52 #Secrets

 

[11:30 AM]TEDDI: You have a big mouth.  Why would you tell Jon about my stutter?

[11:31 AM]TORI:  WTF?  I thought the man could keep something to himself! He wasn't rude enough to send you a Porky Pig meme something? "Th-th-that's all folks"?  Jerk.

[11:32 AM]TEDDI:  It doesn't matter how I found out.  What matters is that you did it.  I don't want him thinking of me that way.

[11:33 AM]TORI: What way?  Determined?  Successful? Yeah, those are horrible qualities to highlight.

[11:33 AM]TEDDI: How much did you tell him?

[11:34 AM]TORI: Um.  Let’s just say if someone asks him about the Lord’s Prayer, you’re probably going to be the friend he phones.

[11:34 AM]TEDDI:  👿

[11:35 AM]TORI: Oh Stop it.  I wanted him to know how strong you can be. That you're more than a fraidy cat fainter.

[11:36 AM]TEDDI: You did not just call me a fraidy cat!  Are we eight years old again?

[11:36 AM]TORI: 🙀

[11:37 AM]TEDDI:  LOL! You're a horrible woman.

[11:38 AM]TORI: But I love you.  And I think you've piqued JBJ's interest.  I wouldn't be surprised if he shows up with a bottle of wine soon.

[11:39 AM]TEDDI: You're being silly.

[11:39 AM]TORI:  Am not.  If he asks you out, promise me you'll go.

[11:40 AM]TEDDI: He won't ask.

[11:40 AM]TORI: But if he DOES?

[11:41 AM]TEDDI: I'll think about it.

[11:41 AM]TORI:  Good.  I told him you're coming to the RRHOF induction with me.  Start psyching yourself up for that.

[11:41 AM]TEDDI: 😲

 

 

Tori's actions aside, and a tiring day behind her, Teddi couldn't help but smile when she saw Jon's name on her phone screen.  There was a special thrill that came with knowing that the call was just as likely to be personal as business. 

 

"Good evening."

 

"Cookie.  How's it going?"

 

Her smile curled into one of utter contentment as she laid the tablet on her lap and snuggled down into the sofa.  His familiarity in calling her by that made her feel close to him.  Like this was a real relationship.

 

"It's going well, but I'm starting to think I need a cute name for you.  Do you have any nicknames that aren't common knowledge?"

 

"Nothing that's fit for a lady to say," he laughed, and she could only imagine what his friends, band and crew had called him through the years. 

 

"Well, I’ve personally always been partial to Captain Kidd.  It conjures images of your mane of wild hair topped by the military-style hat.  You know what I'm talking about, right?  The one that ended up in a logo somewhere in the 'New Jersey' album days? They still sell shirts with it, I think."

 

"Yeah. I know the one." 

 

All evidence of laughter was gone, leaving in its place a flatness tinged with disgust.  She was immediately contrite.

 

"I'm sorry.  I thought you liked that name, since you used it for a corporation title or two."

 

"I like it fine, but it's more a job thing than a personal one."

 

"Oh." She tilted her head thoughtfully while considering that point of view, and then nodded in agreement.  "Understandable.  I’ll come up with something else.  Perhaps ‘Fluffy’ in homage to that wild mane.”

 

“I’m not exactly fluffy anymore.”

 

“No, but it signifies the beginning of your legacy.  You’ll always be remembered for your hair.”

 

He might’ve sighed, but it sounded more like a huff to Teddi. “Not by my fucking choice.  I want to be remembered for who I am, not how I wore my goddamn hair.”

 

She was a bit taken aback by his vehemence. The suggestion wasn’t a serious one.  She couldn’t imagine calling him that but hadn’t meant to be offensive with her humor.      

 

“There are many qualities the world will remember you by.  Your musical talent, business prowess, tenacity, philanthropy, and songwriting to name a few.  You possess a long list of impressive accomplishments.  I wasn’t trying to suggest you’re merely a milestone in hair history.”

 

“Are those the things that come to mind when you think of me?  When I cross your mind during the day, is it because I wrote a mediocre song that happened to go viral?”

 

Teddi’s eyebrows drew together with confusion, forming what had to be an unsightly squiggle above the bridge of her nose.  She was more concerned with the peculiar turn of conversation than pending wrinkles, though.  Even more peculiar was the accusation in his tone. 

 

 “No.  Not unless that ‘mediocre song’ happens to play on my streaming service or YouTube.  Why do you ask?”

 

His answer came in the form of yet another question.  “What does come to mind when you think of me?”

 

What was going on in his head?  What thoughts had prompted this interrogative twist to their friendly chat?  Without knowing the driving force behind his inquiry, Teddi ran the risk of agitating him even more, but she couldn’t let it deter her from honesty.    

 

“Lots of things prompt thoughts of you, if that’s the question,” she replied carefully.  “My shampoo makes me wonder if I have enough ‘vanilla kippers’ in the freezer for your next visit.  Scrolling through Twitter is a reminder of you looking at fan accounts while I slept, and how I keep meaning to ask which ones you found.  My necklace stirs the realization of how brilliantly astute and observant you are.  When I find a spot of perfect peace in the day, I’m silly enough to feel the imaginary weight of your hand covering mine.” 

 

There were a hundred different instances, fifty of which could easily lean into X-rated if he so desired.  Before going that far, she paused to ask, “Is that enough or should I go on?”

 

He hesitated long enough that she thought the more risqué thoughts may be appropriate, but he quelled that idea with a quiet, “No, that’s good.  Thanks.”

 

“I’m curious to know what that was all about, if you feel like telling me.”

 

“Ah, nothing.”  This time, the sigh wasn’t huffy.  It was a slow leak of air to dispel tension.  “That comment you made this morning got stuck in my head, and I turned it into something it wasn’t.”

 

“Which comment, and what did you turn it into?”

 

“The bit about being mine since you were sixteen.  I started thinking you had me confused with my job, but I was obviously wrong.”

 

He was bothered that she may be attached to his celebrity persona rather than him.  The sliver of vulnerability was a privileged peek into his true essence.  It was another example of how she may know about him but didn’t really know him.  Not the way she wanted to.  Not yet. 

 

What she did know was that Jon didn’t just willingly open himself that way, and it felt important that she return the gesture. 

 

“I’ve always looked past your job, Jon.  If you want proof, I have at least two examples.  One is hanging on the boudoir wall and the other is stored on a massive external hard drive in my safe.  I’ll show them to you sometime.”

 

“Oh, c’mon.  You can’t drop that kind of tease and not tell me what the proof is.”

 

The left side of Teddi’s mouth curved upward.  She hadn’t dreamed there would come a time when she would point out the precious memento in the boudoir, much less share the story behind it.  Odds had been against this relationship progressing to a level where she felt safe enough to do it – or believed he might be interested.  Yet here they were, and the selfish part of her wanted to look him in the face when telling the tale.

 

“The hard drive has hundreds of hours’ worth of interview footage.  I’ve studied all of it for cracks in your façade.  Clues to who you are off stage and camera.”

 

“That one I would’ve guessed since you’ve mentioned something like it before.  But what’s on the wall other than my autograph and the picture of us from the Cuban place?”

 

So, he was at least marginally aware of the framed décor in that room.  Those two items were new additions that resided between the bed and the bathroom, putting them in a spot that was hard to miss.  Not that the other was hidden.  It just wasn’t visible both coming and going from that side of the bed.

 

“Have you ever noticed the shadow box that hangs beside the door to the hall?” 

 

“Now that you mention it, I do remember something being there.  I couldn’t tell you what it is though.  I’ve never looked at it up close.”

 

The right side of her mouth lifted in the same curve as the left, balancing out a faint smile.  “We’ll do that next time you’re here.  From this call, I suppose that won’t be tonight?”

 

“No, I’ve got dinner plans with my kids.”  The explanation was given succinctly and brushed aside to order, “Now go upstairs, take a picture and show me what’s on the wall.”

 

“You’ve survived several trips to that room without noticing.  You’ll survive until you can see it in person,” she pacified.  “Go enjoy the time with your children.  I’ll talk to you soon.”

 

“Don’t hang up.  I’ve got half an hour.  Tell me what’s on the fucking wall.”

 

Swallowing a chuckle, she re-tucked the hair that came loose when she shook her head.  The man had a thirst for knowledge that would be called nosy in a woman.  Lucky for Teddi that she had just the thing to distract him. 

 

“Did the buyout contracts make it to your lawyer today?”

 

Did he just growl?  No.  He must’ve just been clearing his throat because there wasn’t any heat in the casual, “Yeah.  Everything’s done on my end.”

 

“Are you pleased?”

 

“I will be if they manage to keep it under wraps so that Peabody doesn’t find out before I personally deliver the news.”

 

Personally deliver the news?  He was going to antagonize Endicott with his ownership?  That gave Teddi a flutter of trepidation. 

 

“You’re going to tell him yourself?”

 

“Hell, yes.  You and I are going to walk in there with the finalized paperwork, throw it in his face, and tell him to start looking for a new job.”

 

“I… didn’t realize you were planning some grand confrontation.”

 

“Not a grand confrontation, just an element of surprise that keeps him from coming up with a way to block the deal.”

 

A faint throbbing tapped at Teddi’s temple.  Not for the first time, she considered backing out of this plan.  The whole thing was a bit cutthroat for her taste – from one end to another. 

 

“Endicott’s made another offer on my share.  Or his wife, rather.  Oddly enough, the call came right after the papers confirming my ownership arrived from Randolph's lawyer.”

 

“Who called?  Endicott?”

 

“No, Pierce did.  He wasn’t terribly enthusiastic about delivering the news this time.  He didn’t even suggest that I accept it, even though it was more money.  Don’t you find that strange?”

 

In fact, Pierce had been notably aloof when reciting the terms. He carried out the duties of his job without emotion, saying that he presumed she wished to reject the offer.  It wasn’t until she did decline that he acted anything like the Pierce she knew.  Even then, he was reserved when asking why family members were using a lawyer as their messenger instead of communicating directly.    

 

She’d done her best to keep her reply superficial but honest, stating that the Peabodys weren’t a Norman Rockwell type family.  She did go so far as to add their history wasn’t a particularly pleasant one, which made using a mediator the wise choice.

 

For whatever reason, Pierce hadn’t liked that answer.  He was terse when stating that he’d pass along her wishes, and then abruptly ended the call.  She couldn’t even recall if he’d said goodbye.

 

“It’s not strange.  He shouldn’t be pushing deals down your throat to begin with.  What exactly did he say?” 

 

Funny, Jon’s tone was almost as tight as Pierce’s had been.

 

“Nothing, really.  He made the offer, said he assumed I wished to refuse and asked why Endicott didn’t call me himself.   It was a very short conversation.”

 

“What was your answer?”

 

“That our family isn’t close.”  She frowned at the feeling something was amiss.  “What’s going on, Jon?”

 

“We’re acquiring a company, and…”  A thread of lightness found its way into his voice.  “…just for shits and giggles, I’m thinking of asking Dave if he wants to be our third partner after Endicott gets pushed overboard.”

 

“Oh, you are not.  You’re just trying to keep me from asking questions you don’t want to answer.”

 

“Why the hell would I want to do that?” was his overly innocent denial.  “And Dave buying in is about as likely as you getting a calico fish named Joey.  Bet that happened today, though, didn’t it?”

 

Like the secret behind the wall hanging, this mysterious behavior was better addressed in person.  That’s the sole reason Teddi moved her suspicion to the back burner and let herself be led astray.  They could talk about frivolous things tonight, but the next time he was within arm’s reach…?  She’d find out what was going on, even if meant wrestling him into a pair of handcuffs until he confessed.

 

That actually might be fun.