by K L Finalley
The truth was she had hope. Maybe, that was her mistake. Hope. Her positive attitude was contrary to the facts. Yet, she maintained hope where they were concerned. But, when hope failed, anger filled its void. Hope and anger.
Then, in an instant. she returned to the keys. She beat them with such force that she didn't notice her cellphone was buzzing. She was staring so intently at the computer that she almost missed the light the phone emitted when someone called. But, at the last moment, before her voicemail answered, she picked up.
"This is Mallory," she answered as she did her office phone. It was becoming habit.
"Mallory?" the caller wasn't prepared for the change.
In her anger, she hadn't look to see who was calling. Having only heard her own name repeated, her mind didn't immediately recognize the voice. Sarcasm had been added to her anger and her hope. "That's me."
"Oh, it didn't sound like ya." That was all he needed to say for her to know who it was. Cody Russell. Her ex-husband. Zoe's father. She reclined in her chair. He'd picked the wrong day to call. "Hey, there, I was thinkin' we might need to talk."
"We sure do, Cody." She rubbed her brow and sucked in her cheeks.
"I'm glad you think so, too."
"Well, of course. I guess you're callin' to tell me when you're gonna catch up on child support. How many payments are you behind now? Twelve? Thirteen?" Her arms were folded.
"Aww, now, wait a minute. You know, I've been havin' a rough time. I admitted that to ya. You said ya understood and you were gonna work with me."
"When was that? Nine months ago?"
"I'm still tryin' to get back on my feet. Shit, we can't all find someone to take care of us like you did."
She jumped out of her chair. "I suggest you stop right there." She was waging her finger in the air. "I'm not having this fight with you."
"Owen called me last night and told me…"
"Owen always calls your dumb ass and tells you what to call and tell me. Then, like the little bitch you are, you call me. Then, I cuss you out. Then, you crawl back to Owen. Why the fuck do we have to do this every time?"
"This ain't like all the other times. This is different."
"Is it, Cody? How the fuck is this different?" She was pacing around her office. Despite the door being closed, her staff could hear her screams. Hannah stopped reviewing the contract and stared at the floor of workers gazing into Mallory's glasshouse.
"Our daughter's living there watching you do who knows what."
Mallory began to laugh. "Every day, I wonder if you drugged me."
"What?"
"Did you? Did you drug me? What was I ever doing with you?"
"Shit, gurl, I'm the best thing that ever came along for you. If it wasn't for me, where would you be?"
"Do you even think before you talk?" Mallory taunted him, like she'd done for years.
"I can't keep fighting with you. I have to get back to work, but I'm warning you..."
"Don't you threaten me, Cody Russell."
"Bitch..."
"Don't you call me a bitch, you redneck muthafucker."
"Call me whateva you want. But, if you don't get my daughter out of that house, I'm gonna come get her."
Stunned, she didn't say anything. He'd never suggested wanting Zoe. "What'd you say?" She stopped pacing.
"You heard me. If you don't get my daughter out of the house with that…woman, I'm gonna come get her."
Her voice lowered. She was no longer screaming. She didn't have the strength to yell. She'd been stunned. "You don't have custody of her."
"I'll get custody of her." He'd never spoken of custody before or threatened to take her before. Mallory couldn't move. For the first time, in all the years that she'd know him, he'd dazed her. "Uh huh, now you see it my way." Continuing with firsts, he hung up on her.
Mallory stared at the phone, but Cody was gone. She looked at a photo of her, Jacqueline, and Zoe from Christmas and remembered how happy they were. But, Cody had just threatened to take Zoe away. She couldn't believe it. She couldn't imagine he could say such a thing. She plopped into her desk chair and sat still looking at the picture. Zoe had been so happy that morning surrounded by gifts. Jacqueline made breakfast, then they'd turned off the heater. When it was cold in the condo, Jacqueline lit the fireplace and they cuddled together under a blanket on the couch and watched the parade. It was the most perfect moment of her life. That's why she made them pose for a picture. None of them had looked their best. There was no makeup, no hair was combed, but they were happy.
Cody was threatening that happiness. As she sat there, remembering the moment and hearing the anger in Cody's voice, a tear rolled down her face. She felt it etch through her makeup and leave behind a stain of her raw skin. She closed her eyes hoping there wouldn't be more.
Before more could arrive, her office door opened. It was Hannah.
"So, we heard a one-sided shouting match, but I assume it wasn't Jacqueline."
With her eyes, still closed, Mallory asked, "Why do you assume that?"
"Turn around and see," Hannah replied. She held two dozen long-stemmed red roses. "If you cussed her out, she can't have responded this quickly."
Laughing, Mallory reached for them. "No, it was Cody, Zoe's dad. I hate that man. You know, what's funny? The guy you think was a great idea turns out to be the worst idea, but why didn't you know it at the time?"
"Ain't it the truth," Hannah said. "What's he want this time?"
"Zoe," Mallory exhaled with tears in her eyes.
"What? No way!"
"Yep. We went out to dinner with my family last night and my brother freaked out over Jacqueline. I'm sure he planted this seed in Cody's head. Now, he's threatening me to move out or he's gonna take her."
"Well, that explains you cussing him out."
"No, I didn't. I cussed him out before that bombshell. He has never...never ever wanted custody of her. He's never fought for her. Nothing. Now, this. I didn't know what to say," Mallory sat in her chair and cried.
"I'm sorry. It's gonna be okay." Hannah said. It was the phrase. The phrase people said when they weren't sure what to say, but they wanted to be let off the hook.
Freeing Hannah, Mallory retorted, "I better pull myself together. I have a meeting with Misty in a minute and I need to thank Jax."
"Are you gonna tell her what's going on?"
"I will tonight. No sense in worrying her right now. Besides, last night was bad enough."
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mallory entered Misty's office as though she had been rained on. Her curled red locks had gone limp from her hands being tangled in them since Cody's call. Despite her best effort to hold it together, her eyes flooded in the bathroom after speaking to Jacqueline. While she hadn't told her about Cody's call, she had wanted to and not telling her made her feel so guilty that she cried and cried and cried. She placed cold napkins on her face hoping to decrease some of the puffiness; of course, that did not work. Instead, she looked as though she had been caught in a rain squall. Mallory saw Misty eyeball her. She hoped that there would be no inquisition. In an effort to misdirect her, she sniffled repeatedly. She thought a sinus infection would better than a breakdown.
Dressed in a mid-calf white dress with feathers outlining the collar, Misty was sitting on the corner of her desk. "Nate says we have lists and lists of people who want to be on the show. Chefs, former models, athletes, reality-show contestants. I think we should mix them up. He was talking about dedicating a show to fashion. But, I don't want people to think that's all I can do."
"Mmm hmm," Mallory was only partially paying attention.
"Honey, I know they think I'm a dummy. I can't have a show full of models. Late night TV hosts would eat me alive."
"They sure would."
"But, I won't turn my back on where I came from. I want segments that bring fashion and makeup and perfume to people. That's who I am and that's what people expect. I just don't want a lot of it."
&nbs
p; "I agree. The new set design will help. We've had a lot of donated fashion. I think you can walk down those stairs to the desk in a donated dress or outfit and we can reference it in each show."
Clapping her hands, Misty returned to her side of the desk. "That's why we're perfect together. You understand me."
"I try."
"Nate told me to ask you for the…market."
"Share data," Mallory finished the sentence for her.
"What's that?"
"He wants to know who is watching. What age group?"
"Do I want to know?" She looked nervous.
"There's isn't much you can do to add to your demographic, but if you want to know, the show has an amazing cross section of viewers. We get young women aged nineteen to thirty at thirty-two percent of the time slot which is a good solid number. We get men and women aged thirty to forty-five at forty-five percent slot and we get men and women aged forty-five to sixty-five at fifty-two percent. We get all races and all parts of the country."
"Look at this Georgia girl go!" She spun around in her chair. "We are on track. We should be in syndication by summer. They'll move our time block to late afternoon. Did they talk to you about your contract? I told 'em I won't do it without you, so you've got all the leverage you need to get anything you want."
"I have an appointment to start negotiations," Mallory rattled back.
"Okay, honey. Tell me what's happening with you. I've sat over here and waited. What's going on today?"
The tears started to flow. Misty came from behind the desk. "No, it's nothing. I don't want to be unprofessional."
With a tissue in her hand, she said, "Nonsense, honey. We're friends. Tell me what's got you so upset. I've never seen you like this."
"I really don't want to bother you."
"It's no bother. You are my friend."
Mallory smiled at her. She smiled at the idea of how close they'd become. "It's my ex."
"Well, what'd he do that's gotcha this upset?" She folded her arms and sat on the couch. She patted it to direct Mallory to join her.
Once she was up, Mallory stood there and stared off into her past. "He doesn't do anything on his own. He does what my brother, Owen, tells him to do. I know it doesn't make sense that a brother would hurt his own sister."
Crossing her long legs, she sneered, "Oh, honey, I know very well how vindictive family can be."
"My brother has everything all figured out for everyone. I don't know how it got started or even why. It's always been that way. He knows what's best and people just go along with it." She paused. She was trying to remember, trying to think of when or how it all happened. "Cody is Owen's best friend. He has been since middle school. I was supposed to marry him, have his babies, and live next door to Owen and his family. Part of it worked in a weird way, but it never really stuck. Anyhow, Cody doesn't really want me. He never really has. He's just been going along with Owen for so long that's what he does."
"So, what'd Owen tell him to do?"
Mallory joined her on the couch. Slouching down, she rested her head against the back of the couch and looked at the ceiling. "Last night, we all got together to celebrate Owen's birthday. Owen's family, my parents, Zoe, Jacqueline and I met at a place he likes to go to. It was a huge mistake. I should've known better." And, tears streamed down his face.
"Is he racist?" Misty asked without hesitation.
Mallory turned sharply and looked at her. "No, he works at Lockwood Warehouse. Warehouse crew. Surely, it's a diverse staff."
"Honey, I don't mean to offend you. I'm from Georgia. I've traveled the world and the first thing I had to be honest about was which members of my family were too racist or too homophobic to visit me on a shoot." She stood up, straightened her dress, and opened a bottle of wine for them. "People know what to say around folks and we know what to overlook. You know what you've turned a deaf ear to. I'm just asking you to answer it for yourself."
Mallory had never thought about it. She hadn't wanted to. Owen had spoken about everyone in a derogatory way. "He did ask if Jacqueline's money was drug money."
Heading back to the couch with wine glasses in her hands, she confirmed, "Well, that's racist."
Mallory's stomach fell. She had been embarrassed, but she hadn't considered how that might've made Jacqueline feel. "Oh my God, it was."
"So, why'd Cody call?"
"We're at dinner. Zoe gives Owen his gift. It's a pair of boots he always wanted, but when he finds out that Zoe and Jacqueline went to find them he freaks out. He wants to know about her money. He accuses her of buying the family and storms out of the restaurant. I followed him to try to talk some sense in him, but he goes on and on. He tells me that he's tired of me experimenting and that I'm ruining Zoe's life. So, he must've called Cody and told him to tell me to get away Jacqueline and..and…and…." The sobbing began. Despite the white dress, Misty leaned over and held Mallory. She soothed her pants. She hushed her sorrow. When Mallory could breathe again, she saw the mess she'd made. "Oh my God, I've ruined your dress." She tried to use her tissues to clean her makeup from it.
"It's fine. I have other clothes in the closet."
"But, I've ruined it."
"Honey, that's what dry cleaners are for."
Starting to cry again, Mallory feared, "What if, they can't get it out?"
"Then, that's what shopping is for," and she flashed a competition smile. She really is the best, Mallory thought. "What'd Cody say?" Misty asked.
Before she bawled again, Mallory blurted, "He warned that if I didn't leave Jacqueline that he'd take Zoe."
Misty batted her long lashes, and said, "We can't let that happen."
"Misty, I've never been so happy. Zoe has never been so happy. I wasn't in the office yesterday, because Jacqueline and I have started to look for a house. A house to share as a family. We went as far as Apollo Beach."
"Well, don't move way out there. Move near us."
"I can't lose Zoe."
"Honey, you said your brother? Owen?"
"Yes. Owen."
"Owen's been dictating everyone's life for as long as you can remember. Everyone has sacrificed their own happiness for fear of what he might do. You can't keep doing this. You have to stop and fight or you just as well roll over and die. Jacqueline's wonderful. And, she loves you and Zoe. I think you have a chance at a real future together."
Starting to sniffle, Mallory agreed, "So do I. That's why I can't stop crying."
"You can't tell me you're thinking of walking into that penthouse and looking at a woman who loves you and saying that you're leaving, so you don't have to fight your ex-husband. Are you?"
"I don't know what to do. I don't want to lose her, but I can't lose Zoe. I don't know if I should delay getting the house for a while."
"I don't think Owen's going to become more accepting of same sex, interracial relationships in a few months," Misty quipped.
"Then, what?"
"May I make a suggestion?" Misty asked as she extended her long, manicured finger into the air.
"Sure."
"I want you to speak with an attorney," Misty said coolly.
"I don't know a good one. I mean, we know ones for real estate and finance who have been helping with the house and the proceeds from the sale. But, I don't know a family lawyer."
"You're in luck. I know one."
"Oh, the one who did your pre-nup," Mallory recalled.
"Well, he did, as a matter of fact, but he's far more special than that."
"An old boyfriend?" Mallory was confused. She had a rough day and couldn't recall some of the details of their past conversations.
"No, silly, you forget. I'm not just Misty. I am Melissa Tate."
Still missing the point, she said, "I know who you are."
"My father is Peter Tate," Misty said proudly.
"Your father is THE Peter Tate, the celebrity divorce attorney. Did I know that?" Mallory was star struck. "Wait, he wouldn't take my case."
&nb
sp; "I've talked about my parents before."
"I swear you never mentioned that he was Peter Tate."
"I've mentioned that he's an attorney and my mom was an athlete turned actress."
"Wait, your mom, is Caroline DuBois? She was a tennis star." Still stunned, Mallory hung her head in her own ignorance. "Oh my God. I swear you never told me their names."
"I don't know your parent's first names," Misty said as she smiled at her. "They're just my parents. Caroline and Peter."
"Caroline DuBois and Peter Tate. That's not just parents, Misty," Mallory said as she dabbed her eyes. "I don't know what to say."
"Say, you'll talk to Jacqueline about your call with Cody. Then, the two of you will decide if you want to consult with an attorney. If you do, I'll call my Daddy."
"What do you think he'll say?"
"Daddy?"
"Yes, Misty. What will Daddy say?" Mallory was concerned that after the effort he might not take the case.
"He'll say, I'm on my way, baby. What else is he supposed to say? He's my Daddy," Misty said without thought.
"Misty, I can't thank you enough. I don't…" Mallory leaned in to hug her. "I don't know how to repay you."
Shrugging her shoulders, she replied, "Oh, honey, you're my friend, I'd do anything for you."
CHAPTER EIGHT
Sitting in her office, Jacqueline was pensive. She loved Mallory. She had committed herself to making a future for them as a family. But, she knew that Mallory wanted to remain close to her family. She had warned Mallory last summer that being involved with a woman, a black woman, was going to cause great waves in her world. Despite all of this, she was unable to get Mallory to accept this inevitability; but, last night's dinner was proof of her words.
At her desk, in her world, Jacqueline was at ease. She had lost all the people who disagreed or was confused by her orientation, or choice, as some preferred to reference it. However, she knew that Mallory was not at ease. External pressure from the persons closest to her were pulling her away from Jacqueline; and, Jacqueline wasn't certain she could hold on tight enough. Despite the love and the happiness that they shared, it was minuscule to the depths and ranges of emotions, memories, and sentiments that she shared with family. She had been burdened years ago with having to be true to herself, even if it meant, distancing herself from the persons who knew her best, but her decision had been easier. She had never felt as close as Mallory did to her family; and, she didn't have a child, a natural bond to that family. And for those reasons, Jacqueline sat in her office preparing for what she supposed to be an unpleasant evening.
