Chapter Sixty-Six - Marlee
“Marleeeeeeee, what ever are we going to do?” The second syllable of my name, coming from Luna's mouth, covered about three octaves on the chromatic scale.
“Well, for one thing, honey, maybe you shouldn't be drinking so early in the day?”
“The doctor said I should take an occasional red wine. Good for the blood. Or something.”
“Luna, dear, there's no red wine in a bourbon bottle.”
“When did you get to be so picky? A drink or two on my OWN porch is better than hanging around some drag bar in Manassas!” She gazed out over the ruins of her home from what was left of a nice old veranda. “Besides, the wine cellar is still full of water. Wouldn't you think being on this little HILL I'd have better drainage? Anyway, it's just making me feel so OLD, having to start again, practically from scratch.” Luna took a deep breath and gazed at the western hills. “I swear, as GOD is my witness ...”
“Forget the Scarlet O'Hara act, Luna. What YOU need is a good contractor and a tasteful decorator. Just turn all your problems and your checkbook over to them. Go on a trip and come back to a perfect new house, just like the old one.”
“You know Letty Randolph said almost the same thing. She said the Costa del Sol in Spain was MUU-WEE simpatico and much cheaper than the Riviera since all those creepy RUSSIANS drove prices up. There's quite an American ex-pat colony in Spain. And quite a number of single gentlemen who know how to tie a tie and dance with a lady … if you get my meaning.”
At this point a young man in mud-covered waders came up from the basement at the far end of the house. He waved genially and walked toward the barn. Luna waved back at him and sipped her drink.
“That's Layton, Frank Pierce's new assistant. He's plumbing the depths, as it were, seeing if the basement is salvable or if I have to have it dug out.” She paused and sipped. “Watch this,” she ordered. Layton removed the waders and began spraying them with a hose.
“So?” I queried.
“It gets better. He thinks no one can see him.” Layton began removing his clothes.
“Why would he think that? We're sitting right here and he's a straight shot over there … Oh my … Quite the boy, isn't he.”
“He thinks that because THAT'S what I told him. Such a trusting lad ...” She sighed as we watched the nicely muscled young man shower under the hose. “Imagine those arms around you … WHICH reminds me … Renee LaGerbille says Victoria has a NEW beau and this one is as gay as all the others. Of course at Renee's age, gay would be the least of HER problems.”
“Who is he? Do we know him?”
“Sort of … he's the assistant manager of a drug store in Warrenton. He delivered some medicine to me once. Very aloof around the ladies. Renee, who I must say is being very forthcoming lately, said they met by loving the same man. Of course, it won't last; it's just some kind of sympathy thing. And on the side he works for MIKE PIERCE!”
“Yes … Mike ...” We shared a smile. “I hope that Virginia Beach gal he's running around with is resilient.”
“Oh, sweetie, she's more pneumatic than a basketball. My friend Martha, in Richmond, said she's left a trail of broken bodies LINING the road all the way to Norfolk.”
“Serves him right. What's sauce for the gander and all...”
“He does look nice in a tuxedo though. Did you see that picture of them in Williamsburg? They were with Butch Kroll, the Delaware BILLIONAIRE – who I believe used to live around here somewhere - and some DuPont gal. You know WE were JUST as handsome when you and Fairfax and Smith and I used to … Well, that's a lot of years ago, isn't it? How ARE you and Fairfax these days?”
“Oh, we're fine … Doing ok … He's a little annoyed because Tommy Lynn has some CHILD from James Madison University, Geordie Something, practically LIVING with him. Tommy Lynn has NEVER been so BLATANT about his little affairs before. I'm all but expecting a WEDDING INVITATION from him. And it DOES bother Fairfax … So I've got something to cheer him up if I need to.”
“Honey, at your age, what magic have you got to cheer him up?”
“Well! THAT cuts right to the QUICK, Luna!”
“Be serious. I'm not saying anything you haven't thought yourself. And you KNOW I say it with LOVE.”
“Well, if you must know, I can PROVE that Emma is his child … OH MY GOD! Luna, that boy KNOWS we're watching him!”
“I don't think so. He gets an erection every time he takes a shower.”
“Why is he SMILING then?”
“I'd say he likes getting erections. Most of them DO.” She heaved another huge sigh. “I remember when I could turn Smith into a telephone pole just by giving him a special look.”
“Luna, he's WAVING to us!”
“No, he's just brushing away a bug or two. So why not tell Fair about Emma now?”
“I'm saving it for a special occasion. When he's real down and needs a cheery bit of something.”
“Like right after you tell him you're divorcing him?”
“Luna, I'd never DO that!”
“If you did, we could get a really nice castle in Spain. You could have your wing and your boys … I could have mine … and we could split the cost of the staff!”
“ME? Get divorced? Luna-tic, you ARE a caution … and a treasure!”
Now NOTHING of the kind is ever going to happen. Luna will rebuild her house. I will enjoy my new granddaughter - whose middle name is Marlee by the way – and hope that somebody does right by poor, no-prospects Emma. I'm already planning to introduce a lawyer friend of Fairfax's to Luna. He's old and probably impotent, but fun and likes to drink. Better than nothing. Nobody's getting any younger, to state a cruel and much too obvious truth.
We refilled our glasses and watched Layton finish dressing. He looked quite handsome in clean clothes. He walk to his truck and opened the door. Right before he got in, he turned and waved to us.
“Luna, I TOLD you he KNEW we were watching!”
“That boy may have more potential than I thought.” She sipped her drink and waved back to him.