Suddenly Single

by Millie Criswell

  Which, come to think about it, might not be such a bad fate.

  Two days later, Lisa was in the kitchen, preparing a celebratory dinner for herself and Leo, who had purchased a standing rib roast in honor of her newly found independence. And only slightly ecstatic because Lisa intended to move into an apartment of her own, as soon as she could locate something suitable and close to the bakery.

  Checking the roast one more time, she wiped her hands on the apron around her waist and began paring the potatoes to mash when a knock sounded at the door. She half hoped it was Alex, whom she hadn't seen since he'd moved in with her parents. She was dying to know how he was faring. The thought of her mother bossing him around had her smiling evilly as she hurried to answer the summons.

  Lisa wasn't prepared for the sight that greeted her.

  Miriam and Rupert Mackenzie stood on the other side, holding a bouquet of daffodils and carnations. Alex's mother smiled, handing her the flowers, which Lisa crushed to her chest, as if they could protect her from the enemy.

  "Hello, Lisa. May we come in? We won't take up much of your time."

  A multitude of emotions surged through Lisa, one of which was anger at their audacity in just showing up on her doorstep, as if she had nothing better to do than entertain them. "That's good, because I'm preparing dinner for a guest." She placed the flowers on the sideboard, unwilling to give them too much attention, lest the Mackenzies thought she could be bought off so easily.

  "Is my son coming over for dinner? I'd like to speak to Alex," Rupert said, looking vastly uncomfortable at being in her presence, as he shifted from foot to foot.

  It was clear to Lisa that it was not his idea to be here.

  "No, he's not. Alex is living with my parents, for the time being, so you might want to visit him over there."

  "Oh?" Miriam was clearly surprised. "We will, but we'd like to talk to you first, if that's okay."

  Lisa wasn't sure she wanted to speak to the Mackenzies after all they had put her through, but she was determined not to be as rude as they were. "I didn't think we had much to say to each other. Am I wrong?" she asked, inviting them to sit on the sofa.

  "What a lovely room," Miriam remarked, her gaze touching on all the fine antiques and beautiful fabrics that were Leo's pride and joy.

  "We came here in person to apologize. Leaving phone messages is just not adequate, I'm afraid."

  "Rupert and I realize that we were not as welcoming as we should have been when you came to live with us, and feel badly that we have caused a rift between you and Alex. Please forgive us."

  Lisa was so stunned at that point you could have knocked her over with a feather.

  Miriam Mackenzie apologizing? Would wonders never cease?

  After she found her voice, she said, "I'm not sure I will ever forgive you," and noted how Alex's father winced. "But I do accept your apology and appreciate your courage in giving it."

  "My son is a peacemaker," Rupert said. "Always has been. I think what you perceived as Alex taking our side, was merely his way of trying to make peace, while keeping the family together. We were wrong to put him in that position."

  "Yes, we were. I hope in time you will find it in your heart to forgive us, Lisa, and we hope Alex will, too," Miriam said. "He's still very angry with us, and rightly so."

  Lisa wondered if this was some alien creature dressed up to look like Miriam, because this person certainly didn't sound or act like the Miriam Mackenzie she knew. That woman would never have eaten humble pie.

  "We want you to know that you are welcome in our family, and that if you do decide to come back, we will endeavor to make up for our previous rudeness and inhospitality."

  "Warts and all?" Lisa couldn't help asking, arching an eyebrow. "It seems you weren't too happy with the way I dressed, talked and behaved. Are you sure you want me around your friends? I didn't get that impression, especially when it came to the country-club crowd."

  "Friends are friends, but family is what's important."

  Before Lisa could respond to Miriam's remark, the door opened and Leo came strolling in, carrying a bottle of wine and wearing a burgundy-velvet suit, along with a big smile.

  "I dressed up for the occasion, sweetie."

  Alex's parents stared first at Leo, eyes widening at his flamboyant appearance, and then at Lisa, for an explanation.

  "Oh, sorry. I didn't realize you had company," Leo said.

  "This is Leo Bergmann, my roommate. Leo's gay, in case you were thinking that something's been going on between us," Lisa told her in-laws, quite matter-of-factly.

  Miriam's and Rupert's eyes widened at that disclosure, but remained silent.

  "Leo, this is Miriam and Rupert Mackenzie—Alex's parents."

  Leo stuck out his hand to Rupert, who finally gave his after thoughtful consideration, as if homosexuality might be contagious. "Pleased to meet you. I've heard oodles about you two," he said, smiling at Miriam, who nodded curtly in return.

  The Mackenzies rose to their feet. "We hope you'll take to heart what we've said, Lisa." Miriam smiled encouragingly. "It was nice meeting you, Mr. Bergmann." With that, she and her husband hurried out of the apartment.

  Once the door closed behind them, Lisa burst out laughing. "I don't think they've ever met a gay man before."

  "At least not one whom they knew was gay," Leo agreed. "Why did they come here? Did they try to pay you off, ask you not to see Alex ever again?"

  Lisa shook her head. "They came to apologize, if you can believe that. I certainly can't. It's so strange. I don't think it was Alex's idea, either. They haven't seen him yet, from what I was led to believe."

  "So why the change of heart?"

  She shrugged. "Beats me. But they want to welcome me back to the family fold."

  "Yeah, so they can smother you."

  "I don't know." Lisa grew contemplative. "They seemed very sincere."

  And if she could get along with Alex's family, then maybe…

  "I thought we were going to celebrate your independence," Leo reminded her. "Are you seriously thinking about giving up your job at the bakery and moving back to Florida to live? Would you be happy there, after how hard you've worked to become liberated?"

  Lisa shook her head, unable to answer. She hadn't thought that far. And even if she had, she didn't have the answers to any of the questions floating through Leo's mind, or hers.

  12

  Alex and Lisa entered the movie theater the following evening at eight o'clock, loaded down with popcorn, Milk Duds and soft drinks.

  Once they were seated inside the nearly empty cinema, Alex turned to Lisa and said, "I appreciate your going out with me tonight. Hell, after my parents impromptu visit of yesterday, I wasn't sure if you'd still be talking to me." He'd been furious when he'd found out what they'd done. But by then, of course, it had been too late. Miriam and Rupert had proceeded, as usual, with no thought to anyone else's wishes.

  "I take it you had no idea that your parents were in town," Lisa replied, reaching over to grab a handful of the buttery popcorn and stuffing it into her mouth. She made appreciative noises that had Alex's gut tightening.

  He cleared his throat. "None whatsoever. I haven't had any contact with either of them since shortly after you left Florida. And then they just show up on your parents' doorstep, unannounced, like it was the most natural thing in the world for them to be there." He wouldn't bother to mention that Josephine had probably initiated the visit. He'd bet money on it, in fact.

  "How did my mom react? She's not overly fond of your mother and father, you know. She compares them to Mussolini."

  Alex smiled at the comparison. "Josephine was gracious and invited them in for coffee and dessert. They didn't stay long. Just long enough to beg me to come home, remind me of my familial duties, etcetera, etcetera."

  "And how did you hold up during all that? I'm sure it must have been difficult. Your parents are not the type of people to pull any punches. They certainly didn't with me."


  "Okay, I guess. It was awkward at first, seeing them after such a long time with no contact, but we made the best of it. They're my parents. I love them. What else could I do?"

  "Nothing, I guess. Did they say why they haven't tried to reach you?"

  "My dad said he tried calling me on my cell phone several times, to tell me he wants me back working in his firm. I said no. I'm determined to make a go of this new venture, no matter what I have to do. It's time I became self-reliant. I should have done it years ago."

  Hindsight was always twenty-twenty, unfortunately.

  Alex's feelings regarding his future seemed to reflect Lisa's pretty closely, and she acted pleased by his response. "So how's it going? Mom told me that you were starting your own mortgage company. That seems like a pretty ambitious undertaking."

  "Trying to. I've been meeting with bankers, investors, insurance companies, getting my ducks in a row. My last name has opened a few doors, but I'm determined to do this on my own. It won't be easy, and there's a lot of risk involved—not to mention money— but I think I can do it."

  "Will you have to borrow a lot to get started? I doubt your parents will give you any, under the present circumstances."

  "I wouldn't take it, even if they would. When my grandmother died she left me a small inheritance, which I intend to invest in the company."

  "I'm sure you'll be every bit as successful as your dad."

  Alex felt a warm glow. "That's nice of you to say. I learned a lot from working with my father. He's a smart businessman, for all his failings as a human being. But I don't want to run my business like he does, with no heart, thinking the only important thing is the bottom line. I want to treat people with dignity and respect. I want to help them succeed."

  "Pardon me for saying so, Alex, but you're nothing like your father. And that's a compliment."

  "Thanks. I know if given the chance, I can be successful at running my own mortgage business."

  "Sometimes all we need is a chance," Lisa said meaningfully, and Alex nodded, wishing again that he hadn't been so blind and stupid where his wife had been concerned. For a smart guy, he'd been pretty damn dumb.

  "Guess you weren't given much of a chance by my folks. I'm sorry about that. You deserved better."

  "They've apologized and I've accepted."

  "That was gracious of you, considering everything they put you through."

  "I said I accepted their apology, not that I've forgiven them, Alex. That will take some time, if ever."

  "I'm a patient man. I'll wait however long it takes you to forgive me. I pray only that you will." He squeezed her hand. "I love you. Always have, always will."

  Lisa sighed. "Oh, Alex. Everything's such a mess. How did we get to this place? I really thought—" She shook her head. "Never mind."

  "What? Tell me."

  "That I'd found what I was looking for in a man, that for the first time in my life I had tossed aside all my preconceived notions and let my heart rule my head. But I see now I was wrong to do that. We're just too different people from too different worlds. Our marriage would never have worked, even if your parents hadn't interfered."

  "That's not true! Okay, so we're different. So what? That's what makes life interesting. I admit, I was an ass for not standing up for you with my parents. But I love you, Lisa, and I want us to be a couple again. I'll do whatever it takes to make that happen."

  The theater darkened and Lisa lowered her voice to a whisper as the previews began to play. "I have a lot to think about, Alex, things to sort out about what I truly want. Now is not the time for that. I won't be able to concentrate with Kevin Costner on the screen."

  Her attempt at levity made him smile. "Hard to compete with a cowboy, I guess."

  "Yep. And Kevin plays one so well."

  "Costner just acts like himself. Not much real acting going on, if you ask me."

  "Yeah? Well, so did John Wayne and he became a Hollywood icon. Not bad for a cowboy, huh?"

  Alex sighed, willing to accept defeat. "It's doubtful I'm going to win this argument, so I'll just keep my mouth shut. Pass the popcorn."

  "Heard you and Alex had a date last night. What's up with that?"

  Tucking her feet beneath her, as she made herself more comfortable on Leo's sofa, Francie reached for the glass of milk her sister had placed on the coffee table.

  "There was no necking in the balcony, if that's what you're asking," Lisa tossed back, reaching for an oatmeal-raisin cookie before sitting down beside her.

  She would love to have swapped spit with Alex, but that wouldn't have been a very smart idea, as confused as she was at the moment.

  "Mom thought it was a big enough deal to tell me about. I was just curious, that's all."

  Lisa sighed. "Alex spent a good portion of the evening apologizing. We discussed our differences, which he totally discounted. He seems to be pulling away from the hold his father had over him, and is starting his own mortgage-banking business."

  "But that's good, isn't it?"

  "I guess."

  "You know you love him, Lisa. Most of us get only one shot at true love, and I think you've found yours with Alex."

  "I do love Alex. I always have, I guess."

  Francie looked inordinately pleased by the confession. "So, are you getting back together? I really hope you do, Lisa. I've given your situation a lot of thought, and I've come to the conclusion that you and Alex belong together. It wouldn't be fair to the baby not to have two parents to—"

  "Whoa!" Wide-eyed, Lisa held up her hand. "What baby? What on earth are you talking about?"

  "I told you that Mom is positive you're pregnant, and she's been telling that to everyone who will listen. I just assumed—"

  "Who's everyone?"

  "The Mackenzies, for starters. They are overjoyed at the prospect of becoming grandparents, according to Mom."

  Nearly choking on the cookie, Lisa grabbed the milk glass out of Francie's hand and swallowed a large gulp. "Dammit! No wonder they were so apologetic and nicey nice when they came by here the other day. I had a feeling something was up. I just wasn't sure what."

  And if the Mackenzies knew, then Alex surely knew. But he hadn't let on or said a word.

  Was the idea of a baby the reason he'd been pushing so hard to reconcile?

  "Mom likes the Mackenzies. She says once you get to know them, they're not bad people."

  "Yeah, I'm sure that was true of Mussolini, too. Well, hooray for Mom. Maybe she can move in with them."

  "Don't get mad at me. I'm just telling you what she told me. So, are you pregnant? Do you know for sure one way or the other?"

  "All the home pregnancy tests I've done have come back negative. But I still haven't gotten my period."

  "Those tests aren't foolproof, Lisa. You could still be pregnant. You should go see a doctor, get a professional opinion. At least you would know, once and for all."

  "You mean that I shouldn't just take Mom's word for it, like everyone else?"

  And what would she do if she found out she was pregnant?

  A baby wasn't a good enough reason to stay in a marriage. There had to be love, respect, trust and all that other stuff the minister had mentioned.

  And she did love, respect and trust Alex, but was that enough to overcome the differences between them?

  Her sister shrugged. "Mom made a pretty convincing argument, Lisa."

  "What about you? Is the stork about to visit your house?"

  Hemming and hawing, Francie said finally, "I'm not certain. I've had inconclusive results—two have been positive and two have been negative. I have an appointment with Dr. Franklin in a couple of weeks."

  "Really?" Lisa's eyes lit with excitement. "And do you think you might be?"

  "I don't want to get my hopes up. I may just be trying to convince myself I am because I want to have a baby so badly. Mark thinks we should just wait and see what the doctor says. We're not telling anyone about this, including Mom and Dad, so you are s
worn to secrecy."

  "If I know you, Francie, you've already dragged Mark to the baby store to look at cribs and baby furniture."

  "Just once." She sighed. "I've been praying every night."

  "I'm sure it'll all turn out the way you want it to."

  "And how do you want things to turn out for you, Lisa?" Francie asked. "You love Alex, and he loves you. But now that you've got that great job at the bakery and all those plans in the works, are you going to be able to just give them up and go back to your idle, rich life in Florida?"

  "I would never go back there, and Alex knows it. We haven't discussed anything like that yet, but I've made my feelings pretty clear on the subject of family interference. And I think Alex is getting a large dose of that by living with Mom, the world's master manipulator. He told me she's been giving him instructions on the proper way to do his laundry." Lisa grinned, and Francie laughed aloud.

  The words were no sooner out of Lisa's mouth when the phone rang. She answered the portable and groaned.

  "Lisa, it's your mother. Are you taking care of yourself, drinking plenty of milk? I heard about the refurbishing of the bakery and I don't want you breathing in those paint fumes. It's not good for the baby."

  Lisa counted to ten beneath her breath, asked God for patience, and then said, "What baby is that, Mom? Have you been spreading false rumors about me?"

  "Of course not! I'm just telling people about the possibility that you could be carrying Alex's child."

  "And I hear that you told this to Alex's parents. Is that true?"

  A long silence, then, "I may have mentioned something to the Mackenzies about it. As the grandparents, they have a right to know."

  "There is no baby. I keep telling you that. I don't appreciate you getting their hopes up about something that isn't going to happen."

  "You can't be certain of that. You haven't been to the doctor yet."

  "I think I know my own body, Ma. I've been telling you I have no symptoms. I'm not throwing up, my boobs aren't sore or any bigger, and I haven't gained an ounce since I've been back."