Jenny held the telephone receiver in one hand and pushed some files around on her desk with the other, looking for her keys. “Bernie, I’m sorry. I can’t make lunch, I’m running late.”
“What a surprise!” he said.
“Ha ha,” Jenny said, “not you too. I just hung up on Aunt B because I couldn’t get her off the phone. I’m surprised she hasn’t called back and given me what for.”
“And how is dear Aunt B?”
“Fine. She was riding me about making up with Uncle Paul before the benefit tonight.”
“Well, since he’s your ticket in there, that’s a good idea. I thought you were coming over to do that?”
“I am—” She opened and closed her desk drawers in her frantic search. “But I’m late. Dammit, where are my keys?”
“Jacket pocket.”
She reached for the jacket on the back of her chair. “Bingo! Thank you.”
“And my reward is that you stand me up for lunch. I’m hurt.”
“No, you’re not,” she said with a smile as she tucked the receiver between her shoulder and chin and put one arm into her jacket sleeve. “I’ll come see you before I leave, and, boy, have I got news for you.”
“Can’t wait.”
“See you in a bit, hon.” The receiver was in midair and on the way to its cradle before Bernie managed to utter his goodbye. Jenny was rushing out of the office when the secretary held up her phone with a hand over the mouthpiece.
“For you, Miss Ryan.”
Oh no, Aunt B’s wrath. She stopped mid-step and leaned back into the office. “If it’s a woman, I’m not here.”
The secretary nodded in the affirmative, indicating it was a woman, and politely reported Miss Ryan unavailable. Jenny waved a thanks and took off at a trot down the busy hallway.
“Would you like to leave a message, Miss Hammond?”
“No. Thank you, Lorraine.”
Kathryn hung up the phone and looked quizzically at the receiver. The old ‘hand over the mouthpiece’ was never as effective as people thought. Jenny didn’t want to talk to her. She felt the heat rise to her face as she recognized the familiar brush-off, one she had used more times than she could remember.
She realized that she hadn’t really taken Jenny’s lackadaisical attitude seriously, but faced with the reality of it, she could hardly ignore it. For some reason, this panicked her. Maybe it was because she was so familiar with the pattern, or because she was unaccustomed to being on the losing end, or for the simple reason that it mattered this time.
“Kat—” Bobby leaned closer, like someone who had said her name more than once before she noticed him and looked up. “Dominic would like to see you in his office.”
“Thanks, Bobby.”
He eyed her suspiciously as she tucked the phone away under the bar counter. “You okay?”
“Fine,” she said with a smile, swinging her hips around the end of the bar. “Don’t I look okay?”
“More than okay, as usual,” he said, returning a grin. Kathryn playfully tugged on his sleeve and headed toward the boss’s office.
“Ah, good afternoon, Miss Kathryn,” Dominic said when she entered. He folded the newspaper he was reading to the About Town section and handed it to her. “You are a very popular woman. Should I fire you for breach of contract?”
She smiled as she scanned her article. “If I had a contract, I suppose you should.” She flipped the paper over, looking for the author. “No byline.”
“It is a very good article. Mentions us several times. Reservations have increased already, and you are not even singing tonight.”
“I’m sorry about that, Nicky. You’re not mad, are you?”
He made a sour face and looked up from under his furrowed brow. “Don’t be foolish. I know you have other obligations. It is never an issue, you know that.”
“Thank you, but I mean about singing at the Blue Note.”
“As you say, you do not have a contract.”
“But I sense you have something to say about it.”
“You are a very talented lady. Too talented to spend your career in this nightclub. One day you will move on to bigger and better things. I am just testing the waters, as they say, wondering if you are testing yours.”
“I’m very happy here, Nicky. You know my unique situation, and you’re more than good to me.”
“I am indebted to you, Kathryn. There will always be a place for you here.”
She shifted uncomfortably. “You don’t owe me anything. Anyone would have done the same.”
“Well, that anyone was you, and I don’t want to hear anymore nonsense from you.”
She held up her hands in surrender, and he took the opportunity to switch gears.
“Your young friend called me this morning. She was very worried for your job.”
Kathryn tried to remain neutral, but from Dominic’s knowing grin, she’d failed utterly. “That was sweet.”
“Yes. Very sweet.”
He looked at her expectantly, but she certainly wasn’t going to confirm what she feared he already knew.
“Well, I’m glad you’re not upset about the Blue Note, but I’ll make it up to you just the same.”
“Get out of here.” He waved dismissively at the door, rejecting her offer as unnecessary.
She tossed the paper on his desk. “Ciao, Nicky.”
Jenny found it odd riding the elevator to her old floor at the Daily Chronicle. Odd, yet familiar, in a way that told her she no longer belonged here. She waved to old friends as she strode through the busy office, giving hugs to the few who made the effort and hurried small talk to others, as she tried to say as little as possible about her new job, in an attempt not to lie to her former colleagues.
She passed by her still empty desk as she approached her uncle’s office and tapped lightly on the door, entering when he lifted his head and smiled at the sight of her.
“Well, well!” He rose to greet her.
“Hi, Uncle Paul.” She made her way to the side of his desk and embraced him.
“I wondered if I’d ever see your shining face again.”
“No, you didn’t,” she said, playfully slapping his belly. “Nice article this morning.” She pointed at the open paper on his desk.
He chuckled. “I thought that might get your attention.” He disengaged himself from her arms and made his way behind his desk, lowering himself into his large leather chair with a self-satisfied groan.
“You’re lucky Mr. Vignelli is so easygoing,” she said, losing a little of her good humor. “Kathryn could have lost her job.”
He peered over his glasses. “Then she shouldn’t do things that put her job in jeopardy.”
Jenny bristled at his comment, which carried the slightest hint of condescension in its delivery. He did it on purpose to get a reaction, and she wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction.
She pushed some papers aside to sit on the corner of his desk. “So, how did you hear about this?” She tapped her finger on Kathryn’s article.
“Someone called it in last night.” He removed his glasses and casually tossed them on his desk. “Thought it was news, for some reason. Friend of yours?”
“Hardly. Bill Connelly.” It had to be him. She picked up the paper and stared at Kathryn’s picture, quickly setting it aside when she realized she couldn’t hide her infatuated grin. She rubbed the back of her neck and got back to the matter at hand. “A man of limited talent with an axe to grind.”
“Miss Hammond only brings out the best,” he said.
“Anyway,” Jenny drew out, trying to ignore his attitude.
Her uncle wisely changed the subject, smiling as he leaned back and clasped his hands across his stomach. “I hear through the grapevine you’ve got a nice ad job.”
Jenny knew who the grapevine was, and she’d specifically asked him not to say anything. “Bernie’s got a big mouth.”
“It gets even bigger when you threaten to fire him if he doesn’t talk.”
“Nice, Uncle Paul. You could have just asked me.”
“I didn’t think you were speaking to me.”
“Well, I’m here—” She absentmindedly repositioned a pencil, taking responsibility for her part in their estrangement. “I guess I am.”
“Your job is waiting for you whenever you’re ready.” He glanced in the direction of her empty desk, as if she’d made an unspoken apology.
“I’m not coming back to the Chronicle, Uncle Paul.” She was on the defensive, which made it sound like a warning, which caused her uncle to lean forward and clasp his hands on the desk in front of him, a gesture she recognized as trouble.
“Then why are you here?”
She realized the situation could easily spin out of control, so she reached over and touched his tense hands. “Do I need a reason to come see you?”
He eyed her warily, and then his face hardened as the dawn finally broke on her intentions. “The benefit.” He pulled his hands from under hers. “You’re here because of the benefit.”
Jenny watched him stare at her in disbelief, and she knew this visit would not go well.
“You think you can just waltz in here, bat your eyes, and you’re forgiven?”
“Forgiven? Me? Forgiven for what?” It was a knee-jerk reaction to the unexpected turn in mood and a reaction she regretted when her uncle abruptly stood and glared at her. His body blocked the light from the window and cast an ominous shadow on her smaller form. “Uncle Paul—” She held up her hand and slid off the desk to get out from under his gathering storm. “I didn’t come here to fight with you.”
“No, you came here to make sure you were still invited to the benefit tonight, and I’m here to tell you, you are not.”
“Why, because I don’t want my job back?”
“Because you haven’t made the slightest effort to square things with me until now, and you’re only here now because you want something.”
“That’s not—”
“Don’t you dare deny it, young lady,” Paul said with a warning finger.
It was obvious he was hurt, but whether that hurt stemmed from their neglected relationship or because of her change in occupation was unclear. She supposed it was a bit of both. “I was going to say,” she drew out slowly, trying to remain even-tempered, “that’s not entirely true.”
As her uncle stood, hands on hips, waiting for her explanation, she had a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. The guilt of arguing with her father—words of anger, the last communication they shared—rose in her throat like bile, and she swallowed hard. After vowing never to make that mistake again, she had let this estrangement go on for over a month. Regret filled her eyes, and her uncle melted to it, as his demeanor softened and he awkwardly reached out to her.
“Hey.”
She gladly accepted the comfort of his embrace. “I’m sorry, Uncle Paul. I love you. I don’t want to fight.”
“I love you too, kiddo.” He gave her an apologetic squeeze. “Let’s forget all this nonsense and call a truce, shall we?”
She gave him an extra squeeze before releasing her hold. “Gladly.”
“Good.” He stepped back behind his desk and settled into his chair. “Janie can fill you in on everything you’ve missed.” He started riffling through some files on his desk. “Thought you might be interested in this—” He held up a folder.
“Uncle Paul, I’m not coming back here.”
He dropped the file and clasped his hands across it. “So much for burying the hatchet.”
“It’s got nothing to do with that. My change in employment is not a reflection on you and has nothing to do with spite.”
“You have a bright future here, Jenny.”
“Thank you for saying that, but it’s just not for me.”
He glared at her. “Just like that? Suddenly, it’s just not for you. You’re too good for the newspaper business now, is that it?”
Jenny knew her uncle to have a quick temper, but something else was going on here, and whatever it was, she was not going to feed it. As gently as she could, she tried to backpedal gracefully. “It’s not like that. I’ve just chosen another field, that’s all.”
“Oh, yes, advertising. There’s a noble profession,” he said sarcastically, “much more respectable than the news.”
“Uncle Paul, you cannot be serious. This is not about me leaving the paper.”
“I built this paper for you, Jenny.”
“Don’t you lay that at my feet. You built this paper as a big up yours to Granddad.”
“What do you know about it?” He stood, eyes wide and seething, causing Jenny to step back. He stabbed his finger into the folders on his desk. “I fought and scraped and sacrificed for everything I have. What have you worked for? Born with a silver spoon in your mouth and every opportunity handed to you.”
Jenny felt the words like a knife in the heart. Who was this man, and what had he done with her uncle? She was momentarily stunned, never realizing how bitter he was at the lifestyle he was born into yet denied. He had scraped for everything he’d gotten, spite spurring him on, success at any cost, all to show his father he could. It never occurred to her that he would take her departure so personally. His words were cruel, with an edge honed by resentment. She didn’t deserve that, no matter how large a chip he bore.
She remained speechless, and her uncle seemed as shocked as she at the words falling out of his mouth, but he made no attempt to take them back or to soften the blow. They lingered in the air like poison gas until Jenny thought she might suffocate. Her slow death was interrupted when her uncle broke eye contact and turned his attention to the organized chaos on his desk.
Jenny stood abandoned in the middle of the office, too hurt to comment without crying, too proud to allow the pain to show. She turned to leave, but before she could reach for the doorknob, she felt her uncle’s hand on her shoulder.
“I’m sorry, Jenny. I didn’t mean it.”
Unable to turn around to face him, she paused and bowed her head. Gathering as much forgiveness as her wounded psyche would allow, she tried to part with some semblance of civility, but her vow not to part in anger was severely tested. “I know. I’m sorry too.” With that, she left the office and gently closed the door behind her. She imagined she had quite a look on her face, as, out of the corner of her eye, she saw her former coworkers following her progress down the aisle from under cautious brows, making no attempt to speak to her or say goodbye.
“Hey, Bug!” Bernie beamed as Jenny made her way to his desk in the basement of the Daily Chronicle. She was still smarting from the run-in with her uncle, but she tried to smile anyway, a futile gesture that wouldn’t fool her friend, who reacted immediately. “Uh-oh. Things did not go well upstairs, I take it. No go on the benefit tonight, eh?”
“Worse than that,” Jenny said, as she glided straight into his open arms.
He gave her a squeeze. “What could be worse than that?”
“Oh, he basically told me not to choke on my silver spoon as I waltz effortlessly through all the open doors that have defined my existence on the planet thus far.”
Bernie stepped back to get a look at her face. “He what?”
“Swell, huh?” Jenny patted his arm and sat on his desk, her deflated posture saying more about her emotions than her cynical words conveyed.
“Jeepers.” Bernie crossed his arms and shook his head as he took a seat next to her. “I can’t believe he said that.” He paused. “Even if it is true.”
Jenny snapped her head in his direction just in time to see the grin spread across his face. Her sour mood lightened, and she chuckled with him as she leaned her head on his shoulder. “I miss you.”
“I miss you too.” He craned his head to the side, seeking her downturned eyes. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, don’t worry,” she said, knowing what he expected. “I had my cry in the elevator.”
Bernie put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer. “He loves you, Jenny. You know he does.”
“I know. I just … I know he’s got a temper, but jeez. Was that really necessary?”
“You know he didn’t mean what he said.”
“I guess.”
“Stop it. You had to work harder than anyone in that office just because the two of you are related, and no one knows that better than he does.”
“That’s true.”
“He just misses you.”
“Well, he’s got a funny way of showing it.”
“The gals in the office say he sometimes just sits and stares at your empty desk with a forlorn look on his face.”
“He does not.”
“It’s true.”
“Really?”
“Mm-hm. And to ease his pain, he calls in some new intern and chews them a new behind.”
“Lovely.”
“Yeah, he’s a giver.”
Jenny shook her head. “Still. Ouch.”
Bernie hopped off the desk and into his chair. “So, what’s your big news?”
“My what?” She blinked. “Oh!” She raised a hand in disbelief that she’d almost forgotten, and her face lit up, warming from ashen grey to slightly embarrassed pink, with an accompanying self-satisfied smirk. She leaned forward, making a quick scan of the busy office, and whispered to make sure she wouldn’t be overheard. “I seduced Kathryn Hammond last night.”
Bernie gasped. “You did not!”
“Shhhh!” She looked around, feigning alarm before grinning proudly. “I did too.”
“And?”
“And,” she drew out incredulously, “what do you think?”
“From the look on your face? Holy cow.”
“You said it, brother.”
“Holy cow,” he whispered again. He leaned forward and scooted his chair to Jenny’s knee. “So, is she your girlfriend now, or what? And what about the evil boyfriend? How does that work?”
“The evil boyfriend is apparently very liberal, and girlfriend status has not been achieved, but I will do my best to change her mind.”
“What do you mean, change her mind?”
“She thinks we’re just having sex.”
“And whatever gave her that idea?”
“Hey, a girl’s got to do what a girl’s got to do.”
“Jenny!” Bernie smiled and shook his head. “What if she doesn’t want to be in a relationship?”
“Oh, she’s in a relationship. She just doesn’t know it.”
Silence was Bernie’s cautious reply, and Jenny felt the need to defend herself. “She’s just scared of commitment, and I’m going to show her that she doesn’t have to be scared of me.”
“Maybe she’s scared for you. Did you ever think of that?” He glanced around the room before leaning even closer. “She does have a mobster boyfriend, you know. Liberal or not, a man’s a man, and sharing is not always high on the list of acquired social graces … I don’t care what Kathryn Hammond claims.”
“Kathryn can handle Forrester, and I can take care of myself.”
Bernie’s jovial mood vanished. “Be careful, Jenny.”
She exhaled a heavy sigh and looked vacantly into the busy office, finally offering an empty grin and a half-hearted wave to a familiar face across the room.
Bernie put a comforting hand on her knee. “I’m sorry, sweetie. I just don’t want you to get hurt.”
“I know.” She took his hand. “Crummy day, that’s all.”
“I’ve got something to cheer you up.” He patted her hand before abandoning it for something in his top desk drawer. “As head staff photographer of this fine publication—” He rummaged through loose grease pencils and empty film cartridges. “I have certain perks.” He found what he was looking for and held up an envelope. “Like being entitled to bring one guest to tonight’s benefit.”
Jenny’s eyes lit up, and she clasped her hands in exaggerated worship. “My hero!”