The House of Seven Mabels

mother-in-law for decades.
    “I’m not so sure. Steve’s brother Ted’s wife, Dixie, still hasn’t had the baby they so desperately want, and Thelma’s crazy about grandchildren. Not so crazy about me, though. I think if I hadn’t had the kids when Steve died, she’d have tried to contest the contract.“
    “She wouldn’t have gotten anywhere with that,“ Jim said. Changing the subject, he asked, “So how are your folks doing in Denmark?“
    “They must be fine,“ Jane said. “I haven’t had an E-mail from them for the last week. This trip is just a vacation. Not a diplomacy job.“
    “Speaking of jobs, how are you filling your free time?“ Jim asked.
    Jane laughed. “You wouldn’t believe what Shelley’s trying to get us into. A feminist home renovation. Don’t look at me like that, Uncle Jim. We haven’t agreed to do it yet. Shelley’s rewriting the contract they offered us and really jacking up the perks.“
    “What in the world do the two of you know about renovating?“
    “We’re just to be the decorators.“
    Jane explained about Bitsy and her influx of money. About Sandy. About Jack and Henry. With a couple of days of not thinking about it, it seemed outrageously funny even to her. But when she got to the story of the spoiled shrimp in the air ducts, Jim asked, “Did anyone ‘fess up?“
    “Nope. Not that I know of. The furnace guy who’d done the duct work was furious.“
    “Of course he was. Was it some idiot’s idea of a joke or sabotage?“ Jim asked.
    “I don’t know. Bitsy thinks her ex-husband is responsible. That must have been one of the nastiest divorces in history. Aside from a few of Henry the Eighth’s that come to mind.“
    “I’d be careful of taking this job if I were you,“ Jim said. “I don’t want to overstep my bounds, but that’s my advice.“
    “I think I agree. The contract we were given wasn’t even grammatical. And Shelley says it’s outrageously stingy. But if she can put over the one she’s working on, it could be fun for us and very profitable.“
    “I thought you were just talking about already being financially comfortable.“
    “Comfortable. Just barely. But who in their right mind wouldn’t like a bit more money to spend?“
    “You don’t say that with conviction,“ Uncle Jim said with a smile. “Cough up what this is really about.“
    “It’ll sound silly to you. You have a job. But, Uncle Jim, my job has always been to raise my kids to be independent when they’re grown, and I’m almost there. Katie will go to college next year and Todd a couple of years later. I’ve had my full share of club and volunteer work. I don’t want to turn into one of those women who consider bridge night or bingo tournaments with a bunch of their peers the highlight of the week.“
    Uncle Jim patted her hand. “I do understand, Janey. That’s why I’m still plugging away, even though I’m only a desk jockey these days. It isn’t the money. It’s the pride and challenge of doing something well enough to be paid.“ He leaned back from the table. “Now, darlin’, what’s for dessert?“

Ten

    Bright and early Monday morning, Shelley was at Jane’s door. “Let’s fortify ourselves with a good breakfast and then tackle Bitsy.“
    “You’re doing the tackling, right? I’m just the cheering section. I hope.“
    “I’ll be happy to carry it out, but you have to read my version of the contract first, so you’ll know when to cheer.“
    “Is it really good?“
    Shelley pulled herself up into a pillar of indignation. “Of course.“
    “I really should call Mel first. He left four messages on my phone over the weekend, explaining that he was finishing up the paperwork on a big case and asking me to call him back. But I was so busy, and the times I did call, he was away from his desk. What a romance. Phone tag only. We’re both afraid to leave a sexy message for fear someone else will hear it first.“
    “Busy with what?“ Shelley demanded, ignoring Jane’s reply.
    “Buying computers.“
    “Plural?“
    “One for me and one for Todd.“
    “Explain this to me on the way. I want your full attention on the contract while we eat. You need to drive. My van is making a funny noise.“
    Jane was astonished. “You’d ride in my disreputable station wagon? I’d have cleaned it out if I’d known.“
    “No, you wouldn’t have. But I don’t care. Just as long as there’s somewhere to sit where there aren’t bags of birdseed,