Almost Perfect

Chapter 9

“Hello, Ray.”

“Dad! How are you?”

“Relieved that you still recognize my voice, Raymond,” Kenneth Mann, Ray’s dad, snarked.

“Oh Dad, of course I recognize your voice. You have a very distinctive...”

“Raymond Mann-Greene,” Ken used the full name in warning.

“...syntax,” Ray stated making his father laughed.

“You definitely chose the right career path, you’re going to make a great lawyer. How are you, honey? Your father and I haven’t seen you boys in a very long time. We were beginning to think that Kinney boy was holding you hostage. We warned you about those Kinney men and their kinky ways,” Ken joked.

Ray laughed. “Oh Dad, we’re good, I’m just busy.”

“You sound tired.”

“Yeah, I guess I am. I have so many papers to do and then there’s the mock trial I’m preparing for. I’m not sure I can finish in time to graduate.”

“Oh baby, there’s no rush. If you want to drop a class and take it in the summer, we’d understand. You’ve been working like a dog for so long.”

“No, Dad, I want to graduate with my class but thank you. I know I could have stretched this out a bit more but I really want this to be over by the summer.”

“All right, sweetheart, what ever you want to do you know you have our full support. Your father says, hi, by the way. He’s off to work, flying out the door as we speak.”

“It’s not like he has that far to go.”

“Yes, well, it’s the principle of the thing. He owns the business and wants to set a good example.”

“I remember. How is Jeffrey? I’ve left him several messages but we never seem to connect.”

“Busy. He got the opportunity to be a gofer in an off off off Broadway production company after class and you know your brother.”

“He jumped at it.”

“With both feet. But it’s a good way to learn and to network, so he’s happy.”

“How’s his girlfriend?”

“Which one? I swear that boy changes girlfriends like I change my socks.”

“Dad, he’s young,” Ray said wisely.

“Oh like you’re so old, Mr. Twenty-four years old. We don’t all fall head over heels in love with the first person we meet and make it stick.”

“Daaad.”

Ken snorted at the unsaid admonishment. “Anyway, he’s going to be around Sunday night. Do you think you and Gus can grace us with your presence? I realize we only live in Chelsea and you boys live uptown in hip Hell’s Kitchen but perhaps you’ll join us for dinner,” Ken said in a tone that brooked no refusal.

“We’d love to join you,” Ray replied formally. “Should we bring something?”

“Just yourselves. I’ll take care of everything.”

“You always do, Dad.”

“I love you, honey.”

“I love you too, Dad.”

“You take care of yourself and try not to work too hard.”

“I’ll try. Bye, Dad.”

“Bye, baby.”

 

*****
 

“Sonny Boy.”

“Pop! Have you had enough of warm beer and weak coffee?”

“Yes, I’m ready to come home. Shane says hello and he wants to know when you’re flying over. He says he has a lot of happy clients anxious to meet the man who created such stylish and successful websites.”

“Umm.”

“Yeah, umm. Gus, we have to talk about this. You really should be on the payroll; this freelancing shit is for the birds. Your work has made a significant impact on Isles’ profitability. If you’re employed by Kinnetik you’ll get a steady income and benefits. Eventually, you could even get benefits for Raymond.”

“I’m not sure,” Gus stammered.

“Think about it. We’ll be in New York Monday night. We have a meeting with Stacy Tuesday morning at nine. I’d like you to be there,” Brian said sternly.

“Sure, Pop. I’ll be there.”

“Gus, I’m serious about this and not just because you’re my son. You’re good at what you do, I’d be a fool not to have you sign a contract with Kinnetik. That would be a poor business decision on my part and I don’t make poor business decisions. Think about it, Sonny Boy. I’ll see you in a few days.”

“Sure, Pop. See you soon. Love you.”

“Love you, Sonny Boy.”

 

*****
 

“Mel?”

“Hi, Linds! Is it too late to talk?”

“It’s fine. How’s it going?”

“Oh my god, it’s like a roller coaster ride.”

“Is that a good thing?” Lindsay laughed.

“Yes, it is. Kinnetik Isles is so different from Kinnetik and Perspectives. The way they do business here and the building; I swear I keep expecting the Queen and I don’t mean Brian, to show up any minute for tea. It’s so exciting.”

“I’m glad to hear it,” Lindsay said as she giggled.

“My god, Linds, I’m so grateful he gave me this chance and if you ever tell Brian I said that I’ll have to kill you.”

“Your secret’s safe with me. When do you fly back?”

“Monday. He has a meeting scheduled for Tuesday morning at N’rgy. I don’t know how he does it. He grumbles and complains of not knowing what day it is or about time zones, but he knows about every major campaign that each branch is working on. The stuff that’s floating around in that man’s head makes me dizzy. And he can tell if someone’s bullshitting him or giving it to him straight.”

“Sounds like you’ve had an eye opening experience.”

“I have and I’m loving every minute of it.”

“I’m so happy for you. Do you know how long you’ll be in New York?”

“I’m not sure. Why?”

“Maybe I can come for a visit and we can both spend a little time with Gus before you go to Toronto.”

“That’s a great idea. I’ll call you as soon as I know our plans. He left the New York to Toronto flight open.”

“Okay.”

“Linds, have you heard from JR?”

“Yes, she’s a little better. Apparently Michael’s agreed to have dinner with her and Jacqueline.”

“Oh boy.”

“Yeah, that’s what I said but I’m going to think positive thoughts.”

“All right, I’ll try to do the same but I’m telling you now if that idiot hurts her again I’m going to punch his lights out!”

“You go, girl; I’d pay to see that.”

“You got my back?”

“Damn straight,” Lindsay confirmed. The girls cracked up with laughter.

“Thank you,” Mel replied in a soft tone.

“Anytime,” Lindsay said in an equally soft voice.

“Night, Linds.”

“Goodnight.”

 

*****
 

"That was a great dinner," Jacqueline said as she pushed her chair back from the table.

"Glad you liked it," JR replied starting to gather the dishes.

"Leave that for a minute." Jacqueline picked up her wine glass and handed JR hers. "Come sit for a minute. I'll help you with the dishes later."

"You...help me?"

"That's what I said ... and I do help you with the dishes sometimes," Jacqueline protested.

"Yeah, you do," JR said with a smile. She took the wine glass and started toward the couch. "Sometimes..." she felt obliged to add.

Jacqueline laughed. "Okay, point taken. I'll help more often."

"Great," JR said cheerily.

"It's good to hear the happiness in your voice."

"And it's so easy for you to put it there."

"You think it's easy for me to do dishes?" Jacqueline asked with incredulity.

"I suppose not," JR giggled. "You only used paper plates when I first got here."

"Much more efficient than washing dishes."

"And very wasteful."

"Not so. I did a cost analysis and it was actually very economical ... especially when you factor in several takeout places that will give you plates for free."

"Is that right? What about the environment?"

"Environment?"

"You know ... the thing we live in and don't want to destroy."

Jacqueline laughed again. "Have I told you lately that I love you?"

"Not for a few hours."

"Well, let me rectify that." Jacqueline kissed JR long and hard then soft and slow. "I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you..."

"Mmmm," JR sighed a happy sigh.

"Was that enough 'I love you's'?"

"For now ... but you should know that there's never enough."

Jacqueline raised an eyebrow. "That sounds suspiciously like your Uncle Brian."

JR's eyes widened in surprise. "How did you come to that conclusion?"

"You have a habit of quoting him. You must think a lot of him."

"I do," JR said thoughtfully. "He's very important to me."

"Unlike someone else ... who shall remain nameless."

"He's still my father."

"I know, sweet thing," Jacqueline said, her voice soft and reassuring.

"Are you going to be okay with this dinner thing with my father?" JR asked.

"I'm working on convincing myself that it's just going to be peachy."

"That's an Uncle Brian word too," JR laughed then her face sobered. "You know that we don't have to go if it's going to be too uncomfortable for you."

"I can handle it."

"I think you can handle just about anything."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence, but you should know that I won't let him diss you or our relationship. I won't put up with that."

"That makes two of us," JR concurred.

"Um, how long do we have to stay?"

"Well, I think it would be a mite ungracious to leave after the hors d'oeuvres," JR said with a snort.

"So, we stay for soup, salad, main. What about dessert?"

"God, do you have to be so specific? Can't we just play it by ear?"

"Sure, I'm just being picky."

"If it's not going well, we can leave right after we take our coats off. Let's just see what happens."

"You got it," Jacqueline said kissing JR's cheek.

"Now you can help me with the dishes," JR announced as she finished the last drop of her wine.

Jacqueline groaned to show her displeasure, but immediately got up to do her share.

 

*****
 

"How did you enjoy dinner?" Michael asked with a smile at his husband.

"What was that?" Ben asked.

"It was a casserole, of course," Michael said his temper threatening to flare. He had worked hard on that casserole.

"I got the casserole part already," Ben stated, "but what was in it?"

"You couldn't tell?" Michael asked with a frown.

"Would I be asking if I knew?"

"Well, I wanted to make tuna casserole, but I only had one can of tuna, and you need two. I added a can of devilled ham that was in the cupboard and then I found some canned salmon, so I threw it altogether."

"I guess that explains the peculiar taste."

"Peculiar? What do you mean by peculiar?"

"Like I said, I couldn't identify the taste," Ben said trying to make it sound better than it really was."

"I was thinking I might make tuna casserole when JR and ... that woman come for dinner."

"Michael! If you can't say her name, what's the point of this dinner?"

"Okay, okay, her name is Jacqueline." There was a long pause. "Why isn't she called Jackie or something shorter? Your name is Benjamin but everyone calls you Ben."

"And your name is Michael and everyone calls you Michael."

Michael made a face. Sometimes he wished Ben wasn't so smart. He should just agree with Michael and leave it at that. "Anyway, I thought a casserole was a good idea for the dinner," Michael explained.

"Maybe not that casserole," Ben admonished. "Why does it need to be a casserole at all? I thought we agreed on prime rib."

"It doesn't have to be a casserole, but some people don't eat red meat or even meat at all."

"Did you ask JR if Jacqueline was vegetarian or vegan?"

"No."

"Then make whatever you want, or call and find out if Jacqueline has any food issues."

"Could...Could you call?"

"Michael, I told you I was staying out of this."

"But..."

"Not going to happen."

Michael mumbled something unintelligible.

"Call them," Ben commanded.

Michael thought about it for a minute. Maybe this was a way to start things off with JR and her ... friend. It would appear that he was being concerned and considerate. He walked to the counter and picked up his phone. He hit JR's number. This could be a good point of reconciliation between him and JR. He waited as it rang a couple of times.

 

*****
 

Jacqueline was putting the detergent pack in the dishwasher when JR's phone rang. It was sitting on the counter just above where she was working.

"JR, that's your phone," she called.

"I'm on the toilet," JR stated. "Answer it for me."

"Okay," Jacqueline said, picking up the phone and hitting the answer button without looking at the caller ID. "Hello."

"JR?" Michael asked.

"This is Jacqueline."

"Where's JR? Why are you answering her phone?" Michael demanded. Was something wrong with JR?

"Who is this?"

"I'm her father."

"Of course, Mr. Novotny, I should have known."

Michael could almost hear the sneer in her voice. "May I speak to my daughter ... please?"

"Just a minute," Jacqueline said abruptly. "JR, your father wants to talk to you."

"Talk to him for a minute. I'll be right there."

"Mr. Novotny, she's coming. Can you wait a minute?"

Michael wanted to say no but he bit his tongue. He decided he should make the effort to talk to this woman. He would have to talk to her when she came for dinner. "I...um...I called to see if there were any foods you didn't eat, any allergies, or if you're vegetarian," Michael explained.

"Oh! I eat just about anything. I'm not fond of peanut butter or figs, but other than that I can eat anything."

"That's good to know. Thanks for telling me."

"No problem. Here's JR." Jacqueline handed her the phone.

"Dad, what's up?"

"I was checking about food allergies or preferences for dinner," Michael said feeling good about himself.

"That's nice of you," JR admitted. "Did you find out what you wanted to know?"

"Yes, see you for dinner soon."

"Bye, Dad."

Michael set the phone down.

"Did you actually talk to that woman?" Ben asked.

"I did, and I handled it very well," Michael said smugly.

Ben just shook his head.

 

*****
 

"You talked to Dad?" JR asked as she set her phone down.

"I did."

"How did that go?"

"All very civil."

"I guess that's the best we can hope for at the moment."

Jacqueline nodded in agreement. The true test would come at the dinner.
 

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