more people than he could count.”
“What?” Marie called out.
“Then what did the others do, Jon?”
“At first I think they were all so surprised by this man’s outburst, they just sat frozen in their chairs…except for the moderator, that is. He seemed to be enjoying it all. Then that little piece of shit—I’m sorry, ladies—the little fat man went on to say I…okay, I’m not going to use the exact language he used because it’s vulgar. He went on to say I caused a white woman to become pregnant, and I now have a secret illegitimate half-breed daughter.”
“I don’t believe this.” Marie hoped the infuriation revealed on Claire’s face wasn’t being directed at her.
“Calm down, Claire. Don’t let it get to you. It’s not worth it.”
“If Richard had anything to do with this, I swear I’ll…”
“You, too, Marie. It’s not going to help to lose control. Anyway, two of the other panel members jumped up and escorted the worthless little…out the door and then blocked it so he couldn’t come back in. Then they each had their say to the rest of the group, defending me. One of them said, and I’m glad he did, that as far as having an illegitimate daughter, well, that was true, and he added that she is a welcome member of my family and an upstanding citizen in her own community.”
“So where was the moderator all this time?”
“Edging his way toward the door, and as soon as Harold and Gene moved away, he fled, mumbling ‘meeting adjourned’ on his way out.”
“Unbelievable,” Marie muttered.
“After the phony meeting adjourned, everyone except for two guys I didn’t know stuck around, and we talked. I knew, of course, that a few of those present were aware of my past and of Richard’s threats because I told them as much last month. That, as you recall, was part of my plan—to admit to my indiscretions, shall we say, before Richard had the chance to expose me. But what I didn’t know was that almost everyone else in the room knew as well. There had to be at least a dozen other men there, besides the ones I told. Seems like the word got around faster than Greg and I ever anticipated. Everyone was on my side, and quite supportive I might add.”
Claire drew in a big breath. “Well, I’m relieved to hear that, but…”
“Me too,” Marie added. “And I’m glad that little shenanigan backfired on him. Serves him right.”
Claire’s eyebrows were raised. “I wonder if he’ll try something else.”
“I don’t know, Claire,” Jonathan responded. “But we’re not going to worry about it. We’re stronger than that little twit. Sorry, Marie.”
“No need to apologize to me. I agree with you. Only I have a much worse name for him.”
Jonathan smiled. “But what Mr. Marchetti doesn’t know is that because of his little escapade, I may have gotten myself a lucrative horse deal. The CEO of Granite Industries, whom I didn’t know until yesterday, wants to meet next week to talk about the small ranch he and his wife just acquired in Geneva. There’s a horse barn on it that will accommodate six horses.” He puffed his chest out. “Ha! Take that, you big ciola.”
“Jonathan! Your language.”
He swallowed the last gulp of Scotch. “I’m going to bed. I’ve had one helluva day. Good night, ladies.”
Marie waited for him to leave. “What does ‘ciola’ mean?”
“I have no idea.” Claire threw up her hands. “But you can be sure it wasn’t very nice.”
CHAPTER 5
‘Til Next Time
Tré’s two daughters, Denise and Brenda, arrived on Tuesday to spend the day while their school was closed for parent/teacher day. Marie and Claire took the girls shopping in the morning. Marie could see that the girls loved spending time with their grandma, especially when it involved shopping. Afterward, the four of them stopped for lunch at the Hotel Baker, another special treat for the girls. Brenda scooted into the chair next to Marie before anyone else
“What?” Marie called out.
“Then what did the others do, Jon?”
“At first I think they were all so surprised by this man’s outburst, they just sat frozen in their chairs…except for the moderator, that is. He seemed to be enjoying it all. Then that little piece of shit—I’m sorry, ladies—the little fat man went on to say I…okay, I’m not going to use the exact language he used because it’s vulgar. He went on to say I caused a white woman to become pregnant, and I now have a secret illegitimate half-breed daughter.”
“I don’t believe this.” Marie hoped the infuriation revealed on Claire’s face wasn’t being directed at her.
“Calm down, Claire. Don’t let it get to you. It’s not worth it.”
“If Richard had anything to do with this, I swear I’ll…”
“You, too, Marie. It’s not going to help to lose control. Anyway, two of the other panel members jumped up and escorted the worthless little…out the door and then blocked it so he couldn’t come back in. Then they each had their say to the rest of the group, defending me. One of them said, and I’m glad he did, that as far as having an illegitimate daughter, well, that was true, and he added that she is a welcome member of my family and an upstanding citizen in her own community.”
“So where was the moderator all this time?”
“Edging his way toward the door, and as soon as Harold and Gene moved away, he fled, mumbling ‘meeting adjourned’ on his way out.”
“Unbelievable,” Marie muttered.
“After the phony meeting adjourned, everyone except for two guys I didn’t know stuck around, and we talked. I knew, of course, that a few of those present were aware of my past and of Richard’s threats because I told them as much last month. That, as you recall, was part of my plan—to admit to my indiscretions, shall we say, before Richard had the chance to expose me. But what I didn’t know was that almost everyone else in the room knew as well. There had to be at least a dozen other men there, besides the ones I told. Seems like the word got around faster than Greg and I ever anticipated. Everyone was on my side, and quite supportive I might add.”
Claire drew in a big breath. “Well, I’m relieved to hear that, but…”
“Me too,” Marie added. “And I’m glad that little shenanigan backfired on him. Serves him right.”
Claire’s eyebrows were raised. “I wonder if he’ll try something else.”
“I don’t know, Claire,” Jonathan responded. “But we’re not going to worry about it. We’re stronger than that little twit. Sorry, Marie.”
“No need to apologize to me. I agree with you. Only I have a much worse name for him.”
Jonathan smiled. “But what Mr. Marchetti doesn’t know is that because of his little escapade, I may have gotten myself a lucrative horse deal. The CEO of Granite Industries, whom I didn’t know until yesterday, wants to meet next week to talk about the small ranch he and his wife just acquired in Geneva. There’s a horse barn on it that will accommodate six horses.” He puffed his chest out. “Ha! Take that, you big ciola.”
“Jonathan! Your language.”
He swallowed the last gulp of Scotch. “I’m going to bed. I’ve had one helluva day. Good night, ladies.”
Marie waited for him to leave. “What does ‘ciola’ mean?”
“I have no idea.” Claire threw up her hands. “But you can be sure it wasn’t very nice.”
CHAPTER 5
‘Til Next Time
Tré’s two daughters, Denise and Brenda, arrived on Tuesday to spend the day while their school was closed for parent/teacher day. Marie and Claire took the girls shopping in the morning. Marie could see that the girls loved spending time with their grandma, especially when it involved shopping. Afterward, the four of them stopped for lunch at the Hotel Baker, another special treat for the girls. Brenda scooted into the chair next to Marie before anyone else
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