by K L Finalley
Alex and Olive laughed. "What is she seventy?"
Mallory didn't say a word. She opened her phone and showed them a picture. "Twenty-seven feet long with a sound system and a two hundred and fifty horsepower engine." She saw the awe in their faces. "Oh, I'm sorry. Did I mention the sunroof with waterslide and upper deck television and radio?"
"I didn't know you could get all of that," Alex said staring at the picture.
"Is that a top deck? Is the slide up there?" Olive said as she scrolled through the other pictures.
Paige looked over Olive's shoulder. "Where is it?"
"Still being outfitted, but when it's done, it'll be docked at the marina," Mallory replied. "You know, like old people do."
"You're such a bougie ass," Alex said.
"I know," Mallory said, the she left to collect the money for the sale of Jacqueline's dining room table.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
After the couch and loveseat were loaded, Jacqueline caught Paige as she boxed linens for a sale.
Jacqueline had been hoping they'd have a moment to speak alone. "How are you?"
"Still in shock. How are you?"
"The same. I. I'm still in shock. I guess I didn't see this coming."
Paige giggled as she folded the white towels against her body. "You as Editor? We all saw that."
Folding wash cloths, Jacqueline admitted, "I never did. You know, I saw myself as Managing Editor forever. I saw a Boyd as Editor. That job seemed…untouchable. Something you didn't doubt or aspire to. I had reached my goal." Placing the folded washcloths on the table, she asked, "Did you decide if you were going to tell Brett now or wait?" Jacqueline asked.
"I think I'm going to wait. We're still having a rough patch with the baby thing. I don't know that he'd be happy with the idea of me becoming Managing Editor."
"Was it something you ever wanted?" Jacqueline said as she leaned against the tale.
"Of course. No offense, but I've worked at the Sun longer than you have. I think I've done a great job..."
Realizing what she said to be true, Jacqueline interrupted, "You have. You really have."
"I wanted it all," she admitted. "Even the part, you just told me was untouchable." She smirked at Jacqueline and placed the towels and wash cloths in the box. "Did you tell Mallory?"
"Yeah, I did. She's excited, but I didn't tell her about you. I didn't want to make it that much more difficult," Jacqueline said as she dabbed her brow. "I'm gonna say this and then I want say anything more. If he ever finds out how long you knew, won't he think it was a conspiracy?"
"Jacqueline, to be honest, it won't matter. He'll be furious when I take the job and refuse to have more kids. Timing won't matter. I'll be the worst mother ever for choosing career over family," she said as she blinked the tears away.
Jacqueline took the box from her and closed it up. "Would you rather I tell Big Jack you aren't interested?"
"Of course not," she sucked hard, pulling her emotions deep within her. "This is my time. I wish Brett could understand that. I hope he does, but I have two wonderful children. And, I don't want or need more. Having a better job, giving them a better life makes me a better woman and a better parent. And. And, I'm very sorry if he doesn't understand that, but I won't give it up for him," she said more honestly than Jacqueline had ever heard her speak. "Now, grab that box. We got two hours to sell the rest of your stuff," then, she displayed her best painted on smile and rejoined the sale.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Quietly, Jacqueline drove along Interstate Four. Abbie and Zoe's reddened bodies were sprawled across the tan leather seats of Mallory's car. She chuckled at the sight of their thin limbs colored by six days of joy in the theme park capital of America. They'd eaten, swam with dolphins, splashed at waterparks, shopped, and rode more rides at more parks than she could count. They'd fought. They'd each cried. There was a moment on Monday afternoon when Jacqueline wondered if they were both going to be spanked, but Mallory had walked away instead. They'd taken pictures of everything and laughed all night. They'd been kids - the kind that Jacqueline was happy Zoe could be. Lying asleep in the back of the car, she was happy that they'd taken the time away from all the recent changes in their lives to enjoy just having fun.
Her glimpse of the sleeping children was interrupted by the sound of Mallory moving in her reclined passenger's seat. She'd wanted to stretch out and roll over, but she was limited by the space of a sedan seat. Doing the most that she could with her area, she lifted her legs and rotated away from the door towards the center console. While trying to keep an eye on the road, Jacqueline looked at her peaceful face.
On the way out of town, Jacqueline had watched as Mallory became forlorn as they traveled passed her parent's exit in Temple Terrace and, again, as they reached Owen's Plant City exit. She never mentioned it or discussed it with her, but her disappointment was obvious. It was the very pain that she'd hope wouldn't happen as their relationship formed, but she knew would. As they headed home, she was glad to see Mallory nodding before they'd reached Lakeland – only to find herself upset by that fact. They were embarking on a future, but she feared it would also be a little upsetting in the absence of her family. She reached over and stroked her face and watched her sneeze. Realizing that it was better to leave them alone to rest in peaceful slumbers, she turned on the radio.
When she pulled the car to a stop in front of Lauren and Josh's house, no one awoke. She reached down to her left and pressed the button to open the trunk. Still, no one stirred. She pressed the unlock button on the door. Nothing. All her efforts to slowly return them from their slumbers had failed. Direct measures were required.
"Baby, we're at Lauren's house," Jacqueline said as she placed her hand on Mallory's leg. "Baby."
"Huh?" Mallory mumbled.
"We're at Lauren's. We need to get the girls up and go inside for a few minutes."
"Yeah. Okay," she said, but she didn't wake up.
"Jax, are we home?" Zoe asked as she stretched her long legs under her mother's chair.
"Zoe, get your knees outta my back!" Mallory yelled.
"Baby, we're here. Set your seat up, so we can unload the girls."
"Where are we?" Abbie said.
"At your house," Zoe said rubbing her eyes.
Abbie opened her door sounding the ding of the car chime. The girls exited the car and raced to Abbie's front door. "Oh my God. Five nights with two eight-year old girls is too much," Mallory said returning the passenger's seat to its upright position. "We need to go away. Just the two of us."
"Okay, we will, but, first, let's go get their stuff and go inside and chit chat," Jacqueline said as she gathered debris from the car. "I want to get the car cleaned before tonight."
"Do I have to go in?" Mallory whined.
"Yes, we're leaving our kid. We have to go in."
"We had their kid for six days. We're leaving ours for one night," she grumbled.
"Won't take long," Jacqueline said as she headed to the trunk. With both girls' bags hoisted over her shoulder, she headed to the front door, then she recognized that Mallory was still in the car. She was returning to the car when the sun's rays reflected from Mallory's compact into her eyes. Watching her, Jacqueline yelled, "Ready?"
"Here I come," Mallory responded and trudged up to the house, so the two could enter together.
"Hey, I was coming out to help. I was just looking for some shoes," Josh said as Jacqueline opened the front door. He was walking around in board shorts and a tank top.
"No worries, man. I got it. They're still little," Jacqueline said as she dropped the bags at the front door.
"How'd it go?" Josh returned to the couch.
"Great," Mallory lied. "You know, they get along like sisters."
"Yeah, like sisters who fight one minute and cry to be together the next minute," Lauren said as she entered the room with Mason on her hip. She held him into the air in Mallory's direction.
Reaching for him, she sai
d, "He's gotten so big." Looking into his big, brown eyes, she cooed at him and he slobbered with delight. His gleeful face made Mallory happy she came inside.
"I was telling Josh when we go out to San Diego in the summer we need to take Zoe to pay you guys back for all the places you take Abbie," Lauren said. "You think that'd be okay?"
Jacqueline wasn't sure it would. She liked Lauren and Josh, but San Diego was cross country and she wasn't sure she wanted Zoe traveling with them so far. Before she could decline those pipe-dreams, Mallory said, "I don't see why not. I mean, she's supposed to go to see Cody, but you know how things have been."
Lauren sat down by Josh who had returned to his video game. "What's going on with that now?"
"Nothing. Not a word. Ever since I told him I'd see him in court I haven't heard from him," Mallory said as she bounced the baby on her lap. Mason squealed and reached for her ears.
"Really? I was so scared," Lauren clutched her chest as if Zoe's custody hearing had caused her sleepless nights, "that he might take her away."
"Well, not only is he never gonna take anyone away. He doesn't even want to," Mallory said as Mason slobbered in the top of her head.
"Who doesn't want to?" Zoe asked as she tickled Mason.
"Zoe, don't tickle him too much. I don't have a good enough grip," Mallory said. "Go away. You can play with him tonight. Let me play with him while I'm here."
"When are you coming back for me?" she asked as she continued to tickle his feet.
"We'll be back tomorrow evening," Jacqueline said. Mallory passed Mason to Jacqueline as she went to the restroom to dry the wet spot from her scalp. The chubby baby smiled at Jacqueline and bounced his own legs hoping she'd catch on.
"You're going to a ball tonight?" Zoe asked as she made funny faces.
"Save Our Children Fundraiser," Jacqueline corrected.
"Go play, Zoe," Mallory said as she returned to the room using a hand towel to blot her head. "Eight is going to drive me crazy," she said to Lauren.
"Tell me about it," she said as she yawned. "So, you guys are heading to the condo or the house?"
"The condo," Mallory said.
"Is there anything in it," Josh asked.
"Damn near nothing," Jacqueline laughed. "We've got what's in the bags we took to Orlando. We've cut this close."
"Where's all your stuff?" Lauren asked.
"We don't have any," Mallory laughed. "I mean, we have our clothes. They're in boxes at my old house in Clearwater. Our new furniture'll be delivered on Friday."
"What about all the other stuff?" Lauren yawned again.
"We bought it all brand-new stuff," Mallory pinched her fingers.
"But, it's in the house in Clearwater. We're gonna go to the condo and take a shower and put on our dress clothes," Jacqueline said.
"We have one towel and one washcloth to share tonight," Mallory laughed.
"Then, we'll go back and wear the pajamas we slept in while on vacation. In the morning, we'll brush with our travel toothbrushes..."
"I'll put on my travel makeup and we'll head over to the house," Mallory said.
"We'll do the final checkoff for the contractors and then the movers'll show up…"
"We hope," Mallory interrupted.
"They'll put up beds, dressers, nightstands, couches, televisions, tables, chairs, everything," Jacqueline said.
"They'll go over to Clearwater and bring our clothes and shoes and all the stuff we've bought," Mallory said.
"Hell, we paid them to put up the pots, pans, and dishes," Jacqueline admitted.
"You can do that?" Josh said while firing on the alien species.
"Yeah, we labeled the boxes and cabinets. You can pay them to pack and unpack. Like long distance movers, " Jacqueline said as she watched as Josh fought a fire fight. "Then, I'm going to the closing on the condo..."
Pointing to herself, Mallory finished her thought, "And, I'm going grocery shopping for our new house. We threw out everything. We need salt, pepper, toilet tissue. We're like kids who just moved out of our parents' house." They giggled together. Mason giggled, too.
Not giggling, Lauren asked. "Did this feel like a great idea?"
Looking at each other, they said in unison, "Yeah." Then, back at one another waiting on one to explain, Mallory was selected, "It's like a fresh start together. Minus our clothes, everything is ours. Everything is new. Right down to the toilet." Again, they laughed and, again, Mason laughed with them.
"So, I will head back to the house. We will take a shower, put on a nice change of clothes, and come and pick up Zoe," Jacqueline said. "Is that okay?"
"Oh, it's no problem at all. I can't imagine what you two have going on," Lauren said. "I'm tired just sitting here with Mason."
"Looking back, it's been crazy. We've sold a house, bought three houses, and are about to sell another, but it's like one long dream," Jacqueline said still bouncing the jolly baby.
"Bought three houses?" Josh repeated.
"I told you. They bought Mallory's old house and the one across the street," Lauren nudged him. "You're gonna rent them out, right?"
"Probably. We may sell one. We'll see," Mallory shrugged her shoulders. "Okay. We need to get outta here. Zoe, come say goodbye."
"Do you want us to bring anything to the party on Saturday night?" Lauren asked.
"Nope, just yourselves."
"And, it's okay if we bring Mason?" she pointed to him.
"Don't come if you don't bring him," Jacqueline blew on Mason's belly as he wiggled in her arms.
"Bye, Mom. Bye, Jax," Zoe said as she hugged them.
As they walked to the front door, Josh and Lauren escorted them to the car. "Thanks so much for inviting us to the party."
"What? Of course, don't be crazy. We're like family," Mallory said as she hugged Lauren goodbye. "You know, you guys can spend the weekend at the hotel if you want. We have a block rented. Just call and check in."
"We're in town," Josh said.
"In-town getaways are fun," Jacqueline teased as she eased into the car. Cranking the car, she rolled down the windows. Zoe ran to her side of the car. "Behave tonight. I love you and we'll come get you and take you to our home tomorrow."
"I know I can't wait to see my new room," Zoe said with nervous excitement in her voice.
"I can't wait to see it, too," said Abbie as they ran to the house.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Saving Our Children Fundraiser was a gala event hosted by the Southwest Florida Women's League. It was sponsored by a variety of businesses in the area. Its mission was to breakdown the economic and social barriers that prevented local children from achieving their potential and to hobnob with the southwest Florida's elite. Jacqueline had never attended. In years past, Big Jack and Jack, or just Jack, in recent history, had attended to represent the Sun, one of the key sponsors. However, this evening, Jacqueline stood at the top of the ballroom floor in a black tuxedo jacket with a purple and a pink polka-dotted handkerchief in her pocket. The jacket was open to a white, long-sleeved tuxedo shirt with pearl cufflinks. Her black tuxedo pants were hemmed perfectly and rested at the heel of her black, patent leather wholecut balmorals.
Standing atop of the stairs, she was on top of the world; and, she used that moment to size up the room. She scanned the crowd of executives and politicians, of sports figures and financiers, of old money and new money. She saw faces she knew and the faces who knew her. She smiled as eyes crossed her face and watched as they turned to whisper about her. She knew that the conversations were only beginning. She'd prepared for it. It was why she'd walked out first. It was why she'd stood above them and looked down, wanting their eyes to look up on her. Just as the buzz was dying. Just as the room had grown accustomed to her presence, she was joined.
Mallory was a startling redhead, the kind that catches the room's attention whether she meant it to or not. She didn't possess one single, incredible feature, but a combination of amazing features that no one woman shou
ld ever be so blessed to enjoy. Her long, wavy, crimson locks flowed down the right side of her face, past the high cheekbones and sea green eyes, past the chiseled jawbone and butterfly eyelashes.
She wore a long, lavender, form fitting gown that ruched at her natural waist and knotted for detail. Its bateau neckline drew attention to her regal neck and shoulders. She griped the side of the dress as she glided in her heels across the floor to Jacqueline who awaited her arrival without looking at her. As Mallory passed, people stopped and stared at her creamy, exposed back. When she reached Jacqueline at the staircase, she slid her long, thin fingers into Jacqueline's awaiting hand, and said, "It's not gonna be cute if I fall down these stairs." Jacqueline answered with a strong smile. The two rolled towards each other, then laughed for a moment as the crowd looked on. A moment of intimacy was witnessed by all who were there yet they were not included.
With Mallory against the banister, the two crept slowly down the curved staircase. Step by step. "My feet hurt already. Do you think anyone would notice if I slipped out of my shoes?" Mallory teased.
"The dress is long enough that you might get away with it," Jacqueline whispered.
"I might try later," Mallory said. Jacqueline looked over at her and smiled. Mallory winked back. When they reached the floor of the ballroom, they were swarmed.
The Managing Editor and Editor in Chief of the Florida Times Journal stopped to speak. "Good evening, Jacqueline," she heard.
"Well, hello, fellas," she hadn't used their names. She wasn't playing a psychological game. She couldn't remember them. "This is Mallory."
"Yes, we know," the older, fatter one said. "Mallory Cummings, the Program Director for The Scoop.
The taller, thinner one said, "We hear that the show is soon to be nationally syndicated. Is that right, Miss Cummings?"
"Good evening, Mallory," Channel Four's Station Manager, Phillip Todd entered. "Jacqueline. Gentleman."
"Good evening, Phillip," she said. Mallory was uneasy around Phillip who'd asked her repeatedly about her husband, but he had spoken on various occasions to Jacqueline. She was never certain if he understood the nature of her relationship with Jacqueline or if she should make a PowerPoint presentation for him.
