CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Unlike the men, the women were already sobered up as their SUV rode up the steep incline that led to a majestic mansion in the beautiful Catskills mountains.

“This is so romantic,” said Nikki as she watched the huge brick structure come into full view with the backdrop of the Saint Lawrence River. “Look at the clock tower. It looks like a Scottish castle.”

“It looks like a house out of a horror movie to me,” said Trina.

“Nikki’s right,” Gemma said. “It’s lovely.”

“I’m with Tree on this one,” said Roz. “I don’t like castles. They’re spooky.”

“Tommy owns a castle in Scotland,” said Gemma. “Or is it Ireland? One of those places! I’ve only been there a couple times with Sal. There’s nothing spooky about that one.”

“Because Tommy has taste,” said Roz. “Big Daddy on the other hand.”

Trina grinned. “Let him hear you say that.”

“But come on now, Tree,” said Roz. “Do you know how rich Charles is? That man got Mick kind of money, or very close to it, but you wouldn’t know it by the way he lives. Still got that same storefront office in Jericho he started out with. Still live in that nice house, and it is a nice house, I’ll give him that. But it’s not the kind of house his money could buy.”

“He’s thrifty, Roz,” said Trina. “And always has been. He raised his children that way too. I’ll bet you the only reason he owns this castle, if he does own it, is because he got it for a steal. Tommy doesn’t look for bargains. He looks for beauty and grace and all of that stuff. Big Daddy must have the bargain every time. Fuck beauty.”

“Speaking of Grace,” said Nikki. “I thought they said she was coming too. Where is she?”

“With Tommy child,” said Gemma. “You know that man doesn’t let her out of his sight unless he absolutely has to.”

“Got her right under his thumb,” agreed Roz.

“I wish Reno would put me under his thumb,” said Trina. “Then maybe he’ll treat me better.”

They laughed, but they also understood the sentiment. They all felt neglected. They all felt, to varying degrees, unappreciated and perhaps sometimes even unloved. And now they had to air their dirty laundry out in public at some marriage retreat that still didn’t sound like it could possibly work.

But as they approached the mansion, their anxiety returned. “This is not going to be a picnic,” Trina said.

“You know it and I know it,” said Roz. “But does Big Daddy know it?”

It was more food for thought than conversation because none of them had a clue what Charles knew. He kept his children under subjection and in many ways the entire family. Nobody confronted Big Daddy. Not even Mick. What he said usually goes. But getting hellraisers like them back on the same page with their spouses? That was a different ball game. That might just be out of Big Daddy’s league too.

They could see the grounds security as their SUV stopped at the entrance to the house, servants that were waiting outside assisted them out of the SUV and then escorted them to the front door.

When they entered the massive home, Charles and Jenay were waiting.

“Welcome ladies,” Jenay said happily as they all hugged each other in a cheerful greeting.

“The guys here yet?” Trina asked them.

“Not yet.”

“Did he show up at the airport?” Roz asked. They all knew who she meant.

“Why wouldn’t he?” asked Charles.

“Yes, as a matter of fact, he did,” said Jenay.

Roz was surprised to hear it, but relieved too. She wished she wasn’t. She wanted to be so over that man that it was driving her insane. But who was she kidding? She was nowhere near that stage yet. Not yet .

“Jenay will show you gals to your room,” Charles said, as they all smiled at his use of that archaic term, and Jenay escorted them up the winding staircase.

When they entered the room at the center of the landing, they were all confused. The room was massive, alright, but there were five beds in that one room. Five twin beds at that!

Roz looked at Jenay as if she’d lost her mind. “I know better than this,” she said.

Trina was right there with her. “This big-ass mug got to have at least a hundred bedrooms up in here, but we have to sleep in the same one? Are you kidding me?”

Jenay was smiling. “This is Charles’s world. I’m just here. This is the way he says it’s going to be. If you don’t like it, take it up with him.” Which she knew none of them would. Charles could be a very agreeable man, until you disagreed with him. “Just rest,” Jenay suggested. “Relax. Go with the flow is my advice. Your luggage will be up shortly.”

“Thanks Jenay,” Gemma said.

“You’re quite welcome. Oh and dinner will be served at six pm sharp. Which is only a couple of hours. Don’t be late. You know how Charles hates tardiness.” Then she smiled that charming smile they all loved, they all smiled back at her, and she walked out closing the door behind her.

Their smiles promptly left. “Charles hates tardiness. This is what Charles wants. Is this going to be a marriage retreat,” asked Trina, “or boot camp?”

“Bootcamp,” said Roz. “I can tell you that right now.”

“But ain’t this some bull?” said Trina. “Putting us in the same room in these baby beds. Who does Big Daddy think he is?”

“Big Daddy,” said Gemma.

“A man with the best marriage in the family,” said Nikki.

“His marriage ain’t all that you think it is either,” said Trina. “I heard there’s some trouble in that paradise too.”

Everybody looked at Trina. “What kind of trouble?”

“Overbearingness since Jenay came back to life.”

“She was never dead, Trina,” Gemma reminded her. “We thought she had died, but she never did. She would have had to die to come back to life.”

“Whatever it was,” Trina said. “He’s been treating her like Tommy treats Grace. He got her under his thumb too. You heard her talking about it’s his world, she’s just visiting or whatever she said. That don’t even sound like Jenay.”

“Sure don’t,” said Roz. Then she rubbed her forehead. “I personally don’t want to see Mick right now. I think this whole thing is going to be useless.”

“Then why did you come?” asked Trina.

“The same reason you came,” said Roz defensively.

“Yeah, but I heard you slapped Mick in front of his men.”

Nikki looked at her stepmother-in-law. She knew Roz didn’t let anybody push her into confessions.

Roz looked at Trina. “You don’t tell me your blues,” she said, “and I won’t tell you mine.”

Trina laughed.“Amen sister.Amen!”

And Roz plopped down on the first bed she got to.