Chapter 34: Break the Cycle?

January 16, 1984, Chicago, Illinois

"I bought a condo today," I said to Deanna when we sat down in a booth in the downstairs dining room at Maxim's.

"Why?! Are you moving out of the house?"

"We're all moving; well, not Jack and Kristy. I bought a six-bedroom townhouse-style condo on the 91st and 92nd floors of the Hancock Center."

"Holy shit!" she gasped. "I can't even imagine what THAT cost!"

"A lot less than it's worth because interest rates are so high. I have access to a very low-rate mortgage through Spurgeon, so my monthly payment will be half of what someone who had to go to a bank to obtain a loan would pay. The monthly payment is about three times what I'm paying on the mortgage for the house but with far more space and a FAR better address."

"A commute that is counted in minutes by elevator, right?"

"Yes, for both Bianca and me. And it'll make things so much easier after Sofía is born. Jack and Kristy will rent the house from me, so the condo will have room for the rest of us, a nursery, and a spare bedroom. All of the bedrooms are bigger than those in the house, and each one has its own private full bath and walk-in closet. The challenge for you is a studio, but there are empty storefronts in Streeterville that I could rent. Haight Studios or something like that?"

"It has to be something avant-garde or out of the ordinary. Maybe Ateljé Haight?"

"I don't know that word. Is it French?"

"It's the Swedish word for an art studio. I've never seen it used in the US before, so that makes it edgy and cool, and it'll attract attention."

"Which is what we want," I observed.

"Can you afford a separate studio?"

"Yes, though we'll need to figure out the finances. Maybe you could rent space to other art students? Or turn it into a private gallery?"

"That might work. There's always tough competition for studio space at school. And the idea of a gallery is good, but I have to be careful not to upset the gallery owner in Oak Park."

"I understand the point, but being able to sell without commission and being in what the Trib calls a 'tony' neighborhood would counteract any negatives. Nothing says you can't show in Oak Park as well as your own gallery."

"I like that, and I want to explore the idea with you. Back to the house — what about the hot tub?"

"That's a loss, but four of the bathrooms have Jacuzzis. The one we'll use for the nursery and the one that will be the spare room wouldn't. From what I could tell, a Jacuzzi could be installed in each of those if we wanted."

The waitress came and took our orders and returned with our drinks and salads right away.

"When would we move?"

"I expect to close around the end of February, and we could move at any time after that. There's no rush, though I'd want to be in and settled before Sofía is born. You could stay at the house until we sort out your studio situation, but your room would be available right away."

"I'm curious, but do all the bedrooms have windows?"

"Four of the six. The bedrooms are on the second floor, and the condo is in the corner of the building. Two bedrooms along one side and two along the other have windows; the two interior ones don't. We'll use those for the nursery and spare room.

"Downstairs, there's a huge great room, a large open-plan kitchen, and a study or den, which would become the new Japanese room. There are hookups for a washer and dryer, too. The building has an indoor swimming pool for tenants, as well as a gym. There's also a sauna, an on-site grocery, an on-site dry cleaner, and a twenty-four-hour concierge with doorman service."

"Unreal. I don't want to pry, but will you share how much you'll make this year?"

"My compensation is no longer a fixed salary but is based on the management fees we collect. For this year, it should be roughly $220,000 plus bonus; that's if I don't bring in more money."

"You can definitely afford it!" Deanna said with a soft laugh. "And me!"

"Yes, I can, though I have to be smart about it. It would be very easy to burn through that money. So many of the guys at Spurgeon do."

"How much do the top guys make?"

"A million or more in base compensation, plus bonuses."

"How big are bonuses?"

"They can be more than the total base compensation, but the amounts are purely at Noel Spurgeon's discretion. There's also something called 'carried interest', which is money that is mine but which I don't want to touch because of the tax implications. That's around a million bucks, though I'd lose at least forty percent to taxes if I tried to take it out."

"So you're a millionaire already?"

"On paper."

"I chose the right patron!" Deanna exclaimed. "That's just a crazy amount of money."

"It is, but I'd give up every cent if it could have saved Keiko."

"Sorry. I didn't mean to make you melancholy."

"I already was; I just hide it well. Please don't feel you need to walk on eggshells around me."

"Bottling it up completely is a bad idea."

"I know, and I'm not doing that. I have let it out, just in private."

"You know I'm here for you, right?"

"I do," I replied, "and I appreciate that."

We finished our salads just as the waitress brought our meals.

"Changing subjects," I said after the waitress left, "how does this work tonight?"

"You just sit on a stool, holding a pose. The basic gist is that the sketchbooks will tell the story of a romantic relationship with its ups and downs. Tonight, you'll meet in a bar, and it'll progress to physical contact, but there will also be conflict. One pose, for example, is the two of you standing back-to-back with your arms crossed. When it progresses to a love affair, the clothes start to come off."

"And Sophie's little sister is OK with that?"

"She is Sophie's little sister, so I can't imagine she's anything less than enthusiastic!"

I chuckled, "That's one way to describe Ivy and Sophie. What's the makeup of the class?"

"Seven women and four men, plus the female professor."

"Will everyone be sketching?"

"Yes, and we'll use a mix of graphite, charcoal, pastel, and pencil."

"Will I be able to see the finished works?"

"Yes. They'll be displayed at the school once the class is finished, then go into each student's portfolio. And yes, that display is open to the public. I probably should have mentioned that."

"You should have, but I also should have asked. I gave my word, so I'll do it, of course."

"You have nothing of which to be ashamed!"

I chuckled, "It wasn't that; it was the potential for damage to my reputation."

"I doubt that would happen," Deanna said. "It's not pornographic, and I think people expect someone like you to have sexual prowess and be well endowed."

"I'm not sure I'd want to verify that empirically," I said with a goofy smile.

Deanna laughed, "Three of the four guys are gay or bi."

"Are you trying to convince me to bail?" I asked lightly.

"Well, one of the girls is a lesbian and a hardcore feminist. I'll wager anything you care to lose that she doesn't draw certain parts of your anatomy to scale when we get to that point!"

"Then I'll be in good company, given what you explained about Michaelangelo's David!"

"One day, we have to go to The Louvre!"

"What other art museums would you visit?"

"All of them!" Deanna declared.

"OK, top five?"

"I think it's easier to just list the cities — London, Paris, Amsterdam, Rome, and New York. Honorable mention to Leningrad, the former Saint Petersburg, in Russia. There are multiple museums in those cities that could be visited on a trip."

"You've been to Paris and Amsterdam, right?"

"Yes, but I absolutely want to go again!"

"Decide how many days you'd need in each city, and we'll see about taking a trip next year."

"Seriously?"

"Seriously. Russia might be tough, but I could look into it."

"I'm going to hold you to that!"

We finished eating, and after I paid the bill, we headed to the School of the Art Institute. We stopped at the restroom, then Deanna led me to the studio. Just outside the door, I saw a young woman with blonde hair, a slim figure, and sparkling blue eyes who looked enough like Sophie, I was sure they were sisters. Deanna proved me correct almost immediately.

"Alexa, meet Jonathan; Jonathan, meet Alexa!"

"I've heard all about you!" Alexa smirked.

"Sophie does like to talk," I replied with a smile.

"I heard about your wife; my condolences."

"Thanks."

"Hi, Deanna," a woman of about thirty said, coming up to the three of us.

"Hi, Claire! Jonathan, this is Claire, our professor; Claire Dawson, Jonathan Kane, our male model."

"Nice to meet you! You being tall, dark, and handsome, both complements and contrasts our female model, whom I see you've met."

"Just enough to say 'hello'," I said. "Nice to meet you as well."

"Deanna, I need ten minutes alone with Jonathan before we start."

"You'll need WAY more time!" Deanna teased.

"I meant to go over the release! Go set up, please. Alexa, you can go into the room. Jonathan, come with me, please."

The other two girls left, and I followed Claire into a small office, where she handed me the release.

"I'd apologize for Deanna, but given you're her patron, I suspect you're used to her by now."

"Very!"

"Read the form and sign it. Basically, it allows us to display and sell any art with your likeness, and you agree your only compensation is the $15 fee for each session."

I read over the release and didn't see anything that concerned me, so I filled out the blanks for my personal information, signed and dated it, and handed it to Claire.

"Deanna tells me you're a stockbroker."

"I have two licenses, but my main job is running the Research Department."

"At age twenty-one? Impressive."

"Thanks."

"I also heard about your tragic loss. My condolences."

"Thank you."

"Deanna said you'll be completely comfortable being nude."

"I'm not sure that's true, but I did agree to do it."

"Most people are a bit self-conscious the first time they model, even clothed. You'll get used to it."

"Has Alexa modeled before?"

"No. This is her first time as well. You appear to be in good shape, at least as far as I can tell with you wearing a suit. Is that your normal attire? Suit and suspenders with a tie?"

"Yes."

"Do you work out?"

"Three days a week at the gym in the building where I work."

"Take off your jacket and turn slowly, please," Claire requested.

I did as she asked.

"Is this how you'll usually be dressed?"

"Yes."

"Would you bring a change of clothes with you each time? Blue jeans and a polo or rugby shirt?"

"I can do that."

"Do you have a bathrobe?" Claire inquired.

"Black, knee-length; I also have black silk pyjamas and a blue happi."

"Those would be perfect for future classes," Claire said. "Just bring a change of clothes for now. We have five minutes. Any questions before we go to the studio?"

"None that I can think of."

I followed Claire to the studio, where she had me put on my jacket and sit on a stool next to Alexa. Claire suggested poses, and once she was satisfied, she addressed the eleven students. It was actually boring, as I couldn't do anything but hold the pose until we took a five-minute break, where I used the restroom and got a drink. I returned to the same basic pose after the break and held it until the second break. The cycle repeated itself until the class ended two and a half hours after it began, though it seemed longer.

"I take it that's how it's going to be for the rest of the semester?" I asked Deanna as we left the School of the Art Institute.

"With variations in poses, yes. It's not the most exciting work, but Claire really appreciates you helping us out."

"What poses, if you know."

"In a general way. Wednesday will be similar to today, then you standing face-to-face, you with your arms around each other's waists, and so on. Claire will talk to you both about what you're comfortable with once your clothes start to come off. But it'll all be tasteful; we're not creating porn!"

"I've heard people describe nude paintings as 'pornographic'."

"Clueless morons!" Deanna declared. "They clearly don't know the difference between art and porn."

"I actually think they do," I countered. "They draw the line in a different place than you do. Think about the difference between pornography and obscenity. Can you give me a clear definition of where the line is drawn with which everyone will agree?"

"Obviously not."

"The same is true for the difference between art and pornography."

"So what do you think?" Deanna asked.

"I think it's complicated because it appears that for many, if not most, the medium matters. A nude painting is art, and a nude photo is pornography even if they depict the exact same image."

"I hadn't considered that."

"As I said, it's a complicated problem, and the First Amendment offers exactly zero guidance beyond 'free speech' and 'free press'. My American government teacher said the original intent was about political speech and that it only applied to the federal government. But I think we're way off topic."

"True. Want to get ice cream before we go home?"

"Sounds good."

January 17, 1984, Chicago, Illinois

"I bought a condo," I said to Jack as he, Bianca, and I drove to work on Tuesday morning.

"Where?"

"In the Hancock Center," I replied. "My plan is for the girls and me to move there, and you and Kristy could rent the house until you're ready to buy."

"What brought this on?" he asked.

"Our discussion about the baby and you and Kristy talking about moving out. Bianca suggested a condo in the building, and after I thought about it, we looked into it, and I put in a successful bid on a six-bedroom, townhouse-style condo on the 91st and 92nd floors with a city view."

"Holy shit, dude! Talk about a deluxe apartment in the sky!"

Bianca and I both laughed.

"That's what I said!" Bianca declared. "Jonathan didn't know the reference to The Jeffersons."

"He watches less TV than anyone I know."

"So, what do you say, Jack?" I asked.

"I say 'yes', of course! I'll speak to Kristy tonight, but I can't imagine her saying 'no'. Now I just need Noel Spurgeon to approve my job as a runner."

"When are you supposed to know?"

"By Friday. When will you move?"

"Sometime in March, I suspect. I need to work out the details."

"Pretty cool."

"I think so."

The morning was routine, but I received a surprise call early in the afternoon.

"Jonny, it's Bev."

"Where are you?"

"Chicago. I was released on my own recognizance yesterday. When can I pick up Heather?"

"You'll have to go to Goshen to do that. She's with your parents."

"YOU BASTARD!" she screeched. "HOW COULD YOU?!"

"I had no idea what was going to happen with you, and Heather needs stability. I felt that was what was in her best interests. If you want my advice, go home and reconcile with your parents. Call Mr. Chojnicki right away, as he filed to give your parents emergency custody yesterday."

"I HATE YOU!" she growled, and I was positive she had slammed down the phone to disconnect the call.

I flashed the switchhook and dialed the Newtons' number.

"Newton residence; Jim speaking."

"Mr. Newton, it's Jonathan. Bev just called me. She was released on her own recognizance. She asked about Heather, and when I told her Heather was with you, she became irate and hung up on me."

"I'll get in touch with Mr. Chojnicki. Do you know if Bev is at her apartment?"

"I don't know for sure, but I'd assume so. If you let me put you on hold, I can call the tailor shop and ask."

"Yes, of course."

I did that, and Beth confirmed that Bev had shown up. I thanked Beth and promised to call her later in the day, then pressed the button to bring Jim Newton back on the line.

"Yes, she's there. I have no idea what she's going to do, though."

"Thanks, Jonathan. We really appreciate what you did over the weekend, looking out for Heather's best interests."

"Bev needs psychological help," I said.

"We agree, of course."

We ended the call, and I thought about what to do next, and the answer was 'nothing'. At this point, Bev had to get counseling and get her act together. That was up to her, and as much as I hated the state of our relationship, I didn't see any way forward for us, even as friends, until she completed counseling.

I completed the day, then headed to Jeri's house for our monthly dinner.

"Are you doing OK?" she asked when I arrived.

"I'm hanging in there," I replied.

"Is there anything I can do for you?

"Just be my friend."

"I received the year-end statement today. 25.6%, even with the restrictive covenants in the trust. I'm very, very happy."

"Me, too! Unfortunately, I don't think we'll be able to hit those same numbers this year. We can discuss it at dinner, so I don't have to go through it twice."

Nelson arrived just then, and I took him aside to let him know about the condo.

"I don't even know what to say!" he said, shaking his head. "Obviously, I'll handle the purchase for you."

"Thanks. I heard from Bev today. She was released on her own recognizance and is in Chicago."

"Her job is still there if she wants it, but she needs to get in touch soon."

"Maybe have someone call her because she's not speaking to me."

"Then how do you know she's here?"

"She called, and when she found out I'd facilitated Heather going to her parents, she became very upset with me and hung up."

"I'm not sure what she expected you to do other than that. In situations like Bev's, it's almost always the grandparents or an aunt or uncle."

"I know. Anyway, we should rejoin the others."

Five minutes later, the entire gang had arrived, and Karl called us to dinner.

"I was telling Jeri earlier that this year's returns are likely to be lower than last year's," I said. "The big scores on the currency devaluations made up a good chunk of our gains, and I don't see any potential in that area in the near term. Our guidance for the market is a bear market for the Dow and modest gains for the S&P. That said, I have a number of ideas to ensure we beat not just those numbers but Treasury yields as well."

"Can you give us an idea?" Gary asked.

"Forward-looking statements aren't guaranteed, but I believe I can approach 20%, which will be more than triple our S&P forecast. Obviously, I'll look for opportunities to beat that. The problem for this year is inflation is picking up, which means the Fed is going to have to tighten despite it being an election year. But they won't raise rates more than a couple of points.