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  He waited for that to sink in.

  "We also need account representatives in the services department. For you, it would be a managerial type of position, but you are managing processes more than people. Long hours and a lot of travel. You would spend weeks at a time at a client site, multiple times a year."

  "I'm not afraid of long hours," I told him. "I'm used to it. And I like to travel."

  "Our clients are in places like Topeka and Cleveland."

  "Not exactly tourist destinations."

  "No."

  "Are you actually offering me one of these positions?"

  "I am telling you of the positions you might consider here. I believe I could hire you for any of the jobs we just talked about." He paused. "I won't hire you without both my wife's and my daughter's blessings."

  "Would you be hiring me just because I am Karen's girlfriend?"

  "No. I'd be hiring someone I thought could do a good job."

  At that point he waved to someone outside the conference room. I turned around, and Rhonda was standing there. "Hello, Madeline," Rhonda said, crossing the room to me. I stood up and she gave me a warm hug.

  "Hello, Rhonda," I said. "I wasn't expecting you here."

  "I came to take you to lunch," she said. "I'd make it a liquid lunch, but I presume you drove." She turned to Fred. "I will see you this evening, Fred." She kissed his cheek then grabbed my arm and began pulling me to the door.

  I stopped her and turned to Fred. "Thank you for meeting with me," I told him.

  "Your next step, Madeline, is to gain those blessings. Then come back."

  I nodded, then Rhonda tugged me to the door.

  * * *

  She took me to a nearby upscale restaurant. Both the service and the food were impeccable. I tried to order a salad, but she became offended and ordered for me. The salmon was wonderful.

  "Did you tell my daughter you were meeting with Fred?"

  "I've tried talking to her about it, but every time I bring it up, she-" I began to blush.

  "Changes the subject?" Rhonda offered.

  "Yes. She changes the subject. She's very good at it." And then my blush deepened. Rhonda pretended not to notice.

  "Why do you want a job?"

  I thought about it. "Two reasons. I don't like asking if I can spend money on something I want for myself, and I'm bored out of my mind. I miss working in an office and interacting with people every day. I miss the challenge and the pride that comes from doing a good job."

  Rhonda nodded.

  "Are you here to talk me out of it?"

  "Not at all," she said. "But you seem to be confused about a few things."

  "I don't think so."

  She smiled. "Well, let us talk about money for a moment. Why do you feel you need to ask permission to spend money?"

  "It's not my money. Every dime I spend now comes from Karen. I didn't earn any of it."

  "Oh Madeline, every dime she makes is yours."

  "No it's not. It's hers."

  Rhonda frowned. "Has she told you no when you've asked her if you could buy something?"

  "Yes." Rhonda raised an eyebrow. "I asked if I could buy an iPad. I wanted it primarily so when I'm waiting for her when going to lunch, I didn't need to carry anything else to give myself something to do."

  Rhonda reached into her purse. "You mean one of these?" She pulled out an iPad. I nodded. "I find it inconceivable Karen told you that you couldn't buy one. Is that really what happened?"

  I thought about it. "I told her I wanted one, she asked why, and then she didn't tell me I could buy one."

  "Which means yes."

  "Which means no."

  "Oh honey," Rhonda said.

  "It's her money. I can't just spend her money. I feel guilty already taking free room and board. She's paying my car and health insurance and covers my credit card bills. I'm a kept woman, and all she gets from me is sex."

  "That is the stupidest thing you have ever said in my presence," Rhonda told me. "She gets happiness from you. She gets a home worth coming home to. She gets very well hosted events. She gets to call her mother twice a week with a dreamy, happy sound in her voice, a sound I thought I would never hear. She gets warm meals and dances and a safe haven, so when her days at work are so long and terrible, she has something to look forward to that night."

  "But-"

  Rhonda held up her finger. "Karen was happy for a while, several years ago."

  "With Jessica."

  "Yes. Do you know why Jessica left?"

  "Karen's hours."

  "Right, but it's not as simple as that. But I won't tell you more unless you promise you'll never tell my daughter we had this conversation."

  "Cross my heart," I said.

  "When Karen and Jessica met, Karen was one of the lawyers at Kilador, but she wasn't the head of the department. Her hours were much more predictable. Jessica also had her own job, but it was a nine to five job, and Karen worked seven to five. It worked out well. But then Karen earned the promotion to head of the department, and everything changed. Eventually Jessica left."

  "I thought it was something like that."

  "For a time, Karen was happy, but not the same level of happiness she is with you. And she was proud of Jessica, but not the way she is with you."

  "And if I take a job, I'm going to ruin that."

  "That's not where I'm going," Rhonda said. "Where I am going is very simple. You make Karen happy. What price could you possibly put on that?"

  "You can't put a price on happiness," I said.

  "No. But imagine you are in Karen's position making the money she is making. What do you think she'd pay for the happiness you give her, if it could be bought at the store?"

  I looked away, not answering.

  "Every penny. Madeline, you know, she'd pay every penny."

  "It's not my money," I said quietly.

  "Poppycock," Rhonda said. "Karen's job is to make the money. Your job is to spend it. That's the contract between the two of you."

  I looked back at Rhonda. "No, that's the agreement between you and Fred. But Karen and I aren't married, and we can never be married."

  "Maybe not in the eyes of the government," Rhonda said. "But what do you think you are in her eyes? What is she in your eyes? What do you want her to be?"

  I didn't say anything. Rhonda pulled her phone out of her purse and dialed a number. "It's your mother," she said. "I'm at lunch with your wife. I'm putting you on speakerphone."

  She set the phone on the table between us and pressed a button.

  "Madeline?"

  "Hey, Karen."

  "I didn't know you were having lunch with mom."

  I laughed. "Neither did I."

  Rhonda spoke up. "Karen, your wife is a little confused about a few things. I'm handling it."

  "I like that word," Karen said. I could hear the smile. "I probably should have asked her before you did it for me, Mom."

  "I want a ring and a proper proposal!"

  Rhonda smiled at me. "Karen," she said. "What is Madeline's spending limit before she has to talk to you?"

  "I don't know," Karen said. "I suppose whatever fits on her credit cards."

  "So ten grand?"

  "Yeah, I guess," Karen said. "If she spent that every month, we'd have to talk about it."

  "But-" I started to say.

  Rhonda held up a finger. "So, if she wanted to go clothes shopping or buy a new computer, that's okay?"

  There was silence for a moment. "Madeline? You haven't been buying the things you want? I just assumed-"

  "I will take care of this, Karen," Rhonda said. "I just wanted to be sure I understood the situation."

  "I thought-" Karen said. "You and Daddy."

  "Of course," said Rhonda. "Have you bought a ring yet?"

  "Mom, take me off speaker."

  Rhonda picked up the phone and put it to her ear. She listened to Karen for a while. "I'm sorry," she said. There was a pause. "I'll take care of
that part." There was another pause and she handed the phone to me.

  "Karen?"

  "Madeline, I love you."

  "I love you too."

  "Listen to my mother."

  "All right."

  "Madeline, I'm sorry. I just assumed."

  "It's okay."

  "I love you, Madeline." And then we said goodbye.

  I gave the phone back to Rhonda, who put it back in her purse.

  She looked at me. "I ruined her surprise. I'm sorry."

  "She's going to ask me to marry her?"

  "I don't know anything about that," she said. She was smiling.

  The waitress chose the same moment I started crying to bring our food to the table. Rhonda handed me a tissue and told the waitress we were fine. I dried my tears and covered my embarrassment by diving into my lunch.

  We ate quietly before Rhonda said, "Karen's job is to make the money. Your job is to spend it. Wisely. I don't recommend maxing the credit cards every month."

  "She gave me full access to her bank accounts. I thought she was being foolish."

  "She probably also told you how she does her investing at work."

  "Yes, and I told her for the amount she makes, she could be doing a Roth IRA as well. She told me to handle it."

  "Starting to understand?"

  I nodded.

  "Remember. Wisely."

  "I understand. She has put more trust in me than I realized. I wouldn't violate that."

  "Good."

  We finished our meals before talking further. I thought about everything.

  "So no job?" I said eventually.

  "Not if it's about money," Rhonda said. "Being bored out of your mind, though, that's a second conversation."

  "But everything we just talked about, that has strings attached. Karen is treating me like Fred treats you. A housewife. But I can't have her children."

  "Our children have been out of the house for a long time, but I still keep the same habits." She paused. "Yes, Karen wants a housewife. Fred and I have had a very good marriage, and she grew up seeing that. She wants the same thing. But more important than that, she wants you to be happy."

  "I am happy. Mostly. If I get a job, will I lose Karen?"

  "I don't know."

  "It's not worth losing Karen."

  Rhonda smiled hugely.

  "But I still don't know what to do."

  "Madeline, you are a very smart woman. Think outside the box. It might take you some time, but you'll find the proper solution."

  The waitress came by. We declined dessert, and Rhonda handed her a credit card for the bill.

  Rhonda turned to me. "Madeline, you need to understand this. My Fred and your Karen need us. They both look like they are fine on their own, but they aren't. Their heads are filled with their jobs. There isn't any room for all the other things that go into life. They need our heads to handle absolutely everything else. They also need the warmth we offer when they come home at night. They need the things we give them that lift their spirits and feed their souls." She paused. "And their jobs need us. At the level they are both at, there are expectations, very 1950s expectations. They can do the jobs they do and make the money they make because we make it possible. Do you understand?"

  "I think so," I said. "Rhonda, is she really going to ask me to marry her?"

  "I don't know anything about that," she said, smiling. "Madeline, this needs to be resolved before you say 'yes' to any proposal that may or may not be coming."

  I thought about it. "How much time do I have?"

  She thought about it before answering. "When are you going to Paris?"

  "Early May," I said, starting to cry again.

  We sat there while I pulled myself back together. Then I looked at her. "Rhonda, do you have any plans this afternoon?"

  "Not particularly." She smiled. "What did you have in mind?"

  "Care to do a little clothes shopping?"

  "I would love to do some clothes shopping!" she said. "Really?"

  * * *

  I drove her to her car first, then followed her to her house. She left her car there and got in with me.

  At four, we were still at the mall. "Oh no," I said. "Dinner."

  "Oh honey," she said. "That's why they invented restaurants."

  Still, we hurried things along. I dropped her off and was back home by five.

  * * *

  I was wearing one of my new dresses and still learning how to use the new iPad when Karen got home at six. I met her at the door and pulled her into a tight hug.

  She hugged me just as tightly. "I love you," she whispered. Then she pulled away and looked at me. "I recognize my mother's influence. Did you have a nice afternoon?"

  "I did." I paused. "We have reservations at seven."

  She laughed. "I figured." She paused. "Honey, I'm so sorry."

  "No, it's okay."

  "What haven't you been buying?"

  "Clothes. The iPad I wanted. And I've been wondering about my laptop. It's not due yet, but soon, maybe next year."

  "I was wondering why you hadn't bought the iPad after you said you wanted one. I decided you must have changed your mind. I should have asked."

  "It's okay. I bought one this afternoon."

  "How was it you ended up at lunch with Mom?"

  "Actually." I paused. "I went to see your father."

  Her expression froze. "You asked him for a job." I nodded. "But mother talked you out of it."

  "She talked me out of finding a job for the money. But honey, I've been trying to talk to you about this. I'm going out of my mind here."

  Her face fell. "I want you to be happy," she said. "If that means a job, you should get one."

  "So I should tell your father I have your blessing?"

  She nodded. "Yes." She looked at the clock. "Honey, I need to work for a few minutes before dinner. Can you leave me in my office until it's time to go?"

  "Sure. We can talk more over dinner."

  She kissed me quickly then disappeared in her office, closing the door.

  I sat back down with my laptop and iPad and continued to load applications on it, including a few intriguing games. I kept an eye on the clock, then when we still had just a few more minutes, I set it all aside and knocked on Karen's door. I didn't wait for a response before answering.

  She was sitting in her chair, staring out the window. "Time to go," I said.

  "All right," she said. She didn't turn to face me.

  "What's wrong?"

  "Nothing."

  I walked over and turned her to face me. Tears were streaming down her cheeks.

  "Oh my god, honey, what's wrong?"

  "You're leaving me," she said.

  "I am not!"

  "You'll get a high power job and we'll never see each other anymore." She started sobbing and hyperventilating. "I'm not enough to make you happy. I've been trying so hard. Oh god, I'm not enough," she wailed.

  "Honey, I turned your father down." Kneeling in front of her, I pulled her into my arms. She sobbed into my shoulder. "Honey, I turned him down. Well, I told your mother to thank him for me. I still have a problem to solve, but your mother told me to think out of the box."

  I held her and let her cry. I kept repeating I wasn't going anywhere and that I loved her.

  It took a few minutes, but she calmed down, then pulled away and grabbed tissues from a box on her desk and blew her nose.

  "Now I'm a wreck," she said.

  "I can cancel the reservations and pick up some Chinese," I told her. "Or toss something together."

  "No, but do I have time to clean up?"

  "I'll call the restaurant."

  Planning ParisI decided to plan Paris almost exactly like I would have for Marsha, except without the advance visit. I didn't have time to do all of it, but everything I had done in the past for Marsha was on my laptop from when I'd work at home in the evenings.

  I stepped up how often I went to lunch with Karen. I also set
up weekly luncheons with Mom and Rhonda. The two hadn't met, but they got along fabulously. The second week we got together, the last Thursday in March, I excused myself to use the restroom, and when I got back, they looked like they were conspiring together. The conversation clearly changed when I returned.

  "What's going on?" I asked suspiciously.

  "Not a thing," Mom said. "We were just talking."

  We went shopping later. I didn't buy anything, but Mom and Rhonda both did.

  Planning the Paris trip was exciting. I made my basic plans then began contacting the places I wanted to stay. I no longer had my copy of the language software I'd used in the past, so I bought a new copy and started working with it every day. I began speaking French around the house. Poor French, but French nevertheless.

  As I worked on the details, I realized something. I really enjoyed this. And I wished I were doing it for a full group. That would keep me busy for months.

  When I realized that, I stopped dead in my thoughts, backed them up, and ran through them again.

  Then I pulled out some paper and began taking notes. I made a list of people to call. At the top of the list were David and Jenny Foster, Karen's boss.

  I called the Kilador main line and asked to speak to David. I got routed to his assistant, Peggy. "Peggy, it's Madeline Burnet. Karen Greene's girlfriend."

  "The woman who keeps sending all the treats to the office."

  "Yes, that's me," I said. "Any chance I can speak to David?"

  "Is there a problem?"

  "No, it's a personal thing. I'd be just as happy to talk to his wife, Jenny, but I didn't think you'd give me her number."

  Peggy laughed. "No, I wouldn't. David is free, let me transfer you."

  David answered after a moment and I told him who I was. We exchanged a moment of small talk, then I said, "David, this is going to be very weird, but I want to ask you something, and I don't want Karen to know about it."

  "Are you asking me to pick sides in something?"

  "I am doing research for something I want to present to her."

  "All right," he said. "Ask away."