Madam of Maple Court (33 page)

"What did you do with them when you were a kid?" Amy chimed in. "Did you make this many?"

"We had a firehouse around the corner, so we took a big boxful over there for the firefighters. They work very hard and it's really nice to say thank you for all that they do to protect us."

Melissa's eyes brightened. "Can we, Daddy?"

"Yes, can we?" Amy chimed in.

Gary could only nod his agreement tinged with pleased amazement, and as she saw it Pam blossomed with her success. Although she'd always wanted children, she secretly worried that she didn't know how to be a mother. This afternoon proved that she certainly knew something. Maybe it was an instinct that she'd had all along and was now allowed to let flourish. She loved this motherly thing. "Let's pack up most of these cookies, then get our coats," she said. "I think I saw a firehouse about two blocks down. And Gary, bring the camera, too."

As she'd suspected, the firefighters stuck with duty during Christmas week were surprised and pleased by the thoughtful gift and took the girls on a tour of the firehouse and the engines. "This is the best day we've had in a long time," Gary said as they took the stairs to the firehouse sleeping quarters. "I would never have thought to bring them here. I always thought this was boy stuff."

"We girls aren't so different," Pam said, professing a wisdom she must have acquired somewhere.

"Daddy," Melissa called. "They have a pole. Can we slide down?"

"Not a chance," a gruff male voice said. "We have to take lots of training to know how to do that safely."

Gary took photos of each of the girls seated behind the wheel of a fire engine, wearing a helmet. "We'll print them when we get home and show them to Mommy," Melissa said and one of the firemen looked at Pam, then raised a startled eyebrow.
Wow
, Pam thought,
the fire guys believed I was the girls' mother
.

Later, back at Gary's apartment, they quickly printed out a collection of the day's photos on the computer for the girls' mother and one for Pam. She carefully put hers in the shopping bag. Back on Maple Court, Pam would put them somewhere very safe so she could look at them over and over. Then the four shared pizza and had a few of the cookies they'd saved for dessert. "We seem to have planned very well," Pam said to the girls. "There are enough for you to take some home to your mom and Peter. Let's put them into some plastic bags."

While Gary walked the girls back to his wife's house several blocks away, Pam cleaned up the kitchen and dreamed of life as the mother of those two wonderful girls. They could shop together, play games, go to movies, and she could even get involved in their school. She and Toni would have to work out some ground rules, of course, so they didn't step on each other, but it could all be worked out. She could be a mother without any of the labor pains.

She hummed as she wrapped leftover pizza slices in plastic wrap, stuffed pizza boxes into the garbage, and put half-empty soda bottles into the refrigerator. She washed what glasses there were and tossed out sauce-covered paper plates.

"You should have heard them," Gary said when he got back. "Toni had barely opened the door when they began to regale her with stories of their dresses and the cookies. Melissa was still bummed about not being able to slide down the firehouse pole, but the rest of the day was a triumph. Toni says to thank you for the dresses. When I left they were going to try them on for her and Peter."

"I'm so glad the day went so well," Pam said, barely able to contain her glee. "I've been worrying for days."

"You needn't have. You were fabulous. How about a glass of wine?" He poured for both of them. That night she stayed over.

Throughout the rest of the winter and spring, Pam saw Gary more often and spent days with him and his girls at least once a month. His business overseas had finally resolved itself and, except for monthly trips to visit various customers, he spent considerably more time in New York. The four of them went to movies, the zoo, visited museums, and used the resources of New York City frequently. The first weekend Six Flags Great Adventure was open, they drove there so Gary could ride the roller coaster. Pam finally confessed that she didn't really want to go on the roller coasters, but Gary rode Kingda Ka and Nitro each twice. "While the rest of the family watches," he said. When Gary used the phrase "rest of the family" there was a lurch in Pam's heart. Then they spent a wonderful day going on as many other rides as they could manage and eating until Melissa confessed that she had a slight tummyache.

On the drive home the two girls slept in the back seat while Pam daydreamed and decided that she'd never been happier.

She also entertained clients with increasing frequency. She'd had a few encounters in her house and many others at the brownstone in the city. She'd also met men in many other places.

She saw Linc several times each month, and managed to find time for Rob whenever his busy schedule allowed. Rob had already surmised what she was doing with Marcy so, since both these men knew about her occupation, it was fun to talk about her experiences, never revealing any details about the men involved.

She watched her bank account grow as well. The town was still debating the future of Maple Court, trying to decide the wetlands issue with little success. A new town board had taken office in January, and everything ground to a halt while the new administration tended to more pressing issues.

Pam didn't mind the delay now, since she didn't want to have to part with her wonderful house.

She was happy, doing what she enjoyed in all facets of her life.

One evening in late May Marcy asked Pam to come down to the city to meet with a potential client. "Here's the story," Marcy said when they were seated in the brownstone's living room. "I think you'd be great interviewing potential clients. You've got great instincts about people and I'm still hoping to branch out, forming Club Fantasy North. If not, that's fine, but I want you to get a taste for what the discussions are like. Game?"

"Sure. I don't know about the Club Fantasy North part, though. Having the occasional party or entertaining once in a while at my place is one thing. Being the owner of a brothel in Westchester County, only a few miles from the Clintons, is quite another."

"I know that, and you're free to do what you like. This part, however, is the crux of my business, and having another person doing it would help me out, too."

"What about Chloe?" Pam had met Marcy's business partner several times but didn't know her very well.

"She's got a guy and I'm afraid she isn't long for this business. Anyway, she was never particularly good at this part of it. Before I moved down here, Jenna did most of the interviews. It's an art."

"Okay, I'll go along and keep my mouth shut. I'd love to watch you operate."

"I won't reveal any secrets, but there's a personal connection here, too, if James wants to reveal it."

They met in a small luncheonette near the club. James Harris was a small, rather nervous man, all quick gestures and movement. He never seemed to sit still. He was short and reed thin, with thick red hair, very white skin, and green eyes, and appeared to be in his late twenties. "I didn't know you'd bring anyone else," he said.

"This is Pam, and she's part of the club. If she makes you uncomfortable I will certainly ask her to leave, but I think she might have a few good ideas for us."

"Of course, if you say so."

"It's nice to meet you, James," Pam said.

They ordered coffees and chatted about the rainy spring weather until the drinks arrived. Pam watched James put four teaspoons of sugar into the cup.
No wonder he's a nervous wreck
.

"Okay, James," Marcy said, "let's try to discover what would give you the most pleasure."

"This is very embarrassing. I'm not sure I can talk about it with you." He dropped his chin and stirred his coffee over and over. After a few minutes of silence, he slid to the edge of the booth seat and gathered himself to leave. "I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I wasted your time."

"It's not a waste at all," Marcy said. "I think that you might feel better about yourself if you tell me what's going on. I think you'll be surprised at how many others have the same desires you do. People want different things, and there's not much I haven't heard."

"I'll bet," James said, brightening. "But not mine."

"Please," Pam said, violating her resolve to keep still. "It's really okay. Whatever consenting people do is okay."

"Really?" James said.

"Of course," Pam said, looking at Marcy, who seemed content for her to do some of the talking. "If you don't want to take this any further than this booth that will be fine, but it might make you feel better if you let some of it out."

"Pam's right," Marcy said. "You can trust us."

James sat for several moments, chewing over what Pam had said. "Okay, here goes. I want to be a girl."

Although Pam was nonplussed she kept her face impassive, and Marcy didn't blink. "Okay. Tell me a little more," Marcy said.

"You're not shocked?"

"You aren't the first man who's told me about his desire to dress as a woman."

He heaved a large sigh. "Can I really talk about this?"

"Of course," Marcy said.

"First, I have to tell you that I'm not gay or anything. I like girls and I'm certainly not a virgin. However, even when I was a kid I liked to play dress-up in my mom's things. I've been reading on the Web about places that will do a makeover, but I don't trust them. The Internet is so impersonal and they wouldn't care about me. They might even take photos and post them on their Web site."

"I'm glad you trust us," Pam said.

"I gather that Manny Greenberg told you about us."

"He told me about a woman named Pam who was so great to him. He's a good friend, and when I finally told him about myself he suggested you." He looked at Pam. "Oh, that must have been you. You were so wonderful."

Manny Greenberg. She'd never learned his last name. "Does he work with you?"

"Yeah. He left Paramount Packaging and joined us several months ago. I work for my dad's electronics firm, Harris Electronics, and we met there. Anyway, when I finally confessed and told him my secret, he suggested you. Can you do it for me?" Pam was delighted that Manny had moved on.

"Tell me exactly what you want," Marcy said. "I want to get it all right for you."

"I want a makeover and a dress, shoes, the works." He pushed the words out in a rush. "Then I want to go somewhere with another girl, maybe you, Pam, and be taken for your friend, not your date. And I want photos that I can keep and I want the only copies."

Pam wanted to ask more about his desires to cross-dress but she held her tongue. She wouldn't pry. He'd tell whatever he wanted them to know. Marcy said, "If we take photos, you can be guaranteed that you'll have the only copies."

"Good. Can you do it? I can afford whatever you charge."

He and Marcy discussed the costs, including the clothing and accessories he'd keep, and they agreed on a price. "Pam," he said, "can you be the one to do it? If Manny trusts you, then I do, too."