By Haas J. Berkeley School of Business
They spoke very little on
the way to back to his Russian Hill home.
He pulled into the garage and helped her into the house.
“David, I think I want to be
alone for just a bit. I’m having a hard
time taking it all in,” she said.
“Of course,” he said walking
her to the guest room, “Take your time, Nadia, I’ll be right here if you need
anything.”
David went into his office
and slouched in his chair, “Poor baby,” he thought to himself. He noticed the stack of papers in the fax
machine and sorted out the faxes pertaining to Nadia. She had requested his
presence at the attorney’s office so he went ahead and flipped through the
paperwork. Shaking his head he put the stack of papers into an accordion file
and labeled it with her name pulling the elastic cord around to close it.
“What a tangled web we
weave,” he thought to himself. She’d
been alone for almost an hour now and he decided it was time to check on
her. He went into the kitchen and brewed
fresh coffee and got a big solid mug out. He poured some brandy into a small
carafe in case she wanted it to settle her shakes and headed with the tray to
her guestroom.
He rapped softly on the door
and heard her voice murmur from inside the room so he opened the door and set
the tray on the bedside table.
She was still seated on the
edge of the bed in her coat with her purse clutched in her arms. “Here sweetie, let me put that down for you,”
he took the purse and coaxed her out of the coat.
“Do I smell coffee?” she
asked.
“Hands still shaky?” he
asked.
She held them out, “Looks
like,” she said.
“A little brandy in the
coffee?” he asked and when she nodded yes he poured brandy into the mug with
the coffee.
He held it out to her and
made sure she had it in both hands before he let go.
He sat quietly next to her
while she sipped the hot liquid and smelled the familiar coffee scent while the
brandy calmed her a little.
“More coffee?” he asked.
“Thanks, no brandy this
time, please,” Nadia said.
“He poured more coffee and
gave her the mug,” noticing that her hands were much steadier this time.
“All of your paperwork is
here in this file,” David said, “I’ll put it on the desk over there,” he
crossed to the desk and put the large file on the desk for her to look over
when she could.
“Thanks for getting me out
of that office,” she said.
He smiled gently and said,
“It was quite a blow, Nadia, too much to absorb in a public meeting,” he said.
“I don’t suppose I’ll ever
understand,” she said.
“It doesn’t make sense,”
David said.
“You were never unfaithful
to, Sadie?” Nadia asked.
“Whenever I saw an
attractive woman I’d always think, how badly it would hurt Sadie,” he paused,
“When I considered the damage to our relationship compared to the fleeting
pleasure of a casual affair,” he shrugged, “It just didn’t seem worth it.”
“You’re a strong man,” Nadia
said.
He grinned, “Not really,
from the first moment I saw that little sprinkle of freckles across Sadie’s
nose I was in love.”
“Apparently, Anders didn’t
feel the same about me, the bastard,” she said.
“Do you think his parents
are aware of the woman?” David asked.
“What makes you ask that?”
Nadia questioned.
“Can you take any more bad
news?” David asked.
She turned toward him on the
bed and put her hands in his, “Is it something I have to know?” she asked.
“It’s not just gossipy stuff
about the affair,” David responded, “it’s something you will have to think
about.”
She took a deep breath and
said, “All right, let’s get it all over with today,” she said.
He watched her face closely, “Apparently the
woman was hurt in the crash,” he said, “She’s been confined to a wheelchair
since she was released from the hospital.”
“Oh my God,” she cried out.
David took her into his arms
and cuddled her up against his chest, murmuring calming sounds to her.
“We don’t know how badly she
was hurt, Nadia, or even if it’s treatable.
I think that’s probably what Anders was trying to find out when he set
her up in an apartment near the hospital.
He bought a fancy wheelchair and hired someone to cook and clean for
her.”
She looked up at David, “He
created a mess and was trying to handle it but if his insurance was cancelled
he might have gone to his mother for financial help,” Nadia said.
“And you mother-in-law might
have decided to make you the scapegoat for the whole thing. Better out of your pocket than hers,” David
said.
“Damn, we’ll have to go back
and talk to the attorney’s won’t we?” she asked.
“In a few days, after you’ve
had time to read all the paperwork and digest it,” David said.
“What would you like to do,
Nadia?” he asked.
“What do you mean, right
now?” she asked confused by his question.
“I thought with it as
serious as the situation’s gotten you might want to fly back home and get a
team of lawyers,” David said.
“Not if I can help it David,
but I do know an attorney I might call later, during their business hours,” she
said.
“Yes, a man on the scene who
knows the judges and the local situation is invaluable,” David said.
Her eyes were closed, “David
with all the manipulation going on things had gotten quite nasty at home. That’s why I left; I just didn’t want any
part of it. She’s even tried to turn the kids against me.” Nadia explained.
He pulled her closer and said,
“If you have to go back, I’ll go with you,” David said.
“I hate ugliness,” Nadia
said, crying.
When she had calmed down a
bit, David said, “I know some people who can get the whole story for us,
Nadia.”
“Every grimy little detail?”
she asked.
“Nadia, we need the truth,
than you can make intelligent decisions.
Whether it’s grimy or not,” he said.
“Of course, please contact
your people,” she said.
Warren poked his nose in the
door, “Hey, is this a slumber party?” he asked.
Nadia grinned and patted a
place on her bed.
“Come help us think,” she
said.
David got up, “Nadia, you
can fill Warren in. I need to make a
phone call,” he said.
Warren frowned, “What’s up,”
he asked, “if it’s any of my business.”
Nadia managed to fill Warren
in while remaining calm.
David came back and said he
had ordered dinner in, “Come as you are when invited,” he said.
“What do you want to do
Nadia?” Warren asked.
“I want to go live in
Berkeley and paint and garden,” she said.
David grinned, “And you will
probably get your wish, no matter how dark the clouds seem right now,” he said.
“If I knew that, for sure, I
could weather this storm,” she said.
Simply enough,” Warren said,
“That’s the plan, no deviation.”
“Deal?” he asked.
Hand was placed on hand
until they were six deep, so it was decided and affirmed. David and Nadia
exchanged looks that sealed the moment.
A glance both of them would remember many times in the future when
things got tough.
The three had a leisurely
dinner in front of the fireplace.
The remarkable little deli
that David called had sent them a terrific dinner. Miniature beef wellington, stuffed, scallop
squash covered in a light sauce with an arugula, beet and cheese salad to die
for. Warm peach cobbler for dessert capped the evening.
After dinner Warren
announced he would have to leave the next day for Los Angeles. “I have
interviews set up for additional personnel and I need to be there to supervise
the work on this new project,” he said.
Nadia frowned, “Please keep
in close touch, Warren. We’re both going to need you now.” Nadia said.
Warren kissed her cheek, “I
will and you keep watch on papa,” Warren said.
“Papa, I’ll call a car to take me to the airport,” Warren said.
“Oh no,” both David and
Nadia chorused. “We’ll take you and have
breakfast at the airport,” they said.
Nadia was falling asleep
from her emotional day and David and Warren told her to get some sleep and then
they loaded the dishwasher and went to the roof for a last smoke together.
The next morning the three
had a hilarious breakfast with the new Hollywood mogul and put him aboard the
commuter flight for Los Angeles.
“I’ll miss that kid,” David
said in the biggest understatement of the year.
“Me too,” she said, “now on
to furniture and household goods,” she said.
He drove to the east bay
because of delivery services and found a California King that would fit in the
bedroom and could be delivered that afternoon.
They found living room furniture that pleased Nadia because it was cute,
comfortable, and easy to keep clean.
They stopped at a Costco and
a culinary store and found what she would need for her kitchen including small
appliances.
That afternoon he tried
assembling the bed but they were short parts so he made a list of what he
needed and put the mattress in the living room for the moment. They made the bed together and decided to go
out to the Thai place for dinner.
They walked and when they
got back they sat on the front patio for a while and talked.
David said, “I’m glad Warren
gave us an extra night to think about all of this,” he said.
She put her arms around him
and cuddled up close. “Did you sleep?”
she asked.
He smiled down at her, “No,
did you?” he asked.
“Not much,” she said, “But I
was happy, for a change,” she added.
“Let’s go in, David.”
They climbed the stairs and
when they reached the door he handed her the keys and lifted her easily in his
arms to cross the threshold. He laid her
on the mattress shrouded in moonlight and slowly removed her clothing enjoying
the intimacy and closeness of the act until he rose to his knees to remove his
shirt.
She rose with him, her hands
feeling his arms and shoulders and then she ran her hands through the hair on
his chest. He moaned as she began unbuttoning his jeans and sliding them down
his hips so he would be open to her.
David lifted her and placed her back on the bed.
He looked down at her naked body in the
wash of moonlight streaming through the window. The breath was crushed from his chest and
his loins hardened as his hand touched her in an intimate caress among the
moonbeams.
He
joined her on the bed caressing her as he moved closer and finally felt the
full length of her body against him. His
lips tasted her and his hands moved over her like a soft breeze playing across
the strings of a perfectly tuned instrument. She began to move in response to
his caresses and her soft, warm hands wandered over his chest and lean, hard
body.
He
leaned down and his kisses trailed across her breast causing a soft moan to
escape her lips then his tongue slowly explored the swell of her softly rounded
belly taking his time before moving lower exploring her inner thighs.
She began moving her hips and gasped as he neared
the center of her warm, wet mound. He
moved down in the bed and his tongue entered her and roused her to a moaning
climax. She opened herself, wanting the intimacy of his body inside of her.
David moved over her and entered her slowly and deeply prolonging the moment
for both of them.
She began to move but he murmured, “Mummm, we have
all night, sweetness.” He pulled her
close and she yielded, enjoying the length of him inside of her. Soon he began to move slowly and easily again
and she throbbed in response causing him to harden even more and when neither
of them could resist any longer they began to move together their eyes touching
as their bodies reached a long, shuddering climax.
Still,
he didn’t leave her but pulled her close and murmured to her as they enjoyed
wave after wave of pleasure. They
finally drifted into sleep as the moon moved across the night sky. He held her close until they woke and made
love again.
Morning
came and they woke to sunshine.
“Good
morning songbird,” David greeted her sleepy, morning face.”
“God,
David, what have we done?” she asked.
“It’s
all right baby girl,” he said softly.
“But….,”
she stopped, wanting to believe him.
He
cuddled her, “We’re both widowed and we’ve both been grieving and lonely for a
long time.”
“Sadie,
I keep seeing Sadie,” she told him.
“She’s
gone, sweetness, and so is Anders.”
He
smiled; hoping guilt wouldn’t spoil what could be joy.
She
was still for a moment, taking it in.
He
looked down at her with tenderness, “Nadia, we have thirty or more years of
life left to us.”
She
listened to him quietly.
“Do
you want each of us to spend the rest of our lives alone and unhappy?” he
asked.
She
was still, listened quietly, eyes wide.
“We’ll talk it all out for as long as it
takes, Nadia, we’ll see a therapist if it’s necessary, either separately or
together.”
He
kissed her softly on the mouth.
“We’ll
work it out, Songbird,” he told her softly and firmly as he got up to shower.
She
heard the shower and tears began to course down her face. As she lay there she
began to hear singing from the shower and as she listened the tears turned into
giggles.
“I’m
as corny as Kansas in August, I’m as normal as blueberry pie....” she listened
as David continued to belt out songs from South Pacific. She laughed and decided, to at least enjoy
today. They would talk and talk and
talk, but later.
She
finished her shower and was trying to do something with her damn hair when she
smelled coffee.
David
came in carrying a mug of coffee and a flower from the patio.
She
took the flower and smiled at him, deciding to be happy with the moment.
“You
should order a morning paper, Nadia,” he grumbled.
He
picked up her brush and pulled a stool over and began brushing her hair.
“I
need a good haircut,” she said.
“I’m
sure there are salons in Berkeley,” he teased, “Remember, even you’ve heard of
Berkeley.”
“If
this didn’t feel so good, I’d swat you,” she laughed, remembering.
He
put the brush down and began braiding her hair in one long braid down her back.
She
fished around in her make up case and found a clasp for the end of the braid
and handed it to him.
There
he said, enjoying his handiwork. Just
enough hair escaped around her face for it to be very attractive.
She
was already dressed in snug, calf length denim pants and canvass shoes.
“What’s
the weather,” she asked as she went through her new tops.
Maybe
a light jacket he advised.
She
chose a navy and white striped sailor’s top and a short Levi blazer, adding
hoop ear rings and lipstick.
“Anders
always wanted me in full make up and dress from morning until night,” she told
David.
“Stage make up or evening makeup?” he asked.
“Yes,”
she said.
“I
love your face Nadia; you need very little makeup and please don’t ever get a
face lift.”
“What
is it that annoys you so much about face lifts?” she asked, smiling.
“Remember,
I told you I spent some time at my place in the village?” he paused and she
nodded.
“It
was almost embarrassing because I couldn’t remember names. I think that they
all had the same plastic surgeon and model number because they all looked kind
of stretched and wide eyed,” he said, shaking his head.
“I
don’t mean to be flip,” David added, “I just think God does a much better job
than man’s corrections on his work.”
“You’ll
do,” she said, taking his arm affectionately as they left the apartment looking
for a breakfast cafe.
They
walked toward Shattuck Avenue holding hands and planning the day. They found a
place called Minnie’s with a big blackboard menu that looked promising so they
went in and found a table.
“May
I take your order, Sir?” a young girl who was probably a student at UC Berkeley
smiled at both of them.
“One
coffee, one tea and water while we decide, please,” he said giving her a big
grin.
Nadia
giggled, “Did you see the chef changing the menu? He looks like Bluto from
Popeye.”
“Look,
David, they have crepes,” Nadia was looking at the huge blackboard.
“I
had my mind set on an omelet and now I’m not so sure,” he said as he perused
the menu.
“Do
you think Bluto has the right touch for crepes?” she asked.
He
laughed with her, “It should be called Olive Oil’s and not Minnie’s,” he said.
They
continued discussing the menu until the waitress came with their coffee and
water, “Have you decided?” she asked.
Nadia
nodded yes to David and he ordered the baked crab and asparagus crepes with
fresh strawberries and yogurt for both of them.
The
breakfast was delicious and they complimented Bluto, who turned out to be
Jeffery and then dallied over coffee until they had to hurry back to the studio
for deliveries, deciding Minnie’s would get another visit very soon.
©
August 2013 Karen MacEanruig
