Splintered Heart (24 page)

Marian looked around. The only face with an expression on it was Elena's and Elena had a strange smile.

"I want us to do what we've been doing, only better. Zero profit — that's my goal." Marian sat back down in her chair, suddenly very tired.

Nobody said anything for a moment.

Wexler took out his cigarette case, offered it around. "I think you all should know, I certainly want Mrs. Cooper to continue on as director, but I have an excellent suggestion for a new director." He smiled at Miss Pierce, and then turned to Elena.

Everyone turned and looked at Elena.

It was fascinating, how much like "Mari", Elena had become. From where Marian was sitting on the opposite side of the conference table, Elena was like a brilliant jewel in the midst of all the drab masculine colors. She was smashingly groomed — in a blue-green knit suit, Marian's own favorite color, no brief case — just a delicate ladies' handbag, her hair was lose ala Dennis but no longer au naturel. There wasn't a strand out of place.

Marian patted her own hair to make sure the short ends were in place. She adjusted her own suit jacket, bracing herself for disaster.

"If nobody has any objections, I'd like to explain this last page of our report," Elena said, standing up with a copy in her hand.

Elena didn't look at the paper, not even once. She had all the statistics down pat, a concise crisp delivery plus
 
Marian Cooper
 
reasoning, logic and facts, plus her own sensual charm and humor. Out of the corner of her eye, Marian saw Paul and Wexler beaming, other heads nodding their approval.

Marian was congratulating her assistant in her mind, while evaluating her performance. The bubble, crackle and glow of a thirty-three-year-old woman was there but with her presentation, Elena was proving that if there was going to be a new director, there could be no better choice than Elena D'Ortega.

"How rare it is, to have a leader such as we, at the Research Exchange, are privileged to have." Elena said, when she was finished with the summary. "Mrs. Cooper has created a unique environment, a uniquely broad-based, diversified fund-raising corporation. Her energy sets the pace for all of us. Her concepts must define the future for all of us. The advisory board has the honor and the responsibility to help Marian Cooper fulfill her ever expanding horizons, her profoundly philanthropic dreams. We all become larger by helping her, help others to give..."

The speech was beginning to sound like a eulogy. Marian was thinking about making her exit, when suddenly Elena spoke her name.

"Mari? I wrote it down and rehearsed it — what I said just now. I wanted to be sure and say it right."

Elena turned back to the group. "As far as I'm concerned, there is nothing here for me, if Mari isn't the boss. I love her. If she quits, I'm quitting. If she has to get another job..." Elena looked back to Mari if it were just the two of them on a coffee break. "Can I be your assistant Mari?"

There was a stunned silence.

Then Paul Sheldon began to applaud, and the others joined in. Finally even the big bad wolf was applauding.

Incredible chameleon, wonderful friend, Christmas gift Elena had saved the day!

When they were alone, Elena said, "Mari, I've got a favor to ask..."

"Name it."

"If I'm going to go to L.A. and make that speech, I'm going to need some outside help."

"O.K., Elena, whatever you say." Marian would have said
 
yes
 
to anything at that moment.

"First of all, it's got to be re-written."

"O.K."

"It needs a different point of view."

"You're absolutely right, Elena. Whom do you have in mind?"

"Actually, I was thinking of Victor..."

"Elena, for heavens' sake, not Victor!"

"Why not? He's the perfect one to fix the speech."

"I really don't think it's wise to involve Victor in this."

"Victor was a year ago, Mari. It's water under the bridge. We're different people now."

Marian had to agree.

++++++++++

Chapter 34

Myra started to dial LE 4-3017 with her eyebrow pencil. She changed her mind. "Shelleeee!" she bawled, "Jesus, aren't you through practicing the damn scales yet?"

When the piano stopped, Myra chewed on the pencil thoughtfully.

"Mommy, did you call me?" Shelley peeked into the bedroom.

"You making too much damn noise. Can't you see I'm busy — go make a picture with your oil crayons."

"You said my pictures are no good."

"So try again, don't be such a quitter." Myra started to outline her eyelids, making Egyptian lines so she'd look like Liz Taylor. "Oh my God," she said, opening her black-rimmed eyes very wide to show herself the wonder, the marvel, the brilliance, the excellence of the inspiration that had just then occurred her.

"Andrea dearest, guess who just phoned me?"

"I'm not a very good guesser, Myra."

"Marian Cooper phoned me!"

"What for, my goodness, why?"

"That bitch — the whole thing was her plan!"

"What whole thing?"

"The
 
pills
, my darling.
 
She
 
was the one who told Ferris you'd taken sleeping pills."

"That's weird. Why would his wife make up a story like that?"

"Because Lady Marian has a detective following Ferris. Surely, you know that adultery is the grounds in N.Y. State."

"Marian Cooper is divorcing Ferris?"

Andrea was reacting just as Myra had hoped. "Angel girl, don't you see — it was all her clever plan — Lady Marian wants to catch her husband and you in bed together!" Myra glanced down at Shelley — she'd brought in her art junk — she was busy drawing a bunch of sticks, thank God. "You owe me an apology, Andrea!"

"I apologize Myra, Aldo said you wouldn't do a thing like that. I wonder how Marian got your number..."

"Aldo? You mean that wop photographer?"

"I've been doing some work for him."

"So that's why you haven't been home — you've been with Aldo?"

"Aldo's working with me on my portfolio. It's important for me to get first class exposure, Myra. He knows somebody at
 
Vogue
 
— "

"You're balling him?" Myra looked quickly at Shelly — the kid was decorating the sticks, turning them into a row of crappy flowers.

"He's very nice Myra."

"Sure 'he's nice' — he's got a free model, a free fuck. It's a very nice, very good deal for Aldo."

"Myra, I really like Aldo."

"He sounds like Capricorn, what's his birthday?"

"I'll ask him." Andrea covered the phone.

Myra could hear the muffled sound of her friend talking. "For Gawdsake, you've been fucking him while you're talking to me on the phone?"

"No! We're just talking, Aldo bought me a blouse at Bendel's and I was trying it on."

"Bendel's!" The thought of Bendel's made Myra want to weep. "That prick Herb, he closed my Bendel's charge account. He'd never buy me anything — just stick that skinny prick in for two minutes, and that was it, bingo! That's all I ever got."

Andrea giggled. "Honestly Myra, you're too much. I never know if you're for real."

"Angel girl, I love to hear you laugh. I miss you darling."

"I miss you too Myra."

"I thought you'd be happy to hear about Ferris' divorce."

"It makes me feel as if I'm somehow to blame."

"You broke his heart. He's gone and left his wife for you, darling. You are definitely going to have to phone Ferris, or at least write him at the office."

"I guess you're right, Myra. Ferris was really very nice when he thought I took the pills."

"Angel, what about coming over tomorrow for dinner, Shelley's dying to see her Aunt Andrea, and maybe you and I can figure out how to help dear Lady Marian get what she wants!"

Myra hung up, cracked her knuckles, and dialed LE 4-3017.

Shelley was making swirling S's, faster and faster, blacker and blacker, obliterating the flowers she'd drawn. Without looking up, Shelley knew Mommy was counting very slowly. Shelley counted very slowly. Past sixty, past one hundred and twenty, then heard the quiet clunk of her Mommy hanging up the phone.

++++++++++

Chapter 35

It had taken some doing, but Mamma was going to move into the maid's room office.

Hayden's "Variations" were playing on the stereo. Marian was moving the desk back into position, two-inches away from the newly painted walls. She gathered up the paint cloths, the spattered newspapers, humming, pleased with the new, pale blue. She knew it was a color she'd enjoy if it were her bedroom. "It's going to make Mamma feel better, it's going to give her courage and energy to work with her therapists."

A long time ago, Marian had promised her father to be an extra special good child, daughter and son, just as she'd promised she would pick a career that would passionately involve intellect and energies. It had taken a long time to achieve this moment in her life, when she could make a child's promise into reality. "But isn't that a fact of life," she said to herself, "You have to spend years, decades — learning, working, achieving — to get to those childhood visions and dreams."

The ring of the telephone was jarring, always terrifying, but she knew it might be Ferris. "Oops! Damn!" Reaching to answer, Marian knocked over a demitasse saucer, made a grab for it, missed, and the saucer went clattering, shattering, smashing into smithereens all over the floor.

Ferris started with cheery having-a-wonderful-time, wish-you-were-here talk. There were sounds of ice cubes, and men in the background, as he went on about the weather in South Carolina, then horses — riding, grooming, and feeding horses, which was not commensurate with his interest in horses, so Marian knew something was up.

She began to ask questions. "You can't say anything, because someone's right there, listening to you?"

"That's very intelligent of you, dear."

"Are you O.K.?"

"Mmm."

"Oh Ferris darling I miss you."

"Me too."

"Do you know yet, when you're coming back?"

"I'm not sure sweetheart."

"Ferris?" She caught something else in his tone. "You can't say anything, I know, but say yes or 'no' — is there a problem?"

"Yes!" Ferris' tone was unnaturally bright. Clearly, he wanted Marian to continue asking her questions.

"Is it the new name for the restaurant chain? They don't like it?"

"Don't let yourself worry about it darling, just telephone the refrigerator repairman."

"What are you talking about, what refrigerator repairman?"

"Ha, ha," was Ferris' reply.

"Is it trouble with O.A.?"

"Oh ho," Ferris laughed, in a Jolly Green Giant, jovial Santa Claus tone, "not on your life!"

"It's not some problem with Courtney?" There was no response, so she went on. "Is it Charles?"

"Yes indeedy, darling. I left it in the desk in my study."

"Left what?"

"That's absolutely right, Marian."

"Ferris, I'm not sure I know what you're talking about. Is there something in your desk in your study that you want me to find for you?"

"Absolutely, darling," he said in the same ho-ho tone. "You'll find the Refrigerator Warranty papers in there."

"Warranty papers?" Marian was finding it very difficult to follow his train of thought.

"I'm glad to hear that Uncle Paul phoned you, you be sure and phone him back, and give him my regards."

"Uncle Paul? Ferris, you want me to find some papers and telephone Paul Sheldon?"

"Exactly, that's the right way of thinking, dear. That broken refrigerator of ours is serious, so tell Uncle Paul I gave you permission to buy a new one."

"So, it's serious trouble with Charles?"

Ferris' response was another "Mmm", longer, in a somewhat different pitch. Marian tried to interpret it. "Charles misses his Henri, is he drinking?" Because Ferris made no reply, she assumed she was on the right track. "Charles hasn't gotten involved with someone down there?"

"Uncle Paul will show you where you have to sign, dear. That's
 
all
 
you have to do. Once
 
you
 
sign
 
the papers, our refrigerator worries are over."

"You mean
 
your
 
worries will be over if
 
I
 
sign the papers?"

"Yes Marian dear."

"This sounds very serious, Ferris." She reviewed his instructions — "I am to find some papers and phone Paul at home immediately?"