“My former vocation,” Jo replied as she pressed her knees together. “I am a graduate of Mars Hill College."
“That's a fine school. How in the world did you find your way to Mars Hill?"
“My dad was a fundamentalist Baptist preacher. He sent me to Mars Hill, thinking it was a fundamentalist school. Fortunately for me, he was wrong."
“Randy, where did you go to college?"
Randy returned to his seat beside Jo and answered, “University of Maryland."
“That's a fine school too,” Mack commented, getting up and walking to the window Randy had vacated. He watched Penny, breasts bouncing, drive the lane, soar into the air and drop the basketball effortlessly into the net while Billy clapped his hands. Penny held open her arms and pushed her lovely chest into Billy's when he entered her embrace, and Mack watched with a twinge of jealousy as Billy ran his hands down the church secretary's back and cupped her buttocks.
He turned back to Randy and Jo. “Jo, Randy says he is willing to give marriage a try because his mother thinks it's a good idea. You say you don't know whether or not you love Randy. Why do you want to marry him?"
“For his money,” Jo joked.
“That's not true,” Randy said, shaking his head at Jo. “I don't have any money. The truth is,” he continued, looking at Mack, “she has a thing about always paying her debts, and she thinks she owes me sex and marriage for what little I have done for her."
“You're wrong, Randy. I owe you $516.18 for the clothes and stuff you bought me. I figure my services as a housekeeper, cook and companion on the trip to visit your mother has more than paid for the food and lodging you have provided. Now that we both have good jobs working for Mrs. Dollar, I can pay my debt. I want to marry you because I'm ready to settle down, I like you, and I like your mother. I think we can make it work."
“Hey, I think we can make it work, too,” Randy said defensively. “She did hit it off with my mother,” he explained. “Part of her plan is to have mother move in with us after we are married."
“Well,” Mack said, rubbing his chin. “We've uncovered two important elements in this little drama I think. Tell me more about Randy's mother, Jo."
“A sweet old lady she is not,” Jo laughed. “She's a great old lady trapped in an environment she hates. She's strong-willed, opinionated and down to earth. She's everything I wish my mother had been. Randy is a talented, creative writer, but he is lacking in self-confidence and drive. He needs the pushing and shoving his mother and I can give him, and he knows it."
“Is this true?” Mack asked Randy.
He laughed and said, “I shouldn't admit it, but yes, it's probably true."
“Jo,” Mack asked, “how would you feel about having your mother-in-law listening to your bedsprings creak?"
“I would love it,” she replied, “but Randy would probably be embarrassed until he heard his mother applauding when the groans die down."
All three chuckled at the mental image her answer created.
“Now,” Mack continued, “tell me about your new association with Dollar Enterprises."
“The floor is yours, Randy Baby,” Jo laughed.
“Thank you very much, Mama Jo. Preacher, I'm a frustrated writer. I've written a couple of novels that I think are good, but I can't find a publisher. I heard that Mrs. Dollar was starting a publishing firm of her own. That's why I moved to Dot, but I couldn't get up the courage to talk with her about it. Jo met Mrs. Dollar on New Year's Eve when we had the near miss on the icy roads. It was Jo who brought up the subject with Mrs. Dollar and the end result is that she has hired us both to turn the dream of a Dollar Publishing House into reality."
Mack made the motion of a truck driver blowing his air horn and said, “All right. I'm a frustrated writer myself. I have two books of a religious nature completed, but I, too, cannot find a publisher. Shoot, I can't even find an agent. I would be honored to have my books published by Sandra Dollar."
“It's not a done deal yet,” Jo chimed in. “We have a ton of work to do before we send a manuscript to press."
“Of course,” Mack said. “It's just that the last I heard, Sandra had given up on the idea. Now, back to your pending marriage. You two have much in common, but frankly, I don't think you are ready to get married. Being willing to give it a try is, in my book, not a sufficient reason to get married, Randy. And Jo, being ready to settle down doesn't mean you should settle down with the first available man."
“Crap, Randy. I told you this was a waste of time,” Jo said as she stood up. “Let's go find a Justice of the Peace in Charlotte."
“Hear me out,” Mack said as he also stood. “You two are not kids with romantic stardust in your eyes. I like that. You simply have not known each other long enough to be making immediate marriage plans. Why don't you live together for a few months and see if you are compatible enough to make a lifetime commitment to each other?"
Randy jumped to his feet, his face turning red and his hands trembling. “I don't believe you said that,” he almost shouted. “You, a man of the cloth, are suggesting that we live together in sin in direct contradiction to the teaching of the Holy Bible?"
“Simmer down, Randy,” Mack said, raising his hands in a mock defensive posture. “Do you remember the story of Mary, the mother of Jesus and how she was betrothed to Joseph when she became pregnant?"
“Of course,” Randy replied.
“Do you know the meaning of the Jewish custom of betrothal?"
“It was something like an engagement period wasn't it?"
“Not really,” Jo injected. “It was pretty much like what Mack is suggesting for us—a period of living together to get to know each other, but without sex."
Max laughed. “Spoken like a real preacher's kid, Jo. You are almost right, but not quite. Sex was very much a part of the betrothal period, but fundamentalist will never admit it."
“Are you trying to tell me,” Randy said angrily, “that the mother of our Lord was fooling around before marriage?"
“I am simply trying to tell you that making a commitment to live together for a period before marriage is an ancient and honored custom that was practiced during part of the biblical period. I think it is a custom from which you and Jo would benefit."
“I won't do that to him preacher,” Jo said softly. “Believe me, I have already tried and he has strong convictions against it. We are going to get married during the next few days, whether you like it or not. I apologize for wasting your time,” she concluded as she moved towards the door.
“Do you agree with her, Randy?” Mack asked as Randy also headed towards the study door.
“We decided to get married before I called and made an appointment to see you,” Randy replied flatly. “I prefer to have the ceremony performed by a minister, but since you won't do it, we'll just have to find someone who will."
“Who said I wouldn't do it?” Mack asked as he sat at his desk and removed a legal pad from a drawer. “What kind of ceremony do you want?” He picked up a ball point pen and looked up at the couple innocently.
Randy and Jo remained speechless.
“Look, folks, I expressed my opinion. I'm not God. I may be wrong. You overruled me. Now, let's get on with the planning."
“We want something simple, perhaps here in your study with just the three of us. We were thinking about having the ceremony Sunday afternoon,” Jo said, easing hesitantly towards the desk.
“There is a three day waiting period in North Carolina. Have you gotten a license yet?"
Randy cleared his throat and propped his knuckles on the edge of Mack's desk. “We got our blood tests at the clinic Thursday morning and the license that afternoon."
“Well then, legally we can have the ceremony Sunday,” Mack said as he made notes. “But it can't be just the three of us. North Carolina law requires two witnesses."
Again, Randy and Jo exchanged blank expressions.
“I don't suppose you would consider having the ceremo
ny right after Sunday's worship service? We would have plenty of witnesses then,” Mack suggested.
“You would like that, wouldn't you Randy Baby?” Jo asked.
“I wouldn't mind it, preacher, if you keep the ceremony short. I don't want to make folks late getting to their Sunday fried chicken,” Randy agreed.
“My ceremonies are always short,” Mack laughed.
“Mack,” Jo said. “In my dad's churches, people who wanted to join the church came up to the front during the singing of the invitation hymn following the sermon. Is that the way it's done at the Dot Baptist Church?"
“Sure is,” Mack answered.
“Randy,” Jo continued. “We haven't talked about it, but why don't we go ahead and join the church Sunday as well as have the ceremony?"
“You want to join the church?” Randy asked in a tone of disbelief.
“Just because I used to be a prostitute doesn't mean I don't believe in God. If we are going to live in Dot and raise our children in Dot we certainly want them to go to Sunday School, and if we want them to go to church we certainly should set the example by being good members ourselves, shouldn't we?"
“Wait a minute,” Randy said, his heart beginning to pound. “You're going too fast for me. I thought you said you had your tubes tied."
“I did, but your mother said she read that the procedure can be reversed. Doctor McGee confirmed that at the clinic Thursday morning. The least we can do is try to give your mother the grandchildren she has always wanted."
Randy smiled faintly. “Is there any personal detail you and my mother didn't discuss?"
“I can't think of one,” Jo deadpanned.
“I sometimes think you're marrying my mother instead of me."
Mack discreetly looked away as Jo threw her arms around Randy's neck and rubbed her firm breasts against his chest. “Randy Baby,” she said, “I'm marrying the whole frigging family."
Chapter Eight
“Randy,” Sandra Dollar began after the trio exchanged greetings and sat at the study table in her library, “as I told you on the telephone, I've read your stuff and I like it. Your ‘dirty book,’ as you call it, is extremely intense. I identified so closely with the emotions of the characters that I actually felt their pain, their anguish, their joys and, at least twice, their orgasms.” She laughed and continued, “We'll talk more about that another time. Jo, you've really thrown me a curve."
“How so?” Jo asked in surprise.
“I expected you and Randy to eventually marry, but it came as a shock to see you tie the knot yesterday following the worship service. Then, to learn when I talked with you on the telephone yesterday afternoon that you plan to have children right away and to move Randy's mother in with you—well, it left me shaking my head to say the least."
“I don't understand why this disturbs you,” Jo replied.
“If you and Randy are going to do the work necessary to establish Dollar Publications, I should think you would not have time for all the other. Take it from one who knows, looking after a baby is a full-time job."
“And yet, you are managing nicely, are you not?"
“It's isn't easy, Jo. I try to establish priorities, but then I'm never certain my priorities are right."
“Mrs. Dollar, I..."
“Please call me Sandy."
“Okay, Sandy. I probably should not have blurted out all of our plans on the telephone yesterday. Randy says I tell everything I know. It's just that, when you called, Randy and I had just slept together for the first time, and I do mean the first time. I was floating on cloud nine."
“Oh, my God,” Sandra cried. “I'm so sorry."
“Not a problem,” Jo laughed. “We did it again after your call, before and after dinner, when we went to bed last night and again before we got up this morning. I think he's getting to the point that he likes it a little bit and I know I like it."
Randy shook his head and mumbled, “Tells every damn thing she knows."
“Anyway,” Jo continued, “we haven't mentioned to Randy's mother the possibility of moving in with us. She may not want to do it. As far as children are concerned, Randy's mother desperately wants grandchildren. I have had a tubal ligation. Dr. McGee told me there is a possibility of reversal—I think she called it tubal reanastamosis—either by a laparotomy or through the less complicated laparoscope procedure. Either way, the operation is expensive and there is no guarantee of success. Randy and I have no insurance to cover the procedure and, because of my age, Dr. McGee recommends against trying it."
“What does your age have to do with it?” Sandra asked.
“I'm thirty-seven and near the end of my childbearing years."
“I should think that would be all the more reason to go for it if having children is important to you."
“That's what I think,” Jo agreed. “Dr. McGee said she would make an appointment for me with a specialist. We'll see how it goes."
Sandra nodded and looked down at her notes. “Two more things while we're on the subject. First, you do have health care insurance that will cover the procedure. Dollar Enterprises provides an excellent health care package for all employees. Second, I expect you to work your pretty little ass off for Dollar Enterprises. I know from our prior investigation that setting up this publishing house is complicated and time consuming. Your personal life is none of my business, but if you are not productive, I will fire your butt without warning. Do I make myself clear?"
“Very clear,” Jo responded coldly.
“Now,” Sandra continued, “have the two of you gone over the documentation of our prior research?"
Randy leaned forward, the red tint of his facial complexion slowly deepening. “Yes, we have,” he said, “but before we get into that I must say that you had no call to speak to my wife as you did. She is, by nature, open and above board. I personally resent your threats. You may be filthy rich, but I assure you we can do without you. I can support my wife. Furthermore, neither Jo nor I have any intention of working for you, Mrs. Dollar. We will work with you, but not for you. It's your call."
“Wow,” Sandra replied. “I'm impressed. I like a man with a backbone. Jo, I meant what I said, but if I offended you by the way I said it, I apologize. Now, Mr. Nickels, you can call it working with me or working for me—I don't care. The bottom line is you will meet the objectives I have established or I will terminate the project. Surely you can understand that."
“I do understand that, Mrs. Dollar, but I will tolerate no further tongue lashings directed at my wife. Surely you understand that."
Sandra nodded. “Can we get back to Sandy, Randy and Jo?"
Randy cleared his throat. “Concerning the prior research done on this project, Sandy, it was certainly done in considerable depth, but the emphasis was placed on the wrong details. More than half of the documentation is concerned with the cost of proper printing and binding equipment. That should not be much of a concern to us. Even the biggest publishers farm out the printing and binding processes."
“Our major concerns are twofold. First, we need to find a viable means of distribution of the finished product. If we don't find a way to get our books into bookstores, and back that up with major advertising, we are wasting our time and money. Second, we need the services of one or more experienced book editors. Careful editing can turn your masterpiece and mine into bestsellers."
Randy dug into his ratty briefcase and produced a single sheet of paper, which he passed to Sandra. “We have outlined the steps that need to be taken in the order of importance. As you can see, Jo and I have our work cut out for us. I expect to have an accurate budget prepared for your consideration within a month and to have our first books in the stores in time for Christmas sales this year."
Sandra studied the outline for several minutes. “I hate to continue to sound critical, Randy. Your outline is impressive, but I am not pleased with the dot matrix printing. I authorized a Dollar Enterprises approved computer system for both you and Jo and I am
disappointed to see that you have not yet obtained them."
“With all due respect, Mrs. Dollar, your authorization was conditioned on Jo's agreement to participate in the project and your approval of the writing samples I provided you. You did not actually employ us until yesterday afternoon."
“You are correct, of course. Again I apologize,” Sandra said. “But please see Sean this afternoon or tomorrow and get your systems. He is expecting you.” Her eyes went back to the outline. “I see that you do not intend to open a formal office for three months. Do you think that is a good idea?"
“You work out of your home. Jo and I intend to work out of our home. There is no need for a formal office until we obtain the services of an editor or two and begin to solicit manuscripts. If that can be accomplished ahead of schedule we will be much better off and, of course, will need a formal office complex as soon as the editors come on board."
Sandra shifted in her chair, which was becoming increasingly uncomfortable. “Although you intend to farm out the printing process, I do want you to check with the owners of the Dot Courier. I'm already committed to giving them a shot at the work."
“Normally, printing jobs are submitted for bids. I will be glad to let these people place a bid for every manuscript. In fact, we will probably need to use several companies."
“There is one last item on my agenda,” Sandra said. “The managers and executives of Dollar Enterprises meet weekly on Mondays in Tim's study promptly at nine o'clock. Tim and I believe that it is important that every key player be familiar with the whole picture. I would like for both of you to attend these meeting. I did not invite you to this morning's meeting because I thought we needed to have this private conference first."
“One of us, if not both, will attend your meetings, Sandy,” Randy agreed. “Now I have one last item on my agenda. Jo and I will get the job done according to the timetable presented to you in our outline. However, initially we will be spending most of our time getting our own lives in order. I want that clearly understood before we leave here today."
Sintown Chronicles I: Behind Closed Doors Page 58
