Companies that paid Ms. Portal up to two million dollars to hide damaging stories include Verber Industries, Mutual Resources, Baby G Sports, American National Radio, Time Out Technologies, Worldwide Press, and Preston Oceanics. Ms. Portal’s alleged crimes were brought to light when Christy Hayes, wife of media mogul Michael Drummond and former CEO of Baby G Sports, told authorities that Ms. Portal was attempting to extort money and jewels from her husband in exchange for keeping certain information out of the paper. In a sting operation that took place in Drummond’s home, Ms. Hayes taped Galit Portal making her demands using the family’s nanny-cam.
Attorney General Edwards announced plans to bring the CEOs of every involved company to justice for paying off a reporter with the intent of lying to and deceiving the American public. “We intend to prosecute these executives to the full extent of the law,” he says.
“Whoa. Katherine’s in enough trouble as it is. She’s getting fired. And you know the shareholders will sue. Now Graham Edwards wants her in jail, too,” Michael said, shaking his head.
“Wait, there’s more,” Christy said.
Ms. Portal offered this comment: ‘I am innocent of all charges and I look forward to having my day in court when I can fight to clear my name. I simply held off on filing stories I was investigating until my assistant could fact-check everything. I can’t understand why Mr. Edwards is attempting to criminalize my efforts to comply with the high standards of journalistic integrity set by the Ethics in Media Association. I am certain that I will soon be exonerated of these ridiculous charges.
“I guess you feel terrible for Galit and Katherine, don’t you?” Michael said.
“Truthfully?”
“No, I want you to lie.”
“Daddy, my adviser wants to see you and Christy today after school,” Ali said.
“What did you do?” Michael asked.
“Why do you always assume I did something wrong?” Ali said indignantly. “I feel like I’m living in a police state.”
“She took pictures of boys changing their clothes in the locker room with her camera phone,” Renata said.
“You snitch,” Ali said, pulling out her chair.
Renata jumped up and ran upstairs with Ali close behind.
“It’s nice to see them act like real siblings,” Christy said. “Don’t you think?”
Michael smiled. “Oh yeah, warms my heart. C’mon, let’s get to the bottom of this.”
Everyone forgot about Galit and Katherine.
It’s a Family Affair
One year later…
“Fre-e-e-eckles! Ma-riiiia! Ma-riiiia! Ma-riiiia! Jorge! Aa-lee! Come upstairs. Dinner’s ready.” Michael yelled down the grand staircase that had just been constructed to combine Christy’s apartment with Renata’s. Tonight, Old-Maria had cooked goat cheese lasagna for the family. It was one of Renata’s favorite dishes, even though it was healthy.
Christy was on the phone with Jerome, recalling the latest family drama—one of the girls was suspended for showing up at school yesterday smelling of alcohol. They said they would kick her out next time.
“So which one was it?” Jerome asked.
“I’m not saying. Anyway, it doesn’t matter.”
“It’s that little infidel whose name rhymes with ‘valley,’ isn’t it?”
Christy sighed. “What do you think? Anyway, the thing is, I need to resign from the Olympic board. I’ll keep doing the mentoring program, but it’s obvious I need to pay more attention at home.”
“But Christy, the board is the visible position. If you drop out, in six months no one’ll remember who you are. My advice is to give up the mentoring. No one cares about that.”
Christy scrolled through the plan she had developed for supporting new Olympians. “I care. And anyway, I don’t need to be in the limelight anymore.” She hoped this was true, feeling a slight twinge of her old ambition. “I have to make my family work, Jerome. Please don’t tempt me…” Christy rubbed her pregnant belly absentmindedly, sadly letting go of the last thread of glamour that represented her old life.
Jerome hesitated before speaking. “Kiddo, if I had the chance to have something real like you and Michael do, I’d probably do the same.”
“Jerome Fudderman? Putting love before money? Am I hearing things?” Christy said in jest.
“You’re right. I’m a heartless fuck. Always have been, always will be. Heh-heh-heh.”
Christy laughed before saying good-bye, but she was touched. Maybe all the hard-bitten New Yorkers she knew really did want what she had been lucky enough to find. You would certainly never know it by watching them operate. She closed her PowerBook and set it next to the pillow. Mr. Koodles sidled over and curled up like a ball on top of the warm computer. Can I do this? she thought. Be a real mom, from the beginning? I’m already white-knuckling it through Ali’s teenage years…Renata’s manageable, at least so far…but a baby, too?
Christy’s thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps bounding up the stairs, except for six-year-old Maria, who took each step backward while sitting on her butt, thoroughly mussing up her brand-new Colby uniform.
“Lord have mercy, child,” Nectar said. “You’re going to ruin your pretty dress. Stand and come upstairs properly, like a lady.”
When everyone was situated, Ali said grace. This was Old-Maria’s idea. She felt they needed to instill moral values in the children. Christy couldn’t agree more.
“Mmm, yummy, this smells so good,” Renata said. “Is this the recipe you’re selling at Eli’s?”
“Yes, except I added extra garlic and shiitake mushrooms,” Old-Maria said.
“Next time add even more vegetables, Maria,” Michael said. “Christy’s eating for two.”
Christy looked down in time to see a little elbow or knee gliding across the inside of her stomach. “The baby’s having a party in there tonight,” she said.
Michael immediately put his hand on Christy’s belly and felt, as did Renata. She squealed with delight each time the baby moved.
“Be careful with your drink,” Christy said to Renata. Everyone was sitting around her bed and eating from dinner trays. They’d been dining that way for the last month, ever since the doctor ordered Christy off her
