Perfect Partners

afraid that’s not possible, Dixon. It’s an image thing. I’m sure you understand. Ms. Thornquist is now the president of Thornquist Gear. In her position she can’t take calls from some asshole who’s dumb enough to get caught with his dick stuck in the mouth of a grad student who’s trying to suck her way to an A.”
    Joel hung up the phone without waiting for a reply and returned to the table. He seemed oblivious to the stunned silence in the room. He sat down and picked up his mug of coffee.
    Letty finally managed to find her voice. She cleared her throat weakly. “‘Asshole’? ‘Dick’? What happened to a ‘compromising situation’ in which a certain ‘male member’ was inserted between ‘scarlet-tinted lips’?”
    “You said you wanted me to be your mentor,” Joel muttered. “That makes me the teacher and you the student, right?”
    “Well, yes. Right.”
    “So listen up and pay attention as we go along, because I won’t repeat this stuff and there will definitely be a quiz. That was lesson number one. It was called How to Avoid Unwanted Phone Calls.”
    “I think,” said Letty, “that I had better take notes.”

3

    E xcuse me,” Letty said, as she came into the living room. “I didn’t mean to interrupt you.”
    Stephanie looked up. She was sitting cross-legged on the floor, hands resting gracefully on her knees, obviously meditating. The afternoon sun was streaming in through the windows. “It’s all right. I’m through. I meditate for half an hour every afternoon. It’s very soothing for Matthew Christopher.”
    “I see.” Letty was at a loss. She struggled for a way to keep the conversation going. Joel had left for Seattle early that morning, and Letty was restless. “How are you feeling?”
    “Very well, thank you.” Stephanie was obviously going to take the question literally. “I saw the doctor last week for my regular monthly checkup. She said all indicators were completely normal.”
    “That must be reassuring to hear.”
    Stephanie nodded seriously. “She’s an excellent doctor. One of the best obstetricians in the state. Board certified in two specialties, of course.”
    “Of course.”
    “She’s administered all the latest tests. Ultrasound, alpha-fetoprotein screening, and amniocentesis. They revealed no problems or abnormalities.”
    “I see,” Letty said.
    “Morgan and I have toured the neonatal facilities at the hospital we chose. All the equipment is first class and state-of-the-art. They are fully prepared to deal with any complication that might arise.”
    “I take it you’re not going to have Matthew Christopher delivered by a midwife at home?” Letty regretted the small joke instantly.
    Stephanie looked horrified. “Good Lord, no. This baby will have the best and most advanced care available.”
    That did not surprise Letty. She wondered if Matthew Christopher realized how much money, time, and attention were being spent to ensure that he arrived first class.
    Morgan came into the room, a mug of coffee in his hand. “Finished with your meditation, my dear?”
    “Yes, I am.” Stephanie allowed Morgan to assist her to her feet. “It’s three o’clock, time for my afternoon protein allotment.”
    Morgan glanced at Letty. “Why don’t we take a walk while Stephanie is having her snack?”
    Letty smiled, relieved at the excuse to get out of the house. Stephanie’s emphasis on control and order was getting to her. “Great.”
    It was the first time Letty had had an opportunity to be alone with her father since she arrived for Great-Uncle Charlie’s funeral service. It felt good to have him to herself for a while. It brought back memories of how things had been before Morgan made that fateful trip to Seattle two years ago.
    He had flown out to attend an academic conference dealing with the uses of logic in the study of linguistics. Letty had been delighted to see him go. She’d been worrying about the fact that, since the death of her mother, her father was turning into an old man much too quickly. The spark had gone out of him.
    The spark had definitely been reignited in Seattle. Letty had been pleased at his renewed enthusiasm and animation. But she had been stunned when he announced he was accepting a position at Ridgemore College.
    Three months later she had been even more astonished to get a phone call from Morgan in which he told her he planned to be married.
    And now there was a baby on the way.
    It would have been a lot