Chapter 12: Women

Christine is pregnant. Invitations are extended and fares paid for her mother and sister to visit. Our relationship is getting serious. I am about to meet the family.

Mom Janice and sister Penelope arrived at the Amtrak station an hour ago. We were waiting for them. Before returning to the boats with our guests, we stop at a close by Chinese buffet. Florida buffets always feature a lot of seafood dishes, not surprising. Sometimes I like to go to a buffet when it’s hot, skip the meal, and head directly for the ice cream freezer. All you can eat ice cream for eight bucks? With toppings? I’ve been known to even convert a glass of coke or rootbeer into an impromptu float. Today, I’m tearing into the dozen different shrimp dishes.

Janice and Penelope seem nice enough while we eat. Once we get back to the car to leave, the “cat” escapes out of the bag. Janice claims seniority and dibs on sitting up front. She bullies Christine into sitting in the back seat. Over my dead body!

“Janice? Apparently, this visit is poorly timed. A mistake. If you insist upon riding in the front seat, it will only be for a five minute trip back to the train station, where we will say goodbye. I’ll give you the money for the fare.”

“Well! That is about the rudest thing I’ve ever heard1”

“Then pay more attention to what comes out of your own mouth. It should shock you. You are the rude one, and I don’t allow uncouth ill-mannered people as guests in my home. Especially, when the mistreat Christine. Don’t bother tearing up, it has no effect on me whatsoever.”

“Christine? Collect your things! You are returning home with me. This man is a monster. You will have nothing further to do with him! Ever.”

If I had been driving, I would have stood on the brake, screeched to a halt, and evicted Janice on the side of the road. As it is, only Penny has gotten in, in the back. Opening the rear hatch, I extract mom’s luggage and set it down in the restaurant’s parking lot.

“Change of plans, Janice. Your mouth just earned you more grief. You can walk to the train station, toting your luggage, and buy your own ticket. I will not lift a finger to help or spend another dime on you. I refuse to tolerate you even a minute longer.”

Getting in behind the wheel, I speak softly to Christine.

“Get in, sweetheart, it’s time to go, we’re leaving.”

“You can’t leave mu mom standing in the parking lot, like this.”

“She deserves it, and I am going to abandon her right here. Goodbye Janice.”

“I ... I’m not going with you without my mom.”

Studying Christine for a longish time, I conclude she is serious.

“Sad you feel like that Christine. Goodbye.”

And I drove off and left the pair of them, forgetting Penelope was still sitting in the back seat. When I glanced in my rear view mirror and saw her, it startled me. Quickly pulling over onto the shoulder, I stopped the SUV, turned around and looked at her. Before I could apologize for being so absent-minded and forgetting about her, Penny asked.

“Why did we stop?”

“Shouldn’t I take you back to your mom and sister?”

“Why? Aren’t I pretty enough for you? If Christine is such a dammed fool to give you up, I’m hoping I can have a chance in her place.”

“Christine is pregnant. She’ll come back.”

“No she won’t, she’s just like mom. She may have cared about you, before but I promise, the minute you drove off and left her, she hated you and now always will.”

“Odd, I never saw her act like your mom?”

“Really? She never acted assertive and bossy and determined to have her own way? Or you didn’t notice?”

Hum, now I think about it. I never actally asked her to live with me, she just assumed that position, and moved aboard.

“And I suppose you are different.”

“Nope, if anything, I’m more aggressive than either of them. I want what Christine just threw away. You. I want to be your girl and enjoy your yacht and the rich comfortable lifestyle you can provide.”