The Prince Charming Hoax (11 page)

She sat on some driftwood with the exhausted Willie at her feet and envisioned herself walking along the shore in a long, white gauze dress, stooping down every now and then for shells. In her daydream, she had a white bungalow with green shutters with a large wood deck in the back. She saw a porch swing, a wicker chair, and a wood table with her typewriter, where she sat to write after her daily morning walk on the beach.

The daydream surprised her. It wasn
’
t until that moment on Fire Island that she had ever thought of herself as a writer. Although she majored in English in college and had a job as an editorial assistant with a small trade publisher, being a writer for an occupation was not anything she had considered—until that moment. And suddenly, it seemed like she had never wanted to be anything else.

Excited, she returned to their vacation rental and shared her dream with Richard, who was lying in a hammock reading the sports section. He barely looked up.

“
Yeah, right, Leah. You, a writer. And who
’
s going to hire you?
”
He waved the newspaper at her.
“
Do you know they have guys with masters degrees from Harvard and Yale working at
The
Times
as interns? With your degree from Nowhere U, you might be able to get a job there cleaning the toilets.
”

“
Well, I might be able to get a job at a magazine. I do have editorial experience. Some writers get started that way,
”
Leah ventured.

Richard laughed and threw her a look that let her know she was being preposterous.

Leah stayed at her job at the publishing house and although she didn
’
t speak of it again, the idea of writing a book stayed with her as a
“
someday
”
dream. For the next few years, she worked hard and was promoted several times. When she left to have Ali almost seven years later, she was a senior editor, managing a staff of five.

Leah planned to freelance and work from her home when her maternity leave was over. Her boss was receptive to the arrangement and offered to recommend her to other departments for assignments. Then Richard shocked her with a change in plans.

She was almost a week overdue. They went out for dinner every night, joking that it was the last supper, since once the baby was born, they
’
d be homebound. This night, they were at their favorite Chinese restaurant. Leah wasn
’
t hungry, but she ordered wonton soup and chatted with Richard while he ate. The waiter brought them fortune cookies with the check. She broke hers open and read aloud,
“
A small bundle will arrive shortly.
”
They laughed heartily and wondered if the waiter had set it up.

Richard suddenly got serious.
“
Leah, I
’
ve been thinking. Don
’
t you think this baby should grow up around family?
”

Leah rubbed her belly and looked at him for an explanation. Both sets of grandparents-to-be lived in Florida. His sister had recently moved there, too, after having her baby. Her brother lived in Philadelphia with his wife and young daughter.
“
What do you mean, Richard? There
’
s little we can do about our families living so far away.
”

“
We could move to Florida.
”

“
But our jobs—and all our friends—are here.
”

“
If I go into my father
’
s business, you won
’
t need to work. You could stay home with the baby.
”

“
Richard, I can
’
t believe what I
’
m hearing. You
’
ve said you hated your father
’
s business and working retail for as long as I
’
ve known you. Do you really want to do that now?
”

“
I want to do what
’
s best for our family. I
’
ve already spoken to my father, and he
’
s willing to start me at a salary that makes it worthwhile to work there.
”

“
I don
’
t know, Richard. It seems like selling out to me. Why don
’
t we at least give it a go and see how well we manage here with me working at home? I know a bunch of women from the office who do, and it seems like good compromise. You know, I
’
m lucky to have a job with this kind of flexibility.
”

“
It
’
s not about money, Leah. I want this baby to grow up with its grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins around, like we did.
”

Leah felt a kick and cramp at the same time. She suddenly felt wet.
“
Richard, I think my water broke!
”
She touched the seat in the booth.
“
Oh my God. Oh my God, it did. We have to go now!
”

The whole family flew in after Ali was born. Leah
’
s mother stayed the longest, not wanting to leave the new baby. Leah didn
’
t want her to leave at all. She was terrified of being alone with the responsibility of caring for her newborn. Richard went to work every day and she relied on her mother to know what to do.

Moving to Hollywood, Florida, suddenly seemed liked a good idea. Even after she became more confident and skillful at caring for Ali, she realized that the mommy groups she joined wouldn
’
t replace being near family. If they moved to Florida, she could have both.

They moved when Ali was six months old. Her father-in-law opened a second men
’
s clothing store for Richard to run so they could bring in enough money to support two families. The market and their locations in discount apparel centers were right and within five years, they had a chain of stores selling men
’
s apparel.

Richard still hated the business, but it provided a good income. Leah busied herself with being a mom. She devoted herself to being room mother, carpool queen, after-school activity director, and PTA president.

As much as she enjoyed these activities, being a full-time mother never felt intellectually fulfilling. She looked for part-time work, but the almost-nonexistent book publishing industry in Florida didn
’
t offer many options. To keep her mind active and her skills intact, she picked up occasional writing assignments, sometimes helping a friend with a brochure or an ad. The referrals from happy customers flowed, and her sideline activity gave her the gratification she was seeking.

As Ali got older and involved in after-school activities, Leah took a part-time position as associate editor for a local newspaper. Her hours were flexible and she could work from home. Sometimes she wrote short articles from the press releases they received, and she conducted interviews to supplement the stories. She loved the self-esteem and creative outlet her work provided, so she began freelance writing for local magazines as well.

These small publications paid very little for her work, something Richard relished pointing out.
But, Leah didn
’
t care about the money. Richard
’
s business brought in more than enough income. In fact, sometimes she
’
d walk around with her paychecks in her purse for several weeks before she remembered to cash them. Leah enjoyed the satisfaction of creating her own business and the appreciation her clients showed her.

Between Ali and work, she had a busy life. Her relationship with Richard deteriorated over the years, but he didn
’
t seem to notice or care. Richard was non-communicative, and Leah got tired of trying to find out what was bothering him. She assumed that her own diminishing interest in sex was a normal part of being married for so many years.

Then a change in the economy brought about a drastic downturn in Richard
’
s business. Leah repeatedly offered suggestions to him for possible ways to improve business, based on her experience helping others build and promote their businesses. But Richard dismissed her ideas and expertise with his usual disdain.
“
Leah, you don
’
t know anything about my business.
”
He began to close locations, one by one, until finally a chance tornado spun from a violent tropical storm blew out the windows in the last remaining store in Fort Lauderdale. Their insurance did not cover
“
acts of God,
”
and everything left in the business was lost in the storm.

Leah moved from editorial to advertising sales at the paper because she could earn more money on commission than as a salaried editor. She took on full-time hours, but she didn
’
t earn enough to cover the expense of a five-bedroom house with pool and two luxury cars. They quickly went through their small savings.

Richard was unable to find work and had no capital to start another business. He went from being unreceptive to verbally abusive and criticized Leah often.
“
You are never home,
”
he complained.
“
You
’
re either out working or taking Ali to another art class or activity. When you are home, you
’
re in your office on the computer and the phone. You know, if you would have worked as hard for me as you do for this newspaper, I
’
d still be in business.
”

She didn
’
t reply because it was true that she avoided spending time with him. He was unpleasant to be around, and Leah dreaded the inevitable confrontations.

Then Richard suddenly changed his attitude toward her. He borrowed money from his parents and sister to start another business. He wanted Leah to work with him. She was reluctant to give up the position at the paper because it was their only source of steady income. Leah was also skeptical that his new business would get off the ground because he was simply trying to recreate the business he just lost. Her suggestions for change fell on deaf ears. He was adamant that he was right, and he partnered with a former employee.

Her marriage was a total shambles, but Leah held on because of Ali. She made a silent decision to leave him, however, if he lost the second business and they were forced to sell the house.

The second business never got off the ground, and she begged him to close and get a job or make some change. He refused. About nine months after opening the store, Richard called her at the office to say there was no money in the business account, and his suppliers were coming to take back their goods.

That night they sat on the patio to discuss selling the house, and he baited her.
“
Maybe we should get separate apartments.
”

“
That
’
s exactly what I plan to do. I have appointments at two rental communities tomorrow. Ali will live with me, and we
’
ll figure out a visitation arrangement once you get settled somewhere.
”

Richard
’
s seemed stunned, but recovered quickly. He stood up and shouted at Leah,
“
That
’
s great, just great. Just when I need you most, you desert me.
”

Leah stood to meet his glare, but didn
’
t raise her voice.
“
No, I was there when you needed me, but you refused to see my value. You were never there when I needed you, so I learned to do it myself—which is what you have to do now.
”

She walked through the sliding glass doors to their bedroom and came back a moment later with a pillow and a throw blanket from their bed.
“
We
’
re done. You can sleep in the guest room or the on the couch, but get your stuff out of my room before I get home from work tomorrow.
”
She went back to their bedroom, closed the sliding door and pulled the drapes shut.

The house sold quickly, and Leah and Ali moved to an apartment near Ali
’
s school. Leah spent most of her time working or transporting her daughter to acting or art classes. Ali was a highly creative young girl, with a charisma that shone on stage. Both her acting and paintings captured her inner spirit and generated much acclaim at art shows and competitions.

Richard relocated to a nearby town, but made little effort to see Ali after the divorce.
“
She
’
s always so busy,
”
he complained to Leah.
“
Why should I drive all the way there just to take her to a rehearsal and sit around for two hours?
”