The Rhinehart

Chapter 11


Lunch at Brady’s was slow and relaxed. Both girls were well into their bowls of hearty beef and barley soup, served with oven-fresh whole wheat rolls when Jen asked Connie how her yesterday’s lunch with Carter, the owner of the “Ridge”, had gone.
“You know, Jen, I’m beginning to wonder. I mean, I’ve always thought that my ethics and morals were on a relatively reasonable level, but I seem to have a low threshold for…for bullshit.” Connie paused and tried to articulate an irritation, a testament to how socially disconnected people have become, rather than a major revelation. “Don’t get me wrong. Carter is a really great guy. But the first time we were out he apologized for the interruptions from work on his cell, and even turned it off after I mentioned that I tended not to let my cell rule me. Then yesterday at lunch his cell went off again. Even though he apologized and turned it off, he checked who had texted. I could feel the tension. I could tell he was waiting for the opportunity to excuse himself. Just before our final coffee he headed off to the washroom; the whole time he was gone, which by the way was almost ten minutes, I kept thinking that I don’t like this. I didn’t care if it was work or a buddy, or another woman. I didn’t like it.”
“So what did you say?” asked Jen.
“That was the beauty of the situation,” said Connie. “I didn’t have to say much. It almost took care of itself. After he came back, he had a couple of sips of his coffee and made some useless comment about the decor or whatever. I checked my watch and excused myself sweetly explaining that I had a client booked for a 2:00pm fitting and had to get back. I thanked him for the lovely lunch and left.”
“Did he know you were pissed?” asked Jen.
“Actually I wasn’t pissed, that’s the interesting thing. I don’t even think disappointed is quite accurate. I think it was more like being resigned to the fact that a lot of people just don’t make quality time for other people. I mean face to face quality time. In a way, it makes me really sad.”
Jen agreed with Connie and thought to herself how glad she was that the Rhinehart had zero tolerance for the staff about personal cell phones, personal internet usage and texting while in the hotel. She realized how refreshing it is amongst the staff. People were engaged and alert which seemed to promote a more relaxed atmosphere. She remembered the numerous guests who have followed the same mentality of unplugging; she has received frequent comments on how they left their phones and laptops at home to give their minds a rest. Of course there were all the modern amenities and services available if required, but more and more guests were finding that leaving technology at home was a welcome part of their vacation experience.


Jen is always amazed at how effortlessly Connie can take a pair of shoes and totally pull an outfit together around them, or find the perfect shoes for a special outfit. While Connie’s taste in shoes and purses were in no way over the top, she was able to integrate the hot trends and latest fashions seamlessly into her classic wardrobe. Today her thoughts were leaning towards a pair of fuchsia ankle boot shoes with a row of thin straps running from side to side up the front, ending high just above the ankle with a 4 inch black heel. Jen’s attention was caught by a sky blue leather shoulder bag with a large cut and worked appliquéd flower in the same blue leather, with black accents. Turning the price tag over, she smiled at the $589 price tag and gave the butter soft leather one last caress.

****

Shannon had laid out her clothes for the party and was now going over her array of jewellery. She was absentmindedly fingering the chunky necklaces, when she it dawned on her that this definitely wasn’t where her mind was at. She had spent the morning dwelling on her disappointment with Kyle and was at odds with how to move forward. Reason had almost convinced her that he really had been stuck between a rock and a hard place, but her heart wanted to believe that he would have risked the possible ramifications; Kyle should have known how much she would have appreciated the heads up. It would have saved her from being ‘too blind to see what everyone else suspected all along.’ Sitting down on the edge of her bed she grabbed her cell phone off the night stand, and waited for her mom to pick up.
Pamela Reid refilled her coffee mug and settled once again to her favourite spot on the spacious deck. Life on Vancouver Island suited her very well. After her divorce ten years ago, she packed up and moved to the Comox Valley to set up her Optical shop. Thinking about the wonderful life she shared with her partner Max, she gazed east, out over Baynes Sound past the tip of Denman Island, and up to the snow capped mountains on the west coast of B.C.
She and Max met about eight years ago and had purchased their oceanside property in Ships Point just before the housing boom took off. She shifted her gaze back to the small harbour where Max kept his 22’ Catch and caught a brief glimpse of him on the deck before he moved out of her line of sight.
Max worked in the film industry as a set designer and consultant on several television series that were shot in Vancouver. It was often a precarious occupation with the constant flux of taxation regulations between the Canadian and American industries; but for the most part it paid the bills.
Pamela’s shop was open Monday through Saturday, so in addition to her Sundays off, she regularly took Wednesdays off, as well. She was just getting ready to settle back into the book she was reading when her cell rang. Shannon had a lively sense of humour and made no hesitation in her choice of songs for her auto ring. Pamela recognized “What’s Going On” by 4 Non Blonds instantly.
“Hi Sweety, how’s it going?” asked Pam.
“Excellent! You’ll never guess what I’m doing as we speak,” said Shannon.
“Do tell,” said Pam.
“Well, I’m trying to decide on accessories for a get together tonight. You remember that top we found at Maxie’s when we were shopping in Victoria? Now ask me where I’m going. To a party Ian MacCallum is giving tonight in his private suite!” said Shannon.
“Oh my, Of Dorback Burn right? And who’s all going?” asked Pam.
“Well, that’s the really great part. One of the guys in our group is a friend of Ian’s and the band. You know how I’ve been telling you how great the girls are and how gorgeous, yet unpretentious Connie is? Well, a bunch of us girls were playing tennis the other day and ran into Ian and our friend Darren. You should have seen the sparks fly between Connie and Ian, mom. Anyways, we’re all invited for eats and drinks in his suite tonight.”
“And, of course, Kyle is going to be there too?” asked Pam. She remembers years back when she first met Kyle when he had joined Shannon and Jake on a ski trip to Mount Washington; the trio stopped in for a fast visit on their way back. Although Shannon and Jake had already been a couple for a few months, Pam had to admit that she found Kyle to be a genuinely sweet guy. Not that she was unhappy with Shannon’s choice of Jake at the time, for she was obviously head over heels for him. But Pam had seen his slick style of charm before and always had a foreboding sense of unease about the future of their relationship. She hadn’t been all that surprised at the demise of their relationship. Now she was ever so grateful that the bond Shannon had with Kyle survived.
Shannon knew that she really called her mom for some much needed advice. So she filled Pam in on what had happened down by the lake Sunday night.
“You know, mom, while I really do understand what Kyle was trying to say, I can’t seem to shake the feeling that he was in on the deception.”
Pam felt so bad for Shannon. She had been through so much already. Although she was glad for her new circle of friends, all the recent drama with the death of one of the girls and her rift with Kyle must surely be draining for Shannon.
“You may not like what I have to say Shannon, but I have to agree with Kyle. Do you have time for a little story?”
“Sure, mom. I don’t have to be ready for hours,” said Shannon.
“Years ago…must be almost twenty years now, a very dear friend of mine, who had what seemed to be the most solid marriage, was visiting with some girl friends of hers. One of them announced that she had been having an affair. At the time her friend was married and the wife of the guy she was involved with had found out and was going to blow the lid on the whole thing. Needless to say, her friend was scared shitless. Well they all got talking and my friend said she should consider coming clean to her husband. When the girl who was having the affair asked if any of them had ever had an affair while they were married, my friend made a confession that changed her life forever. She told them that while she did not have an affair while married she had a fateful slip while her future husband was in the hospital. Her ex-boyfriend, who was her now boyfriend’s best buddy, had dropped by to console her. They got incredibly drunk and wound up in bed.”
“Oh my God,” said Shannon. “Did her husband find out?”
“Just hang in there. It gets a bit complicated, but try to follow along. My friend had explained to the girls, that as soon as they started with the intercourse she had wanted to stop, but it was too late. And to make things worse it wasn’t even a week later that her boyfriend purposed. She lived with the guilt until she revealed it to her girlfriends that afternoon. As expected, the girl who was having the affair was found out. Soon after, she told my friend that she always felt that the friend acted far superior to her. But she knew that if my friend’s husband was aware she was cheating on him with his best friend that he would leave her, just like her husband had done.”
“But I thought you said she had the one night before they were even engaged, not while they were married. Not that it was okay, but it’s not quite the same thing” said Shannon.
“Thank you, Shannon. You see, that is what she said. But her friend was so angry that she kept saying she was a liar and that she had indeed confessed that it happened while she was married. She accused her of trying to cover it up because she was probably still having the affair after all these years. Because she couldn’t stand the fact that she had been caught and my friend got off scott-free, she threatened to reveal the whole affair to my friend’s husband. Later that night my friend confessed the whole mess to her husband, explicitly once again, explaining that it had happened before they were engaged,” said Pam. “Now, here’s where it gets so incredibly sad. My friend’s husband went almost comatose while she was explaining it. He totally missed that it was a one-time event, that it was before they were engaged, and that nothing ever, ever happened while they were married. Eventually, they too split up and divorced. I remember her telling me that they had a heart to heart about 5 years ago. He told her that he had never loved anyone since, and still loved her. When she said she never understood how he couldn’t find it in his heart to forgive her at the time, he said he just couldn’t get past adultery during marriage. When they both realized that he had obviously zoned out and reconstructed the conversation, they couldn’t believe it. And way too much time and hurt had gone by to put it right.”
“Oh my God, what an incredible story,” said Shannon.
“I know. I think about it often. You may think that someone is lying about an event, but I truly believe that what appears to be lying may just be a person’s way of coping. I’m sure it’s a direct form of revisionism. So don’t be too hard on Kyle,” continued Pam, “and stop and think on this one. Is it possible that he thought he couldn’t say anything because that might push you out of his life? Just think about it a bit more from his perspective. It’s always dicey when you step into someone’s personal business. Especially someone you really care about.”
“Thanks mom. I really appreciate your advice.” Shannon promised to give her all the party news the next time she called.
“I’m counting on it. You know, even though it seems I live vicariously through you, I really do have a life, too,” said Pam, laughing as they signed off.