“I certainly do.”
Eager to hear more about her niece’s new paramour, Peg leaned in. “So tell me about this Mr. Fox. I know he plays baseball. How did you two meet?”
Cathy liked the idea of being able to share her news about Marcus with her aunt; she knew she wouldn’t judge her for the budding relationship with a younger man.
“We met at Keen’s by chance. I was there to have lunch with a client who didn’t show up and he happened to be there for lunch, too.”
“I know you didn’t go up to him. You have a bit of that wallflower thing when it comes to men. You don’t have it in business, though.”
Cathy was a little bashful. “You’re right. He approached me.” She smiled. “I really like him.”
Her aunt gave her skeptical look. “You remember that old commercial that said it isn’t nice to fool Mother Nature? The same thing applies to me. Don’t kid a kidder. You look like a woman in love. Are you?”
Cathy hesitated. She hadn’t admitted it out loud to herself yet. “I am, but it might be too fast, don’t you think?”
Her aunt shook her head. “Sweetheart, I don’t think you’re old but once you are over thirty you don’t have the same kind of time or energy to mess around trying to figure things out. Besides, who says love has to adhere to some kind of schedule?”
“The heart wants what it wants.”
“When it wants it, my dear niece.”
“Being with him has been incredible. He’s a real good guy.”
“Of course he is. If you love him, he has to be. Just do yourself a favor and don’t let all the size bull get to you. They have to sell papers.” She stood up. “Just remember, today’s news lines the bottom of tomorrow’s bird cage.”
She laughed. “That is too funny, Aunt Peg.”
“And too true. I have to run my dear.” She gave Cathy a kiss. “Tell your sister I will give her a call soon and we can talk wedding.”
“I will. I know she’d like that.”
“I won’t tell her you told me the date. I’ll let her spring it on me.”
“Okay.”
“So you take care, honey.”
“I will, Aunt Peg. You do the same.”
It never ceased to amaze Cathy how different her mother was from Peg. Her Aunt Peg always counterbalanced her mother and set her straight whenever it was necessary. Religion or not, she didn’t let Elizabeth get away with anything. For Cathy and Anna it was nice to have someone in their corner.
CHAPTER 20
Done with the workday, Anna and Cathy busied themselves in the kitchen. Anna chopped vegetables while Cathy butterflied chicken breasts.
“You did what?” Anna was still laughing.
“You heard me. I chased her.”
“The mental picture I’m getting is a hoot!”
“Mom was acting like she was playing dodge ball with
the shopping cart. I thought she was losing her mind until she said we were being followed. All I could think was, ‘What the hell is this about?’ ”
“I bet the woman was scared.” “I was an angry black woman with an attitude. Hell, I’d be scared, and it was me.”
“I just think it’s amazing that after that kind of scene, you had lunch with the stalker.”
“Isn’t that strange? We actually had a nice lunch and she gave me some valuable information about Cybil George.”
“Really? What did she tell you?”
“She told me things I knew, like how long they went out. But she also told me the newslink brief we saw last night was bull.”
“What?”
“Not on Marcus’s part but on Cybil’s. She’s shooting a film in Baltimore but the film’s shooting in the same area where The Wire films.”
“That’s nowhere near Camden Yards,” Anna said. “Right.”
“So she’s putting herself in his face on purpose.” “She wants him back.”
“What are you gonna do?”
“What am I going to do? What should I do? Slap her with my glove and challenge her to a duel at sunrise?’
“You could go to Baltimore.”
“Why? We’ll be in Tampa Friday afternoon. I can’t live my life running after a man in the hopes of keeping another woman from him. That’s not a life.”
“You’re right. I wouldn’t do it either.”
“I will tell you that your mother was in rare form today.”
Anna rolled her eyes. “When isn’t she? Did she ask you anything about my wedding plans?”
Cathy secretly wished she could say yes. Anna’s first husband had been one selfish son of a gun, an overly critical, demanding liar. Somehow, Elizabeth had managed to remake his image as something better than what he actually was. Roger was the polar opposite: supportive, patient and unselfish. What more could a mother want? At least that was the way it was supposed to be.
“No. She did tell me she didn’t approve of our conduct.”
“Approve? She used the word approve?”
“Yep. Be happy you don’t have children. Then you’d be flaunting your sex life in their faces.”
“Cathy, your kids aren’t babies, they’re eighteen. It’s ridiculous.”
“Of course it is but we can’t change her. I had a conversation about it with her today. Mom isn’t getting mellow with age; she’s getting more and more rigid.”
“You talked to her about it?” Anna was shocked.
“Wonder of wonders, I know.” Cathy threw her hands up. “It didn’t change anything. There is no talking to her.”
“Well, technically she’s not supposed to talk to us. After all, we are demons.”
“Oh, that’s true.”
“Why can’t she just be our mother? That’s what she was before ‘the truth’ entered our lives. Why is it so hard?” Anna had a hint of longing in her voice.
Cathy shrugged it off. “Anna, I don’t think she knows how anymore.” Cathy pounded the chicken breast harder.
“Cathy, are you trying to thin out the chicken breast or pulverize it?” Anna pointed to the chicken, which looked as if it had been through the food processor.
Cathy laughed. “I guess I’m more uptight about this subject than I thought.” She paused. “Coming out of that religion was like getting off the space shuttle.”
Anna shook her head. “It’s a shame but it’s true. We might as well have been from outer space it was such a shock.”
Cathy butterflied another breast. “That’s why I got out when I did.”
Anna laughed. “But it still took you like four years before you’d put up a Christmas tree.”
Cathy snickered. “I know. Wasn’t that too much? I was celebrating Christmas but I was actually scared to put up a tree.”
“Afraid you’d be struck down by lightning.” Anna chuckled.
“Something like that, but I’m still standing.”
“Mom thinks we don’t believe in God anymore.” Anna sighed.
“That’s just silly. We didn’t throw out the baby with the bathwater. We still believe in God. I just don’t go to a building to prove it.”
“That’s why I’m so lucky to have found Roger. He really understood and he didn’t pressure me about anything, including religion.”
“To quote Martha, that’s a good thing.”
“His pastor is performing the ceremony.”
“I guess that means Mom will be in the reception area until after the ceremony.”
“You really think she’ll do that? We’re not getting married in a church.”
Cathy put the knife down. “She stayed in the car for Alicia’s ceremony and it was summertime in Baltimore. So you know she’d rather get heatstroke than sit for 20 minutes.”
Anna sucked her teeth. “You’re right.”
“Don’t worry, you’ll still have a beautiful wedding and your marriage will be blessed.” She paused to rinse the chicken. “By the way, I saw Aunt Peg today.”
“Oh yeah? I didn’t realize she was back from Lo
ndon.”
“Neither did I. I saw her at Barnes and Noble this afternoon after lunch.”
“How is she doing?”
“Really well. She looked good but she always looks good.”
“That’s true.”
“She asked about your wedding plans and she wants you to call her.”
“You didn’t tell her the date, did you?”
“I resisted. She’s excited for you, though.”
“At least she’s excited, which is more than we can say for Mom.”
“You can’t worry about it. She’s not going to change. Sure, she’ll put on a great show at the wedding but until then you know how she’s going to be.”
“I know Aunt Peg will put her in her place.”
“They don’t call her Peg for nothing. She’s been known to knock quite a number of people down a few pegs.”
“I used to wonder why they called her Peg when her given name is Yvette.”
“Now you know.”
The phone rang. Cathy washed her hands and picked up.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Cathy. What’s shaking?”
“Hey, Jim. How are you?”
“I’m great. I called to tell you about a gift I received today.”
“A gift?” Cathy asked.
“Yeah, I got a box of premium cigars and Johnny Walker Blue.”
“Really? Johnny Walker Blue.”
Anna shook her hand. “Fancy.”
“It came with a thank you card from Marcus Fox.” “Now wasn’t that nice of Marcus?”
“What is he thanking me for?”
“You remember when you cancelled lunch the other day?”
“Yeah. We still have a rain check for that, right?”
“Yes. Anyway, I met Marcus that day. So if you hadn’t cancelled the lunch we wouldn’t have met.”
“Oh. So you guys are dating?”
“It’s so refreshing to talk to someone who hasn’t read the gossip page.”
“I never read that garbage.”
“Then to answer your question, we are dating.”
“Hey, I guess I can add accidental matchmaker to my curriculum vitae.”
Cathy chuckled. “I guess you can.”
“Well, I’m happy for you, Cathy.”
“Thanks. Oh yeah, before I forget, I’m going away for a long weekend starting Friday.”
“Good for you. When’s the last time you took some real time off?”
“I have no idea. Still, better late than never.”
“Right you are. Please tell Mr. Fox I said thank you.”
“Will do.”
“You have a good time, Cathy.”
“Thanks, Jim. I will. Talk to you later.”
Cathy hung the phone up. “Johnny Walker Blue and cigars. I know Jim is in hog heaven.”
As she continued pounding the chicken, the phone rang again.
“Anna, would you get the phone please? I have chicken hands again.”
Anna picked up.
“Hello? Hey, Madison. Are you dropping by for dinner?” Anna’s tone suddenly changed from casual to distressed. “What? Where are you?”
Cathy saw concern on Anna’s face.
“Okay we’ll be right over.” She hung up.
“What’s going on?”
“Something happened at his apartment. Let’s just go.”
Cathy washed her hands and put everything away. Anna drove.
When they pulled up to Madison’s place, there were a couple police cars there.
“What in the world?” Cathy was stunned.
They jumped out of the car. Madison was pacing on the front lawn.
“Madison! Are you all right?”
“I’m fine, Anna.”
“What’s going on? Why are the police here?”
“He cut my phone line, which disabled my security system, allowing him to get in and destroy my place.”
Cathy noticed he was smoking a cigarette after quitting over a year ago.
“It was that guy, wasn’t it?”
“Yes. The guy’s completely unhinged.”
“Are the cops looking for him?” Cathy asked.
“They didn’t have to. He was still in there when I got home.”
“Oh my God.”
Just then two policemen brought him out in handcuffs. “I have to go to the station to press charges.” “We’re going with you,” Anna said.
“Thanks.”
“Why don’t you grab a few things from the house and stay with us.”
“Thanks, Cathy. I’ll bring my suitcase. I can use this weekend getaway more than ever now.”
“I’ll bet.”
The three of them walked back into Madison’s apartment. The destruction was unreal. The walls had holes and the furniture was spray-painted. Cathy stopped short of the bedroom; she didn’t want to see any more. Madison went in, threw some things into the suitcase and they made a quick exit.
Madison, who normally talked a mile a minute, was quiet on the way to the station. He was shell-shocked. Fortunately, it wasn’t a long car ride and they were soon sitting in the waiting area of the station. A detective called Madison to take his statement.
Cathy and Anna stayed in the waiting room for nearly an hour before Madison walked out. Raymond’s ex-wife and center of the storm, Mary Gianni, ran into the station just as Madison came out of the squad room. She ran over and hugged him.
“Madison. I am so sorry. This is my fault.” She was visibly shaken.
“It’s not your fault. He did this. You’re not responsible for his actions.”
“But if I hadn’t pressed him about the money…”
“Don’t say that. You were married for 18 years and you have four children to think about. You only wanted your fair share.”
“I thought you’d be angry with me.”
“Not at all.”
“Can I at least drive you home or to your cousins’ place?”
“That’s very sweet of you but my cousins are in the waiting room.” He turned to toward Cathy and Anna.
“That’s Catherine on the left and Anna on the right.”
They waved.
“You have a great cousin.”
“We know,” Anna said.
“Now you should go home to your kids,” Madison told Mary.
She gave him a peck on the cheek.
Cathy and Anna stood up.
“All done?” Anna asked.
“Yeah. What time is it?”
Cathy looked at her watch. “It’s eight-thirty.”
“It’s that late already?” Anna was surprised.
“I know I interrupted your dinner stuff so how about we head over to Pete’s?”
“Don’t worry about the dinner stuff,” Cathy answered. “We’ll just cook tomorrow.”
Anna agreed. “Right. Let’s go to the diner.”
v
Only a few people were scattered around the diner, having quiet conversations, reading books or working on their laptops. After they were seated they quickly ordered. The eggshell silence continued.
“I certainly feel privileged this evening,” Madison sighed.
Anna and Cathy looked at each other as if he was nuts.
“Cathy is actually missing a Yankee game.”
They broke up laughing.
“Thank God you broke the ice. It was getting to me,” Anna said. “We’re not used to being this quiet.”
“I know. That’s why I figured I would say something to get it over with.”
“Good. But I am missing my Mr. Fox’s game.”
“I didn’t think you cared,” Madison clowned.
“Of course I care. However, I can also catch the rebroadcast tomorrow morning,” she joked.
“I should have figured that.”
The waitress brought the soup over.
“So are you feeling better?” Cathy asked, then blew on the hot soup.
“A little. I’m just glad this night wil
l be over soon. Tomorrow is another day.”
“True,” Anna said.
“What happens next for you?”
“He gets arraigned and I wait for the D.A. to contact me about either a trial date or a plea bargain.”
“So they might get in touch with you relatively soon?” Anna asked.
“Most likely.”
“Good, the sooner you get this resolved, the better.”
“Yeah.” Madison looked distant. “I don’t want to talk about it anymore. Let’s talk about other things, happy things.”
“Like our upcoming weekend.” Anna smiled.
“Right. Have you booked the hotel yet, Cathy?”
“As a matter of fact, Marcus reserved three rooms for us at the Hilton.”
“The Yankees stay in which hotel?”
“To be honest, Madison, I don’t know.”
“I guess we can assume it’s the same one he booked us in.”
“We’ll find out soon enough.”
The waitress brought their food to the table and they fell on it. Apparently spending time at the police station had increased the hunger factor for the three of them.
“Anyway, Madison, I didn’t have the chance to tell you that Cathy had quite an eventful day.”
“Really now?”
“Oh yes. She and a freelance reporter made quite a splash at Stop-n-Shop.”
“What?”
“I’ll let Anna fill you in. If you’ll excuse me I need to go to the ladies’ room.”
Cathy could hear the game in the background, so she slowly walked to the ladies room so she could listen to the game on the way. She ducked into the hallway so Anna and Madison wouldn’t see her as she lingered to hear the score. The Yankees were leading 7-1 heading to the top of the seventh inning. “Yes!” she whispered before she went into the ladies’ room. Just to make sure they were still in the lead, she stopped again before going back to the table. The Yankees were up at bat with their lead still intact.
She sat back down at the table, confident of a Yankee victory.
“Cathy, I would have paid money to see you chase this woman in supermarket.”
“It was rather comical but it broke the ice. We had lunch here this afternoon.”
“Lunch with the enemy?”
“It wasn’t as bad as all that, Madison. We talked and I got to know her a little. She’s an Ivy Leaguer like us.”
Not His Type Page 29
