Sins of the Flesh (22 page)

“You resigned!” Daniel said, shocked. He looked across at Jane. “If that's the case, then there are two of us who didn't know. What the hell's going on?”

Reuben sighed and shook his head. “Bebe wanted the studio as part of the divorce settlement, and I gave it to her. It was never really mine, Daniel. I wanted it to be, but it wasn't. It doesn't matter if I busted my ass making it what it is today. There were days when I thought I'd earned it, but I knew in my gut it would always belong to Bebe. You should see her. She's done a complete turn-about. I think she can handle it. Philippe will keep her in line, or she'll keep him in line. It'll be interesting to watch what happens.”

“And that's what you're going to do—watch?” Daniel said incredulously.

“No, as a matter of fact I won't be around to watch. I was sort of hoping you'd make the decision to move back here and keep an eye on things.”

“Just like that,” Daniel said, his eyes narrowing.

Reuben chuckled. “More or less.”

“Let's say I do agree, what will you be doing?”

“What I should have done years ago. I'm going to France.”

“There's a fucking war going on!” Daniel shouted. “Excuse my language, Jane.”

Jane shrugged. “Not to worry.”

“Just how in the goddamn hell do you think you're going to get to France, and if you do, how in the name of God do you think you can find Mickey?”

“I don't know, Daniel. I may never find her, but I won't know that unless I try, now, will I? In any case, my mind is made up. I'll be leaving on the next Red Cross plane as a news correspondent.” Reuben grinned. “Good cover, don't you think? And before you can ask how I arranged it all, I have a friend who works for the
Times
in New York. He sent me all my credentials. As a matter of fact, they arrived yesterday. I have four days to wine and dine you before I leave.”

“You damn fool, you'll get yourself killed,” Daniel blustered. “I'm going, too!”

“No, Daniel, this is something I have to do alone,” Reuben said firmly. “You already made the trip to bring Philippe here. I have to do this, don't you understand? I should have done it years ago, and I didn't. It's settled. If you want to talk it to death, I suppose we can do that, but it won't change anything.”

Daniel threw his hands in the air. Jane closed her mouth with a snap. Reuben smiled happily.

“Bebe…did you tell her?” Daniel asked.

“No. You and Jane are the only ones who know. Listen to me, Daniel. Bebe is almost there. I mean she's giving it everything she has. Right now the only thing she has yet to resolve is Philippe. Now I'm giving both of them that chance by removing myself. I have to find out about Mickey for the boy's sake. I don't want him going through the rest of his life worrying and wondering the way I did. He'll have Nellie, but Nellie won't be enough. You've been the brains of this outfit for a long time, so don't tell me you can't see the sense to what I'm doing.”

“After all these years you still love her,” Daniel said in awe.

Reuben turned from the window. His voice was low and husky. “No, Daniel, I love what we shared. A man can't love a memory, I learned that a long time ago. Over the years you've heard me say some strange things and you've seen me do some things that were stranger still. Listen to me now. I love Bebe. Bebe loves me.”

“But you're getting a goddamn divorce!” Daniel shouted in exasperation.

Reuben smiled. “You have to end something before you can make a new beginning.”

Jane ran to Reuben and threw her arms about him. “Oh, Reuben, I'm so glad you've finally come to your senses. I don't want you to go, but I understand. We'll keep things humming here. If he'll let me, I'll watch out for Philippe. The same goes for Bebe.” She turned to face Daniel, her eyes moist and pleading.

Daniel joined his friends at the window and wrapped them both in his arms. “Two wise men and one wise woman. Not bad. What can I do, Reuben?”

“Continue to be my friend,” Reuben said quietly. “Otherwise there's nothing you can do; things are under control.”

Daniel looked doubtful, but he smiled for Reuben's benefit. Jane's soft hand on his shoulder made him turn, and in doing so he read the concern in her eyes. And in that moment of time he fell deeply and passionately in love with his friend of many years. Neither he nor Jane noticed Reuben's contented smile.

Jane looked away, confused. Was it possible that what she herself was feeling was mirrored in Daniel's eyes? After all this time? She looked up at Reuben, her anger at him forgotten. His grin was contagious…and sly. Why, he's manipulated this whole thing, she thought in amazement. “Touché,” she said so quietly only Reuben heard her.

“If anyone wants my opinion,” she continued, suddenly feeling a bit giddy, “I think we should leave the young people to themselves. I also think we three should take off for the Lily Garden and…and tie one on.”

“Hear, hear!” Daniel cried.

Grinning, Reuben clapped Daniel on the back and put his other arm around Jane. “I'll tell you what, you two go ahead and I'll meet you there. I'll tell the young people their time is their own. Actually, what I want to do is walk around the studio and say good-bye in my own way. After today I won't be back. You don't mind, do you?”

He was manipulating again, Jane thought. If he stayed, she and Daniel would have to drive to the Lily Garden alone. Suddenly she laughed, a delightful sound that warmed the senses. “Wonderful idea!” she said enthusiastically.

Alone in Jane's office with only the sound of the soft whirring fan for company, Reuben settled himself. He was in no hurry to visit his son's office. Abruptly he felt a flutter of panic. Perhaps he was cutting things a little too close. There were so many good-byes to be said, so many things for him to do in only four days. What he should have done was call a meeting to announce his resignation instead of leaking the news. Once he made the decision he knew he had to act on it immediately, before he could change his mind. And he himself had given the order, by phone, to have Bebe's name replace his on his parking space. Al Sugar, the head of the prop department, had expressed his disapproval, but Reuben knew he would do it immediately.

Maybe the good-byes weren't such a good idea after all. After all, he'd already said good-bye to his secretary and given her a smashing bonus. Wonderful, loyal Margaret. But he wouldn't miss her, and he wouldn't miss anyone else, either. Why had he stayed all these years, working like a slave, getting by on only a few hours sleep each night? To prove what to whom? So much of his life was gone now, and while he couldn't recapture the past, he could try to start a new life. In order to do that, he knew he had to start that life where his old life had ended—back in France. Whether it made sense or not, he had to go ahead with his plan.

First he had to clear out his desk, not that there was anything he really wanted…except for one thing. He might as well go there now and get it. One of the secretaries could pass on Jane's message to Philippe; no need for him to deliver it in person.

Reuben whistled as he made his way to his office. He took the stairs two at a time and was barely winded when he reached the top. Margaret's office was empty now, her desk cleared, waiting for the next secretary to take her place. He hoped she was happy in her retirement.

Shouldn't he be feeling something? He wondered as he walked around his office. Anger or remorse? Or perhaps gratitude that he'd had the chance to make Fairmont one of the “big three” studios? No, relief, he decided. Now he had time to fill his life with sunshine. He certainly had enough money to last him three lifetimes. Everyone was provided for—Simon, Dillon, and, of course, Bebe, if she saw fit to avail herself of his generosity.

Once inside his office, he realized he didn't want to go through his desk; didn't want to touch any old memories, each with its own story worthy of a movie script. Let someone else do it. Hastily he penned a note and clipped it to his blotter. Throw everything in the trash. Done.

One last thing, the reason he'd come here. His hands trembled as he lifted the blotter from the desk and stared down at the winemaker's calendar. He was holding it in his hands, trying to decide how to carry it home so that the brittle paper didn't fall apart.

“Try this,” a voice said. Reuben whirled to face his son, who was holding a large cellophane envelope. A lump lodged itself in his throat. He didn't attempt to speak, merely nodded. “Allow me,” Philippe said as he held open the envelope. “There are places that can preserve this for you,” he said with a catch in his voice.

“I know, but it wouldn't be the same,” Reuben said. “By the way, Jane said to tell you both that the rest of the day is yours. She and Daniel went to the Lily Garden. I'll be joining them. If you care to come along, you're welcome. If not, bring Nellie home. Before midnight.”

“Oh, Uncle Reuben, I don't have a curfew!” Nellie said, flushing.

“I'll have her home on time. We'll decide later about the Lily Garden. Will you be coming back here?” Philippe asked.

“Not on your life. It's all yours…son. Yours and your mother's.”

Panic rivered through Philippe. “There's no reason…you don't have to—”

“Yes. Yes, I have to do this. I'll be leaving for France in four days. When I have news of your mother, I'll send it on. If I can.”

Philippe felt sick to his stomach. “But the war…”

“I've been to war before. I know your country as well as I know my own.”

Philippe licked at his dry lips. When Nellie nudged him forward, he dug his heels even deeper into the pile of carpet. “Will you…can you…tell her…I'm…tell her I love her and I think of her every day. I don't see how you can possibly find her with what's going on. It's impossible!”

Reuben looked his son straight in the eye, speaking slowly and distinctly. “I never make a promise I can't keep. I never give my word if there is the slightest chance it will be broken, either by me or by circumstances beyond my control. If it's humanly possible, I'll find your mother. Now, you young people run along and enjoy yourselves.”

Philippe led Nellie down the stairs. “Did you see him, did you hear him? Who the hell does he think he is? He…I found out…never mind, we went through all this before. This is a hell of a way for us to start your first day here. Come on, I'm giving you a tour of the studio.”

“Philippe, I think he was waiting for you to…to…I don't know, act like a son, I guess,” Nellie said. “How can you hold him responsible for something he knew nothing about? It's not fair, not to him or yourself. I won't say any more, but I want you to think about it.”

Philippe smiled sadly. “I'll think about it.”

 

While her husband was happily toasting old memories with Reuben and Jane, Rajean Bishop was hailing a cab to the Waldorf-Astoria, where she'd called ahead to book a suite of rooms. Her eyes were glittering, her pulse pounding with exhilaration. She had eighty-five hundred dollars in cash in her purse, a new designer nightie, a daytime outfit the color of rich coral from the same designer, and a smashing evening frock in case Teddie wanted to take in a Broadway show. Already she'd made a serious dent in the money Daniel had given her.

As soon as she checked in and unpacked she would head for Tiffany's to buy a present for Teddie, something absolutely outrageous and so meaningful Teddie would see once and for all that she was the one, the one who loved and wanted to commit until eternity.

Suddenly her exhilaration evaporated. Teddie didn't know she was in New York. What if Teddie had other plans? Maybe she should have checked before she made the trip. But she so wanted to surprise Teddie! This way she'd stop by Teddie's shop in the middle of the afternoon, after she left Tiffany's. In the coral suit she'd be dressed to advantage, and Teddie would immediately know the Tiffany's shopping bag was a gift. She'd pretend she was in town to shop, to take in a play. Then she'd casually suggest dinner at the Waldorf—her treat, of course. Dinner would lead to the rest of the evening and, possibly, the entire night. If Teddie wasn't in the shop and she couldn't make contact this afternoon, she would take a cab to the brownstone on East Seventy-Fourth Street that Teddie called home. She'd ring the bell, trill, “Surprise! Surprise!” and hold out the gift. Teddie did so love gifts. They'd have wine and cheese and talk and talk. Eventually she'd mention that she was considering a move to New York because Daniel was going to be generous with his divorce settlement. Of course, she wouldn't say
how
generous and she wouldn't mention the fact that she was going to keep the house in Georgetown. The designer nightie would be tucked in her oversize purse, wrapped in soft tissue, along with her small makeup case. Plan C…Plan C would go into effect if Plans A and B didn't work out, and she didn't want to think about that now.

“That'll be two-fifty,” the taxi driver called over his shoulder, interrupting her reverie.

Rajean climbed out of the cab and handed the driver the fare and a dollar tip. He smiled his thanks as he looked into his rearview mirror, then frowned as he watched Rajean dance her way into the hotel. He'd seen enough broads in his time to know what she was here for. He'd also seen men like the one climbing out of the taxi behind him. A gumshoe; the city was full of them. For a moment he debated. Should he go in and warn his passenger? After all, she had given him a nice tip. Nah, he decided, live and let live, it wasn't any of his business.

Rajean looked around the suite of rooms, impressed with the spacious luxury. What she should do, would do, was send herself some flowers on her way to Tiffany's. Huge baskets of flowers, enough to keep the bellhops busy for a while, and she'd sign the cards with initials, as an indication that she had a secret lover. The flowers would add to Plans A, B, and C.