s a woman in my business school class…now for her, I would consider bouncing on my head to Boston. But your Governor Jack leaves me cold.”

  “Bouncing on your head to—” Marly stared at him and started to laugh. “My God, Alejandro, this sounds serious!”

  He shrugged. “No. She doesn’t know I’m alive. But she certainly is a concussion of a woman.”

  “A concussion? Should I ask?”

  “No. Back to the governor,” he said decisively. “So he can make people do what he wants. This is why he’s in office, no? He has this skill.”

  She twisted her mouth. “Do you know that he doesn’t even want to be in office?”

  “Aha! This is a good thing. Because you would make a truly terrible first lady of Florida.”

  “Uh…thank you? You mean that as a compliment, right?”

  “I mean it as a statement of fact. What would you do on the campaign trail, eh? Give free perms to all of Lake Okechobee?” His eyes twinkled.

  “But, Alejandro, he’s going to run anyway. So it’s not a good thing at all that I would suck as a political wife.”

  “Ah.” Her friend pursed his lips. “Then that is more difficult. You would perhaps have to sell out your interest in the salon to me and Peggy. You would have to get a makeover and change your clothing—”

  “In other words, I’d have to become someone I’m not! And that’s why this relationship between Jack and me will never work.”

  Alejandro folded his hands on the table. “I don’t know what to tell you, Marly. You love this man?”

  She blinked at him. “I—I—of course not. I don’t know him well enough to love him.”

  “He says he loves you?”

  She shook her head. “No. He says we’ll get married, but he hasn’t mentioned anything about love.”

  Alejandro looked thoughtful. “He is chasing you with a ring?”

  “No. He’s chased me with his great-great-grandmother’s cameo picture, but not a ring.”

  “So he has respect for tradition.”

  “Of course he does,” she said impatiently. “He’s a Republican. They’re all about tradition.”

  Alejandro waggled a warning finger at her. “Stereotypes. But disregarding that, I’ve figured it out. He wants to court you the old-fashioned way.”

  Marly flushed as she thought about the very modern activities they’d engaged in recently. “Um, I don’t think so.”

  “Trust me,” Alejandro said with a knowing nod. “You’ll be meeting his mother very soon.”

  “I WANT YOU TO MEET my mom,” said Jack when he called.

  Marly choked.

  “What did you say?”

  “Nothing.” I sure as hell don’t want you to meet mine.

  “We’ll be in Miami on Thursday on a fund-raising project,” Jack told her. “Do you have any free time?”

  Her heart sank. “I’m booked solid on Thursday. I’m sorry.” She walked to the reception counter and bent over Shirlie’s shoulder to see the appointment book. “I have a thirty-minute window for a meal between 3:30 and 4:00 p.m. That’s it.” Was that a little kernel of relief in her stomach? She really didn’t know if she was up to meeting the governor’s mother. There was no question that Mrs. Hammersmith would disapprove of her.

  Jack stayed silent for a moment. “Well, if that’s all you’ve got, then we’ll take it. I’ll arrange a reservation at Benito’s, and we’ll be there at three-thirty, okay?”

  No. “Sounds great.” After all, it’s not possible for your mother to disapprove of me more than my own does. So what’s the harm?

  She tried to swallow her rising panic. Jack was introducing her to his mother, which meant that he really was serious.

  Mrs. Hammersmith was going to take one look at her and flip out about the blue toenail polish—she was back to blue today—and the fact that she wasn’t wearing a bra, and kept her hair in a braid. She’d object to her flip-flops and her three-inch-long silver earrings and her blue-collar background. Most of all, she’d hate what Marly did for a living and she wouldn’t consider her good enough for her son.

  “My mom,” said Jack, “is going to love you.”

  Right. About as much as she probably loves to find ro
tting vegetables in the crisper. Except I’m sure she has a housekeeper and never opens her own refrigerator.

  “I’m sure I’ll love her, too,” Marly managed to say. After all, she had a feeling it was socially incorrect to scream, “Don’t bring your mother anywhere near me!”

  “I miss you,” Jack murmured into the phone.

  “Me, too.” And she did. She missed the person she’d been before she’d ever been featured in Shore magazine and gained a zillion clients and the passionate pursuit of the governor. She missed her uncomplicated prior life.

  “Can’t wait to see you. ’Bye, honey.”

  “’Bye.” Uh-huh. I need to tell him goodbye. Preferably before she ever encountered Mama Hammer and her disapproval over the woman her son was nailing.

  Chapter 15

  MARLY TOLD HERSELF that she couldn’t break up with the governor over the phone. And she didn’t have time to drive up to Tallahassee before he arrived. And without his help, she was fresh out of Gulfstreams to commandeer.

  So here it was, Thursday at 3:37 p.m. and she’d broken out in a cold sweat waiting for Mike to steer the great white whale of a limo up to the door of After Hours.

  “Have some class,” Shirlie told her, snapping her gum. “Don’t wait by the door like that. You’re the queen. They are coming to you.”

  “I don’t want to make a big ruckus in here,” Marly said. “I want to be able to just slip out without anyone noticing.”

  “Well, at least step back here with me so you don’t look like a dog waiting for its owner outside a grocery store.”

  Shirlie had a point. Marly joined her.

  “Now, about the governor’s package,” Shirl whispered conspiratorially.

  Thank God the phone rang just then. “After Hours, may I help you?” She dealt with the caller, making an appointment with Nicky.

  Marly prayed for another call, but the stupid phone refused to ring.

  “So, give me the goods.” Shirlie fixed her with an avid gaze.

  “Uh. You know how when you were little you pulled down your Ken doll’s pants because you were curious? Well, it’s like that. Nothing there. Nothing at all.” Marly returned her gaze innocently.

  “No!”

  You have got to be kidding me. She’s actually swallowing this? Marly nodded, keeping her face carefully blank.

  “How can he not have a—? You’re lying.”

  “Have I ever lied to you?”

  Shirlie frowned. “I don’t know.” She thought about it. “But how can he not? How is that possible?”

  Deadpan, Marly said, “I guess some people are just born without any genitalia. You know, like some babies have only three fingers, or end up a Siamese twin.”

  Shirlie’s eyes were as big as dinner plates. “I guess that’s why he’s never been married.”

  Marly raised her hands, palms up, and shrugged. “I guess so.”

  Of course, Mike chose this precise moment to pull the limo up to the curb. She dashed for the door.

  “Wow,” mused Shirlie, still trying to get over the shock. “The governor has no…Hey! Wait! Then why are you dating him?”

  “Power—haven’t you heard it’s an aphrodisiac?” Marly waved at her and let the door close. She doubled over laughing, though, and turned to watch the truth dawn on Shirl’s face. She felt only a tiny pang of remorse, because it served the receptionist right for being so nosy. If she ever brought a boyfriend into After Hours, they were all going to rush the guy with calipers and a tape measure.

  JACK’S MOTHER was statuesque, elegant and warm. Marly couldn’t quite absorb this last, unexpected quality, but Mrs. Hammersmith appeared to be quite genuine as she took Marly’s hand, covered it with her own, and said, “Aren’t you lovely, my dear. Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to meet me.”

  She almost gaped at the woman. The wife of a former senator and the mother of the governor was thanking her, Marly Fine, hairdresser, for her time? What’s wrong with this picture?

  Moreover, Mrs. H. didn’t blink once at her blue toenail polish or her lack of a bra or anything else. Nor did she turn a hair when Jack kissed Marly right there in the parking lot. All she did was ask, “Are you as hungry as I am?”

  Marly suddenly realized that beneath all the anxiety, she was starving. So they trooped off to Benito’s: Jack in his wing tips, his mother in her Ferragamo sling-backs and Marly in her rubber flip-flops.

  “What about Mike?” she asked Jack. “Is he hungry?”

  “I asked him, but he’s got a sandwich and his scrapbooking. He came armed and dangerous with the glue-stick and everything.” Jack’s eyes twinkled.

  Marly greeted Benito with a kiss to the cheek and watched, amused, as the little Italian bent low over Mrs. Hammersmith’s hand and just about carried Jack in a litter to their table.

  Heads turned all over the room, and she was relieved that Benito put them in a private room in the back of the restaurant.

  Once they were all seated, Marly buried her face in the menu, even though she knew it by heart. Okay, so the governor’s mom was a nice person. But what in the hell did she say to her?

  I’m so glad you’re not a witch?

  Your son and I had tons of fun in the whirlpool tub a few nights ago. Would you like me to share the details?

  So, who brainwashed you into being a Republican?

  Marly had a feeling that none of these lines would be just right.

  Jack began the conversation for her, addressing his mother. “I showed her the cameo, Mom.”

  Mrs. Hammersmith’s hand stilled for an almost imperceptible moment. Then she continued to empty a packet of sweetener into the iced tea Benito had brought for her personally. She stirred the tea with a long spoon, which she then laid beside her plate. She met his gaze, her eyes more gray than blue. “The cameo,” she murmured. “I’d forgotten all about that.” She took a sip of her tea and then turned to Marly. “I understand now. Jack has had that locket for years, and he was always fascinated by the story behind it. When he was about twelve, he announced that one day he would do the same thing my great-grandfather did.”

  Jack smiled at her.

  “And now he has—the only difference being that he didn’t have to leave the country or learn Italian.” Mrs. Hammersmith seemed to finish evaluating Marly in the course of another glance. “So, cheers! I think my son has made a wise choice.”

  Marly started to raise her glass, but then furrowed her brow and set it down on the table again. “Ma’am…excuse me for asking, but…how can you know that? You’ve only just met me.”

  Jack’s mother nodded. “Yes. I’ve known you now for, what, five minutes? And during that time, you’ve told me far more about yourself than you realize. First, you didn’t make anyone come in to get you. You came out to meet us, which was very thoughtful.

  “Second, you didn’t try to dress any differently than you normally do, correct? Which tells me you’re secure in who you are. I like that.

  “Third, you worried about Mike getting lunch. That was very kind. And you seem to have a warm, cordial relationship with the restaurant owner. I’ve noticed all of these things, as well as the fact that you don’t use your looks. It doesn’t occur to you that you could manipulate with your beauty, and you actually downplay it.”

  Once again, Marly was reduced to gaping at her.

  “All of which informs me that you’re a very nice girl and a rare find. Shall I go on?”

  “I think you’re embarrassing her, Mom.” Jack touched Marly’s arm lightly and then brushed his knuckles over her flushed cheek.

  “All right. I’ll say only one more thing. I also like the fact that you’re skeptical about Jack.”

  Marly unstuck her tongue from the roof of her mouth. “How do you know I’m skeptical?”

  Mrs. Hammersmith smiled at her. “You reveal it in the wary way you look at him, as if you can’t quite believe he’s there and might disappear at any moment.”

  Marly coul
dn’t argue with that.

  “I like you, young lady. But you two are going to have to make some hard decisions.” She glanced at her son. “Jack, are you running again?”

  His mouth tightened. Then he nodded. “Yeah.”

  “Things will be complicated. You can handle the media issues in one of two ways. Let me apologize in advance for being blunt, my dears, but either you need to lie low and not be seen in public together until after the election, or Marly is going to need a basic Step ford Wife makeover and a new job—preferably something on the campaign.”

  “What?” The four-letter word didn’t even begin to express Marly’s shock and distress.

  Benito chose this moment to bustle in and ask them for their lunch orders, not seeming to notice the tension in the air.

  They ordered salads and pasta, even though Marly had to get back to the salon in about fifteen minutes and probably wouldn’t have time to eat hers.

  Once he’d gone, she fixed Mrs. Hammersmith with an appalled stare. “Stepford Wife? Did I hear that correctly?”

  Jack pinched the bridge of his nose between his thumb and index finger, while his mother gazed calmly back at her. “Yes, you did. Marly, I once dressed very much like you do now. It’s a casual, comfortable look, but it won’t do for a political wife.”

  “No offense to either of you, but wife is a four-letter word to me at the moment, and Jack and I have seen each other, what, four times? I think you might be jumping the gun, here. And what is this about me quitting my job?” Her mouth worked.

  “Maybe we should order a bottle of wine and just relax and get to know each other,” Jack suggested with a big, white smile. “We can have this discussion some other time.”

  “No,” said Marly. “We have opened this can of worms, and I now want to see them all wiggling on the table.”

  He winced.

  “Jack. I am…obviously attracted to you,” she said, casting an apologetic glance at his mother. “In fact, I’m willing to admit that I could easily fall in love with you, even though you are a Republican.” Was that a tiny snort of amusement from Mrs. H.?