Chapter 71: Wrapping Up The Year

December 13, 1984, Chicago, Illinois

"How did your exam go last night?" I asked Violet when she arrived in the office on Thursday morning.

"It was pretty easy," she replied. "I just wish I could have gone to the hockey game instead! I saw they kicked Detroit's butt!"

"They did! When I pick games next season, I'll try to avoid nights you have class."

"How often will you have to meet with your advisor?"

"He suggested once every two weeks, mainly so he can report to the Dean that he's monitoring things closely. I'll find out my first assignment in January."

"Is there anything special I need to do while you're gone?"

"I don't believe there's anything special."

"What about not having any contact?"

"I cleared things with Compliance for you and Bianca. The formal internal rule is not to speak to anyone licensed or use someone as a conduit to someone who is licensed. Given both of you are taking off the week of Christmas, it won't be a problem, so long as none of us speaks to anyone else. I'm giving Jack his gift tomorrow, so I don't have to see him until after the first of the year."

"It's a good thing we're taking our vacation together next year, then, because I'll have my license."

"How are you doing on the planning?"

"Barney sent over some brochures, and I'll choose the hotels and the tours, then once he has those set, he'll book the tickets. I was shocked by how much they cost!"

"Compared to how much I'll make?" I asked.

Violet nodded, "They're like discount coach class tickets for a middle-class couple; cheaper, actually, relative to income."

"Exactly. Do you want to have dinner out tonight?"

"What about Connie's, then head to Old Orchard?" Violet suggested.

"Sounds good."

The day was relatively quiet, except for reports out of Tehran that another American had been murdered by the terrorists who had hijacked Kuwait Airways Flight 221, and the death toll in Bhopal was continuing to rise, with some reports putting the number in excess of 12,000, though the Indian government was reporting a much lower number.

I spent most of the day running alternative and extreme models against my portfolio to investigate if I needed further hedges to protect my downside. Nothing I saw indicated any risk of significant losses, though my potential gains were largely unpredictable, aside from the currency and precious metals moves, where I could estimate implied value from the Greeks and spreads.

I felt I'd selected stocks that would outperform the market, but only time would tell. Therein lay the danger, and the trap that so many young traders fell into — improper positions or improper sizes. I could, quite easily, simply match the market or only beat it by a couple of points, and put myself in the same position as Mansfield and Blume. I hadn't heard anything more from Noel about them, which led me to conclude they were going to be given another year.

At lunchtime, I visited the camera shop to pick up CeCi's gift and brought it back to the condo, where I wrapped it with wrapping paper Bianca had purchased. I also wrapped Deanna's books, which had been delivered by UPS that morning, earlier than expected. Once again, Chelsea made lunch for me, and after we ate, I headed back to the office.

At 5:00pm, Violet and I left to have dinner at Connie's, then headed to Old Orchard to complete our Christmas shopping. Violet would buy her gift for me while I was in Saint Martin, and I'd already purchased hers. After a lengthy discussion about what to get Chelsea, I bought a pair of gift certificates — one for The Gap and one for Marshall Field's — in amounts large enough for her to seriously expand her wardrobe.

The final gift, for Bianca, was the most difficult. Violet didn't have any suggestions, and I didn't have any ideas. Having walked around the entire mall, nothing jumped out. In the end, I decided to call Barney on Friday to discuss options for a resort vacation for Bianca and Nicole. I'd also arrange with «Abuela» to watch Sofía for part of the time so that Chelsea could have time off.

We headed back to the condo, and because everyone was home — except for CeCi — I had a chance to announce the agreement Violet and I had reached.

"Violet is going to move in while Deanna and I are in Hawai´i," I said.

"What about Spurgeon?" Bianca asked.

"That cat is out of the bag," Violet said. "Once I went to the Bears game with Jonathan, the girls all assumed we were fucking, and nothing we could say would prevent them from thinking that. Our agreement doesn't change any of the relationships for anyone who lives here. Deanna, just to be clear, that includes your trip to New York for the art show, and the museum trips you're planning."

Deanna smiled, "Thank you."

"One thing does change," I said, "and that's we'll use your rooms, rather than mine."

That would create a minor issue I hadn't considered — Chelsea and Sofía shared a room, but Sofía could sleep in Bianca's room those nights.

"Not to look a gift horse in the mouth," Deanna said, "but is that a permanent agreement?"

"I'm not sure I could say anything is permanent, given what happened with Keiko and then with Bev," I said. "Nobody knows what will happen in the future."

"I'll probably have a baby sometime in 1986," Violet said. "Well, assuming Jonathan remembers how to make one!"

I chuckled, "I'm pretty sure I remember. If not, I'm sure Bianca can remind me!"

Violet smacked my arm

"Brat!" she exclaimed.

"You've adopted Jonathan's mom's word for him?" Bianca asked.

"It's one polite enough to use in public, but also not mean like 'jerk'."

"Who else knows about this?" Bianca asked.

"Nobody. I'll speak to Mandy Peterson and Noel tomorrow. I need to tell him to forget the supermodel for Monaco!"

All the girls laughed.

"Bummer for you!" Nicole declared.

"If Violet is flexible about all of us, maybe she'll grant a hall pass!" Deanna teased.

"She'll do THAT about the same time she invites another girl into bed with us," I chuckled.

"Exactly!" Violet declared. "Though I did give him the freedom to continue his relationship with Marlena Volkmer. Hall passes are not allowed!"

"Which is fine, because, as I said to Violet, I prefer her over any supermodel Noel could procure. That said, if Jan Smithers comes to the door and says she wants to go to bed with me, all bets are off!"

All the girls laughed again.

"Does anything else change?" Bianca asked.

"Violet will rent her house, and I'm going to lease a car for her."

"Lease a car?!" Violet asked. "You didn't mention that!"

"It must have slipped my mind," I replied with a grin. "I planned to call Maja tomorrow. Are you OK with a silver Volvo 240DL 4-door?"

"Obviously!" Violet exclaimed. "You appear to have a Swedish car fetish!"

"Well, given I'm not about to lease a Jaguar or Ferrari, it's either a matching Saab or a Volvo, but given we're talking about having a baby, a Volvo makes more sense. We use Bianca's Ford EXP when we have to take Sofía places because it's easier than trying to move the baby seat to the Saab."

"What about going to Ohio?" Violet asked.

"I think I'll stay here," Bianca said. "That way, we can see Nicole's parents and my family for Christmas. They'll be unhappy about Sofía, but they'll live."

"I didn't commit to being in Ohio," I said. "It's going to be a crazy drive, and I'm reconsidering it, which would allow you to take Sofía to see your family. My mom was just here, so it's not as if she hasn't seen Sofía recently."

"Does your mom know that?" Violet asked.

"When we discussed it, I pointed out how crazy the time would be and that we'd have to drive down on Christmas Eve and drive back on Christmas Day."

"That does seem a bit much," Violet observed. "Especially traveling with Sofía. I suspect she'd be totally cranky by the time we got to Ohio, and even crankier when we came back."

"That would also allow us to all spend some time together on Christmas morning, including CeCi," I observed.

"Before I forget, this week's game is at 1:00pm on Sunday, right?" Bianca asked.

"Yes. Once the playoffs are scheduled, you'll need to let everyone know, because it'll be while I'm in Hawai´i. The other thing I need to let you all know is that Violet and I are going to Greece for ten days in July."

"Eleven days, ten nights," Violet corrected.

"Thank you, Miss Pedantic!" I declared.

"Oh, like YOU have room to talk?!" Violet countered.

"Jonathan?" Nicole said. "What do you think of celebrating on Christmas Eve? That way, we can have more flexibility on Christmas Day."

"I'm OK with that," I replied. "We're going to head up to bed."

Violet and I went upstairs, followed, of course, by Misty.

"That's the closest you're getting to two pussies in this bed!" Violet smirked.

"Steve Martin's skit aside, she doesn't sleep in the bed when I have company. She does occasionally curl up at the foot of the bed when I sleep alone."

"How often does THAT happen?" she asked with a sly smile.