Castle Cay Read online

  “I can’t help it! Besides, I want to go back to art school. My Dad’s going to be pissed, but my mother understands. I’m going to tell Dan today, Julie. Hell, he’s expecting it.”

  Julie slumped in resignation. It was always just a matter of time. She could tell that Marc’s decision wasn’t going to change, no matter what she said.

  “Oh, damn. I suppose you’re right. But I’m going to miss you so much!”

  They were getting up to leave; Julie smiled and poked him in his shoulder.

  “Do you realize I’ll be eating lunch all by myself, you selfish brat?”

  “Oh, I don’t know about that,” he said, helping her with her coat. “You could invite The Divine Dan to lunch.”

  Solomon Chrysler’s New Car Manager, Dan O’Hara, was six-foot-five with wavy black hair and green eyes. Marc, who had a crush on him, generally referred to him as “Superman” or “The Divine Dan”. Julie couldn’t stand him.

  “Not funny. He hates me and the feeling is mutual. I’m going to miss you terribly, Marc,” she said as they headed for the door. “Promise that you’ll keep in touch with me?”

  “Of course I will.”

  “Solemn promise?”

  “Solemn promise.”

  * * * * *

  Chapter 9

  It was eight months since she had come to Solomon Chrysler and although Red and Pete were the only ones in her fan club, Julie was happy. Except for one thing…and it was happening again.

  “I have to say, that car’s got a real nice ride, Julie,” said Mr. Gilbert.

  “I just love it, Julie,” said Mrs. Gilbert.

  Time to turn it over…

  Julie deeply resented having to turn over her customer to a “closer”. She didn’t like subjecting them to that transition. And besides, she was perfectly capable of closing her own sales!

  “Excuse me, Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert; I’m glad you’ve settled on a car you’d like to buy,” she said, “but I’m new here…”

  How long must I keep saying that?

  “So, I’ll need to get a manager to help you,” she continued. “I’ll be right back. Can I freshen up your coffee before I go?”

  After topping off their coffee, Julie went looking for Pete or Red - or whoever was available - but everyone was busy. Dan O’Hara looked up as she walked by.

  Oh, please, God…not Dan.

  “Julie? You need some help? “

  Actually, I don’t, she thought.

  “Uh, yes,” she said. “My people are waiting to close. They’re interested in a used Imperial, but Pete is with another customer.” Brightening, she said, “Why don’t I go see how long he’ll be?”

  “No, don’t bother him,” said Dan, getting up. “I’ll go with you. Where are they?”

  Resigned, Julie handed him her worksheet and said, “They’re over on the left side of the showroom, in front of the window. The Imperial is parked right outside where they can see it.”

  “All right. Introduce me,” said Dan, straightening his tie. “I’ll take it from here.”

  Oh, thank you, Your Highness, Julie thought as she led him to the table.

  “Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert, I’d like to introduce you to Mr. O’Hara, one of our Sales Managers.”

  “Hi, folks. Call me Dan,” he said, smiling. He glanced down at the worksheet. “Is it all right if I call you John and Cecile?”

  “Sure,” said Mr. Gilbert. He gave a perfunctory nod toward his wife. “You can call the wife ‘Cece’, though.”

  “So, John, did you watch the Red Sox game last night?” said Dan, pegging him as the decision-maker.

  “Man, that Roger Clemens…isn’t he something?” said Mr. Gilbert with a big smile, bonding with Dan.

  Cece and Julie were immediately relegated to the bench.

  •

  When the Gilberts drove off in their newly acquired Imperial, Dan marched Julie into his office. Closing the door, he turned and glared at her, livid.

  ”Haven’t you learned anything?” he barked in her face, throwing the papers down on the desk. “You aren’t supposed to talk when I’m closing! Don’t you know they need to focus on me? Your talking takes their attention off of me and off the deal!”

  “Mrs. Gilbert asked me a question,” said Julie through clenched teeth. “I thought it would be rude not to answer her.” She probably should have stopped there, but her building resentment just spilled out unchecked. “Besides, you and Mr. Gilbert were completely ignoring her. No wonder she started talking to me.”

  Dan’s eyes widened, infuriated at her insubordination. A vein pulsed on the side of his temple and she could feel the anger radiating from him. He was crowding her, so close that she was forced to crane her neck up to look at him but she refused to give him the satisfaction of backing up.

  “Look…Julie…” he said in her face, “buying a car is a man’s business. A guy may come in here with his wife, but when he’s ready to buy, it’s just him and the sales-man, another guy in a shirt and tie. It’s not his wife’s decision!”

  “Well, I seem to be doing all right talking to both of them!” she shot back.

  “Beginner’s luck, lady. By the way, did you know you were hired as a gag?”

  Julie caught her breath and backed away as if he’d slapped her. Her face burning, she grabbed the papers off his desk and fled.

  •

  “Why didn’t you tell me, Pete? Did everyone know?”

  Pete Soldano looked thoroughly distraught across his desk. “No! Nobody knew that but me and him,” he said. “I can’t believe he told you that. The bastard! Pardon my language.”

  “Him? He’s not the one who hired me as a joke!”

  “Look, I’m sorry, Julie. I mean…I’m not sorry that I hired you…” Pete ran his hands through his hair in frustration trying to explain. “It’s true that in the beginnin’ I was tryin’ to get back at him for winnin’ the trip, and I knew if I hired a girl it would piss him off. I’m sorry for that. But, honest-to-God, Julie, I saw you had talent right away and I told him.”

  If repentance had a picture next to it in the dictionary, Julie thought, it would be Pete. She sighed. It is a man’s game. Hadn’t she been to three other dealers first? And what if Pete hadn’t hired her? I wouldn’t be in my apartment…

  “All right. I guess I understand. But, please, Pete, you’ve got to let me go start to finish with my customers now. You owe me that much and you know I can do it! I promise to turn over anyone I can’t close.”

  “I got no problem with you closin’ in my department, Julie. But forget Dan. He’ll never do it. Especially not now.”

  “Please, Pete. Just get Dan to give it a try for a month. Just one month! Tell him I’m really upset. Tell him that I’ll probably quit if I fail. That should give him some incentive.”

  “You wouldn’t do that, would ya’?” said Pete, alarmed.

  “Are you kidding? You couldn’t drag me out of here now with the tow truck!

  * * * * *

  Chapter 10

  Dan O’Hara’s attitude lit a fire under Julie. She began closing her own sales and never looked back. By her second anniversary at the dealership, at age twenty-two, Julie was the top salesperson for Chrysler in the state of Massachusetts and the Boston Globe sent a reporter out to interview her. His first question would have a lasting impact on her future.

  “So what’s the secret of your success?” the reporter asked.

  “Body language,” said Julie. “I think it’s a key element to understanding people and what they want.”

  “And how do you feel about being the top salesperson for Chrysler in the state?”

  Julie saw her chance to win over her co-workers and grabbed it:

  “The guys I work with here at Solomon Chrysler are all excellent salesmen. This year was my turn; next year one of them will outsell the rest of us! Plus, we have a terrific service department here, too. Those guys really stand behind the promises we make, and that means a lot of return
business. But if it were up to me, I’d give the award to the ladies in the business office. Without them, none of us would sell anything!”

  The article said in closing…

  “Well, Solomon Chrysler has its very own “Pretty Woman” now, with the addition of young Julie Danes, who, by the way, looks a lot like Julia Roberts. Check it out…”

  And lots of curious shoppers did.

  Julie’s solo lunches were over, and the office manager, Mrs. Bennett, became “Laura”.

  * * * * *

  Chapter 11

  “Are you going tonight? asked Annie. “You know Joannie, from payroll? We’re going together. We could meet you there.”

  “That would be great,” said Julie. I’d love to have some company.”

  They were talking about the company picnic. It was scheduled for the evening of the Fourth of July. Solomon Chrysler had staked out an area along the Charles River near the Band Shell for the Boston Pops outdoor symphony. Julie was excited to be going. It would be the first time for her.

  She called Marc and gushed about it.

  “I’m psyched! Can you believe that I’ve never been to the Boston Pops?”

  “No”, said Marc, “I’ve gone many times. I love it. My parents are big supporters of the Symphony.”

  “The only thing my parents support is the liquor store.”

  “Julie, everybody has problems. You just can’t see them. You’re not alone.”

  “I feel alone, though, Marc. I mean, I’m not unhappy at work, but I just don’t have anyone close enough to share things with. I really miss you.”

  “I miss you, too. But I can’t say I miss all those tire-kickers.”

  “Hey, watch it! Those ‘tire-kickers’ have been pretty good to me.”

  “I know. I saw the story in the Globe. Congratulations! But I think they should have given you a public relations award for that speech,” said Marc, laughing.

  “Thank you. It wasn’t bad…if I do say so myself. It sure changed things around here for the better. But I still miss you. Hey, why don’t you come to the picnic?”

  “I can’t, Julie. I’ve already made plans. Look, there’s someone I want you to meet. Let’s go up to Good Harbor Beach in Gloucester next week. What do you say?”

  “Okay, call me. I’ll see you then.”

  •

  The Fourth of July was a near perfect night for the Pops. A luminous, full moon shone through the leaves of the tall oaks and maples on the Esplanade and the air was balmy. Along the river’s edge, a gentle breeze rustled through the willows.

  It seemed that everyone had paired off, camped out in folding chairs and on blankets. Annie had asked sheepishly if Julie minded her “sitting with Mike”, one of the mechanics, and Julie noted, with some interest, that Joannie DeAngelo from the payroll department was sitting next to Pete Soldano.

  Julie didn’t mind at all. She was sitting on a long bench with some other employees, absorbed in the wonderful music…soft at times, and then rising and booming in crescendo.

  No wonder Marc loves the Pops…

  There was a tap on her shoulder. She turned and looked up. To her shock, it was Dan O’Hara.

  “Julie, could I talk to you for a minute?”

  “Uh, sure”, she said, “Have a seat.”

  “Maybe we could walk a little?”

  He seemed nervous. Was he going to fire her? Then, in a flash, she understood. He wants to apologize… in private.

  “Sure, that would be nice.”

  They started walking down the path to the left that ran along the river, away from the large crowd at the Band Shell. A couple, holding hands, approached them, heading in the opposite direction, toward the music. They smiled and passed.

  Julie was quiet…waiting.

  “I just wanted to say that I was wrong, Julie…wrong about you.”

  What am I supposed to say to that?

  “Will you forgive me? I was a jerk.”

  Now, that’s better…

  “Of course I forgive you.”

  “By the way, that was great,” he said.

  “What was?” asked Julie, puzzled.

  “The way you spoke up for everybody at Solomon Chrysler in your interview with the Globe. I know we didn’t make it easy for you at the dealership. I was probably the worst of all.”

  “Probably?”

  They burst out laughing, the tentative mood changed completely.

  The boats glided by on the river, and the crowd thinned and disappeared as they strolled along, talking. Engrossed, they had walked quite a distance from the Band Shell when they found themselves standing before a darkened boathouse. There was a rack of narrow racing sculls to the left of it and a dock behind it.

  Dan cocked his head toward the boathouse, smiling.

  “We’d have a great view of the fireworks from that dock.”

  “We sure would,” said Julie.

  He took her hand and - giggling like kids - they ducked and ran around to the left rear of the boathouse. There was a chain-link fence dipping down into the water.

  “I’m game if you are,” said Julie.

  Dan kicked off his loafers, rolled up his pant legs and stepped into the water. Holding the bottom of her white sundress and sandals in her left hand, Julie followed him in, hanging on to the chain-link with her right.

  “Oh shit! It’s all mucky!” she said.

  “Did you just say ‘shit’?”

  “Of course. Who do you think I am…Goody No-Shoes?”

  They broke-up with laughter again, and made their way around the fence. As Dan grabbed Julie’s hand to help her up the riverbank, he put his forefinger to his lips.

  “Sh-h-h…”

  Snickering quietly, they ran barefoot along the riverbank past the neatly racked racing boats toward the dock. Dan climbed up first and pulled Julie up behind him. To their delight, there were folding beach chairs amidst some boxes and canvas on the wide deck, just a few steps above them. Dan ran up and got two of them.

  They sat, hearts still pounding from their escapade, looking down the moonlit river to where the boats were gathered near the Band Shell. After a while, they began to relax, chatting comfortably and listening to the beautiful music drifting toward them.

  Dan rose, smiling, and executed a deep, theatrical bow in front of Julie.

  “May I have this dance, Miss Scarlet?”

  “Why, yes, of course, Mr. Butler.”

  Laughing, Julie went into his arms.

  And everything changed.

  They danced slowly, her head on his shoulder, her arms around his neck, their bodies pressed together, fitting perfectly. Wordlessly, they searched each other’s eyes. Dan kissed her, softly…hungrily. The thin straps of her sundress fell from her shoulders. His hand slipped into the top, caressing her breast.

  Julie’s mind was buzzing. She was swirling in a maelstrom, incapable of coherent thought. Dan’s touch created an exquisite sensation pulsing deep inside her body that obliterated everything else. His leg slid between hers and she moved urgently against it.

  Then he was leading her up the stairs. He grabbed the canvas there and spread it on the darkened deck. In the next moment, they were standing entwined again, Julie’s back against the deck railing.

  Dan’s big hands were up under her dress, pulling her close. Her head was thrown back and he was kissing her neck. Julie moaned unconsciously, lost in new and wonderful world…but her daze betrayed her innocence.

  Dan pulled himself back, unused to the situation.

  “Don’t stop,” said Julie in a rush of breath. She bent forward, pushing her dress and panties to the floor, her hair cascading over her shoulders as she stepped out of them.

  Suddenly, the dark night sky was filled with crackling explosions and a dazzling display of colors. Julie stood, bathed in the golden light, looking up at the sky in awe.

  Dan was in awe, too…but he was looking straight ahead.

  * * * * *

  Chapter 1
2

  On the way to the beach the following week, Marc introduced Julie to Alan, which explained a lot. She could tell that Marc was anxious about “coming out,” but Julie truly didn’t care about his sexual orientation. She figured that it was his business, and it had no bearing on their friendship. Well, perhaps it did. There was no doubt in her mind that, somehow, it made Marc a better friend.

  The weekend weather was warm and beautiful, part sun, part clouds. Thanks to an erroneous forecast of rain, they had no trouble finding a space to spread out their blanket. It was high tide, and frothy whitecaps dotted the sea here and there like bits of snow after a thaw.

  Alan took their drink orders, and went off to the snack bar at the end of the beach, leaving Julie and Marc lying side-by-side on the blanket, enjoying the salty air. Marc sat up, hugging his knees, looking down at Julie.

  “Well…what do you think of Alan?”

  “Isn’t he a little old for you?” she said.

  And that was that.

  Julie was actually delighted to see Marc relaxed and happy. They talked about his progress at the Art Institute in Brookline.

  “It’s fabulous, Julie. I’m learning so much. I’m using all different mediums: pastels, oils, watercolors, acrylics, inks…and different surfaces, too. I’m working on a sculpture; it’s okay, but drawing and painting, that’s what I want to do.”

  Shielding her eyes from the sun as it emerged from behind a cloud, Julie looked up at him. “How are things with your parents? Any better?”

  “Not bad. My mother’s okay with the gay thing, but I don’t think my Dad knows. I don’t think my brother does, either…but he might.”

  “Your brother?” said Julie, wide-eyed now and sitting up. “You have a brother? I can’t believe you never told me! How come you never mentioned him?”

  ”I just don’t like to talk about him. We don’t get along. At all,” said Marc. “He’s three years older than I am. You’ll probably be seeing him at the dealership. He just finished school. He’s an accountant.”