Fairytales (12 page)

No sooner had he settled himself on the leather sofa … he heard Catherine knocking frantically, “Dominic, open this door!”

“Get away, there’s nothing to talk about.”

“Dominic, open this door, I’m warnin’ you.”

He didn’t answer.

“I’m warnin’ you, Dominic. If you don’t open up, I’m gonna get a hatchet and bash the door in … and I never meant anythin’ more sincerely in my life.”

Dominic knew she’d do just that, so what the hell, he had no choice. Opening the door, she stormed in with her hands on her hips, stood before him, “Now, you tell me what the hell this is all about?”

“I told you upstairs. You can’t come home and butter me up as though you’d just gone off on a holiday to visit Mama … I’m sick and tired of catering to your whims. I’m sick and tired of fighting you about how badly you’ve been neglected. I’m an ambitious man who’s going to achieve as much as he can, and I’m not going to allow you to interfere with that. If you had loved me, you’d have been proud of what I’ve accomplished in twenty years. Instead, you’ve been a pain in the ass, constantly telling me the same damned thing over and over again … well, a man gets his belly full of that and I’ve had just about as much as I can take from you.”

“You have, have you. Well, what do you propose to do about it?”

“I think we should stay out of each other’s way as much as possible. It’ll be best for both of us.”

“Is that a fact … Well, let me tell you, Mr. Rossi The Great, I didn’t have to come back and don’t think for one moment I hadn’t thought about it. Contrary to how you think my understandin’ should be about the great contribution you’re makin’ to the world’s cause, my life hasn’t been easy with you … I have felt I’ve taken second place in your affections and in your life … but with all of that, if I hadn’t loved you, do you think I would have humbled myself to you tonight … I tried sincerely and honestly to make up for whatever wrong you think I’ve done. Now, what do you want me to do, live the rest of my life beggin’ your forgiveness … get down on my knees in sackcloth and ashes. Well, I’m not gonna do that because I’ve got a few memories of my own. You said some pretty rotten things to me that night which seem dismissed from your mind and if you must know, it was you tellin’ me about my faults that brought on the whole miserable affair.”

Dominic interrupted. “Listen, Catherine, we’ve been through this over and over again. I don’t know how to resolve my life with you, I really don’t.”

“You don’t because you lack the understandin’ I need. You think only of your needs. Well, I’ve got mine, too.”

With that, Catherine sat down on the chair and wept uncontrollably. She looked like a broken, bewildered child. Dominic bit his lower lip and shook his head. Even though he no longer loved her as he once had, still she was a distraught woman and seeing her cry as she was doing now evoked enormous pity.

Finally he said quietly, “Don’t cry, Catherine, please don’t cry.”

“I’m cryin’ because I do love you … in my way. I know you don’t believe that, but I do and when I think I’m losin’ you, I do and say things I know I shouldn’t ought to, but I don’t know how else to get your attention. And I go about it in the wrong way … I know it, Dominic … I really do know it.” She stood up and clung to him, burying her head against his chest. “I love you, Dominic, truly I do.”

Awkwardly, he put his arms around her, “I know, Catherine, I know.”

“Well, can’t you say you love me?”

Painfully he swallowed and said, “I do.”

“Then come back to bed where you belong. I’m your wife, Dominic, and that’s where you belong, not layin’ down here alone on this cold sofa, but next to a warm wife who’s been away for a long time.”

They went up the stairs together with Catherine’s arm in his and at this moment, he wanted to be anywhere else in the whole world. Getting into bed, Catherine put her arms around Dominic and waited for him to respond. When he did not, she kissed him over and over again, trying to arouse his passion, but it served only to inhibit him. Finally, after a struggle to give Catherine what she so badly needed, he gave up, leaving her unsatisfied and unhappy. “I’m sorry, Catherine, but I guess I’m just too tired tonight. Please forgive me.”

As he turned over with his back toward her, he felt her frustration. In spite of the rejection she said, “That’s alright, Dominic, I understand … sleep well, there are other nights.”

The scene at home seemed, for Catherine, a normal simmering down of the past events. Once again, she took up her roll as mistress of her ménage. Dominic had performed his duty as a husband in bed only once in the ten days since her return and it had culminated much too quickly for her. It was not enough after her abstinence, but it was a beginning. Feeling sure that eventually he would recover entirely from their recent conflict, she felt comforted with that token. The chairs went out to be recovered, the draperies were sent to the cleaners, she shopped for the children, getting them ready for school, directed the household and now, once again, Catherine was doing the things she had missed. But for Dominic, life was not so simple. The night he had been forced to submit to Catherine’s advances, he had no alternative. But the only way he could accomplish an orgasm was to think of Victoria. And he had never stopped thinking of her … to such an extent that when he was in a conference, his mind wandered off to things they had shared. Remembering was a shattering thing that haunted him like a ghost he could not escape from. To make matters worse, he bumped into her, leaving court today. His pulse raced and his heart pounded as he said, “How are you, Victoria?”

“Fine, Dominic, and you?” she answered, smiling.

“Alright, I suppose.”

It was impossible not to notice the change in her … the deep circles around her eyes made her appear tired and wan, she had lost weight. And although she tried to be casual, her hand trembled when Dominic lit her cigarette. They stood awkwardly, looking at each other, then Victoria said, “It was nice seeing you, but I have to dash back to the office.”

“Victoria?”

“Yes.”

“Oh, nothing … just stay well.”

“I’ll try,” she answered as she raced to the elevator while Dominic watched her disappear.

After court, Dominic went back to his office and sat in the silence, where he remained until everyone had gone home. He was lonely beyond anything he had ever felt before. It kept digging into his consciousness. He wanted to scream or pound the walls. In final desperation he called Catherine and told her he would not be home for dinner since he had a client who had come into town unexpectedly. She was disappointed, but said she understood, which to him, mattered not at all. The only thing that mattered was Victoria. Seeing her today made him realize even more how impossible his life was without her. Quickly, he got up, left the office, then drove aimlessly around the city. When he shut off the ignition, it was in front of the building where Victoria lived. He sat in the car, debating with himself, even though he already knew the answer. The doorman came out, “Good evening, Mr. Rossi,” he said, opening the door on Dominic’s side.

“Good evening, John, is Miss Lang in?”

“Yes, she is.”

“Thanks,” Dominic said as he got out. Nervously he pushed the button to the fifteenth floor, got out and walked to Victoria’s apartment. He stood staring before ringing, then his finger pressed the bell.

Within a moment, it was opened and he saw Victoria standing before him dressed in mauve silk lounging pajamas. The shock at seeing him was written in her eyes. In fact, she could not find her voice.

Finally, she said, “Come in, Dominic.”

Entering, he closed the door behind him and stood facing her … without a word, he drew her to him and held her close. She trembled in his arms. Then he lifted her face to his and gently, tenderly, kissed her, then passionately, then hungrily, until they clung together as though they were one. He whispered, “How could I ever have thought I could live without you? God … oh, God … oh, God … I love you so.”

“Don’t talk, darling, you’ve come back. That’s all that matters.”

He picked her up and carried her into the bedroom and there they loved each other with a need so great nothing existed in the world except this moment. When they lay quietly in each other’s arms, Victoria did not question him about why he had come back … it simply didn’t matter. It was Dominic who broke the silence. “After seeing you today, I knew it was no use … no use at all… it’s been bad, hasn’t it?”

“Yes.”

“Sweetheart, you know I said I never wanted to hurt you, but I did, didn’t I?”

“You
didn’t hurt me. It just overwhelmed us.”

“How can I ever make up to you for what I’ve done?”

“But you haven’t done anything, dearest. Let’s not even talk about it. Our time together is too precious … we’re here and that’s more than I ever hoped for.”

The urgent passion spent, he kissed her, feeling her warm body next to his. Nothing quite equaled what he held in his arms.

“Dominic?”

“Yes, darling?”

“I’ll bet you didn’t have any dinner?”

“You’re right,” he laughed.

“See, I can make one transition to the next. First, I can make exquisite, delicious love to you and then just like that, I become a Jewish mother … did you eat?”

“Oh, God, you’re marvelous. I am hungry, now that you ask.”

“Okay … you fix a drink while I make an omelet … your robe is still hanging in the closet.”

As they ate he said, “This is the best thing I’ve ever had. But it can’t be too Jewish with all the green peppers, shrimp, ham and mushrooms.” He smiled that magnificent smile that lit up a room.

“No, Mr. Rossi, it’s half and half. The eggs are Jewish and the other things are Protestant.”

He laughed, “God, you’re wonderful.”

“I know it,” she answered, matching his laughter, “and you, Mr. Rossi, are the most exciting, the most virile, the most exceptional … the most fabulous … the man of the year with the most animal magnetism … you’re the most.”

“Can’t you think of one nice thing to say about me?”

“I would, if I could think of anything.”

“Oh, Victoria, I love you,” he said, taking her hand and leading her to him, where she sat on his lap as he kissed her.

Then time became their nemesis. Dominic dressed as Victoria tried to keep the conversation light, but when it came time for him to leave, it wasn’t quite so easy. “This is the most difficult part … the thing I knew would happen.”

“Now, look, Dominic, my Jewish mother taught me if you can’t have the whole matzo ball, you savor the part you have. Dominic, let’s savor the part we have.”

“I’ll try, but God, I wish it could be different.”

“So do I … but in time it will be easier. Now, darling, go home. It’s getting late and we have enough to worry about. I love you.”

“I adore you. I’ll call at the office tomorrow and if you’re free, we’ll have lunch, okay?”

“Okay, Mr. Rossi, I’d love that. Now, goodnight, darling.”

When Dominic left, Victoria straightened up, put the dirty dishes into the dishwasher, went back into the living room, poured herself a drink, turned on the stereo and listened to it play “Clair de Lune” as the tears ran down her cheeks.

The next morning at ten, Dominic called like an excited school boy, “May I speak to Miss Lang?”

“Who’s calling?”

“This is Mr. Rossi.”

“One moment, I’ll see if Miss Lang is available.”

While he waited for Victoria to answer, he hummed “the most beautiful girl in the world makes my” … “Victoria, darling.”

“Yes, Mr. Rossi, darling, how are you this fine day?”

“Couldn’t be happier … what about lunch and where?”

“Meet me at the office at twelve, if you can, and where I’ll tell you later.”

“The answer to the first is I can … and the question of the latter, I’ll leave up to you.”

“Twelve then. The door to my office will be open. Oh, and remind me to tell you I love you, Mr. Rossi.”

“I intend to, Miss Lang.”

When Dominic entered, Victoria was on the telephone. She motioned to him to be seated, gestured, holding up her index finger that the conversation would be over in about a minute, give or take.

“Yes, Mr. Friedman … yes, of course I can understand how you would take that attitude.”

Dominic walked to where she was seated behind her desk, took her hand as she stood, then he seated himself with her on his lap, kissed her on the neck, unbuttoned the front of her blouse and felt her firm warm breast as her nipple distended … “The only problem … is …” holding her hand tightly over the mouthpiece, she said, “Stop that, Dominic, how can I concentrate with you doing that. This is a very important client… No, Mr. Friedman, I don’t think there’s a chance they’ll settle out of court … yes … yes, I know, but I believe that’s in our favor … with the proper jury … Yes? How do you mean? … Dominic, stop biting my ear … Of course, I absolutely agree it will be a different story when we take their deposition.” Trying to release Dominic’s hand, which was very disconcerting, she said, “Fine, that’s exactly the way we’ll proceed and I’ll be in touch as soon as I have a few more answers from the opposition … Fine … yes … not at all … no, Mr. Friedman, I don’t think it’s very good strategy to show them we’re too anxious … alright, I’ll keep you posted … of course… good-bye, Mr. Friedman.”

Hanging up, she said, “Dominic, you’re incorrigible. How do you expect me to carry on an intelligent conversation with you …”

He kissed her over and over again.

Breathlessly, she said, “If you don’t stop that, I’ll have you on the couch and then you’ll be sorry because I have something for lunch that won’t keep.”

“I dare you. Go ahead and see if I’ll be sorry and besides, I don’t think I can keep till after lunch.”

“You’ll have to … now, come on,” she said, taking his hands. They walked to Victoria’s car and drove along the Embarcadero where Victoria turned onto a deserted pier where she brought the car to a halt. “Where’d you find this spot?”

“I’ve had my eye on it. In fact, I’m thinking of buying it just for us.”

“Okay, I’ll chip in a dollar and a quarter.”