I went straight to the office from the airport. My flight from New York put me back in Chicago just before noon.
I had spent the weekend with my favorite hobby: listening to the rock bands of Poughkeepsie at various venues. Miss Davis had me out of Chicago within the hour, after I left my wife and her sister on Friday night. It was a very nice turnaround time considering the short notice I had given her.
Some people say that the pop punk sound of southern California is the best thing since sliced bread, and they have the record sale numbers to prove it. I say those people don’t know shit. In my opinion the greatest bands of our generation have come from Poughkeepsie and I had a very relaxing time. It wasn’t quite the same as my college days and I felt a little out of place being so much closer to 40 and not as close to 20. But I was there to listen to the music, not party. So the weekend had served its purpose.
When I arrived at the office, Maggie was waiting at my conference table. Miss Davis had already ordered our lunch.
Maggie was as beautiful as ever. I was glad she was my friend. I was even happier that she was my lawyer. I had changed my dream long ago, but Maggie hadn’t. And she was the best of the best: detailed, dedicated and ruthless. Her firm handled all of our contracts, she handled my affairs personally.
“I don’t want to be a weekend dad, Maggie. At a minimum I want shared custody of the kids.”
“Right to the point, eh David?”
“Well, Mags you’ve had almost 72 hours so I am sure you know more than me. Why don’t you tell me?”
She looked at me for long time before she spoke.
“It has been a very short term affair, David.”
“Short enough to satisfy you, Maggie?”
There must have been something very interesting on the table that Maggie needed to study. Finally she whispered.
“No, David.”
“I know she is your friend, Maggie. I am sorry.”
“Jesus, David. Why in the hell would you be worried about my feelings?!”
“Because, I love you, Mags. Always have. Always will.”
“She is such an idiot. She’ll get nothing, David. What a stupid bitch. God, listen to me on my soap box. I’m sorry. ”
“Maggie?”
“Yes, David?”
“Who?”
***
It was the third year of our marriage before we had our first big non-argument. Susan wanted to talk about something. As usual, she was calm and collected. Sitting across the table from me, sipping a glass of wine she began, “You know I will never be confused for a super model, right David?”
“Only to those who aren’t looking at you through my eyes, Suze. I have no doubt you are a super model.”
She blushed as she smiled. My God, she was beautiful.
“What I mean, David, is that I will never be able to compete with the models and actresses that are around you every day. And to be honest, I wouldn’t even want to try.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I knew where this was coming from. As my company’s reputation began to take shape, I decided to make sure that we took a very active role in supporting any worthy charitable organization in the community. And I don’t just mean sponsorships and checks. I mean active participation, most importantly volunteering time. I encouraged our employees to participate the best way I knew how. I demanded more of myself than anyone. Susan and I spent nearly all our free time volunteering for literacy groups, children’s advocates, performing arts organizations and at nearly every community event.
Our volunteer efforts kept our company front and center in the community and allowed me to make contacts from all over Chicago and beyond. Our employees felt more connected to our community and our customers benefited from improved understanding of what they needed to be successful in our region. Most importantly to me, I got to do my favorite thing. Spend time with my Susan. I got to share her with the world and let everyone see how lucky I really was. Every weekend was another opportunity for Susan and me to have an adventure, without ever leaving her newly adopted home town.
It did have its drawbacks. The more we were in the public eye, the more I got hit on. Even with Susan right by my side, which she almost always was. Most were the subtle innuendos that I had been rejecting for most of my adult life. But more recently, many attempts would best be described as blatant propositions. One weekend for example when the hired spokes model, who had just come off the stage after presenting a deserving family with a check symbolizing free groceries for a year, turned to address me. She handed me her business card and said, “I think we would have incredible sex. Call me if you’d like to find out. Your wife can even watch if you want.” Then she spun on her heels and left, exaggerating the sway of her hips as she departed.
I turned to Susan and laughed as I threw the business card in the trash. “What do think she meant, Suze?”
Susan smiled, but her giggle reflected the absolute shock that both she and I were feeling.
“Oh, I think you know, dear.”
“Well, I am only a man, Suze. So forgive me if sometimes I have to ask for help when these things need clarification.” I put my arm around her shoulder and held her to me as we made our way to the parking lot. I held her hand our entire car ride home.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
“There is no competition, darling. And there never will be. Everything I am is yours. Forever.”
“David, I don’t mean to whine. But you have to know what a hunk you are. I mean, Jesus, Dave. You are a damn babe magnet. And well, shit, I am me. Don’t you ever feel like you settled?”
“No, honey. That thought has never crossed my mind.”
“David, I know I am being a bitch here. But make me understand. Make me believe you. Please.”
“With pleasure, sweetheart. Suze, I looked for you for years. From the minute I left home after high school until the day I met you, I was on a mission. Find the person who made me as happy as my mom made my dad. It was one of the final things he and I seriously spoke about, just after he was about to ask me if I was gay.”
I had to chuckle at that memory.