Chapter 7: Domesticity

Three months after Jackie and Linda’s first visit, they were back at Claudia’s big table to discuss progress in their cases. In a way, all six of them were new and happier people.

Linda and Jackie were now married and enjoyed a brief four-day honeymoon at a five-star resort. Jackie promised Linda a European vacation when the lawsuits were adjudicated. Jackie had uncovered substantial assets owned by Naomi Bolton and her family. She also found evidence that Jared had concealed assets from his wife during their marriage and divorce process.

Combined with evidence of criminal liability (statutory rape of Bonnie), Jackie knew she had maximum leverage over Naomi and Jared. At this stage, tense negotiations were underway. It was already clear, though, that Claudia and Ben would be collecting millions from Ben’s father and from his girlfriend and her family. Tonight’s question was how many millions.

Claudia and Lucy linked up in a sweet little marriage ceremony held under a gazebo in the backyard of a mansion. Everybody cried when they saw how sweetly Ariel “gave away” Lucy. For such a formal occasion, she reluctantly agreed to use her full name. Ben “gave away” Claudia as well. They stood flanking the glowing couple as the officiant pronounced them married and urged them to kiss.

Similarly, Claudia and Lucy postponed their actual honeymoon trip until after the lawsuits were resolved. But they spent a luxurious two nights in a downtown penthouse suite to “tide them over.” As a corporate executive, Claudia made a good income. Lucy made decent money, too, as an office manager, so they could easily afford the huge hotel bill.

Earlier, before their marriage and about fifteen days after Bonnie’s phone exposed Jared’s depravity, Lucy realized that she hadn’t left Claudia’s four bedroom house except to go to work. Meanwhile, her granddaughter stayed inside Ben’s room. Ben and A commuted together to high school, although being in different grades they only saw each other on campus during lunch periods.

“Claudia, we need to talk.”

“Uh-oh. Those words cause anxiety in any relationship. What is it, Lucy?”

“If it’s OK, A and I are going to move in with you. It’s stupid for me to keep renting my house when we want to live here instead. May I please have your permission?”

“Whoa. Let me understand. You want to bring your stuff over here, give up your house, and be my roommate?”

“Oh, hell, no.”

“Then what? I’m confused.”

“I want to be your partner. Your lover. Your everything. I’ll wash dishes and do laundry. Whatever I can, so that you want me to live here with you.”

“There’s no doubt about that. Yes, I want you to live here. Plus, Ben has that goofy ‘I got laid’ look on his face all the time. I think he’s falling in love with A.”

“So, Claudia, is that a yes?”

She gathered Lucy into her arms and confirmed it with a soulful kiss.

“Call the movers, Lucy.”

Claudia, Lucy, A, and Ben were becoming a loving family. Later, the gazebo wedding simply formalized the relationship.

The four of them were enjoying Sunday dinner. Lucy had prepared for them orecchiette pasta (the name means “ear-shaped”) in a red meat sauce and a green salad. By this time, the adults had caved on enforcing age restrictions. All four of them were enjoying some imported Italian wine with their meals.

“Grandma, Claudia, Ben, I’ve made a decision. I’ve asked Jackie, and she has agreed to help me.”

“Help you do what?” asked Claudia.

“I’m sick and tired of being an initial. I’m sick and tired of being Ariel Evans. I want to change my name to Xena Johnson.”

Lucy was certainly surprised by this, although pleased that she had selected her surname.

“Are you sure? From the television show?”

“Yes, but girls in Greece take that name as well. There are thousands of US girls named Xena. Finally, Jackie says this is the right time to do it, before I have gone to college, started working, and started a credit history.”

“You know, she’s right. I wish I had kept Claudia Lewis instead of changing so many of my records to Claudia Farrell. Taking a man’s name is a giant pain in the ass. Lucy, I think you should approve this.”

“OK, tell Jackie to go ahead with the paperwork. I’ll need to dig out your birth certificate and social security card.”

“Mom, I want to be Benjamin Lewis, not Benjamin Farrell. Please say yes.”

“I approve, Ben, as long as it doesn’t affect our lawsuits. Dropping Jared’s name will probably send him into orbit.”

“That’s an argument FOR, not AGAINST, Mom. Why did you marry that asshole?”

“Right now, it’s hard for me to imagine or remember what I was thinking back then. Maybe the dinosaur he was riding was bigger and shinier than the dinosaurs the other cavemen had. That must have been the reason.”

“Claudia, you’re funny. That must be why Grandma loves you so.”

“Well yeah, Xena, but she also has fantastic tits. It’s weird using your new name, but I’ll get used to it.”