Ladies of Liberty

Chapter 5

“I’m going up there!” Sharon Brenner declared.

Owen Sr. let out a sigh. He had thought that he had been able to calm his wife down about Molly and Owen Jr. being at Edna’s Treasures. However, Sharon was not pleased and now seemed ready to do something about it. “What good would it do for you to go charging up there?” Owen asked. “It will only cause trouble in the family.”

“I want to know why our son would go to two men, two gay men, for help rather than come to me, his own mother.”

“I’m sure it was Molly who wanted to go to Edna’s Treasures, not Junior.”

“Molly would have wanted her mother, who’s away on her honeymoon. Why wouldn’t Junior want me?” Sharon asked really hurt by her son’s actions.

“As I said, my dear, I’m sure it wasn’t Junior’s idea. When Molly couldn’t have her mother, she turned to her brother.”

“That doesn’t make it any better,” Sharon pouted. “I don’t like being left out.”

“No one does, but sometimes things happen. I’m sure it wasn’t an intentional slight.”

“Do you think I could call them now? Surely they’ve had enough sleep,” Sharon said.

“If it will make you feel better, let’s call,” Owen replied, hoping this was the right thing to do, and not something that would only make matters worse.

Sharon smiled at him and handed him the phone. He hit the number for his son’s cell phone.

“Hello?”

“Hello, son. You sound wider awake than the last time I talked to you,” Owen Sr. said.

“I am, Dad, and so is Molly, and Taylor’s doing just fine.”

“Sleep always puts things into a different perspective,” Owen Sr. said sagely.

“You got that right, Dad.”

“Your mother would like to talk to you.”

“Okay.”

“Owen, dear, is everything all right? Is Taylor okay?” Sharon asked worriedly as she grabbed the phone from her husband.

“We’re good, Mom. No need to worry.”

“Why didn’t you come to me if you were having problems?” Sharon accused.

“I’m sorry, Mom. I just never thought about it. Molly and I thought we should be able to look after everything ourselves, and then we were so tired when Taylor wouldn’t sleep, that neither of us could think straight.”

“But the baby’s sleeping now?’

“Very well, and Molly and I are just about caught up on our sleep too.”

“What was wrong?” Sharon asked wondering what had precipitated the journey to Edna’s Treasures.

“Taylor was hungry, not getting enough milk to satisfy him, so the pediatrician advised us to start using formula.”

“Oh, I see.” Sharon couldn’t keep the disapproving note out of her voice.

“The baby’s thriving. It was the right decision,” Owen replied.

“When are you coming back to the city?”

“We aren’t sure but soon.”

“Could I speak with Molly?”

Owen looked at his wife who was sitting on the chaise holding the baby. He gave her a questioning look and she nodded that she would take the phone. He handed it to her.

“Hello, Sharon,” Molly said.

“How are you, dear?”

“Much better now that I’m here and we’ve gotten a few things straightened out.

“That’s good,” Sharon said rather icily.

“I’m sorry that we didn’t call you. I called Justin out of desperation. I was so tired and worn out,” Molly told her. That was the truth.

“I see.”

“Taylor says hi,” Molly interjected hoping that would make Sharon smile.

“Give him a kiss for me.”

Molly could hear Sharon’s voice soften as she mentioned the baby’s name. “I was thinking that when we get back to Pittsburgh maybe you and I could have a day together with Taylor. Maybe go to the park or something.”

Owen Sr. watched the smile on his wife’s face start to spread. “I’d love that,” Sharon said sincerely. The iciness in her voice had been replaced with a mother’s warmth.

“That’s great,” Molly said with a wink at her husband. “I’ll call you when I get back.”

“Please do, and I look forward to our day together with my grandchild.”

“So do I.”

“And if there are any further problems, please feel free to call me.”

“I will, Sharon, and thank you.” Molly cut the connection and handed the phone back to her husband.

“You didn’t have to do that, Molly,” Owen told her.

“Do what? Go out with your mother and our child? I didn’t have to but I wanted to. Taylor is her grandson and I want her to be a part of our baby’s life,” Molly said honestly.

“Thank you anyway. I knew there was some reason I loved you so much.”

Molly laughed. “I’m glad you can remember why. I was so tired the last few days that I wanted to kill you for ever getting me pregnant.”

“Let’s hope that’s all over with and the baby will keep doing fine.”

“Taylor will. I know it … now.”

“I love you.”

“And I love you right back.”

 

*****
 

“Feel better now?” Owen Sr. asked his wife as she set down the phone.

“Much,” Sharon said with a big smile. “Molly said she wants the two of us to go out for a day with Taylor. That will be fun.”

“See, I knew everything would be all right.”

“You always know best,” Sharon said kissing her husband’s cheek.

“It’s nice to hear that every once in a while.”

“I do appreciate you, dear.”

“Thank you.”

“I’m going to call mother and tell her what’s going on. I think I worried her when I called a little while ago.”

“Please do,” Owen sighed. Sharon grabbed the portable phone and hustled out of the study to make her call. Owen leaned back in his chair. Another crisis averted in his wife’s life. That seemed to be a large part of his day lately. Something was always setting his wife off. She obviously needed more to do. Maybe some time spent with Molly and Taylor would fill the space that was empty in her life. Owen turned and started to review his stock portfolio until the next crisis arose.

 

*****
 

“What am I doing here?” Melanie whined as she and Lindsay were strolling the long display hall that held all manner of paintings, drawings, and sculptures in various mediums. Lindsay had insisted they take advantage of the tickets that Lacy had given them.

“You’re looking at the wonderful artwork,” Lindsay said with a sigh. Lindsay once had to make some tough decisions regarding her own potential art career. Long ago she decided to adopt Brian’s adage of ‘no apologies, no regrets.’ If Lindsay couldn’t be that special artist, she would work damn hard to promote that special artist. She aspired to follow in Sidney Bloom’s footsteps, become an agent and represent her own ‘Justin Taylor’ one day.

“But do we have to look at all of it?” Mel continued to complain.

“Mel, do I not go to your office holiday parties year after year?” Lindsay asked her spouse. She so wanted to bring up the horrendous 4th of July party of last year but thought better of it.

“Yes you do,” Melanie conceded.

“Then you can be here with me,” Lindsay said in a tone that would brook no argument.

“Yes, dear,” Melanie replied as she hooked her arm with Lindsay’s. The two took their time strolling the hall.

“Lindz, what material is this?” Melanie asked as they approached a large framed canvas. The ‘painting’ was under glass to protect it.

“It’s paper,” Lindsay replied after examining the picture closely and reading the small placard that accompanied it.

“Paper? This is amazing, it looks like paint. Very thick paint. It’s so detailed.”

“Yes, it is. The artist shows a great attention to detail. I’d love to meet him or her,” Lindsay said mainly to herself.

“Hello, I’m Jamie,” a tall stately androgynous looking woman said as she held out her hand. “I’m the artist,” she explained.

“Lindsay Peterson,” Lindsay said as she shook Jamie’s hand. Jamie was as tall as Lindsay but with short brown hair and light brown eyes. Her slim build gave her almost a masculine quality; however, her delicate features made her feminine.

“I know who you are,” Jamie said. “I’ve visited the Sidney Bloom Gallery several times.”

“Aren’t you a little old to be a student?” Melanie snarked, feeling ignored and not wanting to be left out of the conversation.

“My philosophy is that we’re all students, every day of our lives, but you are correct in the literal sense. I’m one of the instructors here at the institute. We’re allowed to enter one piece of our own in designated shows. It’s my turn this time,” Jamie explained.

“Hmm,” Melanie snorted. She was jealous and not bothering to hide it.

“Your work is beautiful; you should exhibit more often. Here’s my card,” Lindsay said as she handed Jamie her business card. “Please call me. Perhaps the gallery can feature some of your work.”

Jamie’s face lit up. “Thank you. That would be fantastic. I’ll be in touch. Soon!” Jamie said without hiding her enthusiasm. Seeing one of her students with his parents, Jamie excused herself.

Lindsay felt Melanie tug on her arm. They proceeded to the next display.

 

*****
 

Debbie and Carl were strolling through the Jesse James house in St. Joseph, Missouri. They had headed northwest from St. Louis because Carl said he wanted to see Jesse James’ home. It was the place where the famous outlaw’s life had come to an end.

“Look,” Carl said, “there’s the bullet hole in the wall made by Jesse’s killer.” He stared at the spot.

“I don’t know what you find so fascinating about a hole in a fucking wall,” Debbie told him.

“I’ve always been fascinated by the old west. Why do you think I have all those Louis L’Amour paperbacks?”

“I didn’t realize it was the criminal element of the old west that interested you,” Debbie said looking at her husband in a new light.

“I was in law enforcement for most of my life. We all have our fascinations,” Carl stated.

“I like Elvis, and you like Jesse…” Debbie sang to the tune Let’s Call the Whole Thing off.

“And we’re not calling the whole thing off,” Carl laughed.

“You bet your ass we’re not,” Debbie crowed giving Carl a big hug.

“Can you imagine what Jesse’s life must have been like, running from the law, robbing and terrorizing, him and his gang?”

“Makes me think of Brian fucking Kinney for some reason,” Debbie said suddenly.

“Brian?”

“He’s always been a bit of an outlaw, living by his own rules, and fuck society.”

“Hm, I suppose, but I don’t see Brian as a criminal,” Carl mused.

“You didn’t know him way back when.”

“But I know him now and I would see him as more of a Wyatt Earp than a Jesse James.”

“What’s the difference?” Debbie asked.

“Wyatt was a sheriff in the old west, not an outlaw like Jesse.”

“Brian is a bit of an enforcer,” Debbie chuckled.

“My thoughts exactly.”

“Are we done here?” Debbie asked as they returned to the entrance to the house.

“I think so.”

“So what famous person are we going to investigate next?” Debbie asked as they exited the building.

“I’ll have to think about that,” Carl said.

“Maybe we should find one of those internet cafes and check out what famous people are buried around here.”

“I think they have brochures that we can look at.”

“Let’s go see what we can find.”

Debbie slid her hand into Carl’s and they walked along the street together.

 

*****
 

“Seth, look at these colors,” Jennifer exclaimed as they looked at some of the clothes in the window of a shop in Oranjestad, the capital of Aruba. They had decided to leave their resort and spend the day in town. “I wonder if we could get a little outfit for Bree and one for Taylor.”

“I’m sure we’ll be able to find something,” Seth replied.

Jennifer smiled at her husband as they walked along hand in hand. “It’s lovely to have you come shopping with me. Craig would always tell me to go by myself. Shopping is so much more fun when you can share it with someone.”

“And dish about what’s pretty and what’s ugly and what people look like?”

“You’re sure you’re really a man?” Jennifer asked raising a brow at Seth’s unexpected comment.

“I thought I proved that to you every night since we’ve been here,” Seth chuckled.

“And a couple of afternoons, if my memory is correct,” Jennifer agreed.

Seth blushed. “Being alone for so many years, I had to do my own shopping. I never really minded it. I like to think I got quite good at it too. And you’re right, it’s a lot more fun doing this with you than by myself.”

“Let’s go in here,” Jennifer said. “They have kids’ clothes in the window.”

When they left the shop some time later, Jennifer had found the perfect outfits for her grandchildren. They walked across the square to a little restaurant where they could sit down and have a drink and some lunch. The bright Caribbean sun reflected off the colorful buildings in the historic Dutch capital city. They could look out at the tall multi-colored houses. There were lots of carved wooden doors and the traditional Dutch tiles on all the buildings.

“It’s so beautiful here,” Jennifer said with a sigh.

“Yes, it is. You’ve enjoyed your honeymoon?” Seth asked.

“I don’t want to leave. Everything has been wonderful.”

Seth smiled warmly at his wife. “For me too.”

“Maybe we should just stay here, and live in bliss,” Jennifer suggested.

“Ah, bliss, what a lovely word!”

“And that’s exactly how I feel.”

Seth reached across the small table and took Jennifer’s hand. “The day I met you I was the luckiest man in the universe … and the day I married you I became the happiest man in the universe.”

“You sure know how to sweet talk a girl, Seth Harris,” Jennifer said with another brilliant smile.

“Finish your drink and then let’s go over to that jewelry shop across the plaza.”

“Okay,” Jennifer agreed as she sipped the last of her fruity drink. “Are you looking for something special?”

“Very special.”

When they came out of the shop a while later, Jennifer was wearing a new gold bracelet that her new husband had just purchased for his brand new wife.
 

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