Chapter 59: True Confession

April 28, 1984, Chicago, Illinois

"Thanks for inviting me out last night with Jack and Kristy," Deanna said as she stretched then snuggled close on Saturday morning.

"Unfortunately, I need to get out of bed so I can have breakfast with Violet and go to class."

"You don't mind if I stay in bed, do you?"

"Not at all."

"I'll change the sheets when I get up," she said.

"Thanks."

I took a quick shower, dressed, then drove to Violet's house for breakfast.

"How long will it be before the situation with Bev is resolved?" she asked once we sat down.

"That's up to Family Court in Ohio," I replied. "I think, at this point, we're no longer involved. It would be nearly impossible for Bev to subpoena either of us now. It would go back to Judge Bradford, and, based on what Tom Hart has said, I suspect the judge would not be at all receptive to such a request. After what happened, I'm not sure they could get the Ohio judge to issue a subpoena for you because to do so, they'd have to show him the deposition results, and I'm pretty sure that would not go well at all."

"She really does need help," Violet observed. "I can't believe how she acted at the deposition. She was always a bit flakey, but that was not something I would have expected."

"Me, either, though I had a hint from the last phone call we had where she called me names because I did what I promised her I would do."

"Give Heather to Mr. and Mrs. Newton," Violet said.

"Exactly," I replied. "You were there when I said it, and she didn't revoke the guardianship documents."

"She and Glen married, so wouldn't that give him some kind of rights? Not to mention being her biological dad?"

"Yes, and last I heard, he was trying to challenge the guardianship documents, but that's between him, Bev, and the State of Ohio and possibly the State of Missouri. I'm safe because I had no reason to believe the guardianship document wasn't valid. Remember, she and Glen married back in November without telling any of us."

"This whole thing is crazy!"

"I know," I replied. "And I can't help but think it could have been prevented."

"It's not your fault, Jon!" Violet declared.

"So it's 'Jon' now, is it?" I asked with an arched eyebrow.

"Oh! Sorry! I didn't know you didn't like it."

"I usually go by my full name because that's what my mom always used, and I actually like it. Bev called me 'Jonny', which started around the time she was in kindergarten. I don't mind if you call me Jon."

"You know it's not your fault, right?"

"I know I can trace the start of the sequence to something I did. Part of me says that if I were able to go back and change it, I should. But part of me says that if I did that, my life would be so different as to be unrecognizable."

"You like your life, right?"

"With the exception of the situation with Bev, and of Keiko dying, I do. Sure, I've made mistakes besides the big one with Bev, but it's impossible to go through life without making mistakes. And now, I need to finish eating so I can help you clean up before I go to class."

Twenty minutes later, after helping Violet clean up, I was sitting in class waiting for Professor Baum to begin his lecture on the history of money, something I would have thought would have been done at the beginning of the semester. I knew the general outline, but he filled in a number of gaps, concluding with the issuance of 'fiat' currencies and them becoming the dominant currency type.

I was no 'gold bug', but I did understand the nature of 'fiat' currencies and the fact that monetary inflation was limited only by the political will of what the British Press called 'the government of the day'. There were some controls in place, but those controls could easily be overridden, and even a sound currency such as the dollar could flounder, similar to the Bolivar, or fail, similar to the Mark of Weimar Germany.

In the end, though, the job I did depended on the liquidity of the dollar, which meant the Federal Reserve needed the flexibility to increase the money supply without having to acquire additional gold reserves. In my business, gold and silver were just commodities, similar to oil or grain. In that regard, they were, in effect, just another thing to be traded with no specific intrinsic value.

When class ended, I returned to Violet's house to have lunch. After lunch, I went back to the condo to spend a few hours with Bianca and Sofía.

"There was a call for you about twenty minutes ago," Bianca said when I walked in. "Kayleigh O'Connell."

"Did she say what she wanted?"

"No. She just asked that you call her."

"I'm not sure what to think about that, given the situation," I said. "She did speak to me briefly on Thursday, and it seemed like she had something to say, but then her grandfather returned. I suppose I should call her."

"Before you do, I had something I wanted to mention now that it's just the two of us here."

"Three!" I counted.

Bianca laughed, "Technically correct, but I doubt Sofía is going to care about the conversation."

"What's up?"

"In her spare time, which she has now because I'm not working, Chelsea has been reading her Bible."

I shrugged, "So? I mean, unless she's reading it to Sofía, I couldn't possibly care less. Do you think she intends to do that?"

"I have no idea. I just thought I'd mention it."

"OK. I'm not going to worry about it any more than I was concerned because her CV, as the agency called it, said she had extensive experience that included the church nursery and babysitting for people from her church. Seriously, if people want to believe those fables, they're free to do so. That said, trying to snare my kid into them is a different story altogether."

"Should I mention it?"

"Not unless something else happens. I mean, if she gives Sofía a book of Bible stories or something like that, then yes, by all means, say something. But I'm not going to lose any sleep because our nanny goes to church and reads a book of fantasy stories about an invisible, all-powerful sky being with an unhealthy interest in the sex lives of his followers. Or do you disagree?"

"I don't, I just wanted to make sure you knew."

"I appreciate it. Let me return the call, then I'll come sit with you and Sofía until I need to leave for my date with Alexa."

I went up to my room to make the call.

"Hi, it's Jonathan," I said when she answered.

"Hi. I wondered if you would want to get coffee and talk."

"Not to be rude, but nothing has changed on my side."

"I know, but ... well, would you meet me for coffee? I promise it's not to try to convert you or anything like that."

"How about tomorrow afternoon around 3:00pm at the diner on Taylor just east of Aberdeen?"

"I'll see you there. Thanks."

"You're welcome."

After we said 'goodbye' and I hung up, I went downstairs and sat next to Bianca, who was nursing Sofía.

"Does that kid do anything except eat?" I asked with a smirk.

"I know, right?" Bianca replied. "But I like nursing her. You can hold her when she finishes eating. What did Kayleigh want?"

"To have coffee. We're meeting tomorrow at 3:00pm. I'm not sure what she wants."

"I know!" Bianca exclaimed.

"Given she's a devout Catholic and made the point that she agrees with all Catholic doctrine, that would be completely off-limits without a ring and a wedding dress."

"Right, because Zappa was wrong when he sang Catholic Girls!"

"Some, I'm sure, because I've met them! But I've also met devout ones and ones who are in between. She did say it wasn't about converting me, but I'm positive that was so that I didn't think she was doing something like ambushing me by bringing her priest. Remember, she suggested I meet him. In any event, if it keeps Thomas Hart happy, it's worth a few hours of my time."

"How far would you go to keep him happy?"

"Not that far! And he actually promised it wouldn't affect our relationship. But I'm not one to leave things to chance if I have a reasonable way of nudging them in the direction I want them to go. And even if he's determined not to let it affect the relationship, an unhappy granddaughter might well affect things, even if he's said they won't."

"Hedging your bets, as it were?"

"Yes. Making the effort, despite the gulf between us, sends the right message."

"Changing subjects, it's strange having this huge place with only three of us here."

"Jack and Kristy no longer live with us, and Deanna has her studio at Ateljé D, where she'll spend a lot of time. And with CeCi working evenings, there will be quite a bit of time when it's just you, me, and Sofía. Are you still interested in a double date with Meg and Nicole, if they're interested?"

"Yes. Maybe next Friday, the four of us with Jack and Kristy, if that won't cause any trouble."

"It won't. I was fortunate Deanna was available last night."

"I was surprised you didn't call one of the other girls."

"Most of them are seeing someone either committed or casual, so calling Friday afternoon was a crapshoot, and I didn't want any of them to cancel their plans, especially the ones who wanted an exclusive relationship with me before Keiko and I became a couple."

"I suppose that makes sense, given you have all your art students! Why don't you call Meg and see if they're free?"

"Sounds good!"

I got up and went to the kitchen and dialed Meg's dorm and was fortunate to find her in her room.

"Are you and Nicole free on Friday, May 11th?" I asked.

"Absolutely! What did you have in mind?"

"A triple date – Jack and Kristy; you and me; Nicole and Bianca."

"Bianca?! What happened to Juliette?"

"She decided she didn't want to live with a baby full-time."

"I can see that, but nine months later? Tacky."

"People change. Can you and Nicole get to the lobby of the Hancock Center at 5:15pm that Friday?"

"Absolutely! Looking forward to it!"

"Me, too!"

After saying 'goodbye', I hung up and went back to sit with Bianca and Sofía. Sofía had finished nursing, so Bianca handed her to me.

"We're set for a week from Friday," I said. "This Friday is the gallery opening."

"We just have to be home by midnight," Bianca said.

"Yes, of course. I've been taking this young lady into consideration for so many things."

Sofía fell asleep, and I carried her up to the nursery and put her in her crib. I checked that the intercom was on, then went back downstairs to spend another thirty minutes with Bianca before leaving for my date.

Just before 4:30pm, I arrived at Northwestern and saw Alexa in front of her dorm, so I pulled to the sidewalk, and she got into the car.

"Hi!" she exclaimed. "Where are we going?"

"Golden Bull in Chinatown or Star of Siam are both good options, given you're not twenty-one."

"I swear, the buttinskies are out of control! Wisconsin is still nineteen, but I bet that doesn't last due to pressure from Illinois and Washington, DC."

"You're probably right. Which place?"

"Thai sounds good."

"Thai it is."

I pulled away from the curb and headed south.

"How much has Sophie told you about me?" I asked.

"Believe it or not, not much. I know you're from Ohio, you're a financial analyst and stockbroker, and you're Deanna Haight's patron. Deanna told me about your wife, which I mentioned during a modeling session. Sophie and Ivy gave you rave reviews, but you already know Sophie didn't let on about your anatomy. Where do you live?"

"I just moved to a condo at 175 East Delaware Place, north of the Loop. Before that, a house in Rogers Park. I was living in an apartment in Bridgeport when I met Sophie. Did she tell you how we met?"

"Your date walked out on you because Sophie did the usual Ed Debevic's schtick."

"That was the sequence of events, but even before that date, I was questioning whether I should continue to see that girl. I had pretty much decided to end things, and during dinner, things came to a head. When we finished eating, I suggested we should end the date, and she got up and walked out. The funny thing was that after Sophie had flirted with me, my date suggested Sophie would give me her number if I asked. I suspect you know what happened."

"Sophie asked you out, and the next evening, she showed up with a bottle of Jack. Later, she introduced Ivy and Deanna. And that's really all I know. How did you get to be a stockbroker by age twenty-one?"

I told her the story, finishing just as I parked in the Rush Street lot about a block from Star of Siam.

"So when you met Sophie, you were still working in the mailroom?" Alexa asked as we got out of the car.

"I had just been promoted to supervisor at that point. What about you?"

"There isn't really much to tell. Grew up in Naperville, went to Naperville Central, was on the school newspaper, was in the top 5% of my class, and enrolled at Northwestern."

"Why the modeling gig?"

"Sophie dared me because I was basically the opposite of her in High School, and Deanna encouraged me. I think that was before she asked you."

"Yes, because you had accepted by the time she asked me. What did you do in High School?

"Sophie was the party animal, while I preferred walking the Prairie Path or in a forest preserve or hanging out with my friends downtown or at the Riverwalk."

We walked into the restaurant and were immediately shown to a booth.

"Why did you agree to pose?" Alexa asked after the waitress took our drink orders.

"When the original model dropped out, Deanna asked, and after giving it some thought, I agreed because I wanted to help her. I did have a chuckle about you being Sophie's sister."

"Would you do it again?"

"I did volunteer to model for Claire's Saturday adult class in the Fall. She said she was going to ask you, too."

"She did, and I agreed. You're posing for Britney, right?"

"Yes. And CeCi Forsythe, who is one of my housemates, along with Deanna and Bianca."

"Bianca has a girlfriend, right?"

"Did. They broke up because her girlfriend decided she couldn't handle living with a baby. I'll say it's an interesting experience so far!"

"So, you got to live out the male fantasy of screwing the lesbian?" Alexa asked with a smirk.

"Bianca is bisexual. I never really understood that fantasy. Someone suggested it's because guys think all lesbians need is a good screwing to turn straight, which makes zero sense. I mean, they don't think gay guys will turn straight if they screw a girl."

"Men are pigs. Well, not all, but enough. Try being a good-looking teenage girl sometime, and you'll find out."

"You're the second person I've heard that from in the past week."

Which tended to confirm the rumors about the guys at Spurgeon who went after teenage girls, not to mention Glen's obvious predilection for High School girls, including Freshmen.

"I know some girls who like older guys," Alexa said, "but mostly that's guys in college, not guys old enough to be their dad. You're about three years older than me, which is about right."

"What are you looking for?"

"I thought that was blatantly obvious!" Alexa declared.

The waitress returned to take our orders, then left to put them in with the kitchen.

"I believe you know what I meant," I said with a smile. "Are you looking for a boyfriend? A husband? A fling?"

"A husband?! Are you out of your gourd?! I need to graduate from college first, at least!"

"I was just listing the possibilities! I'll cross that one off the list!"

Alexa laughed, "Cute. I'm not making any long-term plans with anyone or about anything except finishing my degree. Everything else, I just take one day at a time and see where things go."

"Not to disrespect Keiko, but that's what happened with her. We met, began seeing each other, and taking each day as it came led to us marrying. That said, there is the question of whether you and I will see each other regularly, irregularly, or if this is just a single date."

"Do we have to answer that now? Can't we just worry about today and let tomorrow worry about itself?"

"Yes, of course. I think my caution comes from dating a few girls who had the idea that moving beyond kissing was a commitment to at least an exclusive relationship."

"Did you sleep with any of them?"

"One, because I didn't understand she felt that way until after we'd been together, and the way she had behaved before didn't imply it at all."

"I think a lot of girls assume it does and think guys should understand that."

"Deanna suggested that there are three basic types — the ones who have to be virgins on their wedding night; ones who will have sex with a steady boyfriend or fiancé; ones who think no commitments are necessary."

"That sounds about right," Alexa said. "For guys, I think most would fall into the third category, but there are some guys who are in the other groups. The way I see it, it's a response to the risks — girls risk getting pregnant and all the crap that goes along with that. Guys don't have that risk."

"Child support?" I suggested.

"OK, sure, it costs them money, but they don't have to actually be involved in any way, and it doesn't mess up school or work or whatever, and there is zero stigma. It's also impossible to tell if a guy fathered a kid out of wedlock, whereas it's impossible to hide the fact that you're pregnant once you get to a certain point."

"True. I guess I hadn't thought much about it beyond a girl being willing or not, mainly because I don't ascribe to any particular moral code."