Always and Forever (33 page)

“And my father did serve with the International Brigade.” Frank was grim. “That makes us guilty by association. That’s all that’s needed today. But this can’t last. The country has to regain its sanity. Until it does, we’ll survive.”

The three adults masked their distress lest it be transmitted to Jesse. Not until they’d had dinner and Jesse had been put to bed on the convertible sofa in Frank’s temporary office did they sit down to discuss their situation.

“I’ll go in to the school Monday morning and ask for immediate maternity leave. They’ll be pissed,” Rhoda conceded, “but it’ll go on my record as maternity leave and not dismissal.”

“I’ll sit it out until the magazine dumps me. If they’re going to lose advertisers, you damn well know I’ll be fired. But until that happens I’ll stay put. Thank God, we’ve been saving for that house in the country. That’ll see us through. Hopefully.” He sighed, his face etched with frustration. “How did the country get into a shape like this?”

“Kathy, must you leave tomorrow?” Rhoda asked.

“By now Phil has probably already called my folks. He knows we’re not there. He doesn’t know where we are. He’s going to be wild. Not because he’s remorseful or pained at the thought of losing his wife. Because I dared to walk out on him,” she jeered. “But what frightens me most, Julius is going to goad him on to try to take Jesse away from me.
I know this.
”

“And you mean just to disappear.” Frank’s smile blended comprehension with compassion.

“If I’m to keep Jesse, I have to.”
Had
Phil phoned Mom and Dad? They’d be so worried. “Rhoda, please call my parents. Tell them Jesse and I are fine, but that I’ve left Phil. Say I phoned you from the airport. I’ll write when I’m relocated. Tell her it’s important that nobody knows where I am. She’ll understand.”

Rhoda phoned the Ross apartment. Kathy hovered over her as Rhoda talked with her mother, explaining gently that Kathy had taken Jesse and left Phil. Phil had called two hours ago, she gathered from Rhoda’s response, and her mother had been mystified.

“Rhoda, why didn’t she call
me?”
Kathy heard her mother’s bewildered voice.

“She tried,” Rhoda lied, “but your phone was busy. She had to board a plane in a few minutes, so she tried me next. As soon as she can, she’ll call you. It’s important that Phil doesn’t know where she is,” Rhoda emphasized. “Kathy’s scared of an ugly custody battle. But she’s all right, Mrs. Ross.”

Rhoda talked with Kathy’s father for a few moments, trying to reassure him. Finally she put down the phone.

“They’re upset.” Kathy’s eyes searched Rhoda’s.

“Not that you’re leaving Phil.” Rhoda astonished her with this admission. “Honey, we knew this was not an ideal marriage. Your parents are sensitive people—they could see that.”

“I didn’t call them because I was afraid I’d say too much,” Kathy said. “And that Mom might be upset and repeat it to Phil. I can’t leave until Monday because I have to go to the bank and close my private savings account.” Rhoda knew about that account. “I didn’t want it near the apartment. I went to a West Side bank. It’s three blocks away.”

“Phil won’t come here, will he?” Frank was apprehensive.

“We just won’t answer the doorbell,” Rhoda shot back.

“He won’t come. He wouldn’t dare.” Kathy smiled bitterly. “How can he? He’d be afraid you’d break his neck if he showed up here. He’ll know I got the message to you.”

“What about your diamond and sapphire necklace?” Rhoda was always practical.

“It’s at the apartment. I don’t dare go over there.”

“Shall I go over and get it?” Rhoda asked. “I could tell the doorman you’d called me from Greenwich to bring something from the apartment.”

“Forget the necklace.” Kathy was brusque from anxiety. “I don’t want to gamble on Phil’s having been in touch with the building. I don’t want him to know I’m here in New York, even for the weekend.” She hesitated. “I’ll have to write Alice and tell her I’ve left Phil. I’ll tell her to get in touch with Irene Hale. Irene would love to have Alice for her kids. And I’ll send her a check for three weeks’ severance pay,” she decided with sardonic amusement. “I have enough in the checking account to cover that.” Phil would be livid when the bank statements came in and he found out.

Later, she promised herself, she would write Bella and tell her why she had left Phil. She’d send the letter to Rhoda and ask her to mail it from New York. Bella would understand.

Sunday afternoon Kathy phoned Marge in San Francisco and reported her situation.

“Kathy, that’s the smartest move you’ve made in years,” Marge approved, but she was somber. “What time does your flight arrive? I’ll meet you.”

“You can’t leave the shop,” Kathy rejected. “I’ll take a taxi.”

“I’ll put my almost ex-saleswoman in charge,” Marge said with an effort at humor. “Would you consider coming into the business with me? The shop can’t afford a good salary yet, but—”

“Marge, I’d work for nothing!” Kathy said with a surge of anticipation. “I have enough to take care of Jesse and me for a year if I’m careful. I feel as though I’m about to be reborn.
Kathy Ross is back at last.
”

“
IT’S LIKE I TOLD
you over the phone!” His eyes ablaze with fury, Phil spat the words at his parents. “I wouldn’t have asked you to come into the city if I thought she was just sulking. She packed up and stormed out of the Greenwich house. She hasn’t been at the apartment—I talked to the doorman. The little bitch walked out on me!”

“Let’s go over this calmly,” Bella ordered. “What exactly happened between you and Kathy yesterday?”

“We had a fight.” He shrugged. “She’s such a jerk about those friends of hers. You know, Rhoda and Frank.”

“The bastard with the animal rights group?” Julius’s face tensed ominously. “The one who wrote that fucking article?” He pointed to the magazine that lay on the coffee table.

“All right, you had a fight,” Bella sighed. “Then what?”

“I left the house and went over to play golf. You know, a ‘tensional release.’” He used his newest phrase. “I came back late in the afternoon, and she and the kid were gone. I didn’t find the note until late in the evening when I went out to the kitchen for a beer. It just said, ‘You’ll find the car at the White Plains station.’ That’s all. Then I checked the closets. Some of her clothes were gone. Two valises were missing. I phoned Borough Park. Her mother said she wasn’t there. I don’t think she was lying. Kathy’s stalling on telling her precious family. They’ll probably think she’s out of her mind to walk out on the sweet deal she’s had for seven years.”

“You get yourself the best damn divorce lawyer you can find,” Julius ordered. “She’s going to try to take you for fat alimony and child support payments.” He frowned. “What about the diamond and sapphire necklace? Did she walk out with
that?”

“No. I looked. The necklace is here.” He ignored his mother’s pained expression.

“First thing tomorrow morning you find yourself a lawyer. When her lawyer comes around gloating about a fancy divorce settlement, you be ready,” Julius continued. “And what about the kid? She’s got no right walking off with your son that way. It’s kidnapping.”

“You’ll have a hard time proving that in court,” Bella said drily.

“You don’t let her get Jesse!” Julius rose from the depths of the burgundy velvet sofa. “That’s my grandson. She can’t take him away.”

“Phil, what did you say that upset Kathy so?” Bella’s voice was strained.

“For God’s sake, Mother, are you taking her side?” Phil accused.

“It’s not like Kathy to act on impulse,” she said quietly.

“All I did was complain about Frank’s writing that lousy article. I said, ‘What kind of a friend is he to try to cut our throats?’ And she started to rave about how she wouldn’t let me talk about him that way. She started to punch me on the arm. She was like a wild woman.”

“Hey, is something going on between her and Frank?” Julius demanded.

“There is nothing between Kathy and Frank but friendship,” Bella lashed out. “I don’t want to hear anything to the contrary from either of you.”

“A hundred to one her lawyer will be calling you tomorrow or the next day,” Julius predicted. “And you tell the son-of-a-bitch you’re not handing over one dime of alimony or child support. And you’ll fight for custody of your son.”

“Don’t use Jesse as a pawn,” Bella warned. “You know he belongs with his mother.”

“Who says so?” Julius challenged belligerently. “Why does everybody think the child should go with the mother?”

“How often does Phil see Jesse?” Bella taunted. “Half the time he’s out of town, and the other half he’s involved in the business or socializing.” She turned from Julius to Phil. “Don’t try to take Jesse away, Phil. He belongs with Kathy.”

“Of course, she may come crawling back,” Julius said with a devious smile. “When she realizes she’s not walking off with fancy alimony and child support payments. In New York it’s not that easy to get a divorce. Phil, you haven’t given her any grounds for divorce?” Julius tensed in sudden suspicion. “She didn’t catch you with some broad?”

“Dad, of course not.” Phil managed a frown of reproach. Kathy couldn’t nail him for adultery—he was always too careful for that. “What the hell does she expect from me? I gave her two beautiful homes—the apartment here and the house in Greenwich. She had the use of the family house in Southampton. Her own Cadillac, expensive clothes, jewelry. A housekeeper and a nursemaid. She never had it so good!”

“I’ve had enough for one day,” Bella said abruptly. “I’m going to bed. Goodnight, Phil. And don’t act like a jackass.”

Julius waited until he heard Bella close the door to her bedroom before he spoke.

“Phil, you’re sure she didn’t catch you with some broad?”

“No way,” he insisted.

“It’s kind of a shame this happened.” All at once Julius seemed ambivalent. “I mean, you and Kathy as a couple brought in a lot of publicity for the company. Roz won’t be happy about this.” His eyes narrowed in speculation. “Would you take her back?”

“Hell, no!” Phil glared at his father. For publicity for the company the old man would do anything. “Not after what she’s pulled. And I don’t need her.” He contrived to appear simultaneously hurt and boastful. “There are plenty of beautiful women out there panting to go out with me.” Already he was envisioning himself as a sought-after playboy. “But let me tell you, Dad—” His smile was malicious and vindictive. “I’m going to make Kathy sweat. Before I’m through with her, she’ll wish she’d never met me.”

Though distraught about her own situation, Rhoda insisted on going with Kathy and Jesse to the airport. From a phone booth at Idlewild Kathy phoned her parents and haltingly told them what had happened in the past forty-eight hours.

“I’m all right, Mom,” she insisted. “I’ll be in touch with you soon. I don’t want to say over the phone where I’m headed. I know I sound paranoid—Phil could hardly have your phone tapped—but he mustn’t know where Jesse and I will be. I can’t take a chance on his fighting me for Jesse.”

“Kathy, do you need money?” her father asked when her mother relinquished the phone. “We’ll wire you whatever you need.”

“I’ve managed to put money away through the years,” she reassured him while tears filled her eyes. No recriminations from her family. Only love and support. “You’ll hear from me soon. And don’t worry,” she exhorted.

Kathy clung to Rhoda for an anguished moment before boarding her flight with Jesse. She knew the fears that had haunted Rhoda and Frank since she’d told them about Phil’s actions. They all knew the devastation that afflicted those who were blacklisted. But now—before Jesse—she and Rhoda tried to hide their inner emotions.

On the plane Jesse was intrigued, as on other such occasions, by the excitement of take-off. He was fascinated at being above the clouds. Normally she, too, enjoyed these moments, but today she was too anxious about the future to be aware of their surroundings.

Jesse couldn’t understand why they were going to San Francisco just when he was supposed to start first grade—an awesome event in his young life. But as soon as possible she’d enroll him in school in San Francisco. So it wouldn’t be a posh private school. Their life style was changing.

Was she doing the right thing for Jesse? Now doubts tugged at her. How was she going to explain to him that he wouldn’t see his father again if she could help it? Was it right to take him away from loving grandparents like her own parents and like Bella? Away from financial security?

She
had
to leave Phil, she told herself with fresh defiance. She couldn’t let Jesse grow up exposed to Phil’s thinking. Phil’s ethics. And Phil had struck her. How could she be sure that, in a moment of rage, he wouldn’t strike Jesse? No, this was the right—the only—path to take.

When they arrived at San Francisco airport and found Marge waiting for them, Kathy felt a rush of gratitude that she had such friends as Marge and Rhoda and Frank. Marge marshalled them through the terminal to the waiting taxis, talking brightly all the while about the success of the shop.

“Of course, I have nightmares about Fred and Cleo getting bored with the business and pulling out,” she admitted. “I’m terrified at the way bills pile up. You know me, Kathy. I even had trouble managing my spending money in high school.”

Marge told her that she had checked the public school system in her area. It was just a short walk from her apartment to an elementary school. Kathy could enroll him immediately.

“And you’re in luck, Kathy,” she said, clearly delighted at their presence in San Francisco. “I talked to Lee, and she’s available to pick up Jesse after school and stay with him until you come home. I’m assuming you’re coming into the shop?”

“Marge, I’m so excited about that.” She wouldn’t think about problems that lay ahead. She was going to enjoy being a whole person again. “I’ve got so many ideas I want to go over with you.”

“On my own I’m scared most of the time. I won’t be with you here, Kathy.”

Within the next week Jesse was registered at school, Lee had become a warm, reliable part of their lives, and Kathy had a lead on an apartment just a block away.