Fitness and foolish stubborness combined for an awakening in a predawn beach walk run
Brandy a Fine Girl
Chapter 45
Tense and pleasant – Carol and Mark meet with Stephen 1981
Well you're a real tough cookie with a long history
Of breaking little hearts like the one in me
That's okay, let's see how you do it
Put up you dukes, let's get down to it?
– Edward Schwartz – Hit me with your Best Shot Pat Benatar – Greatest Hits
Brandy a Fine Girl
“I appreciate you accompanying me. I know it isn’t something anyone wants to do. No one wants to jump into the cesspool of a messy relationship. If you could be like you were with our amateur blackmailers, a quiet presence. Your being here is a strong support for me to navigate this reunion, confrontation. “
“I will have a chance to practice my diplomatic skills.”
-
“Stephen this is my neighbor Mark Greene. He drove most of the way out here. He accompanied me to my meeting this morning.”
“I have met Max Greene.”
“He is my father.”
“Mark has a master’s in international studies. Fortunately, he is home. He is ready to transition to a new phase in life with the foreign service. “
“Ms. Parker your table is ready, would you like to see the wine list?”
“Yes, thank you. I believe this California blend would be good.”
“A nice restaurant with semi-private seating.”
“Mr. Simmons at the law firm recommended it. He also said he enjoys your radio show.”
“It has gone well, and I would hate to lose it.”
“After our meeting today, I think your career will not suffer from this. I would say indiscretion, but this is far beyond that. You are deep into degeneracy here Stephen.”
“I am sorry, I should have known something was suspicious.”
“I could apply a wide choice of terms loutish, reprehensible, betrayal, but that is not going to help you or me. They signed our legal agreements today. If they come in tomorrow and sign the release for their checks then this incident should be sealed away. Your career here will not be ended by this. It will be up to you to not be a dipstick when dipping your stick. JB taught me that one. Your college has a policy on age. It is twenty-two or over. If you can manage just to seduce women over twenty-two you won’t lose your job and radio program.”
“The book should do well and be good for us. I will behave myself.”
“Good wine and menus. Mr. Simmons said to order an appetizer a crispy potato puff?”
“One of our most popular. Is the wine acceptable?”
“It is.”
“We have a select menu on weeknights, all of our most requested entrees. May your evening here be memorable whether for food, pleasure, or business?”
“All three I believe.”
“Brandy will be over soon to take your order and serve you. You will love the puff poppers.”
“Stephen, there isn’t an us, but we need to appear as if there is. I will not ruin the book promotion. It is good for what is left of the us part. The devastation of trust cannot be fixed.”
“I do still care. I felt we were both moving towards our goals.”
"You do not care enough Stephen. I am not surprised you indulged in an affair. All our history is false, there is nothing to fall back to where there is an us. We will structure a divorce agreement; we will still be officially married for another four years. I read your draft for this book. You did cast a wonderful vision of an idyllic farm, romance, and married life. I would not want either the hardcover or softcover to have to move to the fiction section. Mr. Finn will work with your attorney. Stephen, I do not hate you, I am disappointed in myself.”
“I have disappointed myself, as well.”
“Here are our potato poppers, yes we will order, the check is mine Brandy.”
“I respect you for that Ms. Parker. Yes, the fettucine with mushrooms is an excellent choice. I recognize your voice. We have asparagus as a side freshly cut from a Florida farm which should please you Mr. Capuano. The sirloins come with potato would you like to substitute or add asparagus to your choice. Are you involved with local foods and produce, too?”
“I am; we’re from the Midwest. I operate Parker Produce and Fruit there.”
“That sounds exciting, Mr. Capuano’s radio program is a great help to me in the garden, and he is charming and funny, even discussing weeds.”
“Brandy are you a student?”
“I’m in the nursing program; I will finish next year.”
“How old are you?”
“I’m 22, I will be 23 when I finish. It seems like I’ve been in school for years.”
“Good luck I am sure you will be an excellent nurse.”
-
“Stephen, she seems young, yet she is not in the losing your career category.”
“Carol, I didn’t think, again I am sorry.”
“I believe you are sorry you got caught. It sounds like you had a rather torrid affair with that treacherous little hillbilly, Tara Rose. Please for the next four years a little discretion. If you want to come to the farm you may ask. If you want a more intimate visit, I think a very recent clean bill of health would be required. Not to boost your ego, but Tara Rose was very impressed with your romantic skills. Now it looks like we can enjoy dinner. Did you know Mark has been to several Asian countries? He speaks some Chinese and Japanese. “
“Traveling must be an adventure.”
“I was part of a tour arranged by the state department. I was an aide to the principals on the tour. It was fascinating. If my job offer comes through it will be in Asian studies.”
“My radio show may get syndicated. I am so grateful Carol has allowed me to fix my mistakes and I am willing to make a suitable arrangement between us. Carol is far more mature and adult than I am.”
“I am, and being the adult isn’t always fun, but it is satisfying. You may grow into it, Stephen. Mark used to buck bales on the farm for my grandfather.”
“Isn’t that rather man killing work?”
“I started when I was thirteen; I considered it man building work. When that old New Holland was rolling, we would do fifteen or sixteen hundred in an afternoon. I was there every summer until I was twenty-three. I got too busy in grad school and Asian studies to come back after that. The little squares are a thing of the past mostly big round bales now. I would think it is much harder for farm boys to grow into men these days. I paid tuition for four years with my baling checks. “
“A very different life back in Franklin than where most people live. I didn’t fit in, I realize that.”
“I didn’t either when I came. It is my whole being now. Will syndication make you money? I now know your first two books have gone mostly to Pam.”
“It will if it happens. My lawyer tells me you aren’t trying to take any future incomes. You are just making sure we are not responsible for each other.”
“We need not seek to hinder each other’s business. Real food, thank you Brandy. Stephen was telling us his radio show may get a wider audience. We don’t get to hear it back home. If you have suggestions to improve it, you should write him. Maybe Mark and I will get to listen to it sometime”
“Enjoy your meals. I may Mr. Capuano, It is a great show.”
“This is far better than I anticipated. I may look back on this as an enjoyable evening.”
“Stephen, I didn’t want to be here or in this situation. There is no reason to turn every moment into torment. I hope to build to a better future. I am sorry this is how it ends, because Mr. Capuano you could make even weeding sound fun.”
“You have saved me from myself; I will try to be more careful in the future. I wish I had been straight with you from the beginning, it seemed easier to play into the dream.”
“We slowly give up childish things. Mark, do you think Stephen could get a high security clearance?”
“No, I am sure he wouldn’t. I believe Mr. Capuano’s report would say vulnerable to compromise. I don’t think the Soviets are trying to get moles in the vegetable industry, but these potatoes are worth expending some intelligence assets for.”
The meal ended with pleasant small talk. Carol thought maybe Mr. Finn was correct a contentious divorce would be far more costly. This road bump did seem such a waste of money, not to mention being another dead end in her life.
“Thank you, Ms. Parker it was a pleasure come back again. I will write you Mr. Capuano.”
“I will look forward to it Brandy. It is important to hear listener feedback”
-
“Good night Stephen we will see what the lawyers work out. Mark and I will stay until tomorrow afternoon to make sure our criminal pair sign and get their checks. We must get back to my world after that.”
“I wish I could hug you and make it all OK, but I cannot.”
"I wish you could, but we are in a different place, now. Good night.”
-
Mark started the Dodge.
“Thank you for driving, let’s get back to our hotel. I am going to start crying now. You may hold me, but no talking let me cry it out. In the morning I will make it worth your while for being a total rock of security and comfort. Stephen is a worthless womanizer. There is an upside to all this trauma. I would have never gotten to appreciate you, if Stephen was a real husband. Mark Greene, you have a tremendously strong body and are far more handsome than Stephen. I am sure Stephen was always the clever witty one, charming and popular. There is nothing superficial about you. You are authentic, exactly who I need to weather this.”
by eyeDyllic Photography (Bill Dodd)
