Behind the Pine Curtain

by Gerri Hill

  Kay stood rooted to the spot, her eyes slowly traveling over Jackie’s body as she walked into the hallway. Her breasts were still small, her body as lean as ever. Kay swallowed, realizing she had stopped breathing. Then Jackie looked up, her eyes finding Kay’s.

  “Christ! I’m sorry. I thought you were still asleep.” She hurried back into the bathroom, grabbing the discarded towel to cover herself.

  Kay smiled. Jackie had always been shy around her. Apparently, that hadn’t changed. “It’s okay. I was just going to make coffee.”

  “Yeah, but… I’m sorry.”

  Kay laughed. “You used to always hide from me in high school, too. Relax, will you? I’ve seen you before, Jackie.”

  Jacqueline blushed, then hurried into the spare room, closing the door forcefully and leaning back against it. She’d hidden from Kay in high school because she was certain that her body would give away her desire for the other girl. Innocent Kay had paraded around half-naked in front of Jacqueline all the time. It had been torture, pure torture.

  Kay was still smiling as she scooped coffee grounds into the filter. Jacqueline had a beautiful body. For the life of her, she couldn’t understand why she was shy about it. Then her hands stilled, her thoughts going back to high school. Kay had never been ashamed of her body, had never been shy about dressing in front of Jackie. And really, in the beginning, neither had Jacqueline. But that last year it seemed, Jackie avoided undressing in front of Kay, avoided being there when Kay was dressing.

  Then it hit her. Jackie had already known that she was gay, and she’d been embarrassed. And Jackie thought that, if Kay knew, then she’d stop being friends with her.

  “Oh Jackie,” she murmured. She shook her head, wondering what all had gone through Jacqueline’s mind during that time. She’d been scared, no doubt. Scared of losing their friendship. Kay wondered what she would have done had Jackie told her she was gay. Would she have been afraid of Jacqueline? No way. Jackie was her best friend. She would have never turned her away, no matter what.

  “I’m decent now, in case you were wondering,” Jacqueline said from behind her.

  Kay turned slowly, finding Jackie’s eyes, holding them captive.

  “You’ve always been decent, Jackie.” Kay walked closer, finally taking Jacqueline’s hands in her own. “We’re friends. No matter what, that’s not going to change.” Then she smiled. “So lighten up, will you?”

  “Yeah. Yeah, I’m sorry. It’s just, well, I…”

  “Don’t be embarrassed. You have a beautiful body, Jackie. I’ve always thought so.” Kay dropped Jacqueline’s hands and walked away before Jackie could reply, leaving her standing there with her mouth open.

  Sunday afternoon found them sitting outside on Rose’s patio, a tight card game being played between the four of them.

  “You never could beat us,” Kay boasted. “This time will be no different.”

  “Yeah? Well I doubt you and Jackie will remember the secret codes you used to cheat with,” Rose countered.

  “Cheat? Rose, we didn’t have to cheat to beat you. Geez, you and Eric sucked.”

  “It wasn’t me. It was Eric. And now Greg and I will kick your ass!”

  Jacqueline smiled at the banter between the sisters, watching as Greg dealt the cards. She had not played Spades since… well, since the last time she’d played with Kay and Rose. It had nearly been a ritual on Saturday nights when Jacqueline had stayed over.

  “Mommy? I want to play.”

  The child tried to climb on Rose’s lap but Rose put her right back down. “You’re supposed to be babysitting, Lee Ann.”

  “I’m six. I’m too little to babysit.”

  “They’re sleeping. How hard can it be?”

  “You want to sit in my lap and watch?” Kay offered.

  “Goody.”

  Rose rolled her eyes. “See? I can’t wait until she has some,” Rose told Jacqueline. “I’m going to turn them into spoiled brats, just like she’s done mine.”

  “What’s spoiled?” Lee Ann asked innocently.

  “It’s what you are when Aunt Kay is around.”

  “Aunt Kay says I’m sweet.”

  “And that you are,” Kay said. She positioned the child in her lap, then looked at Jacqueline and winked.

  Jacqueline smiled at her, then gathered the cards in her hand, hoping she remembered how to play. To her surprise, the ace of spades peeked back at her. That’s good, right? She looked at Kay and raised an eyebrow. What was the signal for the ace? Ah, yes. A tug on the right ear.

  Kay burst out laughing and Rose glared at her. “What?”

  “Nothing.” Her eyes twinkled as she looked at Jackie, and she nodded slightly.

  “What are you two up to? We haven’t even started yet. Greg, watch them like a hawk! They cheat.”

  “I’m not sure I even remember how to play,” Jacqueline said. “But I’ll go six.”

  “Six? Geez.” Rose studied her cards. “Two.”

  “Gonna get set,” Kay told her. “I’ll go four.”

  “Greg?”

  “Two.”

  “Two?” Rose leaned on the table. “There are only thirteen tricks.”

  “Gonna get set,” Jacqueline echoed. She tossed out the two of clubs to start the game. They all followed suit, and Kay gathered in the first trick. She was amazed at how quickly it all came back to her. She and Kay were on the same page from the start and not only did Rose and Greg get set, they only managed one trick.

  “I had forgotten how much I hated playing with you two,” Rose grumbled as she shuffled the cards for the next hand.

  “Very good, Jackie. I haven’t had a decent partner since you left,” Kay said.

  “I make her have Eric now,” Rose said.

  And so it went, Kay and Jacqueline easily winning the first game, only to be challenged to another by Rose and Greg.

  “I thought you promised us dinner,” Kay said. “And drinks? I think I’m past tea.”

  “I made up lasagna this morning. It just needs an hour to bake,” Rose said. “Jackie? Lasagna okay with you?”

  “Sure. Wouldn’t mind a beer, though.”

  “Me too,” Kay added.

  “I’ll get them,” Greg said, taking Lee Ann with him.

  “Check on the kids,” Rose called. “He’s so good with them. I really lucked out.”

  “He’s seems like a good guy,” Jacqueline said. “Doesn’t talk much though.”

  “With Rose around? He doesn’t get much of a chance,” Kay teased.

  They played another game, which ended up being much closer than the first, but still, Kay and Jacqueline won, much to Kay’s delight and Rose’s chagrin. By the time the lasagna was ready, all four kids were up and loaded with excess energy. Kay seemed right at home with them but Jacqueline, who had never been around small children, was a nervous wreck.

  Rose surprised them all by pulling out a very expensive bottle of wine. She handed it to Greg to open.

  “When did you get this?” he asked.

  “I’ve been saving it for a special occasion. I thought having Jackie back was special enough.”

  “Thank you. I’m honored,” Jacqueline said sincerely, touched by the gesture.

  Four adults and four children crammed around the table made for six and Jacqueline passed around the garlic bread after grabbing two slices for herself. She had missed this, she noted. Informal group dinners were a rarity in her life now, except when Ingrid and Cheryl included her in their get-togethers. Which was quite often, but it wasn’t the same as sharing a meal with the Garland clan. She always felt like one of the family in the old days, snatching food from Eric’s plate just to piss him off. Kay’s older brother had pretended to be annoyed, but Jacqueline knew, even back then, that he’d had a crush on her for years. Unfortunately, her crush fell to his sister.

  She watched Kay as Lee Ann and little Denny fought for her attention. She could tell Kay had a soft spot for Lee Ann, no doubt because she was
the oldest. Kay looked up and caught her staring, raising her eyebrows questioningly.

  “Want one?”

  “No, no. You’re doing just fine.”

  “How long will you be here, Jackie?” Rose asked.

  “Haven’t decided. Mr. Lawrence is reading the will on Wednesday. After that,” Jacqueline shrugged, “we’ll see.”

  “But your mother won’t be able to attend?”

  “Thank God, no. But Uncle Walter will be there, I’m sure.” Jacqueline turned to Greg. “How well do you know him?”

  “Walter? Oh, he’s right at home in the plant, doesn’t make it to the office much. But, he’s a nice enough guy. I worked much more closely with your father, actually.”

  “Really? I’m afraid I don’t know a whole lot about the mill.”

  Kay met her eyes, wondering if Jacqueline would tell them about the will. Probably not, since she hadn’t decided if she even wanted to keep the lumber mill.

  “Over the years, your father turned the sawmill into quite a large corporation. It’s no longer just about how much board feet we turn out. We’ve got a plant now that makes plywood. One that makes par-ticleboard. In the last five years, we’ve opened up a fiberboard plant.”

  “So instead of selling the waste wood to other companies, you use it yourself?” she asked.

  “Yes. In the old days, it was simply lumber and maybe trim, wood siding, things like that. We sold all of the by-products. But, your father was a smart businessman. Why sell all of the waste for practically nothing and let other companies make millions? So, he built the plywood plant first. It’s just taken off from there. The latest addition was the creosote plant.”

  Jacqueline couldn’t envision it all. She’d never spent much time at the mill, but all she remembered was the large building where the logs went in and nice, evenly cut boards came out. Now, all of this? Creosote? She could only imagine the pollution.

  “How many employees?”

  “Oh, gosh. I don’t know.” He shrugged. “Fifteen hundred, I’d say, here at the plant. That doesn’t include the logging company.”

  “Wow. He owned a logging company? I would have thought he’d contract out for that.”

  “Yeah. I think years ago, they contracted out. Keys Industries is now the largest employer in this area, by far.”

  “So Pine Springs Lumber is separate from Keys Industries?” Jacqueline asked, glancing at Kay.

  Greg looked at her, then at Rose. “Well, the mill still sells under the name of Pine Springs Lumber, but the rest, it’s all under Keys Industries.”

  Jacqueline took a deep breath. “I guess I’m confused. You’re saying the lumber mill, which my father and Uncle Walter owned, is a completely different company from Keys Industries?”

  “Well, yeah. Sort of. I mean, the plants are all there where the sawmill has always been. The whole operation is on two hundred acres. But Keys Industries is all your father, not Walter.”

  “How is that possible if he’s using the sawmill?”

  “I don’t know about all of that, Jackie. I’m sure Mr. Lawrence and the accountants can tell you.”

  Jacqueline looked at Kay. “Damn.”

  “What?” Rose asked.

  Kay gave a slight shake of her head and Jacqueline nodded. “Nothing. I just… well, I had no idea it had grown like it has.”

  “With your father gone, everyone is speculating what will happen now. Your Uncle Walter, he can run the plants but he didn’t have your father’s vision,” Greg said. “Oh, there are people that can carry on, no doubt. Managers and such, but everything still went through your father. People are probably going to turn to Walter now, but I think he’s in over his head. No offense, just my opinion.”

  “Greg, I haven’t seen Uncle Walter in more years than I can count and even then, it wasn’t like we were close. So, no offense taken.” Jacqueline’s mind was racing. The first thing she was going to do tomorrow morning was pay John Lawrence a visit.

  “Enough shop talk, huh?” Rose asked. “What I really want to know is if Jackie will still be here Friday night.”

  “Why?” Jacqueline asked hesitantly.

  “Mama said Eric should be back in town. I thought we could all get together here and grill burgers or something. I know he’d love to see you.”

  Jacqueline hesitated. Ingrid would kill her. Then she glanced at Kay, seeing the expectant look in her eyes.

  “I guess that depends if I still have a place to stay,” Jacqueline conceded. Yes, Ingrid would definitely kill her.

  Kay smiled. “Of course. Just don’t expect me to cook for you every night!”

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  “No, I don’t have an appointment. But I’m sure he’ll see me,” Jacqueline said politely to Mr. Lawrence’s secretary. She waited patiently as the woman walked into his office, closing the door pointedly in Jacqueline’s face. It took only a few moments before the woman reappeared.

  “He’ll squeeze you in.”

  Jacqueline controlled the urge to laugh, simply nodding at the woman. Apparently, she took her job very seriously.

  “Jacqueline, welcome. Come in, sit.”

  “Thanks for seeing me, John.”

  “Of course. How have you been enjoying your stay with Kay Garland?”

  “It’s been nice. I had Sunday dinner with her sister Rose and her family. We’ve had a chance to visit and catch up.”

  “Good, good.” He resumed his seat behind his desk, closing a file he’d apparently been reading. “Now, what can I do for you?”

  “Keys Industries. What the hell is it? I thought it was just another name for the lumber mill.”

  He cleared his throat, shifting uncomfortably in his chair. “Your father started Keys Industries probably fifteen years ago. It was just a name at the time, yes. He wanted something that was separate from his brother. But, he was majority owner of the lumber mill, and he used that to open up the various plants that are now there, all owned by Keys Industries, not Pine Springs Lumber.”

  “How could he do this? Obviously he used the lumber mill to his benefit. How did he compensate Uncle Walter?”

  “He didn’t compensate Walter, he compensated Pine Springs Lumber, which in turn, compensated himself as well.”

  “And Walter just went along with this?”

  Lawrence shrugged. “What could he do? Besides, the money that the new plants were bringing to Pine Springs Lumber was not exactly small potatoes. He’s made out quite well for not having to do anything except continue managing the sawmill.”

  “So my father’s real wealth was not in the sawmill at all.”

  “No. Keys Industries is big enough to warrant a CEO, a board of directors, etc. But your father didn’t want to go public. At least, not yet. He could have doubled his fortune if he had, but why? He was content being in control of all aspects of the operation. He hired managers for each plant, people he trusted, but still, he made all the decisions. He was still in control of everything.”

  “Well, that was all great at the time, but he’s not here now. Who’s going to make the decisions? The managers?”

  “There is no president to appoint someone, no. The new… the new owner will most likely need to make some decisions concerning all that.”

  “Me?”

  He nodded. “Now you see why I insisted that you come to Pine Springs.”

  “So when you said that Uncle Walter might contest the will, he really has no grounds concerning Keys Industries,” she said.

  “No. But your father also left you his portion of Pine Springs Lumber. That, I’m sure, Walter will contest.”

  “And my mother?”

  “I doubt your mother knows the extent of Keys Industries. For that matter, I doubt she knows the extent of your father’s wealth. I know for a fact that she believes he only controlled about twenty percent of the bank. As I said, he left her a rather large cash settlement, as well as the house, of course.” He shifted again in his chair. “Jacqueline, I really shoul
dn’t discuss all of this with you without all parties here and their attorneys. Unless of course, you choose to retain me.”

  Jacqueline sighed. Bullshit. Just bullshit. “Isn’t that a conflict of interest? I mean, you represent my mother, don’t you?”

  “I worked for your father. And I’m still retained by Keys Industries. I handled his business dealings as well as personal matters. Your mother has already called me. She’s not happy that you’re here, that you came at my calling. In fact, she was particularly distressed that we’d opened our home to you. With that said, I no longer represent your mother.”

  Jacqueline leaned forward, frowning. “Why do you think that she is so upset that I’m here? Surely, she’s over the embarrassment factor by now. I mean, she’s practically nuts by it. You should have seen her at the hospital.”

  “Your parents’ marriage… well, I won’t go into all that, but suffice it to say it was not exactly an ideal relationship. Your father blamed your mother for what happened with you, and rightly so. I’m sure you remember that not much happened in your household without your mother’s approval. The situation with you was no different. She thought it best to send you away. Your father had little say in the matter. But, it was the beginning of the end. He started devoting all his time and energy to the business. It was the one thing your mother had no say over. In fact, he rarely discussed Keys Industries with her at all. That’s why I’m certain she has no idea of his wealth.”

  “None of that explains why she’s so unnerved over the fact that I’m here. And please don’t tell me she’s still worried about what people may think.”

  “Your mother is still the most prominent woman in Pine Springs. I’m sure a part of her is concerned with what people will think. It’s common knowledge that she sent you away and why. To have you come back now while she’s stuck in the hospital is more of an embarrassment to her than anything.”