Hank left for Schenectady on Sunday, and by Sunday evening, Fran was missing him. But as the days moved on, her thoughts were taken up with the trip that she and her parents were taking to Dallas. She couldn’t wait to see Pat and Jim, also to be in a place she had never been. That always filled her with a sense of mystery and excitement.
Jim and Pat were standing at the gate to greet them with a pair of huge smiles. Jim looked quite handsome in his Stetson, and Pat was radiant. It couldn’t have been a happier reunion. Maureen kept looking at the two of them saying, “You both look so… healthy. You’re so… tan.”
The five of them decided on the Original Pancake House for breakfast, and then it was on to Jim and Pat’s villa, where Pat proudly showed them all around while Jim carried in their luggage.
Maureen said, “My goodness, Pat, you’ve done a marvelous job decorating this house. You always did have a flair for that kind of thing. The bedroom you gave us is gorgeous.”
Pat said, “Gee, thank you, Mom. I did have a little help, though.” She looked at Jim, who didn’t say a word. At a later date, Pat confided in Fran that she’d actually had a lot of help from a great couple, Ken and Phil, who were decorators. They had become good friends the first week she and Jim moved in. Phil and Ken were the very first neighbors to go out of their way to make them feel welcome. Pat also told Fran, “I didn’t say anything to Mom because she was so proud of me. I didn’t want to take that away from her.”
So Fran, Maureen, and Dan were now installed in their gorgeous bedrooms. Pat and Jim’s first houseguests couldn’t be happier.
It was only 11:00, and Jim opened the sliding glass doors leading to the screened–in lanai, with its variegated gray flagstone floor and its red tile roof, which were in keeping with the rest of the house. On the other side of the screen door was a fairly large continuation of the flagstone. Out there were an umbrella table, lounge chairs, and pots of flowers, surrounded by a privet hedge. The aroma of honeysuckle wafted in from somewhere, and the lanai was filled with its sweet fragrance.
Inside the lanai, everyone settled down on the plush, cushiony furniture that surrounded a large table that seated eight. There were only two screen sides; the third side of the enclosure was an extension of the house and was lined with cupboards, a counter, a sink, a microwave, and a beautiful grill. The fourth wall was the house itself, with its sliding glass doors and two tall fans in the corners, one on either side of those glass doors. They sent cool, refreshing breezes to all. It was a cozy place to sit and visit, and Maureen was humming with joy, because she knew something good was about to happen.
Jim disappeared and emerged with an ice bucket and a pitcher of Bloody Marys. Pat got some glasses from a cabinet and everyone was served.
Fran asked, “Aren’t you going to have a drink, Pat?” Pat shook her head no just as Jim came out and handed her a ginger ale.
Pat looked at Jim and said, “Fran asked me why I didn’t want a drink. Shall I tell them?”
Jim sat next to her, put his arm around her waist, and said, “Go ahead, hon.” He could barely contain his excitement.
Pat’s beautiful face beamed. She sat up straight, looked up at her husband, then at her family, and said, “Jim and I are going to have a baby.”
The room was electric with joy, and Maureen jumped up to hug her daughter. “’I knew it. I just knew it! When I got off the plane and saw you, I knew it. Your face just radiated your inner happiness.” Then she hugged Jim and said, “Thank you for loving my daughter. I am so happy I have you for a son–in–law.”
There were all kinds of questions, and Fran needed answers. “When’s it due, sis? I’ll have to plan my next vacation so I can come down and take care of you. I can’t wait to be Auntie Fran. Wow! This is heady stuff. What’s your doctor’s name?”
“Doctor McDonough, and he says the baby is due around the fifteenth of March.”
Dan asked, “How are you feeling, sweetie? You look marvelous.”
Maureen was so thrilled she could barely think of a question. She said, “When Fran comes down, I’m coming, too. I want to spend some time with my very first granddaughter. What are you going to name her?”
“Now that’s a pretty dumb question, Maureen. You should wash your mouth out with soap,” Dan said. “We know it’s going to be a boy.”
Everyone laughed.
Jim spoke up. “So, tell us folks, what’s been happening on the home front? Anything exciting?”
Fran said, “Well, after your wedding, we were all dressed up and left twiddling our thumbs while you two drove off into the blissful yonder. We all went to breakfast, and then Hank Childers asked me if I wanted to go fishing. I had nothing else to do, so I said yes, but that I would have to go home to change. When I asked him what he intended to wear, since I didn’t think he would want to fish in that beautiful silk suit of his, guess what he said?” She looked around at her audience.
“He said he carries his fishing clothes in the trunk of his car, along with his fishing gear. He told me that he often goes fishing in Lake Erie after a stressful day of work. That’s why he always has them with him. We went to my place and I changed while Hank sat at the pond watching the ducks. He was quite taken with that pond. I packed a picnic lunch while he changed, and when he came and stood in the doorway of the kitchen, I couldn’t help but laugh. His clothes were all wrinkled. He had a pair of ragged red tennis shoes on, and to complete his ensemble, he wore a wilted pork pie hat. I’ve got to tell you he looked just like an adult Tom Sawyer. I just wanted to squeeze him, he looked so adorable.”
She pointed to her family. “Then I realized that, other than you three, he was one of a very few who had ever seen my apartment. I talk to Wanda and Vera on the phone at least once a week, but I’ve never invited them to see my place. In the beginning I always meant to. Now that I’ve lived there so long, I wonder why I never did.”
She paused and became quite pensive, then continued. “Hank loved it, especially the pond. We had the best time fishing. You know, he’s a nice guy.” She didn’t tell them how nice she thought he really was. “And when we came back from fishing, guess what he did?” Everyone sat staring at her, nonplussed. “He threw the fish we caught in the pond. I had offered to cook him a fish dinner with those fish, and when I mentioned it, he said that he would rather take me to his very favorite restaurant. He said one of the CEOs owed him a favor and let him use the company plane. He wanted to take me to Lake Wales, Florida, to a restaurant called Chalet Suzanne. It was a marvelous treat and, I have to say, he made me feel very special.”
Jim was quite impressed with the story and said, “You couldn’t have been in better company, Fran. He’s one of the nicest guys I know.”
Fran said, “Funny, he said the same thing about you.”
“Well, we have a history. We’ve been great pals ever since we met at Case. In fact, he’s the one responsible for my getting this job. But I really do mean it. For someone as brilliant as he is, you would never expect him to be as down to earth as he is. He has a way of making a person feel special and good about themselves. When he and I were in trig class together, most of us in class were happy to keep our heads above water, but not Hank. I was always awed at the way he would wade through a set of algorithms like he was adding two and two. Right now, he’s up there with the big boys at GE. You were in great company, Fran.”
Fran was surprised to hear such accolades about a guy she mainly knew as someone who liked to go fishing and talk to ducks. Even when he’d taken her to Florida—and she did know that the evening had been very costly—he had led her to believe it was because he had been given that evening as a favor for something he had done to save a CEO’s neck. He had never made her feel that the trip was his way of trying to impress her with his importance. He just wanted to share something with her that was very special to him, and in doing so, he’d made her feel special.
Fran’s reply to Jim was, “That’s interesting to hear, Jim. Because my first impression of him was that he had a stressful job and loved to go fishing for relaxation.”
She had no intention of revealing her true feelings for Hank. Right now, those feelings were something very special to her alone.
“That would be Hank, all right. No big ego whatsoever.”
Dan spoke up. “So, Jim, speaking of work, how’s it going with you? I imagine you have a bit of stress yourself. From what I’m told, that’s quite a responsible job you have.”
Jim took a moment, then said, “Well, I won’t lie to you, Dan. It has its moments. I have to oversee a number of plants throughout the state, and there can be a lot of animosity thrown into the mix. But overall, I’m managing quite well. Ed Miller, the retiring administrator, was a tremendous help in giving me a jump start on how to stay on top of everything in my jurisdiction. And even though I have serious responsibilities, I love what I do. They don’t pay me the big bucks because I’m pretty.”
Pat jumped in. “Don’t let him kid you, Dad. They pay him the big bucks because he’s damned good at everything he does. When he’s called into some of those very volatile situations, he comes out unscathed—at least he has so far. But I really worry about his safety in some situations.”
Jim looked at Dan with a shrug and said, “She just says those things because she loves me.”
Everyone laughed.
Pat continued. “Just because I love you has nothing to do with it, and you know it, Jim Murray. Everything I said is true. I’ve heard the things they say about you when we’re at those social gatherings.” She paused and looked around at everyone’s faces and said quite seriously, “They’re forever having them. They have dinners, barbecues, cocktail parties, hoedowns, and whatever other excuse they can dream up to get together to eat and drink. I can’t say I don’t like any of it, but it’s the drinking that sometimes gets to me. Now, getting back to the things they say about my wonderful Jimbo, here. They are constantly praising him.”
“Oh, my goodness, Pat, I haven’t heard you call him Jimbo since I was in grade school,” Fran said.
Pat giggled. “I don’t know where that came from. It just popped out. And you’re right, I haven’t called him Jimbo since the eighth grade. Oh, I’m sorry, honey!”
“Why are you sorry, darling? “Jim asked sardonically. “Did you call me Jimbo because you were ashamed of me? You started calling me that from the time I was seven and kept doing it until we left the eighth grade. Then you started calling me Jim like all the other normal kids did during high school.”
Fran wasn’t going to waste an opportunity to tease her sister. She put her hand across her forehead, palm side outward, as if she were going to faint, and said in a high–pitched, childlike voice, “Oh, Jimbo, I love you, Jimbo, I love you so much. I love you. I love you. If you don’t love me back, I’ll just die.” She looked at Jim and said, “Now, Jimbo, does that sound like a young girl who was ashamed of you? Because that’s what I had to listen to until you two went to high school.” She looked at Jim and he was laughing, but so was everyone else.
It was obvious that the Bloody Marys and the heat of the day were taking hold, because Maureen and Dan were in stitches listening to this back and forth banter. Maureen said, “This is better than a tennis match.”
Dan said through his laughter, “Why didn’t you come to your dear old dad, Pat? I would have helped you out, set you straight, and told you not to worry about that kid named Jumbo. I would have told you that no self–respecting child of mine should fall in love with a kid called Jumbo. You would have listened to your old dad, and that would have been the end of it.”
Maureen hopped on that one. “First of all, Dan, it’s not Jumbo; it’s Jimbo. And it’s not Jim’s fault. Pat’s the one who gave him that name the first day she met him—when the poor child was only seven years old, mind you. That first day she met him, she fell in love with her dear, sweet Jimbo.”
By this time, Fran was laughing so hard she could barely talk, but she managed to squeak out, “So you see, Jim, you have always been loved. And look how it all turned out.”
Pat said through her laughter, “Jimbo, they’re picking on me. Tell them to stop.”
Jim said, “Aw, come on, honey, they just did a number on the two of us. But remember, Pat, they’re our guests, so be nice in spite of them.” He held up the pitcher. “Bloody Mary, anyone?”
They all held up their empty glasses.
For lunch, Pat brought out platters of food she had prepared ahead of time, and Jim put the coffee on. The two worked like a team, making their guests feel completely at home. It was obvious they were happy they had come. It took two pots of coffee for their silliness and excitement to dissipate, and a kind of contentment set in.
Jim said, “I don’t know whether you folks are tired or not. Is there something you’d like to do?” He waited. “We can take a ride into the city, or take a swim in our community pool, or just take a nap. Think it over, because tonight we want to take you to dinner at a wonderful restaurant and then to a place called Charley’s. So, folks, what’s your pleasure?”
All opted to take a nap.
Before Pat and Jim closed their eyes, she kissed him gently on the cheek, then on the side of his lips. Then she brushed her tongue over his lips and kissed him very gently. She said, “Thank you for being so good to my family, honey. And for being such a good sport, Jimbo. I want you to know I love you more every day, and that must be a heck of a lot of loving, since I started when I was seven.”
Jim held her close and kissed her fiercely. They made sweet, passionate love and fell asleep in each other’s arms.
Everyone seemed to come to life around 4:00. Jim had made reservations for Perry’s Steakhouse at 7:00, so Pat and Fran decided to go for a quick swim. Jim, Dan, and Maureen got out the pinochle cards for a three–handed game. Before Pat and Fran left for the pool, Jim pulled Fran aside and said, “I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve asked a friend of mine to be your escort tonight. He’s very good–looking and an all–around nice guy. He’s not married, he’s 32, and I work with him, so I’ve come to know him pretty well. He’s in Public Relations. And his office is almost next to mine. Now, if you’re not all right with this, I’ll understand. He’s aware that you might not be comfortable with the idea. I just thought that since you’re now up for a good time and you love to dance, it would be nice if you had a partner to dance with. So, what do you think?”
“What I think, Jim Murray, is that you think of everything. Of course I like the idea of not being the fifth wheel.”
“That’s great, Fran. He’ll be here around 6:00. I’ll introduce you, and the two of you can go together, just like on a regular date. That’s something I’m told you haven’t done for quite some time. Sound okay to you?”
“Sounds like a plan,” Fran said. She didn’t reveal the wonderful dates she’d had with Hank that summer. She was glad they were having this little hiatus from each other so she could sort out her feelings. She already missed him. But maybe she would discover that her feelings for him had just been in the moment.
At 6:00, everyone was dressed and waiting in the great room. Pat had chosen the furniture and accessories for that room, and their decorator friends, Ken and Phil, had told her that she’d done a terrific job. Within just minutes after 6:00, Fran’s date was at the door. Jim answered and let him inside.
“Bo Henderson,” he said, “I’d like you to meet Pat’s family. This is Pat’s mom and dad, Dan and Maureen Carter.”
Bo stepped forward and shook their hands. “So nice to meet y’all.”
“And Bo, this is Pat’s sister, Fran. Fran, this is Bo.”
Bo took one look at Fran and said to Jim, “You forgot to say, ‘Pat’s beautiful sister,’ Jim.”
Fran was momentarily speechless, but she could still think. Oh my gosh. I’ve already been down this road. He’s as handsome as David and just as charming. I know I shouldn’t feel this way, but this guy is turning me on, big time.
She finally found her voice and said, “Nice to meet you, Bo. Any friend of Jim Murray’s is a friend of mine.”
Fran was as impressed with Bo’s car, a top of the line Audi, as she was with him. They no sooner got in it than he said, “You have gorgeous hair, little darlin’. I love the color.”
That shocked her. It was a déjà vu moment, only with a Texas drawl. All she could say was, “Thank you.” They had a pleasant conversation as they got acquainted on their drive to the steakhouse, where they met up with her family.
The evening was like no other for Fran. She had a date with a handsome and charming man who plied her with compliments and treated her as though she were something very special. He really did turn her on. She had ridden in a car so luxurious that the softness of the leather on her skin had given her goose bumps, and that had turned her on, too.
She was in a restaurant surrounded by an ambience she lacked words to describe. There were no prices on the menu, nor did she know the cost of the bottle of wine Jim had just ordered, one that had a name she couldn’t pronounce. And the four–course meal she had just eaten was all a complete mystery to her. With the exception of the food at Chalet Suzanne, she had never tasted anything else that looked so pretty on a plate and tasted so good going down.
My word, she thought, this meal has to be costing a small fortune, and I don’t have to worry about paying for any of it. I’m livin’ the dream, and I’m lovin’ it.
Charley’s was yet to come.
Pat was right when she told Fran that Charley’s was a glorified Froggy’s. It was huge, but like Froggy’s, it was crowded, noisy, and friendly. The owner, Charley, was at their table immediately, just as Froggy would have been. When Bo introduced him to Fran, once again, she was blown away when he said to her, just as Froggy always did, “How do you do, pretty lady?” Fran felt like she was in some kind of dream and was being revisited by ghost–like memories—only the dream was much better than the memories.
After that sumptuous meal and the wine, Fran didn’t want anything but diet ginger ale. She was not only keeping her sister company; she was a little concerned about keeping her head clear. She didn’t want to lose control of her emotions. They were really doing a number on her at the moment. The waitress brought a pitcher of beer, plus two ginger ales, one diet and one regular. Jim was in rare form and had been telling jokes all evening. Just as he had done so many times at Froggy’s, he had another one to tell.
“There was this couple, Fred and Irene, that had been going together for about six years. Their friends were always asking them when they were going to get married. Fred never told them that he and Irene didn’t talk about marriage simply because they very rarely had sex, so neither of them ever talked about sex or marriage. The subject just never came up. But since his friends kept bugging him with that same question, Fred gave some serious thought to the idea. They should probably get married. They must actually be in love, because they certainly loved being together. He figured they should at least talk about the sex part. So, he approached Irene and said, ‘Irene, my friends keep asking me why we don’t get married. How do you feel about sex?’
After some consideration, Irene responded, ‘I like it infrequently.’
Fred then asked, ‘Is that one word or two?’”
Everyone roared, even the people at the next table who had been listening.
Pat sat there, completely nonplussed, and said, “I don’t get it.”
Bo laughed even harder at Pat.
The band had been on break when they’d arrived, and now they were back. Bo asked Fran to dance, held out his hand as she got up from the table, then led her to the dance floor. She had been waiting for this because Pat had told her what a good dancer he was. Bo took Fran in his arms, and their bodies blended as a female singer began singing “Sweet Dreams” in a throaty voice. Patsy Cline was still alive and well in the South.
Fran soon discovered that Bo was better than good as a dancer. He was a superb dancer, much better than anyone else she’d ever danced with. She couldn’t seem to control her thoughts, and the words to that song weren’t helping. She wanted nothing more than to have this wonderful, beautiful man make love to her. She wondered if he would be a better lover than David, then answered her own question. Well, of course he would be, because David and sex were all about David. Bo had shown a sensitive and caring side, and she did wonder how much better sex would be with him. She told herself over and over to stop thinking these thoughts as he held her in his arms.
They danced until almost 2:00. She gave up thinking. Que sera, sera.
Jim and Pat had left Charley’s with Dan and Maureen around 12:30 and told Fran they would leave the front door unlocked. Bo walked her to the door and said, “I really had a wonderful evening, darlin’ girl. I’d like to pick you up around 11:00 tomorrow morning and take you to lunch and sailing at my yacht club. Would you like that? “
Fran was thrilled that for him, this was obviously not just a night of escorting Jim’s sister–in–law around. She said, “I’d love to do that, Bo. I’ve never been sailing before.” She wondered why she’d lied. “But I think I’d better check with Jim first. I know he has all kinds of plans for us. And he’s going back to work on Monday. So, if you don’t mind calling in the morning, I can let you know then. Okay?”
“Absolutely, and if he has plans, then I’ll just tell him he has to include me in them. So, goodnight again, darlin’ girl.” He leaned down and brushed his lips along her cheek and walked to his car.
Fran entered the house and made sure to lock the door. I’m doing it again, she thought. I’m in Dallas for one day, meet a handsome guy, spend one evening with him, and fall in love. Yep, I’m doing it again.
She went to bed.
Maureen loved cooking for her family, and it was going to be Sunday breakfast as usual. She was up bright and early, frying a platter of bacon and sausages and mixing the waffle batter. As a special treat, she whipped up a batch of cinnamon rolls. The fragrances from the kitchen filled the house and roused all the others. One by one, they came straggling into the kitchen.
Fran was the last to come shuffling in in her slippers, yawning. Just as she did, the phone rang.
“It’s for you,” Pat said, and handed the receiver to Fran.
Fran answered, put her hand over the mouthpiece, and asked Jim if he had any plans for the day.
Jim said he actually did. “If that’s Bo, tell him he’s welcome to join us. We’ll be going to the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden.”
Fran relayed the message to Bo. He said, “Oh, wow! You know, Fran, I’ve lived in Dallas all my life, and I’ve never been there. They say it’s a fantastic experience. What time shall I come over?”
Fran asked, “What time should he come, Jim?”
“Twelve o’clock will be fine. Tell him not to eat. We’re having a picnic there.”
“Did you hear that, Bo?”
“I surely did, darlin’. See you at 12:00.”
When she returned to the table, Jim asked, “So, what did Bo say?”
“He’s very excited about going, and he’ll be here by noon. He’s never been there.”
“Seems to me you made quite an impression on him, Fran.”
Fran smiled. “He made an impression on me, too. But I gotta say, Jim, he must be loaded. He belongs to the yacht club, has a sailboat, owns a car that probably cost as much as a small house, and yet he works for you. How does he do it? Oh, by the way, where are we going after today?”
“Frannie, my girl, you sure do ask a lot of questions. First of all, Bo’s grandfather was an oil man. He made millions wildcatting and was very lucky. That money has been passed on down in triplicate. Bo’s father was a colonel in the Army. Both of Bo’s parents were very strict with him when it came to money. They had no intention of letting him become a playboy, the way so many of these rich Texas men have done with their kids. His parents expected him to earn his keep. All I can say is, he’s been raised very well. I don’t know his parents because they’re both deceased, but they must have been exceptional people. Now Bo is a multi–millionaire, and you would never know it. I hope that answers that question.
“As for plans, Pat and I have attempted to make tentative ones for the next three weeks. Nothing is etched in stone. If there’s something you would rather do or don’t want to do, please speak up. As you know, I have to work during the week, so that’s why I’d like us all to be together on the weekends, and this is the last day of the first weekend. We have two more weekends, and then you’ll be going back the following Saturday.”
He looked at everyone at the table. “I think you all heard me tell Fran that today we’ll be going to the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden. There are sixty–six acres of spectacular beauty. Since there are so many acres of land to see, you will never see it all, but I know how all of you love the outdoors and how you love to putter in your yard and garden, Dan, and I’ve been told this place will take your breath away. Knowing Bo, I think he’ll enjoy this walk through the gardens just as much as the rest of us. There are also picnic facilities everywhere, and Pat has planned a great picnic lunch. With Maureen’s help, it’ll be great. So it should be a wonderful day. And before I tell you about the rest of the plans, I want to say that I hope you all enjoyed last night.”
Dan spoke first. “Jim, you couldn’t have done better. That dinner was top shelf. The food and wine were exceptional, and Charley’s was terrific. I think I speak for everyone.” He looked around the table, and two other heads nodded in agreement.
Jim continued. “That’s great to hear, because Pat and I’ve been so excited to have you come. We want you to have the best time ever while you’re here. So, here’s what the two of us worked out. During the week, we’ll just wing it day by day—although Dan, I’d really like to take you to my building, show you where I work, and introduce you around. Other than that, you’re in good hands with Pat. She can’t wait to show you points of interest in Dallas.” He grinned. “We’re pretty new here ourselves, so don’t let her get you lost.”
By the end of their trip to the botanical garden, everyone had walked so much that all they wanted to do was sit. It was a good kind of tired, the kind one feels at the end of a very enjoyable day. And now, even after that great picnic lunch, it was almost 7:00, and they were hungry. Bo took the lead, and Jim followed to an Olive Garden on Village Point Drive for dinner. They requested a table on the patio. Bo said, “I’ve been here before, and you’re in for a treat. This patio faces west, and in about half an hour or so, we can watch the sunset.”
Everyone ordered their food, and Jim said, “Now I think it would be nice if everyone critiqued what they experienced today.”
Fran was quick to speak. “Boy, Jim, you’re going to make a great dad. When you take your kids places, are you going to give them quizzes, too?
Maureen shot Fran a sharp look and said, “Fran, don’t be flip.”
“I’m not being flip, Mom. I mean it. I think Jim is going to be a fantastic dad. Almost as good as the one I have.”
Dan said, “Well, thank you, sweetie.”
Fran contritely said, “I guess I was being a little flip about it, but I really do think his kids are going to think he’s the best ever. As long as he never calls any of them Squirt.”
Everyone laughed except Bo. He wasn’t in on that inside joke, but he wished he had been. He had grown up as an only child and had never experienced this kind of interaction with his parents. Now that they were gone, he was really alone. Having listened to this family all day, he envied their closeness and their ability to express opinions, even if they differed.
Dan said, “I would like to give my thoughts on the day.” Everyone sat at attention. “First, I want to thank my daughter and her husband for making this day possible. I have to say, I’ve never seen so much beauty in one place before. When I thought I had just seen the most beautiful garden ever, we moved on to one even more spectacular.”
Maureen said, “That’s nicely expressed, honey, and now I would like to say that my day was so peaceful and filled with so much beauty! What about yours, Pat?”
Pat looked around. All eyes were on her.
“My day was pretty much like yours, Mom. And I’d like to add that the entire time I was there, I kept thinking of how Jim and I would have to revisit this place with our children, so they’ll see some of the beauty the world offers. And Fran is right; Jim will be a fantastic dad. Okay, Jim, you’re up.”
He smiled at the waiting faces and said, “I kept thinking of how blessed I am to have such a family and also a friend to share all the beauty I saw today. Your turn, Bo.”
Bo had a lump in his throat. He wasn’t accustomed to this kind of sharing and was very touched. “I can only say how privileged I felt being in the company of such a wonderful family. The beauty that I saw was enhanced by it. I thank you for sharing your day with me. And now, darlin’ girl, speak.”
Five faces stared as Fran began. “I did love that potato salad, Mom.”
Maureen said, “Come on, Fran, this is not about the picnic. But I’m glad you liked the potato salad.”
Fran looked at her mother. “What I thought of the gardens will take a tad more than a few words to express. That’s because while I was there, I felt the presence of God everywhere. I felt the magnificence of His creation in everything I saw. It washed over me, and I felt loved. I also realized that because He had given some of His children the ability to take His creation and display it in the fashion we were privileged to see today, it was a gift of fantastic value. All He has created on this earth is for us to enjoy, not destroy. So now that the sun is beginning to close up the day”—that was always the way Fran liked to talk about a sunset—“this is God’s final gift to us on a day filled with His gifts of beauty. Thank you, Jim and Pat, for this day.”
Everyone was silent as the waitress brought their orders.
Monday was another day, and the week was filled with activity. Fran and Maureen were happy shopping, antiquing, and doing lunches, but their favorite thing was lounging by the pool. Pat took them to Neiman Marcus one day, and they were thrilled to be there. Dan liked going with them when they went for rides to visit points of interest. He also liked the pool, mainly under an umbrella reading a book.
Jim took him to the office one day, and Dan was awed by the magnitude of his son–in–law’s responsibilities. Jim proudly introduced him around, and they had lunch in the executive dining room. Dan also rode into the city with Jim on a few other occasions, just to walk around the city and talk to the locals at the different kiosks and parks. He spent hours gleaning souvenirs from stores that looked completely Texas.
When Jim came home from work, there was usually a happy hour, and on any given day, it was a crap shoot as to whether they ate in or went out to eat. Bo was so taken with Fran—and the entire family—that he showed up often and was always welcome. This was the beginning of the pinochle competition.
The Wednesday of the first week, Pat asked their neighbors, Phil and Ken, to dinner; Phil had expressed the desire to meet the family. Of course Bo was a part of it. At one point during the preparations for the meal, Pat asked Fran to help her carry the place settings from the pantry. Fran had already seen the pantry and had remarked that it was a homemaker’s dream because of its size.
Pat looked at Fran, smiled, and whispered, “This is the only room in the house that Jim and I have never had sex in.”
Fran looked at her, incredulous. “You mean to tell me you’ve had sex in every other room of this house?”
Pat put her finger to her lips. “I don’t want Mom or Dad to hear. But, yes, that’s what I mean. I can’t wait to have this baby, but then I guess we’ll have to come in here and shut the door for privacy if we’re not in the bedroom.” She put her hand on Fran’s cheek and said, “I only wish you had what I have, Fran. And it looks like it might be happening as we speak. Bo is a great guy, and he seems to be crazy about you.”
Fran said quietly, “Thank you, Pat, and I have to admit that for the first two days, I was overwhelmed by Bo’s good looks and charm. Actually, if you think about it, he’s the David I thought I was in love with. But I had to rein in my feelings. I don’t want to ever repeat the mistake I made or ever again suffer the pain I experienced because of it. What I know now is, I have to become very good friends with a man before I ever fall in love with him. And it wouldn’t be fair to Bo if I used him as a substitute for the David that I once loved.
“Look at you, Pat. Friendship and trust are the foundation of a really good marriage, and that’s why yours is so great. Right now, Bo and I are forming a good friendship. What will come of it, I don’t know, but I will say I like him a lot. In all confidence, Pat, I’ve also formed a great friendship with Hank. I’ve come to care a great deal for him.”
The sisters were interrupted by their mother. Maureen said, “I’ve been waiting for those dishes, you two. I finished the centerpiece, and I’d like to set the table.”
The dinner was delightful, and so were Ken and Phil. Maureen especially took a liking to Phil. It was one of those connections that seemed to develop when the eight of them played a couple of games of charades.
Phil and Ken left around 10:00, and Bo said, “Get out the cards. We have time for one or two more games of pinochle.”
That same Wednesday night, while Maureen was trying to figure out whether to bid or pass, Jim brought up the subject of going to San Antonio. He said, “I think you all would really enjoy this trip, and you’re invited too, Bo. I took a personal day on Friday because it will probably take about six hours to drive there, and there’s so much to see. I’d like you to have a leisurely couple of days to enjoy as much as you can. Any objections?”
Bo spoke. “That’s a really great idea, Jim—providing my boss gives me a personal day, too.” He looked at Jim.
“That goes without saying, Bo. I’m inviting you to join us.”
“Well, in that case, I’d like to take all of you there as my guests,” Bo said.
That seemed to grab everyone’s attention.
Jim said, “No, no, Bo, we can’t let you do that. That kind of trip for six would cost a fortune.”
Bo laughed. “Jim, I have a fortune, and you know it. However much it costs, it wouldn’t put a dent in what I have. And for me, it would be worth every penny. I’ve had such a wonderful time these past six days with all of you, and I really want to do this. I’ve been so much alone since my father died last year, and I miss him terribly. We were so close.” His voice cracked, and he paused. “When you have the kind of money I do, unless you’re with people who have the same kind of money, you have to wonder who your friends are. Jim, you and your family are so genuine that I don’t have to wonder. As a matter of fact, I feel like you’re the rich ones, and you’re allowing me to share in your wealth. I don’t know if it’s the mother in you, Maureen, or the fact that you had no sons, Dan, or just because I’m missing my own mother and father so much, but you’ve invited me into the fold as though I were one of you. So please don’t say no. Let me do this for you. It will truly make me happy.”
The entire family sat there speechless. All but Fran. She said, “Bo, that is the sweetest and most generous offer I have ever received. I’m sure my parents feel the same. You’ve been made welcome by all of us because you’ve endeared yourself to all of us. And I for one can’t wait to go to San Antonio.”
And so plans were made.
On Thursday, the pinochle game developed into a real competition. They decided to pair up and keep their partners. Whichever pair won the most games would be the champions. Bo said he would buy a trophy and the winners of the competition would be announced the last Thursday before the Carters went back to Ohio. Not one of them could possibly know that much was going to take place to interfere with those plans before Fran and her parents returned home.
They called it an early night that Thursday because they wanted to be fresh for their trip in the morning.
The limo arrived promptly at 8:00 to pick up the five anxiously waiting passengers. Bo greeted them as they piled in and were whisked off to the Dallas/Fort Worth airport to fly off in Bo’s private jet to a place called San Antonio. And what a place it was.
Bo had made reservations at the Omni La Mansion del Rio. They arrived at their hotel around 12:00 noon with their mouths hanging open with wonder. Jim said, “I know we’re all tourists, but come on, guys, shut your mouths.”
Dan said, “This is like another world, Jim. Can you blame us?”
Bo sat back and watched the five others with such pleasure on their faces and felt a surge of happiness that he was able to do this for them.
Pat was blown away by the hotel. Everywhere she looked, she saw something of elegance and beauty, and when she and Jim entered their suite with a view of the famous River Walk, she actually squealed with delight.
Dan and Maureen also had a suite. Fran had a room with a king–sized bed, and no one actually saw Bo’s room. All the rooms had a view of the River Walk, so they could see all the activity below. They could hardly wait to get out there and into it. Jim suggested they meet in his room after they got settled and refreshed. He was as antsy as any of them and gave them twenty minutes.
The first thing Bo said when he walked into Jim and Pat’s suite was, “That table and those chairs are perfect for playing a game of pinochle.” He had been to San Antonio a dozen times. Cards were the last thing on everyone else’s mind, though.
As they stepped out into the mainstream of activity, they were all overwhelmed by the cacophony of sounds: water, the colorful motor boats filled with tourists, the tour guide shouting out the particular points of interests, the hucksters, and the strolling tourists. Trees and shrubs, tropical plants and vines, large and small flowers of all colors were flourishing everywhere. The intermingling of fragrances and sounds assaulted their senses. This time it was just as difficult for Jim to keep his mouth closed as everyone else. They were seeing the heart of San Antonio’s hospitality. They strolled down the River Walk, admiring the overhead foot bridges and waterfalls. They stopped at a sidewalk café and sat under umbrella tables for lunch. This was perfect for satisfying their hunger and people watching at the same time.
Someone at another table told them the River Walk was five miles long and ran through the middle of San Antonio. They walked it or rode in a hop–on, hop–off boat to leisurely look at the myriad sights and things to do. In addition, they signed up for a tour of the San Antonio Missions. They shopped at Market Square, enjoyed the aquarium, and went to the San Antonio Zoo. They were awed by the Natural Bridge Caverns, and solemnly toured the Alamo. They ate at small kiosks and outdoor cafés, dined at posh restaurants, danced under the stars, and drank pink margaritas at Pat O’Brien’s. Each night, everyone went to bed exhausted and slept in luxurious comfort.
If Bo took all this for granted, the rest of them surely did not. They soaked it up and stored away their shared memories of this marvelous place. One day they might pull out a memory or two and relish them during a nostalgic moment—wonderful memories of a time when they spent three days in a wonderland.
In the three days they were there, there was only one chunk of time, on Saturday afternoon, that everyone chose to take a couple of hours’ break to do their own thing. Bo and Fran sat at the bar in the lounge of the Omni and truly bonded.
Fran asked Bo if he’d ever had a serious relationship with a woman. For the next two hours he poured his heart out.
Yes, Bo had had three close relationships with women. The first was when he was eighteen. Her name was Rachel, and they met at White Rock Lake the summer before he went away to Yale. They fell in love and couldn’t keep their hands off each other. September came, and they each promised to write. They were going to meet again at Christmas break. Christmas break came, but Rachel didn’t. Her parents had moved to California. She had gone with them and had a new boyfriend. Bo was heartbroken.
When he was twenty–four, he met a girl he worked with at GE. Her name was Mindy. She was a knockout, and she not only turned him on, but seduced him. Their sex was fabulous, but she could only see him on weekends because during the week, she had to go home after work to take care of her mother. A cousin came to take care of her mother during the day and on weekends.
Her mother had been in an automobile accident and was facing a very serious operation on her back. The doctor said that this surgery would cost about $75,000, but if she had it, she would be able to walk again. Mindy said that kind of money was out of the question.
Bo and Mindy went together for about four months, and he thought about her night and day. He was sure she didn’t know he had millions, because he had never told anyone at work. From the very beginning, he felt she was sincere, and when she told him she loved him, he didn’t question it. When he decided to propose, he also decided to give her the money for her mother’s surgery.
One night after work, thinking Mindy had gone home to her mother, he and his buddy, Neal, stopped off at a bar called Barney’s. Even though it was only a block away from work, he had never been there before, but Neal said they had great chili dogs. The place was pretty dead when they walked in. They sat in a booth, asked for a pitcher of beer, and gave the waitress their order. They were sitting there drinking beer, waiting for their dogs, when a man in the next booth began yelling. Bo couldn’t help but hear what he was saying.
“When the hell are you going to get rid of that guy? Do you think I enjoy thinking about my wife getting screwed by another man every weekend? This was your idea, kiddo, and I don’t know why I let you talk me into this. I only went along with it because you said it would only take a month or so to reel him in. You said he was one of those really nice guys that would fall for you and want to make you happy. You told me I should just think about it as a business deal, because he sure didn’t mean anything to you. Yeah, business deal, my ass!”
When Bo got up and looked intp the next booth, both he and Mindy were in shock. So Mindy was history at GE and in Bo’s life. Once again, he felt like his heart had become a punching bag, and this time, he blamed it all on his money. He found out that in fact, everyone at work knew he was filthy rich.
The third one was the worst. This woman was called Beth. He was now twenty–seven and met her at the spa. He had seen her several times. Then one day he went for his workout and they struck up a conversation when they were side by side at the treadmills. After that, when they were done with their workouts, they would go for coffee and eventually became good friends.
Friendship blossomed into sex, and Bo felt that this time, things were going to be different. This woman hung on his every word. She couldn’t possibly know he had money because they knew no one in common. She seemed to worship him, and he truly loved her. He felt the sex was the best he’d ever had because of the affection she showered on him before and after. That convinced him the relationship was genuine. He loved her like no other. She was the whole package. In his eyes, he felt he could easily live with her the rest of his days.
They had been going together about nine months when Beth announced she wasn’t feeling well. When he showed his concern and asked what was wrong, she told him she’d found out that she was over two months pregnant. He was elated until she said that he needn’t worry about it because she had already taken care of it, and that was why she wasn’t feeling up to par.
He was appalled and couldn’t understand why she would do such a thing. She told him she didn’t want to share him with anyone, ever. He was heartbroken that she had never consulted him and had taken the life of their child, a child he would have loved and taken care of. Now he no longer wanted to share his life with her. She clung to him, begged him to stay with her, but what she had done sickened him. He wanted her gone.
“I will never get over that one,” Bo said. When he told Fran that last story, he had tears in his eyes.
As she listened, Fran’s heart ached for him. She thought about the evening three days earlier when she had poured her heart out to him. That was the night they were waiting for their turn at the card table and decided to go for a walk. It was a beautiful summer evening, and they strolled around the complex, comparing the different villas. Approaching the park, they came to a bench and sat for a minute to soak up the twilight.
Bo casually asked her the same question. “Have you ever had a serious relationship with a man?” And even though she had only known him a short time, she somehow knew she could confide in him. For the next thirty minutes, she unwound a story she had not fully verbalized even to herself since the day after it had happened. Although she had lived it and ruminated about it for the past two years, she still could not wash away the fact that the man she had loved so deeply was not the man she married.
She confided those deepest of feelings about David to Bo, things she had never shared with another person. The outpouring seemed to touch him, and he responded by saying, “You’ve been deeply wounded, Fran. I’m sorry about that. When a person is deeply hurt, it changes the way they trust people. The interesting thing about your pain is that you seem to have dealt with it so well. It appears you didn’t let it change you one iota.”
Fran appreciated those kind words. Of course Bo couldn’t possibly know what she was like before or what it had taken to change those things that had caused her to create the problems she had in the first place. That past she didn’t share with him. For some reason, those two years at the pond would be shared only with the man who had sat by her side at the pond and fed and talked to the ducks with her.
Fran looked at her watch and realized how long the two of them had been ruminating and said, “Oh, my goodness, Bo, we’d better get moving. We have to meet the folks at the dock at 4:00.”
When Bo showed up on Monday night, the family did nothing but talk about their trip and thank him profusely for everything. His response was, “You will never know how much pleasure I got just watching ya’ll have such a good time. Now get out the cards.”
Fran laughed and said, “Whoa, Bo, you’d better watch it. You’re developing an addiction. When we go back home, you’re going to go through withdrawal, and we might just have to turn around and come back to help you beat it.”
Bo picked up his cards. Dan looked up from his and said, “Bo, they say variety is the spice of life. Well, I gotta say, you filled our lives with a great deal of spice these past three days. The tours along the river were terrific. Sometimes I felt like I was out West with the cowboys. Sometimes I felt transported back in history to the battle of the Alamo, and at other times, it felt like I was in Old Mexico.” He pronounced it “Ol Meh he co.”
“And I think I have to make you responsible for all the shopping these women did. Did you see all the packages they brought back from shopping along the River Walk?”
Bo gave Dan a very broad smile, and said, “That’s great, Dan. Glad to contribute. I open with twenty–five.”
That brought a few smiles.
By Friday of that week, Jim had made plans for all of them to go to a cattle auction in Fort Worth on Saturday afternoon. On Saturday evening, they would go to a hoedown, and on Sunday, a rodeo. Bo would be picking Fran up on Saturday morning, since it was such a short drive to Fort Worth.
But all those plans were aborted before Saturday arrived.
It was about 1:30 a.m. on Saturday when the phone woke Jim and Pat up. Jim switched on the light, picked up, and Pat watched his face turn ashen. He got out of bed, and while he was getting dressed, he told Pat that both Phil and Ken had been mugged outside a gay bar in downtown Dallas called The Pink Peacock. Phil was in critical condition, and Ken was going to be admitted for broken bones, but he was the one who’d phoned Jim. He called because he had no one else to turn to.
Jim was pretty shaken. Pat got dressed while Jim was getting the car out. She left a note by the toaster where she knew her mother would find it.
Everyone was up by 7:00 that Saturday morning, expecting to have a great weekend. Just as Pat had predicted, Maureen put the bread next to the toaster, getting ready for the onslaught of eggs, when she saw the note. Phil was in critical condition. Maureen was heartsick. She’d only met him once, but she knew he would never hurt another human being. It was difficult to understand how anyone could actually want to be party to that kind of violence.
Fran wasn’t up ten minutes when Bo called her on her cell phone. His usual pleasant voice was flat as he said, “Frannie, I hate to tell you this, but I won’t be able to go to Fort Worth today. Something of great urgency has come up that I have to deal with. You know how much I love your company, darlin’, but I really can’t go.”
Fran assured him it would be just fine, because they wouldn’t be going either. She filled him in on what had happened to Phil and Ken.
Bo was sympathetic but not overly so. He said, “That’s a shame,” and asked no questions. Fran was nonplussed when he said, “I have to go, Frannie. I’ll call you.” Obviously, something was seriously troubling him.
The day seemed to drag as they waited for Jim or Pat to call. Maureen made an apple pie. Dan went around the perimeter of the house pulling weeds and giving the shrubs and flowers a little extra loving care. Fran did her crossword puzzles, and every once in a while, she would put one down and stare into space. She was quite concerned about Bo.
Her father came in the house, beads of perspiration on his face, and she said, “You know, Dad, I’m worried about Bo. He wasn’t himself when he called today. I just know there’s something wrong,”
Dan wiped his face and said, “Boy, it’s hot out there! I need a shower. And you know, sweetie, you might be on to something there. Let me go take a shower, and I’ll get back to you. Hold that thought.”
When her father returned, Fran said, “Dad, is there something you know about Bo that you’re not telling me?”
“No, sweetie, not exactly. But something did happen yesterday that I thought was a bit unusual. Remember, I went in to work with Jim. He asked me if I would play cards with some of the retirees in the executive lounge. They needed a fourth for bridge. Well, you know me and cards. And since I got there early with Jim, I was hanging around his office wait—”
Fran interrupted, “For gosh sakes, Dad. You’re rambling all over the place. What was it you noticed about Bo yesterday?”
Dan said, “Oh, sorry, sweetie. I guess I just wanted you to know that I’ve become familiar with Jim’s office, since I’ve been there a number of times.”
Fran nodded.
“Well, as I said, I got there pretty early, and Jim was off in another part of the building when I heard this commotion. It seemed to be coming from Bo’s office. A woman was screaming at the top of her lungs. I could hear Bo, but his voice was not loud. It seemed he was trying to calm the woman down, but she would not be silenced. That all lasted about five minutes tops. After I got involved with the bridge game, I didn’t give the incident two thoughts until you expressed your concern for Bo this afternoon.”
Fran had a very uncomfortable feeling. She didn’t know why, but she didn’t want anything bad to happen to Bo.
The phone rang around 2:00 that afternoon. Maureen grabbed it and heard Pat say, “Mom, I have good news. Phil is going to make it. It was touch and go for a while, but the doctor came out of surgery to tell us he did just fine.”
Maureen gave a sigh of relief and asked Pat what his injuries were.
Pat said, “He had a fractured skull, a broken arm and leg, and some internal injuries. I don’t know exactly what those were. But all I can say is, we’re so happy he’s doing as well as he is. It’s sad, but those two young men have no one but us to turn to. Both sets of parents have literally thrown them away since they came out, but Jim intends to notify them. He’s so angry about this. Now Ken has been admitted as well. He has a lot of injuries, too, but his only concern is Phil.”
Maureen asked Pat how it had happened. “Did they get into a fight?”
Pat said, “Ken told us there were three guys waiting outside The Pink Peacock. He said these thugs were just homophobes waiting for anyone to come out of that bar. He kind of laughed when he said that he and Phil just happened to draw the short straw when they were jumped. There were two guys on Phil, and one of them beat him with a tire iron. Ken said that when the one that attacked him started, he didn’t stand a chance, because the guy had to have at least fifty pounds on him. He told us that as soon as he got to Emergency, the police came and interviewed him, and a witness came forward at the station to say he had come out of the lounge and scared the attackers off. If he hadn’t, Phil would probably be dead. He was the one that called 9–1–1 and also got the license number as they drove away. I sure do hope they find those rotten bastards. Ken was beside himself worrying about Phil.”
Maureen said, “Be sure to give both of them our best wishes, and tell them they’re in our prayers.”
“Will do, Mom. We should be back before dinner.”
“We’ll keep the home fires burning and a stuffed chicken and apple pie for dinner. Not to worry about us. We love you, honey.”
It had been a very long day, and Jim and Pat showed up for a sumptuous dinner ravenous. They had been living on coffee and Danish since 2:00 that morning. They had all good news. Phil was doing very well, and so was Ken. They had apprehended the three thugs who had jumped them. Jim had contacted both families and convinced them they should come to give their sons moral support in their time of need. He said the one family was a little more hard–core but relented when they found out Jim was willing to pay their airfare and put them up in a hotel for three days. He even promised to pick them up at the airport on Sunday afternoon.
It didn’t take much coaxing to get Pat and Jim to go to bed around 7:00 that evening.
But Fran was still puzzled. Bo hadn’t called. Usually, he would have given her a call around 6:00 or so to say he’d be over for cards. She was getting very accustomed to his company, and rightly so. He was such a thoughtful man. When she had met him that first evening, her first reaction had been to want him. He was so much like David. She had put the kibosh on that right away. But they had become such good friends, and he was so caring compared to David. Now she was worried about him, because he was her friend. These past two weeks had reinforced her trust in men in general. But the man who had given her back that trust was not there. She missed Hank. At this moment, however, it was Bo she was concerned about.
Jim left for the airport at 11:00 to pick up Phil’s and Ken’s parents, while the rest of the family went to the services at Saint John’s Episcopal Church. They planned to go out for dinner when Jim got home, so they all spent the afternoon at the pool. That was always enjoyable, because they had become acquainted with almost all the neighbors that frequented it. Everyone asked about Ken and Phil. They had endeared themselves to almost everyone.
Jim came home around 4:00, and they were all starving, so they went to a Chinese restaurant called The Purple Sampan Inn. Becky Geyer had recommended it when they were at the pool. Jim said he had a lot to tell them, but it could wait until they got to the restaurant.
The restaurant, although very busy, was quiet and cool. It was beautifully appointed, and the lighting was just right to create the perfect ambience for dining. Jim had plenty to report, and after they had all ordered, he began.
“I picked up both sets of parents on time. Ken’s mother, Mrs. Thatcher, was so appreciative that I had done this for them, and she and her husband were quite concerned about Ken. Mister and Mrs. Kossack were very nice, but quite reserved. I took them to their hotel first, so they could freshen up. Both families were very pleased with their accommodations, but anxious to get to the hospital.
“When we got there, I took them to see Ken first, because he was the one in better condition, and I wanted the Kossacks to at least meet the man their son was living with. Mr. and Mrs. Thatcher embraced Ken, and there were lots of tears, regrets, apologies, and also happiness.
“The Kossacks stood by for a good ten minutes after their cordial introduction and watched this reunion between son and parents. Then Mrs. Kossack asked to go see Phil. When they saw their son lying there in such a pitiful state, both parents embraced him, and the tears that were spilled at that bedside were the most beautiful, poignant, and healing tears I have ever witnessed. I gave them the number of a limo service the two families were to use to go back and forth together to visit their sons and to get back to the airport. I said my goodbyes to the Kossacks and went back to do the same with the Thatchers. I told both sets of parents that I was impressed by how they appeared to have become good friends on the plane, and told them how happy that would make their two sons. They all showed great appreciation for everything, and I left that hospital feeling pretty damned good.”
Unfortunately, when they got back to the villa, there was no message from Bo.
On Monday, Jim went to work. Pat, Maureen, and Fran went shopping, and Dan sat on the lanai all afternoon reading a book he had always wanted to tackle: The Trinity, a 1976 novel by Leon Uris. This was not on his top ten list, but he had always intended to read it. He had come across a used copy at a small bookstore when he was on one of his jaunts through the city, had bought it, and was determined to read it and get it off his bucket list.
Evening came, and there was still no word from Bo. Jim said that Bo’s secretary had told him that Bo had called off for the week.
Fran was determined to get in touch with him on Tuesday. She had never been to his house, but she knew she could get his address from Jim. She intended to wait until after lunch, but around 11:00, the doorbell rang. Pat answered, and a very attractive blonde pushed right past her, demanding to see Fran Carter. Fran immediately came in from the lanai and said, “I’m Fran Carter. What is it you want?”
The blonde walked up to her, put her face close to Fran’s, and screamed, “I want you to stay away from my fiancé. I don’t ever want you to see him or talk to him again.”
Fran looked at the menacing face in front of her and was very happy that she had learned to handle confrontation. In a very firm voice, she said, “Back off, woman. I don’t want to touch you, but I promise you’ll regret it if you don’t. Who are you, anyway, and who the hell is your fiancé?
There must have been something in the tone of Fran’s voice that made the woman back away, but then she said, “I’m Katy Wilson, and Bo Henderson and I have been going together for the past five months—that is, until you blew into town. But it just so happens that I’m going to have his baby, and we got engaged last Friday.” Then she backed up, and before she left, she repeated her warning. “I mean it, lady. Don’t you dare come near him again.” She opened the door and left, slamming it hard.
Fran stood there, stunned. Now there was no question about it. She was going to see Bo that afternoon.
Pat went with Fran, because she knew her way around Dallas. The first stop was Jim’s office, to get info on Katy Wilson. And there she found it. She was the secretary to Glen Fabis, one of the major graphic designers. Fran needed to talk to someone in that department and found out there was a Laney Sherman who worked side by side with Katy Wilson. They talked every day.
Fran went back to Jim and asked him if he would talk to Laney. Fran said, “Jim, you’re the one to question her. She’ll open up to you. Get as much as you can about Katy’s relationship with Bo. They work side by side, and I’m sure Katy has confided in Laney about her relationship with Bo.”
Laney was quite forthcoming with Jim for two reasons. First, she had developed a tremendous respect for the man questioning her. He had allowed her time off with pay because of a serious illness in her family and made sure her job was there when she was able to return. Second, Katy had done something Laney thought was immoral. Yes, she had no problem telling Mr. Murray all about Katy.
“Mr. Murray, you have to understand that Katy Wilson is a very good–looking, twenty–three–year–old woman. Katy fell in love with Mr. Henderson the first time she had to deliver some pamphlets to him concerning a program he was implementing. She became the go–between several times because of corrections and new additions to the pamphlet. She confided in me that she intended to marry Bo Henderson, and she talked about him incessantly. She learned everything she could about him. I got the feeling she was stalking him. She found out he had a sailboat and where he sailed it. She found out what spa he went to and where he usually ate lunch.
“She was very methodical about her plan. First, she would just show up for lunch at the same time and place he ate. But not too often. Just enough that he would see her so she could stop and say hello and make a few comments, just to insure he was aware of her presence. This all started around November of last year. She made sure she was around him at the Christmas party last December and talked about how all the women threw themselves at him. It was as though she was his, and they had no right to him. She couldn’t stop talking about the fact that she had asked him to dance and she thought she would die because he held her in his arms, and she couldn’t stop commenting on how divinely he danced.
“She began to show up at the spa and did the same as with lunch. By spring, she was showing up at his yacht club. By that time, they were more than just coworkers. They had become close acquaintances—and all by coincidence, it would seem.
“Because Bo loved showing off his boat, she finally managed to finagle an invitation to go sailing. That was in April. Then Bo asked her to go to dinner the first of May. Katy is very ttractive and shapely, and there’s no question that she did everything on that date to lead him on. Bo was taking the bait. I got blow–by– blow descriptions on how she was progressing, and I didn’t betray her confidence. Altthough they had only six planned dates, at least according to my memory, they had sex on five of them. Katy admitted she had instigated it every time, but he never turned it down, and he always wore protection. She was sure he was falling in love with her, because he treated her like such a lady.
“Then by accident she overheard you, Mr. Murray, talking to Mr. Henderson about a woman you wanted him to go out with a few weeks ago on a Saturday. She was sure you called her Fran, and when she came back to her desk, she looked wild with jealousy. She was almost incapable of doing her job that day. After that, she followed him after work, and I was concerned she was going to lose it when I found out she was stalking your house at night, Mr. Murray. She was parking her car in the driveway of a vacant house and spying.
“She said you were playing cards on the lanai, and she could hear you all talking. She was like a crazed woman. It didn’t matter what I said; she wouldn’t listen. The last thing she told me before she stomped off to Mr. Henderson’s office on Friday was that she was going to tell him she was pregnant and he was going to have to marry her. She had a pregnancy test her friend had taken, and it was positive, so she used it make it look as though she was the pregnant one. That’s the only reason I’m telling you these things, Mr. Murray. She told me in confidence, but what she has done is morally wrong. She has crossed the line. Mr. Henderson doesn’t deserve that.”
Laney looked up at Jim Murray with tears in her eyes.
She stood up to leave. Jim walked over to her, put his hands on her shoulders, and said, “I want to thank you so much for clearing up what could have been a very serious problem. You’ve been a good friend to Katy, and there’s no question she needs help. We’ll see she gets it. How are things going with that sick husband of yours?”
“Thank you for asking, and thanks to you, we’re doing just fine.”
Jim called the lobby and told Jack, the man at the desk, to send his wife and sister–in–law up. He filled them in.
It was now almost 4:00 in the afternoon, so Fran chose to wait and confront Bo on Wednesday, now that she had all her ducks in a row. That was something she had learned how to do a while back.
Pat used her GPS to find Preston Hollow, a very prestigious area of Dallas. As they searched for the house number, Fran’s eyes grew large. “These houses are mansions,” she said.
Pat pulled into a circular driveway, and Pat said, “How do you like this one?”
Fran said, “My word, there must be thirty rooms in this place. I don’t know exactly what I’m going to do or say to Bo, but I think maybe I should do it when no one else is around. What do you think, Pat?”
“Why don’t I just wait in the car? I always carry a book with me. And I don’t think this is going to take too long. He should be relieved when he hears the whole story, don’t you think?”
“I hope so.”
Fran slowly headed for the dozen or so windows with their diamond–shaped window panes and felt as though there were many eyes watching her approach the daunting oak double doors. An older man, she assumed the butler, opened the door, and when she asked for Bo Henderson, Bo must have heard her voice. He yelled down the beautiful staircase, “Let her in, Richard.” He came bouncing down the steps like a kid whose long–lost mother had just come home. He looked awful: hair rumpled, stubble on his face, and clothes quite wrinkled. He probably slept in them, Fran thought.
Bo threw his arms around her, gave her a hug, then looked at her. His voice sounded hollow as he said, “Oh, Frannie, everything is such a mess!”
Fran decided to let him talk first. She had no intention of jumping right in with her take on the problem Bo thought he was facing.
Bo said, “I hope you aren’t too mad at me, Frannie. Let’s go in the solarium and talk.” He made a gesture toward Richard and then led her to a gorgeous room, one filled with windows and light. Part of that room had been extended, and like any good solarium, the roof of the extension was glass. Sliding glass doors led to a flagstone patio. There were large plants and small birds in cages, and even a parrot on a perch. The parrot said, “Hello.” The furniture was sumptuous, and the melody of a fountain seemed to dominate the room’s elegance, broken occasionally by a squawk or a chirp.
They sat on a large sofa, and Fran looked around. She said, “Oh my gosh, Bo, I love this room!”
He gave her a half smile and said, “Thank you; so do I. When I was a kid, this was my favorite room in the house.” Then he gave a kind of hopeless shrug and said, “Frannie, I’m so sorry. You must be mad at me for not calling, but—”
Frannie had to relieve his misery. “Just stop, Bo. I’m not here because I’m mad at you. I know exactly why you didn’t call, and I met the woman who’s given you all this grief. She gave me a little bit of it, too. But that’s all over. Your friend, Katy, is not pregnant, and she’s been stalking you since last November. She obviously chose to make you the object of her affections and was determined to have you marry her. Whether she truly thought she loved you or just wanted your money, I don’t know, but since nothing else was working, she used the ploy of pregnancy. She tricked you with another woman’s positive pregnancy test. Right now, as I speak, she’s undergoing psychiatric evaluation, because she’s become unhinged.”
A little color returned to Bo’s face, and a bit of a smile began to play on his lips. He covered his face with his hands and groaned, “Oh, thank God! I don’t love Katy. But I would never want to be an absent father to a child I had brought into this world. I knew I would have to marry her to keep that from happening, and it was tearing me apart.”
He looked at Fran. “Are you sure you’re telling me the truth? How do you know all this?”
“We’ll talk about all the whats and the whys another time. And I’m not even sure that’s relevant right now. I’m only concerned about you. I—”
Richard came in to announce that lunch was being served.
Fran jumped up. “Oh, Bo, Pat’s in the driveway waiting for me. I have to go.”
“Don’t go, Frannie,” Bo pleaded. “I’ll go out and ask her to come in and have lunch with us.”
Pat heard the front door slam and saw Bo coming toward the car. She put her book down and took a good look at him. Oh, my Lord, she thought, he looks like a man who’s had the flu, but with a smile on his face.
When he asked her to come in and have some lunch, she had no intention of passing up this opportunity. She was dying to see the inside of the house she’d been ogling. And she wasn’t going to be disappointed.
As they entered the foyer, Pat said, “Oh my goodness, Bo, this is breathtaking. You must feel like a movie star every time you walk down that beautiful staircase.”
Bo laughed. “Yeah, me and Rhett Butler. Would you like me to show you around?”
Pat said, “My, yes, I would love that.”
Just like a tour guide, he said, “Step this way. This used to be my dad’s office—or study, if you choose.” He stood proudly as she looked at the room in which he had spent many happy hours playing games and reading while his father took care of business. It was a large room with large furniture. A fabulous Georgian desk sat to the right of the door and in front of a bank of three diamond–shaped, leaded–glass casement windows. The desk faced a huge 19th–century fireplace on the opposite wall.
Pat imagined herself sitting in such a room, playing a child’s game in one of the big, soft leather chairs by a warm fire in the winter, reading a good book while her father sat at his desk working. She saw the dozens of trophies and pictures on the shelves of one wall. There were pictures of Bo holding trophies and ribbons he had won playing polo as a young man and as a child and adolescent in various horse competitions in almost all classes.
They moved on to a lovely living room. Pat wondered if that was what it was called. Perhaps it was called a parlor, or maybe a great room, because it was truly a great room, perfectly decorated in rich colors of colonial blues, with hints of pink, red, silver, and gray.
The two of them continued through the dining room so that Pat could see the gorgeous crystal chandelier and the mirrors that reflected its light into a room whose walls were covered with elegant, silver– and gold–striped wallpaper. The table could accommodate twenty people and was decorated with a very long, low, oblong crystal centerpiece filled with sculpted blue, silver, and gold glass flowers and two three–tiered Waterford crystal candelabras, one at either end of the table. Pat oohed and awed at the elegance, and they moved across the hall once more and into the library. Three walls were lined with books, and the fourth had two large casement windows with cushioned window seats that hugged a huge, Colonial–style, red–tiled fireplace. A long library table with two straight–back chairs stood in front of one window. Four leather armchairs and a long wormwood coffee table graced with a large vase of variegated flowers sat grouped for visiting by the fireplace.
The room next to that was the solarium. That’s where they met up with Fran, who was sitting out on the flagstone patio under a beautiful red plaid umbrella table, sipping the glass of iced tea that Richard had brought her. Once again, Pat was blown away by the beautiful room filled with light. From there, they moved across the hall and into the breakfast room, which was off the kitchen. It was a cozy room done in yellow, blue, and cream, and the large bay window seat was filled with brightly colored pillows in various shades of blue, creamy yellow, and off–white. This bank of windows allowed a clear view of the back and side yards, the pool house, the pool, and the tennis courts.
Rachel, the maid, offered them a choice of coffee or hot or iced tea. She daintily served a beautiful fruit plate of melons, grapes, kiwis, and bananas with a scoop of chicken salad nested in the middle of a bright red tomato that had been cut to look like a flower.
Conversation was light and at times quite humorous. The key lime pie was to die for, and Fran made sure that Rachel knew it. Pat was impressed, thinking Fran must have worked miracles, because Bo’s mood definitely no longer matched his appearance.
When they had eaten, Pat said they should probably get back to the house, since their mom and dad had been left on their own and wondering.
Bo said, “Do you mind going back on your own, Pat? Frannie and I haven’t really begun to talk. I’ll be glad to take her back when I come over to play cards tonight.”
Both Fran and Pat smiled. Pat said, “Boy, it doesn’t take you long to recover from a crisis, does it?”
After Pat left, Bo asked Fran if she would like to take a swim while he showered and got dressed. He told her there were a number of suits in the pool house, but she said she would much rather sun herself at the pool and wait for him. She really didn’t feel like a swim at the moment, but she did find a sun hat and sunscreen in the pool house. Locating a comfortable lounge chair was not a problem, and she lay back to soak up the sun and plan the approach she would use for the things she wanted to say to Bo before she went back to Ohio. They only had three more days.
When Bo appeared, he looked as handsome as ever. He suggested the two of them move under the large umbrella and sit away from the sun. Within minutes, Richard was right there with a large pitcher of whiskey sours, an ice bucket, and plate of cheese and crackers.
Fran took a sip of her drink and began. “You know, Bo, you’re looking mighty handsome.”
He immediately responded, “Well, thank you, darlin’.”
She smiled and said, “I will always remember the first time you said that to me, Bo. I took one look at you that night and fell in love. But I had to reel in my heart and use my head, because I also know the pain that can go with being in love. I made that mistake once before. But I already told you that story. And I also want to tell you that I’m in love with another man. Anyway, in these past three weeks, I’ve come to know you pretty well and have also come to admire, respect, and love you in a different way. I’m telling you this because of what has just happened to you, and you deserve so much better. As soon as that Katy showed up at Jim’s house shouting at me, I knew how her telling you she was pregnant was going to affect you, because of what you confided to me in San Antonio. So, my very sweet friend, if you don’t mind, we won’t speak of that again. Instead, I’d like to give you some advice. If you don’t want it, Bo, please speak up. “
Bo took a big swig of his drink and said, “Yes, Frannie, I do want any good advice I can get, and I value yours. But before you give me that advice, I’d like to reply to what you said about loving another man. I’ll also never forget that first night I saw you. I felt the same about you. It didn’t take me long, however, to recognize that your heart was somewhere else. I could have easily fallen in love with you had I not sensed that and opted for your wonderful friendship instead. I feel I’ve been a real winner in that department. And I love your family so much that I’m really hoping they’ll adopt me. Now, that being said, shoot!”
“Thank you so much for those words, Bo. So, back to the drawing board. Here goes, and please listen, because I never want to do this again, ever.”
Fran took his hand in hers and looked into his beautiful blue eyes, wishing she could have loved him the same way she had loved David. But David was history. She did treasure Bo as a friend, however, and wanted him to find all the happiness he could. She took a gulp of her drink, took a deep breath, and began.
“You are such a dear, dear man. You are so vulnerable, Bo. You’re vulnerable because you’re stinkin’ rich, because you’re so good–looking, and because you’re so damned nice. And because of all that vulnerability, you’re always going to bump into someone who’s going to hurt you if you let them. You can’t stop being handsome, and I would never want you to stop being nice. But you could learn a little more about yourself and your expectations of others and still come out being really handsome and nice, just a lot more savvy.
“Who you are is important when you enter a relationship, and you’ll be well served if you really come to know the person you’re in a relationship with, and even those you casually take to bed. Just think about it, Bo. You told me about three relationships. I have to give you a pass on the first one because you were both so young, but the other two were of your own doing. You allowed yourself to be scammed by relationship number two. Mindy played you like a fiddle, and because she told you she loved you and the sex was great, you became infatuated and didn’t take the time to get to know the person. It takes time for that. But because you didn’t take that time, you allowed her to reel you in like a helpless fish. As the expression goes, you were catfished, and all because of sex. If it hadn’t been for an act of providence, you would have been scaled and fileted.
“Your third relationship was your doing, too. That woman was always selfish, and you didn’t see the red flags. I was an expert at avoiding them. You were just like me, blind as a bat. Your love for her and the sex blinded you, just as they did me. That was a horrible price to pay for that relationship, but you paid it.” Fran stopped to take another swallow of her drink, drained the glass, and held it out to be filled. She said, “How am I doing so far, my friend?”
Bo looked at her and said, “I think you’re spot on, Frannie. Let’s drink to that and get drunk.” He filled Fran’s glass and topped his own. “To us,” he said.
Fran laughed as they clicked glasses and said, “Let’s not get carried away. I have one more vulnerability to talk about, and that pertains to your money. There’s nothing you can do about it unless you give it all away. I wouldn’t advise that, but I would suggest being cautious. It also wouldn’t hurt to spend a little more time getting to know more women who are privileged to enjoy your lifestyle. A lot of them spend time working, as you do, or they do volunteer work. They’re not all selfish and self–serving.
“So let’s review. When you don’t know a woman well and she freely gives you sex, that’s a red flag. If you’re in a relationship and you really think you like the woman, please take the time to become friends. That friendship will reveal the true person. So, during that friendship, if you come to question any part of your relationship, pay attention to that red flag. It’s trying to tell you something. And the very last thing is that if you do find a relationship within your own circle, it will eliminate the one real vulnerability you have. That woman will not be after your money. She will love you, not your money. And now I’m done. I would also like to recommend one other thing.”
“Recommend away,” Bo said, filling his glass.
“I’d like you to come to Ohio to visit. You can stay with my folks and play all the pinochle you want. I have a great partner for you. I will never tell her anything about your money, so you’ll be on an equal footing in the financial department. She’s an attractive blonde, funny as hell, and the best friend you’ll ever have if she likes you. Do you think you might want to consider that?”
“I’m not opposed to the idea, Frannie. And I would like to meet that lucky guy of yours. What’s his name?”
“Hank. Hank Childers. He works for GE in Cleveland.”
“Hey, I know him! He was at our office last spring, talking to our retiring administrator. He’s a terrific guy, Frannie. We all went out to dinner and had a great time.” Bo paused. “Well, doggone. What a small world. I can’t say I blame you for falling for the guy. He’s a genius, you know.”
“So I’m told. Funny thing. I didn’t fall in love with his brain. I fell in love with him because he loves to fish and he loves to talk to my ducks. And many other reasons.”
“Well, I wish you the best. And darn it, I will definitely come to visit. How about October?”
“That’s perfect. So, let’s drink a toast to getting rid of all bad relationships. And then one more drink to all of the good in our future.”
Bo held up his glass and said, “To the death of lousy, rotten relationships.”
They both took a big swig.
Then Bo said, “How did I get so lucky as to have such a smart friend as you, Frannie? To my very smart friend, Fran Carter.”
Fran laughed.
Bo held up his glass again and said, “To your mom and dad for being winners of the Bo Henderson Pinochle Championship Cup of 2010.”
Then Fran said, “I think we should drink a toast to a great partnership between Bo Henderson and Fran Carter.”
Bo agreed.
After all the toasts, they were feeling a really great buzz. Fran closed her eyes and fell asleep. She was having a good time in the water when she heard someone call for help. She knew she should go rescue him or her, but she could only swim in slow motion, and she knew that person was going to drown. She became frantic and heard herself say, “Bo!” She woke up.
Richard brought out a pot of coffee. He took away the crackers and cheese and replaced them with some watermelon slices. The two of them drank the coffee immediately and then dug into the watermelon. They laughed at each other, pointing at their pink smiley faces as they devoured the watermelon like little children at a picnic.
Bo called ahead and told Jim they were going to Kentucky Fried Chicken to pick up dinner. They would probably be there by 6:00.
Bo was welcomed with gusto as Jim took the chicken and grabbed a leg. He said, “You came just in the nick of time. I was just about to expire from hunger.”
Bo said, “Let’s get this show on the road. Get out the cards.”
Pat got busy with the coffee pot, and said, “Patience, young man. We have to eat. Jim, fix Bo a drink.”
Bo waved his hand, saying, “No, no thanks. Ginger ale will be just fine for me.”
Fran laughed. “We alrady had our share of alcohol for the day, folks. I think we toasted half of America before we were done.”
Jim laughed, “Well, thank goodness we got you back in the fold—and with chicken.”
‘’Well, folks,” said Bo, “this will be the last night of cards for me. I’ll be very happy to return after the Carters are gone if you find me a partner as adorable and smart as my darlin’ friend Frannie. After tonight, we only have one more day, and I’d like to celebrate it by taking you back to Perry’s Steakhouse, doing the same thing we did the first night you came here.” Bo looked around and finished by saying, “That is, if it’s okay with y’all.”
Dan said, “That’s very generous of you, Bo. I’m all for it. I had a great time that night, but there’s only one hitch. Bo, I know you can afford it, but this time, I want you to accept Maureen’s and my thanks to you for helping to make this trip the most memorable trip I’ve ever had.”
Everyone agreed it was a good idea, and then Maureen said, “Come on, folks. Dinner awaits.”
Everyone ate chicken, biscuits, tossed salad, fresh fruit, and butter pecan ice cream. The card game commenced as soon as they finished eating. Fran and Bo played Dan and Maureen first, while Jim and Pat cleaned up. They finally determined the winner of the pinochle championship, but everyone knew ahead of time who the victors were. Dan and Maureen had beaten the second–place team by five games, which left Bo and Fran with the honor of being “the donkey’s tail.” That was Bo’s expression. But there was not one person who had enjoyed playing more than he had. He went out to his car and brought in a large silver cup with an inscription that said:
THE HENDERSON AWARD
2010 PINOCHLE CHAMPIONS
Dan and Maureen Carter
Two more deserving people I have never met.
Remember me when you get out the silver polish, Maureen.
With sincere best wishes,
Bo Henderson
Pat brought out a box the size of a twelve–inch doll. It was beautifully wrapped. She said, “Bo Henderson, the Carter and Murray families would like to present this small token of our appreciation to a guy that hung in there against all odds. But you came out a winner in our books.”
Bo tore off the wrapping like a kid at Christmas, opened the box, and took out a donkey with a very long tail. It was mounted on a block of mahogany and the brass plate on the side said:
THE FRAN CARTER
DONKEY’S TAIL AWARD
BEST IN HIS CLASS
2010
BO HENDERSON
Pinochle player extraordinaire
Best wishes from Fran Carter
to a diehard and wonderful partner.
Bo gave Fran a big hug and said, “Thank you, darlin’ girl. I will truly treasure this very memorable time with you in Dallas.”
The evening ended with a great laugh.
Friday was spent packing boxes of souvenirs. All three of them had bought so much that they filled three large Kenmore washing machine boxes. That included the trophy, which Pat wrapped in a bath towel. Everything got hauled off to UPS.
Dan made his reservations for Perry’s for 8:00, so Bo showed up well ahead of time.
As it had been from the beginning, Fran and Bo went together in his Audi. They drove in comfortable silence, commenting occasionally on something they observed as they rode, avoiding any mention of the fact that their time together was over. When Bo pulled into Perry’s parking lot, he turned to Fran and said, “I’m going to miss you, Frannie. And there are a few things I’d like to say before we go inside. Do you mind?”
“Of course not, Bo.”
“I just want you to know that it’s been such a pleasure to be in your company these past three weeks. From the beginning, I felt we had a special kind of connection, and I could have fallen in love with you so easily. But you wouldn’t let me. I could sense that before the first week was over. Later, you told me why. Yet we became good friends. I hope we can always stay in touch, and I’ll definitely be coming to Ohio in October. I hope to see your guy, Hank, again. I wouldn’t have missed knowing you for the world, Frannie.” He reached over and gave her hand a squeeze. “Now, let’s go in and have a wonderful time this evening.”
The flight back to Ohio was bittersweet.