“Well, Nick said you had a lovely dinner with him and he met your new bride. I was jealous because I wanted to meet her too. So, I thought I’d come down here to check her out.”
Changing the subject, I asked, “How’s the DNA testing going? Are we still just speculating that I am Ziggy’s offspring?”
“I thought you knew already—you are definitely Ziggy’s son. The DNA test came back I told my assistant to call you. He didn’t? Good help is so hard to find.”
I eyed her suspiciously.
“If you’re not careful I’m going to feel unwelcome, and I’m sure that’s not your intention. Besides, coming to meet your wife gives me the perfect excuse to bring the show to New Orleans.”
“You mean The Barnes Bunch?”
She nodded. “Sadly, it’s mostly me these days. The kids are so busy with their own lives it’s hard to find time to film them for the show.”
That was interesting. According to Nick most of the kids didn’t want to be on the show anymore, but Lucinda occasionally guilted them into it or they did it to boost a project they were working on. He said he’d pretty much stopped being on camera, and that Lucinda wasn’t happy about his decision. Since he’d also told me she’d tried to break up his relationship with Eden, I was wary about her meeting Chloe.
“I also wanted to run an opportunity by you.”
Warnings started going off in my brain like a radar detector. “What kind of opportunity?”
“The chance to be on television. Not a reality show per se, but perhaps you’d be interested in faith-based programming.”
“Like a televangelist? Haven’t those gone the way of big hair and phones that are still attached to the wall?”
She brushed a hand in front of her face as if she smelled something bad. “That preacher in Texas is making a fortune. People seem to like what he’s doing. Anyway, we could reinvent the genre, tailor it to you.”
Her eyes appraised me like she was judging a pig at the fair. “I mean you’re very handsome. A lot to work with there.”
“Lucinda, thank you for telling me that Ziggy was my father. Now I know where I came from, and I appreciate that knowledge. It’s a heavy mantle to be sure, but my intention is to continue my life the way it is, here in my little church parish where I have a lot of responsibilities and people counting on me. I’m grateful for your kind offer, but I’m really quite content here.”
She shook her head slowly, and I think she actually felt sympathy for me.
“Oh, Bishop Soto, I believe you are selling yourself short. Your loyalty to your flock demands my respect, but have you considered how much further you could reach with Barnes Media behind you?”
I knew she would tell me so I didn’t bother answering.
“Millions of people—that’s the kind of reach I’m talking about. We are the top influencers in the United States, which is probably the most influential country in the world. I’m not sure that God would really appreciate you turning down an opportunity to reach such a wide audience.”
I hadn’t thought of it that way. I still felt like I was simply being manipulated by her persuasive argument. “I’ll think about it. How about that?”
She brightened. “Well now, that’s all I can ask, isn’t it?”
“Thanks for stopping by.”
“Oh, you know you’re not getting off that easy. Let me take you and your bride out to dinner tonight.”
“Today’s Wednesday, so we have a church dinner. We won’t be able to make it tonight, I’m sorry.”
“I’ll be here all week. How about tomorrow night?”
Knowing she wasn’t going to give up, I agreed. “That will be fine, Lucinda. Text me the time and the place and we’ll be there.”
“Wonderful. Be thinking about my offer, and save yourself a bunch of time. Because in the end, you know you’re going to see it my way.”
I could see how Nick found her infuriating.
“Have a nice day, Lucinda.”
The next evening Lucinda met Chloe and me at Evangeline. I wasn’t sure how she knew it was my favorite restaurant, but clearly the choice was another indicator of how she had insider knowledge of my personal preferences.
We’d barely taken a sip of our cocktails when Lucinda piped up with, “So Chloe, how long have you been a stripper?”
I spit my drink all down the front of my shirt, and while I was wiping it off with my napkin, my beautiful wife fielded her question like a pro.
“Ever since my mother contracted early-onset Alzheimer’s and I had to help contribute to her care,” Chloe said, unruffled.
“I’m sure you make good tips, you’re quite lovely,” Lucinda said.
“Thanks, but I’m no longer dancing.”
“That’s a shame. What a talented girl you married, Eduardo. Let me know if you’d ever like to be in any music videos, Chloe. I could recommend you to the team that produces them for Ivy and Leo. They are always looking for talented dancers with fresh faces, and you my dear, are a breath of fresh air.”
“Oh, thank you. That’s kind of you to say, but I think I’ve hung up my G-string. I’m opening up a bakery soon. Just in the process of getting everything set up.”
Looking me square in the eye, Lucinda raised a brow. “She’s a go-getter too. Eduardo, you’ve chosen well. I like her!”
She turned back to Chloe. “I’ll bet that’s a big job.”
“It is. There’s so much more to do than I thought there would be. For instance, we’ve been refitting the kitchen to my specifications, and getting the contractors to show up every day is next to impossible.”
“Oh, I know. It’s like they live in a special world where ‘by Monday’ means ‘whenever I get around to it.’”
Lucinda and Chloe continued sharing war stories about dealing with contractors. Chloe really seemed to enjoy Lucinda’s company, and the gleam in her eye as she talked business with the Barnes matriarch wasn’t lost on me.
Later that night when we got home and were getting ready for bed, Chloe said, “You know, I really like your stepmom, or whatever she is to you.”
“Lucinda? She’s hardly my stepmom.”
“Okay, well she would have been if your dad were still alive.”
“But he’s not,” I snapped.
Stung, Chloe said, “Okay. Sorry. Guess I hit a nerve. Anyway, I like her.”
Great. My bride of five minutes and the “stepmother” I’d also had for five minutes adored each other, and I was on the outside looking in. What was that about?
It made me second guess my decision to introduce Lucinda to Chloe in the first place, but even as I thought it, I realized that I couldn’t keep those two apart even if I tried. Lucinda was a controlling woman who was going to have her way every time, no matter what anyone else thought of it.
Then it hit me. I was jealous that I didn’t connect with Chloe about her business in the same way Lucinda did. Plus, I hadn’t warmed to Lucinda the way Chloe had.
It felt disloyal to my own mother. How could I let this woman into my life—the legit wife of Ziggy Barnes, while my mother must have just been a casual fling? Growing up, I’d never really felt like a bastard, but this situation with the Barneses came with the reminder that while the Barneses had everything, my mother and I had been left with practically nothing.
And if Ziggy had wanted to do something for me, maybe he could have claimed me—not just made a deposit to a bank account.
I’d needed a father, and he hadn’t been there.
A part of me wanted to tell Chloe what I was feeling, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. So instead I tried to listen with a smile on my face as she prattled on about the great Lucinda.
23
Chloe
I was up to my eyeballs in sawdust and debris when I looked up to see Lucinda Barnes standing in front of me in my future bakery wearing a hard hat and a big smile.
“Lucinda! I wasn’t expecting you.”
“Well that’s somethi
ng you’ll just have to get used to. Anyone who knows me will tell you I’m full of surprises.”
“Where’d you get that?” I pointed at her hard hat which was exactly like mine.
“This hot guy out there gave it to me. The one with the abs. I mean, damn, he’s hot. Do you happen to know his name?”
I giggled. “I’m not sure, but maybe Ty?”
Lucinda gave me a knowing look. “Hey, you may be newly married, but I’m a single girl. I notice these things.”
We both laughed.
“Welcome to the future home of Chloe’s. I wanted to keep the name simple. We still have a long way to go with all the construction, but it’s starting to take shape.”
Lucinda shook her head. “I have to tell you, Chloe, this looks great, but this is a lot of demo. It looks expensive, like you’re going to have to sell a lot of croissants to pay for all this.”
My hopes fell. I had expected that. I thought she was going to say something a little more supportive.
She must have noticed my disappointment because she immediately reached out and touched my arm. “I’m sorry, Chloe. I didn’t mean to upset you. It just seems like a business like this might be a tough road. I know mom-and-pop shops can be difficult to keep running.
“The world is so overgrown with chains and big business . . . Don’t get me wrong, I support you one hundred percent and I wish you all the best. I’m sure you’ve done all the market research and have a sound business plan with financial projections and all that. I know you’re a bright girl.”
I had thought this through, and I had prepared some of the things she was talking about, but I never actually sat down with someone to review that like I had expected I would. I’d thought someone at the bank would want to see these and make their assessment as to whether my business was a good risk for a loan or not. But instead Eduardo had handled all of that and simply put the funds into an account for me so I was suddenly feeling like I’d skipped a step and I was walking a tightrope without a net.
Lucinda walked around the room stepping over a few stray pieces of wood and plastic sheeting. One thing about the woman—she looked as at home on a construction site as she did on a red carpet. It was something you had to admire.
“So, tell me what it’s going to be like once it’s completed and ready to be opened.” Her enthusiasm buoyed my spirits a bit, and my energy level rose as I gave her a tour.
“This is where the ovens will go. Here’s where we will have big counters for rolling out dough and mixing things. The bakery racks are scheduled to come sometime this week, and I have the most beautiful display counters picked out for the front.”
Lucinda lifted her shoulders with a smile like she’d just taken a bite of the most delicious thing she ever eaten. “Chloe, it sounds scrumptious. It makes me wish that you wanted to be on TV.”
“Wait. What?” I asked, thrown.
“It’s just that I can totally see you starring in a TV show.”
“What kind of TV show?”
“A cooking one, silly. Baking to be more specific.”
I eyed her suspiciously. This was the first I’d heard of that. I knew she was in the TV business, but I didn’t know she did anything with food TV. “I’m confused.”
“Just now, hearing you talk about your dream bakery, the way you’re making it happen—it just conjures up images for me of a set where you could cook on television and teach people how to bake. Or maybe you’d rather do a reality type show. I’ve seen some of those holiday bake-offs, and they’re fantastic.”
“Me on television? That’s something I’ve never really thought of. Honestly I just always wanted to have a bakery.”
“Of course you did. How would you have ever dreamed of being on television all the way down here in New Orleans? I mean, I guess you can get a spot with the local news where you can bring them some of your goodies and give some tips, but I’m talking about something much bigger than that.”
“So, I’m sorry, I’m so confused. Are you talking about me having a TV show like with your company?”
“Of course. I wouldn’t give my competitors my brilliant idea would I? For my new star to be.”
“So, if I was interested what would that involve?”
“Well, the first thing we would do is take our ideas to our development department. Mark is the head. He’s one of my favorites at Barnes Media. We’d see what he came up with—with your input of course.”
I nodded. Of course, echoed in my head.
Then we’d write up a contract, and after that was signed you’d come to Los Angeles, and we’d work on filming a pilot.”
“In Los Angeles?”
“Yes, dear. That’s where the magic happens.”
“I guess it is.” I was starting to feel numb. No, I hadn’t ever dreamed of cooking on television, but when someone offered you an opportunity like this one, you’d be a fool to turn it down, I thought, my heart racing.
So, what are your thoughts?” Lucinda asked.
“I’m not sure. Can I think about it?” I stalled.
She flipped a hand in the air. “Sure, but don’t take too long. These offers have a way of disappearing if I don’t think the talent has the passion and the interest in the project that I do. I’m sure you understand. I mean, I would be investing a lot of my money and my own resources into it, so I certainly can’t be more invested than my star.”
“What about the money? I mean I hate to ask, but . . .”
Well we have to see what my development team comes up with in the first place, but the minimum I can imagine would be for about three hundred thousand. To start.”
I felt my eyes bugging out of my head, and I did everything I could to try to draw them back in, but it felt impossible. That was more money than I’d probably made in my entire lifetime, maybe double that. It would take me years working in a bakery before I could make that much money, and I might never make that in one year.
My knees felt weak, and I started searching for somewhere to sit down. Not finding one, I planted a palm on the nearest counter and leaned against it
“Are you all right?” Lucinda’s brow furrowed.
“Yes, I’m okay,” I lied.
“Of course, we’d have to see how the audience responds and based on that we will know more about what type of show we should make. It’s possible that it could crap out after a couple of seasons, but we’ve never had a show be picked up for only one season. With our track record, the networks actually clamor for me to develop new programming, and I’m sure they will love a member of the Barnes family with culinary gifts.”
A member of the Barnes family? Disappointment coursed through my veins. This was all because I was married to Eduardo who was now the son of the famous Ziggy Barnes. I wouldn’t be getting this job based on my own merit or anything to do with me. This was just another body to fill a void in the TV Empire media.
My heart sank.
“What’s the matter?” Lucinda asked.
“It’s just . . . it feels weird . . . never mind.” I couldn’t very well tell Lucinda that my marriage was something of a business arrangement. That only made it more obvious that I needed to say yes to her.
“I just need to think about it a little.”
“I understand, sweetie. Don’t take too long,” she said, then leaned over to give me a kiss on the cheek.
For the rest of the day I was unable to keep my mind off Lucinda’s offer.
And I wasn’t sure which concerned me more—how my husband was going to react or how I could possibly turn down an offer for three hundred thousand dollars.
24
Chloe
Ever since Eduardo and I had dinner with Lucinda we’d been bickering. I wanted to chalk it up to the difficulties getting used to living with someone when you are used to living by yourself. I didn’t like to think that our minor disagreements meant any more than that.
In an effort to make things better I decided to try to up my wife game by making
him a special dinner. If it seemed a bit fifties housewife, I didn’t care. Something told me my husband would appreciate the gesture.
And he certainly went above and beyond performing his husbandly duties every night. Most mornings I awoke with a sweet soreness between my legs reminding me how good I had it in the bedroom.
I could see now why Eduardo must have wanted a wife so desperately. The man had a huge sexual appetite and a cock just as large. Even when we argued, we always found a way to come together in bed at night before we went to sleep.
There was something so intimate and rich about our sexual relationship that I almost wondered if I bickered with him during the day to keep a little distance between us. I wasn’t used to the kind of intimacy we shared in each other’s arms.
Tonight I was making beef Wellington—succulent beef hopefully cooked to perfection in a puff pastry along with a vegetable.
As I put the food in the open, I heard Eduardo’s key in the door.
He walked in looking haggard, but smiled when he saw me.
“You’re home! How was your day?” My enthusiasm was sincere. I had genuinely come to look forward to seeing him in the evenings. Even if we did sometimes fuss at each other.
“Long.” He set his briefcase down and collapsed in his favorite chair. For some reason I thought it was completely adorable that he had a favorite chair. It was blue and on the ugly side. But he loved it, and that was what mattered. My comfy old bathrobe wasn’t exactly stylish.
“I’m sorry. Can I get you something to drink? I’m making dinner now.”
His eyes lit up. This was only the second time I cooked dinner since we got married so it was more of a treat than an everyday occurrence. I envisioned a time when I would cook more frequently. I did love being in the kitchen, but these days I was so busy trying to get the bakery going that by the end of the day I usually didn’t have much energy left.
“A drink would be great, thanks. What’s for dinner?”
“Coming up.” I headed into the kitchen to get a beer out of the refrigerator, calling over my shoulder, “Beef Wellington and asparagus with hollandaise sauce.”
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