The Jaguar pulled up and Charles gotout. It had been another long day ofevictions and acquisitions and all manner of city council noise about himowning too many properties around Jericho that even Bobby, as mayor, couldn’tsilence. Now he just wanted to relax.
When he walked inside he smelledwhere his wife was, and headed in that direction. And sure enough, Jenay was in the kitchenstirring one of her aromatic pots. “Hey,” Charles said as he walked over to her and hugged and kissed herfrom behind.
Jenay smiled and leaned againsthim. “Hey,” she said.
“You smell about as good as that foodyou’re cooking,” he said fondly.
Jenay laughed. “You don’t smell bad yourself.”
Charles smiled, too, and kissed heragain. And then he released her. “Where are they?” he asked.
“The twins are upstairs.”
“And Roz?”
Jenay motioned. “Out back,” she said.
“How’s she doing?”
Jenay shook her head. “Not good. I can just kick Mick’s ass. Rozdoesn’t deserve this treatment.”
“Did she tell you what happened?”Charles asked.
“I didn’t ask. The way I see it, this was a long timecoming. Mick was back up to his oldtricks again, and Roz wasn’t having it. I saw it coming a mile away.”
Charles nodded. “Yeah, I did too. I was hoping he would wise up. Teddy was even trying to talk to him. But you know my brother. It’s like talking to a brick wallsometimes. Anyway,” Charles said, andbegan heading toward the back exit.
When he got out back, he saw Roz, ina bikini, sitting on the side of the pool wading her feet in the water. Big Daddy, still in his suit from work, satdown beside her, with his expensive shoes up on the pool’s edge.
“Nice night for a swim,” he said toher.
“Yeah, it is. Jenay had a brand new bathing suit I couldwear, so I took advantage of it.”
Charles smiled. “I’m glad you told me that! I was wondering who packs a bikini whenthey’re in the heat of a breakup.” Thenhis smile left and he looked at her. “Itwas a breakup, right?”
Roz nodded. “Right.”
Charles saw the sadness in her big,pretty eyes. “What happened, darling?”he asked her.
“He’s at it again, Big Daddy.”
“Never home?”
“Hardly ever,” said Roz. “And here I am just trying to stay afloatwith my career and . . .”
“Your career?” Charles asked.
“Yup. It’s not exactly on fire these days.”
“Show business is somethingelse. You know that.”
Roz nodded. “Oh, I know it,” she said.
“But tell me what happened betweenyou and my brother?”
“I was in New York, at anotheraudition I didn’t get, again, and I find out he’s in New York too.”
Charles frowned. “You didn’t know he was going to New York?”
“No. I thought he was still in Rome handling that raid. But he was in New York when he knew I wasthere too. He didn’t even come by thetheater or call me or anything.”
“What did he do?” Charles askednervously.
“He was at his hotel with Bella Cainewhen I got there.”
Charles shook his head. “I told Mick to leave her ass alone, but henever will. And all she wants is hismoney.”
“Oh, she’ll take him too. Trust and believe. But he’s not giving it to her.”
Charles looked at Roz. “Sure about that?”
Roz hesitated. “Yes,” she said. “He wouldn’t cheat on me with Bella.”
“Then why are you here,” Charlesasked, “if there’s no problem?”
“This woman called, while I was stillthere, and left a phone message. Shesaid she heard he was in town and could come over and make him feel good likeshe did the other night, or whatever she said, and told him to call her.”
Charles’ heart dropped. Mick wasgoing to mess around and lose a good woman. “What did Mick say?”
“He said it wasn’t like it seemed, orsomething like that. I don’t know whathe said. I’m done with him saying. I’ve got to start paying attention to whathe’s doing.”
Charles nodded. “Right,” he said in agreement.
“And I decided I’m not living like thatagain. I can remember staying up allnight waiting for Mick to come home, and sometimes, I’m ashamed to admit, hedidn’t come home at all. Or he came homeso late he might as well not have come.”
“He always has his reasons?” Charlesasked.
Roz nodded. “Always. Not details. He doesn’t give medetails. He just says he had to handlesome business, and I’m supposed to just accept that. And I used to accept it.”
“But?” Charles asked.
“But I wasn’t about to turn fortywhen I was full of all of that acceptance. I see so many of my girlfriends who are married, but every time you seethem they’re by themselves. As ifthey’re married in name only. And I usedto be hard on those sisters. I wouldnever be that girl, that’s what I used to say. Until I realized I not only was that girl, but I was that girl at an agewhen I was going to be that girl forever. Or grow old alone if I don’t make a change.”
“Sounds like this is about much morethan some phone call Mick received,” Charles said. “Sounds like it’s about how you want to livethe rest of your life.”
Roz nodded. “That’s what it’s about.”
“And if Mick is going to be a part ofthat life,” Charles said. “Is that whatit’s about too?”
“I can’t even bring myself to admitit, Big Daddy,” Roz said. “The verythought of my life without Mick is horrifying to me. There’s just no way I could ever be withoutMick in my life. But there has to besome changes made. I’ve got to get himto understand that doing it the way he’s accustomed to doing it isn’t workingfor me anymore. And raising our childrenwith a father who’s always gone? That’sout too.”
“And you’ve got to stick to your gunson that, Roz,” Charles said. “That’s nottoo much to ask.”
“It’s not! But Mick knows how to string me along. He’ll do right for a little while, while Ikeep the heat on his ass, and then I get caught up in my own shit and hereverts right back to his old ways. Itnever fails, Big Daddy. It never fails. And then there’s the women,” she added, asshe fought back tears.
“You think he’s cheating on you,Roz?”
Roz hesitated. “My heart says no,” she said, “but my headkeeps telling me I’m being a fool. Whywouldn’t
