Author's Notes: First and foremost, Always Faithful is a work of fiction; no characters depict any known persons. To the best of the author's knowledge, there is no women's clothing manufacturer by the name of Business Lady. Always Faithful is about half complete and this fourth section tells a story of the most troubling year Laura and Dan face in their married life. Because of its length, this part of the story will be segmented as was three.
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Four -- Year of Turmoil -- 4.1 Laura at Business Lady - Mrs. Patron and Daniel
Winter days can be beautiful, sunny and crisp with little wind. Winter days can be miserable, gloomy, rainy and cold. Dan and Laura hoped for the former when they made plans to have their Sunday brunch at one of the nice hotels in town. When they awakened, they found the weather gods frowning. "I tell you what Baby, you stay in bed and I will go down and get things started. I don't feel like venturing out on a day like this."
"How about if we play cave man, my husband? If you make the fire, I will cook."
Dan quickly accepted his wife's proposal and headed for the den. Within half an hour they were curled up in front of the fireplace sipping mimosas to pretend it was spring. "It's been some year, Baby, we have had things going on that I don't think I ever could imagine."
"Yeah, Dan, you are right about that much. I never knew you were so interested in the art world. I always thought you were faithful to football and basketball."
"I can still get worked up about a touchdown, but I really have come to enjoy art and being around artists."
"I'm glad, Baby; I really am glad. I know I haven't always been easy to live with this past year. Not easy at all for you."
Dan squeezed his wife's hand, "No you haven't, but I mostly managed. Artsy helps, and my other friends."
"Mrs. Patron too."
"Yes, she is special; she's a very interesting old broad."
"I wouldn't mind having her for a role model when I get that old."
"Will you still have lovers when you reach her age?"
"Look at it this way, with two lovers you both will last longer."
Dan couldn't resist a jab. "Two lovers plus a pinch hitter every now and then."
"Is pinch hitter football or basketball?"
Dan couldn't help but laugh, "In football it's called special teams."
"I like that; I can be special for a team, can't I?"
"And in basketball it's the sixth man."
"Oh yes, I've danced with three; I think I could try to find something to do with six men."
"I'm sure you could, more mimosa please." Dan added another log to the fire while Laura refreshed their drinks.
Laura sat and positioned Dan so he was looking into her eyes. "I want to say something about this past year, Baby. I know I have hurt you at times. I am not going to say I didn't mean to. When I said things to hurt you about me with Greg, I always knew I was being cruel, hurting you with my words. I want you to believe this much; I never planned to hurt you, but sometimes I just felt compelled."
Dan just stared into his wife's eyes; he had no response he could make. Laura took silence as right of continuance. "I am sure I will strike out at you in the future, almost certain; I have to, it is in me to protect my affair." Dan kept his eyes on Laura for a moment and then they dropped. He still said nothing. "I want you to know, especially at the moments I hurt you most, that our love for each other and our marriage together is the most important thing in my life." Dan kept his eyes down, but Laura could see a relaxed grin at the corner of his lips.
Laura switched topics to her new job. "Greg has most of the details worked out; we spent an hour Friday afternoon going over them. Do you want me to fill you in?"
"Of course, I think you must."
"Cost you a mimosa and a kiss before I tell all."
"I'll raise; a mimosa and two kisses."
"My other husband, as you choose to refer to him, got our best tax guy in on the negotiations. He wanted to work out a self-employed deal, but BL wanted me to be an employee and so did I. I overruled my legal team. BL agreed to adjust my salary to make things come out equal. I will make more in the week to ten days a month I work for BL than I do now. Even better, I will make more now with the firm working less. That is thanks to Old Jacobs wife."
Laura continued telling of her new developments. "You now sleep with royalty, Baby. I have titles with both firms. At the law firm, I am now Executive Assistant to the Partners Committee. With BL, I am Special Marketing Consultant to the Board of Directors. I get first class air travel, a furnished apartment in San Francisco, all BL wardrobe provided, plus a salary beginning at $100,000 per year not prorated. How's that?"
"I think I will have Greg negotiate my next salary review."
"There's more. At the firm, my new position includes a raise to fifteen percent over what I am making full time for a part time position."
"I may quit my job and become a house husband just to let you support me."
"I almost could."
"Do you have to screw the legal counsel a certain number of times to get all these goodies?"
"No Baby, he's a fringe benefit."
"You are a slut; I love you though."
"I'm already earning my keep at BL. I made my first suggestion while I was out there."
"What was your suggestion, oh brilliant marketing guru?"
"Lingerie and shoes. I reminded them that all women like to feel they are dressing special. When their outerwear is prescribed by custom and policy, lingerie and shoes become items of individual expression. They have begun exploring marketing agreements with two Italian firms. I got an email from Liaison Friday."