“But they’ve had parties for the last ten years, right?”
“Oh yeah. I’ve been crazy about giving them the biggest parties ever since.”
“So you’re a good mom. I’m sure they don’t hold it against you.”
“But I hold it against me.”
He hugged her. “Well, you should stop.”
“I know.”
“But this guilt isn’t just about birthday parties, is it?”
“No.”
“This is about dating and sex.”
“Those are two areas I still feel guilty about.”
“Cathy, it’s obvious to me that you are a moral person. I know you aren’t the kind of woman who sleeps around.”
“I know, but that doesn’t stop me from feeling guilty.”
“It should.”
“You’re right. It should. I used to feel guilty about my last relationship too. So when he cheated on me it felt like God was punishing me for not doing the right thing in the first place.”
“If the guy was stupid enough to cheat, that was on him, not you. It certainly wasn’t God punishing you.”
“Intellectually I know it, but I was in a religion that teaches if you leave it, God won’t bless you, and you’re on the same level as a dog returning to its vomit.”
Marcus cringed. “They teach you that about God? I’m not terribly religious but I don’t think God goes around handing out punishments. People reap what they sow.”
Cathy nodded her head. “You’re lucky you don’t have my mother’s voice in your head.”
Marcus thought about his mother’s relationship with his sisters. “It’s real easy for me to tell you not to think about it, but she is your mother so I get why you’re so bothered.”
“It would be nice if she’d be more of a mother and less of a religious zealot.” She sighed. “I guess I have to get over it.”
“I do have a solution to take your mind off it for tonight,” Marcus said sweetly.
“You do?”
“Yes. How about we go out to dinner and then maybe a little dancing tonight?”
Cathy was thrilled. “I’d like that.”
“Good. I’ll make all the arrangements. All you have to do is look pretty.”
“Oh no. I can’t go anywhere. I don’t have anything to wear out tonight.”
“Don’t be silly. You can go shopping before the game.”
“I did see a dress I liked about a week ago. I bet they still have it.”
“Good.” He looked at the clock. “It’s still early enough for me to leave in time for practice. I‘ll take my car. This way Louis can take you shopping, then drive you over to the stadium.”
“A night on the town sounds wonderful. I’m really looking forward to it.”
“Me too.” He stood up and took her by the hand. “Now let’s say we do our part for water conservation.”
“Do our part for water conservation?” Cathy was puzzled. “I didn’t know there was a water alert in the city.”
“There isn’t. But who says we can’t be environmentally conscious anyway?” He had a naughty look in his eyes.
He untied the robe and slowly led Cathy into the bathroom.
“Are you sure you want to be in the cold spot?”
“What cold spot? There are shower heads on both sides.”
“I see.”
He turned on the water.
“What if you don’t use the same shower gel as me?”
“We’ll use yours. I don’t care if I smell like a flower.” The robe fell to the floor.
“A raspberry, you’ll smell like a raspberry. Or we can use the vanilla if you like.”
They stepped into the warm shower
“Vanilla and chocolate. Sounds good to me.”
He closed the shower door.
v
After Marcus went to the stadium, Louis took Cathy shopping for a robe and a dress to wear for an evening of dining and dancing. He dropped her off in front of Lane Bryant. She went straight to the lingerie section. Even though Cathy had been bold enough to drop her robe and be completely naked in the daytime with Marcus, she wasn’t sure if she’d have the nerve again. So she picked up two robes, one sexy silk and the other functional terrycloth. As Cathy was locating her size, she noticed a couple of salespeople looking at her. She couldn’t understand the fascination and didn’t have time to figure it out. Robes in hand, she went to the sales counter
A very pretty young woman was at the cash register. “Good morning.” She smiled.
“Good morning.”
“Will you be using your Lane Bryant card?”
“No. I don’t have one.”
“If you open one you can get 10% off your purchase.”
“Thanks, maybe next time.”
“No problem.”
One of the two sales girls tapped her on the shoulder.
“Yes?”
“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to bother you, but aren’t you Catherine Chambers?”
Cathy was surprised she knew her name. “Yes, I am.”
One girl turned to the other. “See, I told you it was her.”
Cathy was flabbergasted. “Have I met you before?”
The salesgirl smiled. “No, I saw your picture in the paper today. You’re the big girl dating Marcus Fox.”
The girl at the cash register dropped the hanger. “Get outta here.” She had a strong Brooklyn accent. “You’re dating the Marcus Fox?”
The other salesgirl came over. “We were just talking about it this morning. I think it’s great.”
Cathy was overwhelmed. “Thanks.”
“No, really thank you. It’s nice to see a big girl get the dream guy.”
Cathy smiled. “I think so, too.”
“He is fine,” the cashier cooed.
“You won’t get any argument from me.” Cathy grinned.
The clerk rang up her purchases and bagged them. “Thanks for shopping at Lane Bryant. I hope the black one is for Mr. Fox,” she whispered.
Taking the shopping bag, Cathy whispered back, “It is a good day ladies!”
They waved as she walked out. She couldn’t believe how her dating Marcus was the plus-size community’s cosmic version of “Run, Forest, run.”
Cathy went from Lane Bryant to Ashley Stewart to pick up the halter dress she’d admired earlier last week. She’d tried the dress on before so she knew what size fit her.
Once in the store, Cathy went straight over to the rack, searched for her size in the black print and headed for the register. The saleswoman behind the register had the paper open on the counter.
“Good morning. Will this be all?”
“Yes.”
“Is that cash or credit?”
“Cash.”
As she pulled the security tags off she glanced at the paper and then looked at Cathy.
“I’m sorry, but this picture looks just like you.”
“What paper is it?”
“The Journal.”
“Then it’s me.”
She dropped the dress on the counter. “Girl, you’ve got it going on.”
She laughed. “Thanks.”
“It’s about time he stopped with those skinny witches.”
Cathy laughed because the clerk had said what she couldn’t say.
“And from the looks of things I’d say he’s been hungry for someone to fill his arms.”
Cathy was completely confused.
When she pointed to the hickey on Cathy’s neck, she blushed. She was so embarrassed.
“You don’t have to be embarrassed. Wear it like an accessory, because this dress is hot.”
“I know. I saw it a few days back but I couldn’t think of where I would wear it.”
“And now you’ve got someplace to wear it. You go, girl!”
Cathy paid for the dress and the saleswoman put it on a hanger to bag it.
“Here you go.” She handed the dress to Cathy.
“Thank you.
”
“Thank you for shopping at Ashley Stewart. Enjoy the dress and the man. Not necessarily in that order.”
“Bet on it.” Cathy got a good laugh.
She called Louis on the cell phone and he brought the car around. He took her bags and put them in the trunk while she got in.
Louis looked in the rearview mirror. “Ms. Chambers?”
“Yes?”
“I like the way you shop.”
Cathy chuckled. “Hey, I like a bargain as much as the next person. I just don’t want to bring a shovel to dig through each and every layer. It drives me crazy.”
“You’re a woman after my own heart,” he said.
Cathy winked and sat back in the seat.
Her cell phone rang. It was E.D.
“What’s shaking E.D.?”
“The question is, what’s shaking with you? I see you made the papers again today.”
“Isn’t that wild?”
“It’s certainly raised our profile. We’ve gotten so many calls we’ve run out of room on the machine and it’s Saturday.”
“Wow. That is something then.”
“You do sound relaxed and happy. It’s nice to call you and not have you fire off a list of clients, editors and publishers. It isn’t all about work.”
“You’re right.”
“Is this really Cathy?”
“Very funny.”
“I’m just kidding. You deserve some happiness.”
“I’d better go before the music from Beaches starts playing.”
“Okay, I’ll go. Have a good weekend.”
“Thanks, I will. Marcus is taking me out for dinner and dancing tonight. It should be fun.”
“Nice. Have a good time.”
“Thanks. Later, E.D.”
Up until a few days ago Cathy had no idea how to stop and smell the roses. E.D. always said she’d find the man who was truly right for her, and when she did she’d finally be able to exhale and enjoy life. He’d also told her she would not find that man in publishing. He was right.
Melvin was waiting to greet her for the afternoon game.
“Thanks for driving me, Louis.” She started to get out of the car. “Oh, Louis, I have these bags. Should I take them with me?”
“I’ll take them back to the apartment. I have a key and it will only take a minute.”
“Thanks, Louis.”
“You’re welcome, Ms. Chambers. I hope you enjoy the game.”
“I’m sure I will.” She got out of the car and turned to Melvin. “Hello, Melvin. How are you?”
“I’m good, Ms. Chambers. How are you?”
“Good. So where are we headed today?”
“You’re going back to the suite this afternoon so you don’t have to worry about the sun.”
“I have to tell Marcus I don’t mind sitting in the Loge section. It’s in the shade too.”
Melvin smiled. He knew not to say too much. She followed him to the suites section again.
“Here you go.”
“Thanks, Melvin. You’re a doll.”
“Don’t forget that if you want or need anything, there is someone here to get it for you.”
“I won’t.”
Although Cathy looked forward to an evening of dancing, she didn’t want Marcus to be out too late. She’d never met his boss in person but she knew hanging out late dancing wouldn’t sit too well with him.
Her cell phone rang.
“Catherine Chambers.”
“Hi, Mom.”
“Hi, Andrew.”
“Are you at the game?”
“As a matter of fact I am. I’m not in the stands. I’m back in the suite.”
“Cool.”
“So is anything going on? Did you see the paper?”
“Yeah, we saw it this morning. It wasn’t bad like you said.”
“I told you not to worry. So the pre-game is on now, right?”
“Yeah.”
Cathy heard a little something in his voice. “Andrew, is something on your mind? Do you need to tell me something?”
He hesitated. “You know we listen to the radio station out of Buffalo or Rochester.”
“Yes.”
“Today they did a gossip report and it was about you, Mr. Fox and Cybil George.”
“Really? What did they say that got you upset?”
“They said after Cybil read about you and Mr. Fox, she said she didn’t know he was a…” He was reluctant.
“Go ahead, Andrew. You can say it.”
“She said Marcus Fox was a chubby chaser.”
The words pierced Cathy’s skin but she didn’t let on. “Well, you know, honey, she has to say something. They were probably pressing her about it.”
“It doesn’t bother you?” He was relieved.
“No, honey, it doesn’t. Unfortunately, it’s just the kind of thing that sells newspapers and feeds a gossip happy public.”
“I’m glad you’re okay with it, Mom.”
“You feel better now?”
“Yeah. Thanks, Mom.”
“Maybe I’ll give you a call after the game. Okay?”
“Okay, Mom. Talk to you later.”
“All right then.”
Although it wasn’t unexpected, it didn’t make it any easier for Cathy to hear. She knew the press must have baited Cybil. Still it didn’t feel good to be right. Her remark had hit the target.
Tall, blond and willowy thin Cybil George was one of the most successful and in demand models in fashion. She was high fashion, high priced and high strung. No shrinking violet, her tirades were legendary.
Then it hit her. If this sound bite was on the stations upstate, then it was downstate as well. She had to find someone who still listened to those stations.
With ten minutes to go before the game started, she dialed Michelle first, but got no answer. Then she took a chance that her sister might have her cell on.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Anna, it’s me.”
“It’s about time you called. I read the papers this morning. You and Marcus are big news. So how’s that going?”
“It’s going pretty well. But listen, I need to ask you something.”
“What?”
“Have you heard anything on the radio about Cybil George?”
“Cybil George? Marcus’s ex-girlfriend? Other than what I read in the gossip section I haven’t heard anything else about her.”
“Andrew just called me to tell me about an entertainment report he heard on a station upstate. According to him, George was quoted as saying in response to the story that she didn’t realize Marcus was a chubby chaser.”
“Oh no. This was on the radio up there?”
“Yeah, and now I’m thinking if it was on the air way up there, it has to be down here.”
“It’s Saturday. Most of the stations play rebroadcasts of shows earlier in the week, but I’ll keep my ears open. I’ll check a couple of the radio stations’ websites; they usually have links for entertainment and people in the news.”
“Thanks. The game is about to start. Buzz me if you find anything out.”
“Okay. Later.”
Though the odds were not in her favor, Cathy hoped it was nothing. But something told her she’d be on the wrong side of a sucker bet.
CHAPTER 14
Cathy was grateful for the suspense of a close game. It kept her from wondering what was going on in the world outside Yankee Stadium. She was on the edge of her seat. It was the bottom of the seventh inning and the score was tied 2-2. There was one out and two men on base. In the distance she saw Marcus lean against the dugout as intense as ever. She wondered what was going through his mind. The count was 2-1 on Juan Lopez, who was having a roller coaster of a season. Yet somehow Juan usually came up with key hits or walks a younger catcher wouldn’t have the experience to do. Finally there was a crack of the bat. She got to her feet. The ball was hit hard to left field for a base hit.
She screamed as the cr
owd broke into a roar. Marcus clapped his hands together and she saw his million dollar grin on the monitor.
A two-run double. Hallelujah!
Just as Cathy grabbed her water bottle her phone rang. She picked it up quickly.
“Hey. You’re still at the game?” Anna asked.
Cathy was concentrating on the field. “Yes. We just went
ahead 4-2. So what’s the word?”
“There have been a couple of reports on the radio.” Cathy felt the wind go out of her sails. “I had a feeling.” “But what do you care? You’re with Marcus and she’s not.
She had to say something when they printed her name in the blurb. That’s all it was, Cathy, just a sound bite. Who gives a rat’s behind?”
“I know.”
“It doesn’t make you feel better does it?”
“Not really. I mean, I’ll keep my chin up but it hurts.” “Are you going to talk to Marcus about it?”
“It’s not his fault. There’s no reason for me to say anything.
I’ll get over it.”
“Cathy, I know it’s going to bother you. I think you should
talk to Marcus. I’m sure he’d want to know how you feel.” “Hell, Anna, I don’t want to know how I feel. But you may
be right; I need to get this off my chest before we go out
tonight. Maybe I’ll talk to him before dinner.”
“Good.”
“Listen, I’d better go. We’re still in the bottom of the
seventh.”
“Okay. Talk to you later.”
She closed her phone.
Cathy didn’t have a doubt that Cybil’s dig was aimed at
her, even though she’d said it about Marcus. She decided to
put her feelings on the shelf and enjoy the rest of the game in
relative peace.
The seventh inning proved to be the Yankees’ rallying
point and they went up 6-2. The bullpen came in and shut
down Toronto’s offense. The Yankees won and their winning
streak was extended to five.
v
There was a sense of jubilation in the Yankee clubhouse. The first part of the season had had even the faithful questioning their team’s chances. Then the Yankees had started to pull out seemingly from nowhere. A crowd of reporters surrounded Juan Lopez as he was the man of the hour. Already changed, Marcus sat down to put his shoes on. Mark sat next to him.
Not His Type Page 18
