Chapter 9

As I flew to Fairhope from Oxford, I thought about Pris and Karen. The more I was around Pris, the better I liked her. I knew she was a good fit for me, but I hadn't been sure about the romantic chemistry. My emotions were very unsettled. Lust wasn't the problem with Karen; my problems with her were related to how much I trusted her and to how we fit socially. Complicating this was that Karen had changed over the summer; I liked the new Karen.

During the summer, I had visited Karen twice when I met with Senator Sparkman to enlist his help to obtain federal funding for a medical school in Mobile. The meetings with the Senator seemed productive, but they were not nearly as enjoyable as the sex filled nights in Karen's bed following the day's visits with the Senator and his staff.

I had also gone to Barin to talk with Shinkle about the new television station licenses that Harold Star and the team at the Jenkins law office had figured a way for me to obtain within the FCC regulations. The concept involved limited partnerships in Tennessee, Alabama and Louisiana. Most of the new licenses were recently released UHF channels that Harold had pounced on before others had applied. Harold exercised the option for WHBQ in Memphis and added new stations in Tennessee in Jackson, Chattanooga, Knoxville and Johnson City/Tri Cities. With WSM in Nashville, the new stations covered the entire state and much of Northern Alabama. The WSM network of Tennessee stations was maxed at the FCC limit of six stations. WAPI network of Alabama stations picked up authorizations for four new stations in Dothan, Montgomery/Selma, Decatur/Huntsville, and Anniston/Gadsden to go with the Mobile and Birmingham stations that were already owned. The WAPI network was now also maxed at six stations. Harold exercised the option for WWL radio and TV and the other Louisiana stations owned by the Jesuits of New Orleans. With three UHF channels, the WWL Louisiana Network was maxed at six stations with the WWL network and network controlled television and radio stations in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Lafayette/Lake Charles, Alexandria, and Monroe. Shinkle wanted to develop cable operations instead of expensive network affiliated television stations and transmission facilities. I gave him the go ahead to develop a plan. He had some ideas on how to make a cable type operation work in sparsely populated rural areas. Harold's quick work had acquired the licenses, and Shinkle worked on several transmission options. Harold also acquired baseball, football, and basketball sports franchises for New Orleans and Nashville using limited partnership arrangements. Thornton was the general partner for the Louisiana teams. The University of Tennessee football legend, Johnny Majors, agreed to be the general partner for the Tennessee teams. Eunice was the general partner for the WAPI network. Harry Connick agreed to be the general partner for the WWL network. Fritz Neigler was the general partner for the WSM network and Mike Shinkle was the general partner for Cable of the South. All these actions now gave us the dominate programming positions with stations already affiliated with the three major networks, the local professional and college teams, as well as the Grand Ole Opry and its country music network. The projected cost was a little less than two years of San Marino receipts from First National. My revenue from Jenkins' New York operations was more than I could spend, so I wasn't worried. As long as none of the units ran afoul of federal regulatory agencies, I didn't see a problem, so I gave the go ahead.

The Saturday night with Karen, after the big meeting, was almost non-stop sex. While I tried to give the appearance that the TV expansion wasn't a big deal, I was more excited than I let on. There wasn't much romance or love making; it was pure raw sex and Karen was an able partner.

Two weekends later, I flew in late on Saturday for a meeting with Leon, Bill Jensen, and Shinkle. Leon and Bill handled the San Marino funds and needed specific directions on how to transfer the funds. Our off-shore bank in the Caymans would be used to transfer the funds through the required steps to meet all the rules and regulations. We had to worry with football, baseball, and basketball league ownership rules also. I couldn't be the direct owner of competing teams. Only a super sophisticated operation like Jenkins' New York bank and law operations, with advice from some WSM people, could handle the complexity of all the requirements. It was more complicated than I could have handled without sophisticated help.

Though I really liked Pris, I wasn't ready to give up Karen. Karen was more than a lusty good time. I enjoyed working with her as we prepared the three duets we performed to open for Johnny Cash at the Baldwin County Fair. The fairgrounds were in Robertsdale, just outside the Summerdale facility. The fairgrounds were opening a new coliseum and had enlisted some artists with ties to South Alabama for shows to open the coliseum. The big name they had gotten was Bobby Goldsboro, who was from Dothan. They also got Jimmy Buffet, a student from University of Southern Mississippi with family ties to Baldwin County; his sister ran the Weeks Bay bar I really liked. Also part of the entertainment was a popular college band from Baldwin County, Slow Moses. After the fair program was set, Fritz had been able to get Johnny Cash and June Carter to do a benefit performance for the Veterans Medical Facility. Johnny's only requirements were that all the proceeds had to go to the veterans and that Jenkins Bank had to accept him as a trust client. Johnny's television program from Ryman Auditorium in Nashville was white hot and had increased the interest in country music and developed a whole new audience. The local acts were moved from Friday night so Johnny and June could perform the benefit. Fritz told Johnny that Karen and I played, and Johnny asked us to open with three numbers and for Karen to introduce Johnny and June.

Karen and I practiced three Floyd Cramer-Chet Atkins piano and guitar arrangements. During the summer, Karen had moved a baby grand into her condo and resumed piano lessons. She had quit playing after her difficult semester at Juilliard. She now seemed to enjoy playing again. It was only one of the changes I noticed in her since she came to my house before Beau's wedding. The first time I visited her in Daphne, her condo looked like a long-term rental; now it looked like a home. There were personal items prominently displayed. She had pictures of her Phi Mu pledge class at Auburn, her as Miss Alabama runner up, and a framed copy of her first article published in the Mobile Register. She had a picture of us with Beau.

Every facet of Karen seemed much more settled, relaxed and content. After a sweaty session in bed in September, she had told me, "I can't thank you enough for everything you've done for me in Mobile. I love it here. Mrs. Tracy has been generous with her time and help. Thanks to her, since I've been here I've learned more about writing and reporting than I did in college. She's even taken the time to introduce me to the important people I need to know in Mobile and Baldwin County.

I'm active in the Phi Mu alumni group and the Junior League and I'm really enjoying playing the piano again too. The people at the radio and TV stations have been most supportive. I'm enjoying working at all three places, and I love the condo. I feel more at home here than I do in Birmingham. I hope to stay here for a long time."

We cuddled as I replied, "I'm glad it's worked out. You deserve some nice things happening in your life."

The performances at the fair went well. Johnny and June were super. Karen was a lot closer in playing to Floyd Cramer than I was to Chet Atkins, but the crowd seemed to like it, and Johnny was complimentary. The Register had a nice feature on Johnny's benefit performance. The Veterans Medical Facility was mentioned prominently, as was Special Olympics, which was Coach Bryant and Coach Jordan's pet project sponsored by First National.

The Register was a prime pusher for getting the medical school in Mobile. The school would concentrate on developing physicians and nurses for rural practices. A strong tie to the Veterans Clinic was a part of the proposal for funding through the Appalachian Renewal Act.

The Ole Miss – Alabama game was in Tuscaloosa this year. Hub, Lib, Beau, Libby, Thornton, Eunice, Dorothy, Fred, Pris and I all gathered at my Tuscaloosa house and grilled out before the game. Then we went by the DKE house before the game itself. Thornton, Beau and I spanned enough years so that we knew a lot of the alumni. Eunice also got a chance to see many of her friends. The unexpected highlight was seeing former DKE Sweetheart Cathryn, Chuck and their two children. It was a good introduction to DKE at The University for Libby and Pris. From the DKE house it was an easy walk to Denny Stadium. The game was a disappointing loss for Alabama. Hub, Lib, Dorothy and Fred left for home soon after the game.

Thornton, Beau and I were Kappa escorts to an after game reception at the Kappa house where I saw Jeanette and met her Demopolis fiancé, who was in medical school at Birmingham-Southern in Birmingham. Cathryn was at Kappa and talked at length with Libby and Pris. I noticed Cathryn and Pris went out to the sun porch for a private chat. After the reception at Kappa, Thornton and Eunice returned to Mountain Brook. Libby and Pris wanted to go to the party at DKE, so Beau, Libby and Pris stayed over at my house. We ate ribs from Dreamland before we went to the party. Libby and Pris were the same age as many of the brothers and their dates at the party. Pris and Libby remarked about how different the campus nightlife and partying was at a larger school like Alabama. We had a good time; we danced, and Pris and Libby were well treated by the brothers.

Pris slept upstairs in a guest room. I noticed, or thought I noticed, that Pris treated me a bit differently after the incident at her father's award dinner. She put her hand on me most of the flight back to Oxford. She was very quiet in the plane. Not long before we landed, she said, "Sweetheart Cathryn said you were her favorite. She told me about your part in their wedding and about you taking Jeanette and her to the pledge formal."

"Cathryn's a very special lady. I'm glad her and her husband are doing well."

I helped Pris load her things into her car. We hugged and kissed. She said, "Call me."

Pris fit like a glove with all my friends. She and I have the same age differential as Beau and Libby. I like her, but don't want to rush or be rushed.

Lib called and thanked me for the nice time. She asked, "Have you thought of asking Pris to join us for Thanksgiving at the bayhouse or here?"

I answered, "I really like Pris, but I think asking her to a family gathering at the bayhouse is pressing it. I'm sure her parents would like for her to come home for Thanksgiving."

Lib said, "Hub and I had a great time. We'll see you soon."

Clearly, Lib feels differently about Pris than she does about Karen.

I called Pris. "Hi, I just called to say hello."

She said, "I'm glad you called. I just got off the phone with my parents. You made quite an impression on Mom; she asks about you often."

I said, "I hope you don't feel pushed by Lib and Libby. They mean well. I like you, but I don't want to rush things."

Pris said, "I like you, too. I look forward to seeing you again."

I said, "I would like for you to come down for date night at the fraternity. We dress and introduce special dates to the house. It's well done. We have one most Thursdays. It's about an hour in the air from here to Oxford. We start at six and finish around seven-thirty. So I think we would need to plan on you getting out of class by four and getting back around ten. Maybe you could stay over for the weekend?"

Pris answered, "I would love to come, but getting out for all night on a Thursday would be a little tricky. I don't have to be in until eleven for a Greek event, so we could do it. How about a week from Thursday? I can be at the airport at four-thirty and leave my car there."

I said, "I look forward to seeing you on Thursday next week."

I called Tiffer, the DKE chapter president, and made sure it was all right. He penciled her name in as a guest.

The Thursday of date night, I flew into University-Oxford Airport, which was near the campus. I smiled when I saw Pris wore a black dress, pearls, and black low heels. Her hair was casually done. She carried a dress bag.

I hugged her and said, "You are beautiful."

"Thanks, you're sweet. You look handsome."

I had on a blue cashmere blazer, blue oxford cloth shirt, a striped tie, and polished cordovan leather slip-ons.

I helped her into the plane. She said, "I brought an extra dress in case this one gets too wrinkled. Your plane is more comfortable than my car, but I wanted to make sure."

As I helped her into the co-pilot's seat, I asked, "Did you ever think of getting a pilot's license?"

She said, "I think it would be fun, a little different than riding, which has been my main hobby. It's relaxing to be in the air."

"Since Ole Miss has Air Force ROTC, there are probably pilot lessons available through the school. Most Lauderdale and First National corporate pilots are instructor qualified. If you're interested, I'm sure we could work something out for you to take lessons."

She smiled, "I'm interested."

I asked, "Tell me about your classes."

"I'm a studio art major and English minor. Libby said you studied writing."

I said, "Beau is a gifted writer. He was offered a faculty position at Ole Miss. He recommended a couple of classes and a professor my first year at Alabama. I'm not the writer he is. Tell me about studio art."

Pris said, "It's a lot of time working in the studio, but I like it. I like painting the best, but I'm enjoying the sculpture class I'm taking this semester. I have a lot of horse paintings and landscapes. Sometime I'd like to see the statue of General Lee on Traveler in the battlefield park at Gettysburg. It's supposed to be one of the best sculptures of a horse. How's law school?"

I replied, "I'm ready for it to be over. I'm glad I came here. I prefer the South. Tell me about Le Cordon Bleu and Paris."

Pris said, "It was a lot different than Jackson and Madison County. I love Ole Miss, it's a liberal arts school with SEC sports, and I've enjoyed the social life. Kappa has been a good experience. I would have never gone to France except for Libby. Just the art alone there would have made it unbelievable. I took cooking classes mostly because of Libby. For her, I think it was a way to connect with Lib. Beau's a good cook, too. Libby's very competitive; she didn't want to be less of a cook than Beau."

I asked, "So you are a chef now?"

"Goodness no, I'm more of a gourmet cook. I learned a lot about sauces, but I'm not close to being a chef."

I said, "I'm afraid my tastes run more like Hub's than Beau's. Hub's greenhouse is something."

She replied, "It is impressive. My grandmother always had a garden. I don't like things cooked as long as she did, but I learned to cook and garden from her. She grew up in the little town of McKenzie and went to Bethel College, a Cumberland Presbyterian Church college. Dad's from Jackson, went to Lambuth College, where he met Mom, and UT Medical School in Memphis. He was a resident in St. Louis. They both wanted to return to Jackson."

I said, "It sounds like you like Jackson."

"I do, but I wanted to go away to school. Ole Miss was perfect for me."

I was proud to present 'Pricilla McIver, an Ole Miss Kappa Kappa Gamma from Jackson, Tennessee, to the house at date night. Tiffer made her feel very welcome.

We flew back to Oxford after the dinner. She said, "Very impressive. The son of Dad's partner went to W&L in Lexington, Virginia. I think KA there does something similar. I can see why you and Beau liked DKE. I'm sure all the coeds love it."

As we neared Oxford, she asked, "Would you be my escort to the Fall Formal at Kappa? It's the pledge formal in early December."

I said, "I'd be honored."

We hugged, kissed, and I walked her to her car.

"Thank you for a wonderful night. I felt like a princess."

Lib had warned me, and she was right about Karen. I felt an increasing emotional attachment with her. Lib was also right about Pris; we fit perfectly. Karen was a classic beauty and sex with her was fantastic. Although very different from Karen's, Pris had a look I loved also. She was more muscular, more athletic and more active physically than Karen. I liked the way Pris looked and from her mother's appearance, I knew she would age well. I thought sex with Pris would be good, but I had no way of knowing. Her mother and father appeared to have a good relationship. Mostly, I felt happy when I was around Pris. I enjoyed taking her back to Oxford and looked forward to taking her to the Fall Formal at Kappa in Oxford. I didn't want to hurt either Pris or Karen.

Unfortunately New York wasn't going well, both the law firm and bank showed significant declines in revenue. During October, First National contributed more to my income than the law firm and bank in New York. My New York real estate income was also more than from the law firm and Jenkins Bank. On the positive side, the associates Becky had recruited were doing well. Bill Henley had the group of paralegals he had recruited well trained on the automation software. We had a talented group of Long Island women who were being readied to step in to the law firm and bank, as people retired. I was very glad we had started training Becky's attorneys and Henley's paralegals early, as both had recommended.

The last part of every week, starting the later part of October up until Thanksgiving, I flew to New York. Thursday and Friday was spent on marketing and coaching the law firm and bank staffs how to maintain billings without compromising quality or integrity. The law firm trustees were very supportive of my efforts and the vision I had for its future direction. I talked with Pris often, but didn't see her again until the Fall Formal, after Thanksgiving.

I flew to Oxford on Friday for the formal. I stayed at the house Beau and Libby kept in Oxford. Friday night, Pris and I went to dinner and to a fraternity dance. We walked around Oxford Saturday, and we went with Pris' pledge class to dinner before the formal. It was a nice group. I was a bit older than the other dates, but everyone got along well. It was the A group at Ole Miss. Pris and I enjoyed the dance. Pris looked very pretty and her athleticism showed on the dance floor. We danced until we were exhausted. Both of us got hot and sweaty. I loved the way Pris looked when she was hot and sweaty.

Pris and I went back to Beau's house after the dance. We cuddled and kissed on the couch in front of the fireplace. I was surprised when Pris told me no one had ever before touched her naked breasts. She was concerned I wouldn't be interested in someone so inexperienced. I enjoyed kissing her, and I loved how kissing her breasts excited her. Both of us got very excited, but as much as I wanted to be intimate with her, I didn't feel right pressing her. I thought she was glad I didn't press. To her, this was very special, and I felt special with how far she went and that she wanted it to be me.

Early Sunday morning, I took her back to the sorority, and she used her after-hours honors key to enter the house. Sunday at ten, we hosted a champagne buffet brunch at Beau's house. Most of her pledge class came as did quite a few sisters who had been at Libby's wedding. Cooks made omelets and fixed eggs to order. There was bacon, sausage, country ham, freshly made biscuits, several types of pastries, fresh fruit, freshly squeezed orange juice, champagne, and plenty of strong coffee. The buffet was very well received.

Pris thanked me. "I really enjoyed the weekend. I'm not comfortable with Beau and Libby's wealth, so this is really mind bending, but the way you are makes me more comfortable."

"I'm glad you enjoyed it. I had a great time with you and your sisters this weekend."